Imagine what it must have been like to be a San Franciscan in 1942 who suddenly had friends and acquaintances rounded up en masse and removed to prison camps. Unfortunately, in the current Trumpian nightmare, it is all too imaginable as law-abiding neighbors, coworkers, and other community members are seized, detained, and often deported. But in 1942, no one (to my knowledge) demonstrated, and any petitions that were circulated were summarily dismissed.

My mother had Caucasian friends from school days, with whom she tried to stay in touch during the upheaval.

 

May 24, 1942
To my mother, Bldg. 80 – Apt. 3, Tanforan Assembly Center
From Margaret, Oak Street, San Francisco

I was so glad to hear from you and hope conditions are improved…

I can appreciate your anxiety over your (diabetic) mother’s diet…

From your letter the thing I would object to most is the lack of privacy…

Was your brother able to complete his college term? It seems that the University could make some provision to take care of this kind of a situation…

Perhaps when some of the confusion is ironed out at Tanforan I can come down to see you…

Margaret did come to Tanforan for a visit. My mother was never to forget the sight of her friend in her cardigan sweater, gloves, and heels, carefully navigating her way over train tracks to visit through the fence…

 

 

May 22, 1942
To my mother at Tanforan
From Mandena, another school friend, 48th Ave., San Francisco

My dear Tomiko, your letter was very welcome and I was really happy to hear from you…

I received a letter from Kiyono; she sent her address, which I include for your information…  (Kiyono is in Pomona Assembly Center)

Your letter expressed quite a courageous attitude about your new life there…

It is very wonderful of you doing your part to organize a nursery for the children…

Mandena was working at the Emporium department store downtown and offered to do any shopping if my mother or her family needed anything. By the fall of 1942, the family’s transfer to Topaz was imminent. My mother had sent Mandena a check and asked her to buy some wool jersey fabric (to go with an enclosed fabric swatch); a blue cardigan sweater for her sister, my aunt Kiyo; a suit; some scarves; and needles. Mandena gave a careful accounting of her purchases, costs, and the change she was returning to my mother.

 

 

September 2, 1942
To my mother at Tanforan
From Mandena, 48th Ave., San Francisco

Altogether, I spent $37.39 so you have $2.61 coming to you in change. I do hope that my selections are what you wanted. The store is sending the purchases, probably in two packages. You will, no doubt receive them the latter part of this week…

I do hope the day will not be far off when we will all meet again for a continued life of peace…

In the meantime, let me know when you get settled in Utah, and I am glad, always, to be of help to you…

 

Continue to Topaz Letters: Journey and arrival

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