This collection contains the Heart Mountain charter, community minutes, notes on resettlement plans, and documents in Japanese. There are also transcripts of the trial of Tom Yamada, 13- or 14-year old teenager who was charged with assault and battery with a BB gun by the Heart Mountain Judicial Commission in September 1944.
Additional content for this collection can be found in the "Inventory for collection.”
Nisei in the War against Japan, April 1945
Illustrated pamphlet on Japanese Americans in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and 100th Battalion. Includes an article about Ben Kuroki, the only American of Japanese descent in the United States Army Air Forces to serve in combat operations in the Pacific theater of World War II.
Instructions to evacuees on seasonal work leave (WRA-49), circa 1943
Rules and regulations for incarcerees at Heart Mountain regarding "seasonal work leave." Covers travel, change of address, unemployment, expiration, returning to the Center prior to contract expiration, welfare services, and information for aliens.
Policies of the Relocation Planning Commission, circa 1944
The Commission was composed entirely of evacuees. Depending on effective leadership, the Commission worked off and on at Heart Mountain dealing with the problems and the mechanics of disseminating information and counseling on relocation.
Report on Community Government, January 1 - June 30, 1944
A semi-annual report regarding community government in the incarceration centers, including Heart Mountain. The report was submitted to WRA officials by Solon T. Kimball, head of the WRA's Community Organization and Activities Section. A Harvard educated anthropologist who came to the WRA through the Office of Indian Affairs (OIA), Kimball oversaw efforts to design and implement inmate community government in the ten concentration camps.
Transcript of People of Heart Mountain Relocation Center vs. Tom Yamada, September 16, 1944
Yamada was a 13- or 14- year old charged with assault and battery involving injury to another person from a BB gun. The court is composed of seven judges selected from the residents and appointed by the Project Director. They presided over infractions of Heart Mountain's regulations.
Heart Mountain Community Council minutes, May 1944
Includes mention of the young men at Heart Mountain who were indicted on the charge of "draft evasion."
Heart Mountain Community Council minutes, June 1944
Includes mention of the young men at Heart Mountain who were indicted on the charge of "draft evasion."
Heart Mountain Community Council minutes, July 1944
Includes mention of an investigation regarding a drowned boy in an irrigation canal in the camp.
Heart Mountain Community Council minutes, August 1944
Includes discussion of educational and medical updates, such as the request of required blood typing.
Heart Mountain Community Council minutes, October 31, 1944
Includes discussion of agricultural needs and the mention of desired fish types for the internees.
Heart Mountain Community Council minutes, November 1944
Includes mention of the difficulty of receiving optometric care for internees.
Heart Mountain Community Council minutes, December 1944
Includes discussion of health and sanitation issues in the camp, such as the increase in cases of hospitalization and the closed medical wards.
Heart Mountain Community Council minutes, January 1945
Includes discussion of health and sanitation issues in the camp, such as the continuing difficulty of receiving optometric care.
Heart Mountain Community Council minutes, February 1945
Includes questions and answers regarding the War Relocation Authorities' major reasons for closing the relocation centers before the end of the war.
Heart Mountain Community Council minutes, March 1945
Includes discussion of renunciation of American citizenship and the encouragement of Americanization within the center.
Heart Mountain Community Council minutes, April 1945
Includes discussion of food rations,
Heart Mountain Community Council minutes, May 1945
Includes discussion of the nurse shortage within the center.
Heart Mountain Community Council minutes, June 1945
Includes discussion of storage within relocation freights.
Heart Mountain Community Council minutes, July 1945
Includes discussion of the housing issues and disbursement of recreational equipment following relocation.
Heart Mountain Community Council minutes, August 1945
Includes discussion of the present situation of the Mess Halls and food storage.
Heart Mountain Community Council minutes, September 1945
Includes discussion of the food shortage and the coming closing of the camp.
Heart Mountain Community Council minutes, October 1945
Includes further discussion of the upcoming closing of the camp.
Northern California Resettlement News, June 20, 1945
First issue of the newspaper. It was published in anticipation of the closing of the internment centers. Charles F. Miller was a WRA Area Supervisor for Northern California.
Prospectus of Organization, North American Cooperative Rehabilitation Association, Inc., July 16, 1945
A plan by relocation center internees to form an organization to assist other internees in advance of the center closures. It is not known if the organization became a reality.