In the wake of the attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued on February 19th, 1942, Executive Order 9066--which designated military zones along the United States coast and directed the army to remove all residents of Japanese ancestry from these areas. The president then created the War Relocation Authority (WRA), a federal agency tasked with caring for the approximately 110,000 Japanese-Americans uprooted by Executive Order 9066. The WRA saw to the planning and construction of long-term internment camps located in the interior of the country where the displaced population would be held for the duration of World War II. Two of the selected sites were located in the Arkansas Delta, one at Rohwer in Desha County--which operated from September 18, 1942-November 30, 1945--and the other at Jerome in sections of Chicot and Drew counties--which operated from October 6, 1942-June 30, 1944. The internment camps at Rohwer and Jerome would incarcerate over 16,000 Japanese-Americans between October 1942 and November 1945.
This collection exhibits materials from school administrators and superintendents, pastors, teachers, social welfare workers, and WRA administrators associated with the internment camps. Materials also source from the Homer Adkins’ gubernatorial papers, articles from the McGehee Times and Dermott News, and the official closing roster of the Rohwer Relocation Center.
All materials within this online exhibit are available for research at the Arkansas State Archives. These items were digitized by the Arkansas State Archives as part of a joint project entitled “Rohwer Reconstructed,” overseen by the University of Arkansas’ Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies and funded in part by a grant from the National Park Service through the Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant Program.
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Newspaper article, "Thousands to Move into this Area Within the Next Few Weeks: At Association of Commerce Meeting, Major Niemz Discusses New Problems that will be Faced by the City of McGehee"
Article discussing bids for Rohwer and Jerome relocation centers.
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Newspaper article, "To Celebrate the Organization of Colony Church"
Newspaper article discussing the organization of a Rohwer Relocation Center church.
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Newspaper article, "To Discuss Local Problems"
Article discussing local problems created by the Japanese-American relocation centers.
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Newspaper article, "To Investigate Attack on Soldier"
Newspaper article discussing an attack on a Japanese-American soldier in Dermott, Arkansas.
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Newspaper article, "U.S. Finishes Relocation of 110,599 Japs [sic]"
Newspaper article discussing the relocation of 110,599 Japanese Americans throughout the United States.
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Newspaper article, "Work On Jerome Japanese Center To Start Monday: Architect Engineers Set Up Offices In McGehee Rohwer Camp Work Started Yesterday"
Newspaper article discussing construction on the Rohwer internment camp in McGehee, Arkansas.
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Newspaper article, "Work Progressing On Jerome Camp"
Newspaper article discussing progress made by A.J. Rife Construction Company at Jerome Relocation Center.
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Newspaper article, "WRA Leases Cook Farm Near Kelso"
Newspaper article discussing the War Relocation Authority leasing Cook Farm near Kelso, Arkansas.
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Newspaper article, "WRA Official Gives Picture Of Reasons For Evacuation"
Newspaper article about Dr. J.B. Hunter speaking about the relocation of Japanese Americans to Arkansas and the relocation centers in the state.
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Resolution by the Manzanar Citizens Federation
The Manzanar Citizens' Federation is requesting employment as farm labors for loyal Japanese Americans. This resolution was formed in order to show their resolve and willingness to work for the greater good of America.
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Student newspaper, Fifth Grade Eagle
Student newspaper from the fifth grade class at Rohwer Relocation Camp.
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Telegram, Assistant Secretary of War John McCloy to Governor Homer Adkins
This telegram informs Governor Adkins that the Japanese College program is the responsibility of the War Relocation Authority.
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Telegram, B. Williams to Governor Homer M. Adkins
Telegram sent to Governor Homer Adkins from the Utah Construction Company and Morrison Knudson Company, which was working on the Norfork Dam. The Company is requesting 36 Japanese-American workers due to a manpower shortage.
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Telegram, Dillon Myer, Director of War Relocation Authority to Governor Homer Adkins
Telegram explaining to Governor Adkins what the Japanese American Student Relocation Council is and which students could be eligible for entrance into inland schools. Dillon Myer of the WRA is interested in Governor Adkins' position on their efforts.
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Telegram, Governor Homer Adkins to Assistant Secretary of War John McCloy
Homer Adkins, governor of Arkansas, is telling the Assistant Secretary of War John McCloy that allowing Japanese-American students into Arkansas colleges would present major problems. Adkins is worried that if Japanese Americans are allowed into "white" colleges, it could be used as a stepping stone for desegregation efforts in the state.
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Telegram, Governor Homer M. Adkins to B. Williams
Governor Adkins is informing B. Williams with the Utah Construction Company that he is not willing to allow Japanese Americans to work in the state of Arkansas and that they will remain behind guarded gates at all times.
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Telegram, Governor Homer M. Adkins to Dillon Meyer
Telegram from Governor Homer Adkins to Dillon Meyer with the War Relocation Authority asking him if the WRA is considering allowing Japanese Americans to work outside the camps in Arkansas and reminding him that they agreed to never allow Japanese Americans to work or leave the camps without a military guard.
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Telegram, Governor Homer M. Adkins to John J. McCloy, Assistant Secretary of War
Telegram from Governor Homer Adkins to John J. McCloy, assistant secretary of war, discussing the establishment of factories outside the relocation camps in order to provide employment for internees. Adkins insists that internees should not be allowed to leave the camps.
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Telegram, John H. Tolan, Chairman of the House Committee on Investigation of National Defense Migration to Governor Homer Adkins
Telegram asking for information on how the people of Arkansas will react to an influx of Japanese, German, and Italian evacuees and if work would be available for these individuals.
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Telegram, L.V. Twyford, Secretary for U.S. Senator Lloyd Spencer to Governor Homer Adkins
The telegram states that Senator Spencer should have arrived in Hope, Arkansas, the night before and that they have investigated a proposed location in Otwell for Japanese relocation.
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Telegram, U.S. Senator Lloyd Spencer to Governor Homer Adkins
This is a telegram from United States Senator Lloyd Spencer informing Governor Homer Adkins that the War Relocation Board just purchased land in Desha County and that it will be cleared by interned Japanese Americans.
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Telegram, U.S. Senator Lloyd Spencer to Governor Homer Adkins
Telegram from U.S. Senator Lloyd Spencer to Governor Homer Adkins stating that an investigation of the Wilson School lands is under way.
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Telegram, U.S Senator Lloyd Spencer to Governor Homer M. Adkins
Telegram stating that Secretary of War McCloy is going to be in contact with both San Francisco and Arkansas about the Wilson School District land.
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Transcription from Radiogram, from Ebenezer L. Compere to Corps Area Provost Marshal
Transcription of a radiogram from E.L. Compere, State Director of Selective Service in Arkansas, to the Corps Area Provost Marshal in Omaha, Nebraska. The radiogram is telling the Provost Marshal about the CCC sites in Arkansas that could be used as relocation centers.
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Transcription of Telephone-War Department Radiogram to the commanding general, 7th Corps Area, Omaha, Nebraska
Transcription of a radiogram, sent at 11 a.m. on Feb. 2, 1942, from Adjujant General Adams asking for information on suitable areas for large numbers of evacuees.