ORAL HISTORY
By Marion Kanemoto
The Florin Oral History Project was initiated to preserve the unique history of Florin which was once a thriving farming community with a large Japanese population. Over 70 volumes have been completed representing a cross-section of the Florin and Sacramento communities, including those in various occupations, war veterans, draft resisters, minors in the prisoner of war exchanges, etc. The uniqueness of our oral history collection is the inclusion of non-Japanese community friends who took care of the Japanese farms and belongings and high school teachers who taught us with compassion in camp.
The focus of the interviews is on the forced internment and life in the relocation camps, but questions touch on other issues. We ask about their immigration to the United States from Japan, pre-war experiences, resettlement after the war and personal philosophies. We also have recorded the stories of the people left behind. They were friends and neighbors who watched in anguish as the trains transported the community away.
Please visit the California State University, Sacramento, Archives and Special Collections located next to the library, to see the entire collection. Individual copies can be purchased by contacting Marion Kanemoto, 916-422-8252.
The Florin Oral History Project was initiated to preserve the unique history of Florin which was once a thriving farming community with a large Japanese population. Over 70 volumes have been completed representing a cross-section of the Florin and Sacramento communities, including those in various occupations, war veterans, draft resisters, minors in the prisoner of war exchanges, etc. The uniqueness of our oral history collection is the inclusion of non-Japanese community friends who took care of the Japanese farms and belongings and high school teachers who taught us with compassion in camp.
The focus of the interviews is on the forced internment and life in the relocation camps, but questions touch on other issues. We ask about their immigration to the United States from Japan, pre-war experiences, resettlement after the war and personal philosophies. We also have recorded the stories of the people left behind. They were friends and neighbors who watched in anguish as the trains transported the community away.
Please visit the California State University, Sacramento, Archives and Special Collections located next to the library, to see the entire collection. Individual copies can be purchased by contacting Marion Kanemoto, 916-422-8252.