Check Military Records related to the Relocation and Internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II
Office of the Provost Marshal General (OPMG), RG 389
Records of the Provost Division
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Subject Correspondence Files Relating to the Internal Security Program, 1941-1946
This includes:
Loyalty Investigation Program (Boxes 1828-1831)
Japanese-American Program (Box 1851)
Files lists are available.
Read a description of these records in our online catalog
Records of the Japanese-American Branch
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Records Relating to Persons of Japanese Ancestry Residing in the United States, 1942-1946
The records of the Japanese-American Program include the minutes of meetings of the Japanese-American Joint Board. The Board made determinations in cases of individuals' release from relocation centers or employment in specific industries. Files also include records about Japanese-American men eligible for military service, including name, birth-date, prewar address, and relocation center.
Box and file list available.
Read more about these records in our online catalog
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Japanese-American Personal Data Cards
The Japanese-American Personal Data Cards contain personal information (such as name, address and birthdate) and investigatory information (membership in certain organizations, character assessments, allegations regarding disloyal statements, prewar visits to Japan, and relatives living in Japan). Other files contain policy and administrative records, statistical summaries, as well as historical background on the program.
Read more about these records in our online catalog
Records of the Enemy Prisoner of War Information Bureau
- Subject Files
Read about this series in our National Archives Catalog
Highlights
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Hawaii, Civilian Internees
These records pertain to both Japanese and Japanese-American civilian internees living in Hawaii at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack. They consist of the proceedings of temporary boards of Army officers and Hawaiian civilians to determine the internment status of individuals.
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Hawaii: Enemy Alien General File
These files document policies and individual cases in the deportation of Japanese-Americans to the mainland.
Read more about these records in our online catalog
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Hawaii, Return Groups
These records consist of lists of Japanese-Americans deported to the mainland and subsequently returned, or offered the option to return, to Hawaii at war's end.
Read more about these records in our online catalog
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Hawaii, Civilian Internees
How to search these records
Descriptions of the records are online in our online catalog. Folder names may include the assembly centers. For searches of individual names or families, please contact the Modern Military Records unit:
- E-mail: http://www.archives.gov/contact/inquire-form.html
- Telephone: 301-837-3510
- Visit us in person
WDC and Wartime Civil Control Administration records contain documents relating to the policy and administration of the program to evacuate Japanese-Americans from the west coast, including documents about the public reaction to the program.
Western Defense Command and Fourth Army, Wartime Civil Control Administration
Read about these records in our online catalog
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Classified General Correspondence, 1942-1946
Box and file list available.
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General Correspondence, 1942-1946
Box and file list available.
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Publications Concerning the Internment of Japanese-Americans, 1942-1945
Item list available.
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Individual Exclusion Board and Program Correspondence, 1942-1945
Box and file list available.
Western Defense Command and Fourth Army, Wartime Civil Control Administration and Civil Affairs Division; Entry 140 (UD)
- Library Collection; Seized Enemy Records, 1917-1942. Mainly Japanese-language documents seized from West Coast Japanese societies, religious organizations and individuals.
Records of Assembly Centers
The records of the Assembly Center Branch contain general files about the administration of the assembly centers, as well as files about specific centers. Assembly Center records contain both administrative records and files about internees, arranged by Family (Family Folders).
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Microfilm Copy of the Index of the Records of the Assembly Center Branch, 1942-1945. Entry 1 (A1)
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Microfilm Copy of the General Correspondence of the Assembly Center Branch, 1942-1943. Entry 2 (A1)
Roll list available.
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Microfilm Copy of the records of the Finance Division of the Assembly Center Branch, 1942-1945. Roll list available. Entry 3 (A1)
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Microfilm Copy of the Records of the Central and Area Supply Office of the Assembly Center Branch, 1942-1945. Entry 4 (A1)
Roll list available.
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Western Defense Command and Fourth Army, Wartime Civil Control Administration and Civil Affairs Division; Microfilm Copy of Records of Assembly Centers, 1942-1945. Entry 5 (A1)
Roll list available.
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Western Defense and Fourth Army, Wartime Civil Control Administration and Civil Affairs Division; Microfilm Copy of Records of Japanese Relocation Centers. 1942-46. Entry 143 (UD)
Box labels and MLR entry in error. These are records of Assembly Centers, not Relocation Centers. Roll list available.
How to search these records
Contact the Modern Military Records unit:
- E-mail:
http://www.archives.gov/contact/
- Telephone: 301-837-3510
- Visit us in person