Manzanar Collection

Personal letter discusses mutuel friends and acquaintances; the climate at Manzanar; her coursework in psychology, shorthand, and wood carving; and her work teaching a kindergarten class. Nagahama remarks on the contradictions faced in classroom discussions in which teachers are supposed to emphasize the home, given their living conditions in Manzanar, and muses that she may use a doll house as a model in order to give students a glimpse "of what a home is supposed to look like." She also mentions learning to play the saxophone, and that she may play for a PTA party.

Personal correspondence describes living conditions in the camp, including eating in the mess hall and the lack of variety of food. Toda also describes her preparation for work in the Education department and the possibility that a friend [Wilda Johnson] may come to Manzanar to teach. Toda also asks about Salzman's work at Lockheed, saying that she has heard it described as a "women's Paradise"; says that she misses school and WAA [?]; and describes attending meetings almost every night for an acapella choir class.

Personal letter describes Christmas Day in the internment camp, mentioning the wind, dust, and cold conditions along with the beauty of the Sierras and her first view of snow. Toda also describes a Christmas party that drew people of all ages, and asks about Salzman's work and if Salzman is affected by gas rationing or other shortages, noting that they have felt effects of rationing at Manzanar.

Personal correspondence describes appreciation for Salzman's visit and gift of comic books; it also mentions hot and dusty conditions at Manzanar.

Christmas letter addressed to Wilda [Johnson], describing a family reunion at Mammoth Lakes and providing news of family and friends. Mentioned also are several of Murakami's writings, including the booklet, entitled "A Probable Jesus"; an open letter to Niseis that was printed in the November, [1994?] issue of the Tozai Times, published in Los Angeles; and a future project that Murakami describes as "my Las Vegas project to Niseis residing there."

Personal letter discusses work in doctor's office; teaching; and taking classes as well as club meetings featuring games and refreshments. Toda also asks how Salzman, "our defense worker" is doing.

Personal letter thanking Salzman for sending an encyclopedia and noting that "daily work is about the same" and that "everything is on the boresome side." Also mentions visit by church friends; a move by Miriko [Nagahama], her mother and sister to a new place within the camp, undertaken because of a new regulation seeking to reduce the number of inhabitants per apartment; and that Honey [Toda] is well.

Personal correspondence mentions a mutual friend's employment "at an aircraft co." and asks about Salzman's work [at Lockheed]; mentions that she is getting ready for school to open and that she is very busy in the Education Department; and states that, because there are "no beds or mattresses for teachers to sleep on" they have been told to stay home pending arrival of furniture. She also states that about 28 teachers who have already arrived are sleeping in barracks on cots, and that some of them are UCLA graduates. She mentions a recent dust storm and that she would like to go home, even if Manzanar "isn't too bad."

Personal correspondence; Nagahama promises to send a subscription of the "Manzanar Free Press" to Salzman as thanks for Salzman doing her a favor.

Personal letter discusses how much Nagahama misses their circle of friends and Glendale [California], despite her knowledge that "the sentiment toward us is not very favorable" and mentions that Honey [Toda] "has left the barbed-wire confines of Manzanar" for work taking care of children for a family in Washington, DC. Notes that Nisei teachers have been given a raise and a promotion to professional rating and describes her work schedule and life as a kindergarten teacher, including the difficulties of teaching "16 children at one time in one little 2 x 4." Also briefly describes Bainbridge Island and the Nisei from there; expresses her appreciation to Salzman for doing some shopping for her; and describes the weather, including dust and wind.

Correspondence from Miriko Nagahama to Betty Salzman, December 27, 1943

Personal correspondence mentions their old group of friends ("the gang") and activities; a visit from a lieutenant from the [WAAC'o?] seeking recruits, and that joining may be a possibility should school and job not provide a means by which Toda can leave Manzanar. She also discusses her work "slaving away for the 'educational system'"; Salzman's work as instrument-tester [with Lockheed]; an upcoming Manzanar anniversary celebration ("one year since the first volunteers came to this desert outpost"); and her desire to leave as soon as possible.

Personal correspondence describes Toda's studies at the University of Maryland, where she is majoring in Sociology and minoring in Psychology, and her work as a stenographer with the Department of Labor; asks about Salzman's class in electrical fundamentals; and discusses mutuel friends.

Personal letter mentions mutuel acquaintances and desire to see visitors, a ban on anything other than business visitors, and a requirement that all visitors must apply for permits. The letter also mentions the prospect of being in Manzanar for a long time. Toda states that camp life will not stop them from having fun, such as a picnics; she mentions "weiner bakes" along with hot, dusty conditions. She also notes Salzman's work on swing shifts and urges Salzman not to let her work get her down, but rather to "do your part for the U.S.A. - 'Keep them flying!'"

Personal letter describing school and life in Washington, DC, including attendance at the Cavalcade of Freedom show, and asking about friends, including two who may have been at an incarceration camp that she describes as being perhaps near Tahoe.

A letter from Honey Toda to Betty Salzman about Toda's experience in school.

Personal letter discusses Nagahama's shorthand and drafting classes; Salzman's promotion to instrument tester [at Lockheed]; her own and Salzman's saxophone playing; Hideo [Watanabe's?] employment as business manager in the "Free Press" (her quotes) office; and rationing at Manzanar. She also expresses sorrow at the loss the prior week of 177 "former Bainbridge Island people" who had been removed to "Hunt Relocation Center in Minidoka, Idaho" mentioning that they had petitioned to "evacuate to the Idaho center right after the riot when there was so much tension because they wanted to be with the people from up north where they had come from." She further discusses her surprise that people had been brought to Manzanar from Bainbridge Island in the first place.

Personal letter describes being too busy to write and thanks Salzman for photographs "of the girls" mentioning that Nagahama feels nostalgic when she views them. Nagahama notes her efforts to educate herself as a kindergarten teacher and that she cannot quit the job because the Education Department told teachers that, if they were to quit, they would be "blacklisted and another job will be difficult if not impossible to obtain"; she also mentions the possibility of relocation, and that she has heard from Honey [Toda], who is attending the University of Maryland. Further discusses open houses for Inyo-Mono County residents and teachers, during which products and produce from Manzanar are featured, and that visitors have been impressed with "what has been done and is being accomplished here."

Request that Betty Salzman write a letter of recommendation to the War Relocation Authority on behalf of Miriko Nagahama so that Nagahama may leave Manzanar.

Personal letter expresses appreciation for Salzman's correspondence and mentions needing to take care of "another bloody nose"; it also describes fond memories of having attended football games during her "Glendale Hi and J.C. days" and notes that baseball and ping-pong are popular sports at Manzanar. Nagahama asks about Salzman and other women's work at Lockheed and about a friend's marriage and studies at UCLA, and mentions Honey [Toda] and a visit by several friends at camp; the friends had secured a permit for only one hour. She also states that she is in a teacher training program for nursery school, and describes activities associated with preparing for classes when the school opens later in the month.

Personal letter describing Nagahama's experience thus far at the National Training School, where she is studying to become a kindergarten teacher, and her appreciation of hearing about their "gang" of friends. Nagahama gives news of Hideo [Watanabe] and mentions that Honey [Toda] is now working as an administrative assistant at the University of Maryland and will be visiting upon returning from a trip to the "Manzanar Relocation Center." She also encourages Salzman to resume her college studies, saying that a college education will prove more beneficial after the war than if Salzman were to continue on with Lockheed as an instrument technician.

Personal correspondence with illustration of Lake Tahoe sent from Kansas City, Missouri, where Nagahama is set to enroll in the Kansas City National Training School for Christian Workers.

Personal correspondence from Reno, Nevada describes time outside of the camp and the experience of being able to walk on real sidewalks and "breathe the carbon monoxide freely"; Nagahama also mentions that she and her sister are headed next for Kansas City, Missouri.

Personal letter describing final exams and an impending trip to California; also gives news of Hideo [Watanabe] and of a friend who had to drop out of UCLA.

Photograph of friends posed in front of a car, with the camp police station in the background. Inscription on back of photograph: "Lorraine Paulson, Miriko Nagahama, Honey Toda, Wilda Johnson, Betty Salzman. Photographer Lloyd Linn, Wilda's friend. Manzanar, CA 6-21-42". Accompanying note reads: "The Photo @ Manzanar, 6-21-42: at the entry to the camp. The building in the background has a sign: Police Station. As I recall, at that time that was the only location we could take a picture. Betty Liebscher".