Dear Friends,
We’ve been under mandatory shelter-in-place for a month now. I hope you are well in these unfathomable times. As part of our NJAHS family, your well-being is important to us. I want to reach out to you to see how you are surviving. How are you holding up?
We’ve heard from many of you. You have had major life-changes -some for the worse, the loss of a loved one, the separation of family. And some for the better – enjoying beautiful weather, a slower pace of life, and the comforts of home. Despite this trauma, we now all share—contemplation of what’s important to us- the preciousness of life itself. This episodic event gives us pause to examine our own lives, the past lives of others, and to set a path for our future.
Here at the Historical Society, we come from a variety of backgrounds-legal, health, education, science & technology, yet we have a common interest and that is a strong sense of history… knowing how big events (like these) help shape our lives. Thus, we feel just as a family, a need to stay engaged — to make sure that you are inter-connected to a community that shares your stories.
While we shelter in place, we will continue with our essential mission: to preserve, interpret and share historical information on the Japanese American experience to a broader national community. We are all in this together, so we hope to share stories, genealogical research, educational curriculum, and even the significance of our heirlooms to enrich our lives.
Take this survey so we can offer programs to fit your needs. In the coming weeks, we will be preparing programming that brings us together remotely. Until then, please take care, stay sheltered and safe.
Here’s a GAMAN MOMENT, PLEASE SHARE YOURS Gaman – perseverance, against all odds.
Some 78 years ago by March and April 1942, some 112,000 persons of Japanese ancestry were incarcerated behind barbed wire. My Issei grandmother would relay this story: In the rush of preparing to go to the “Assembly Centers,” mothers were fretting over what to take to their unknown destinations. Where would they go, how long would it be, what could they take? As they sold off their businesses, cast off their household goods, buried their family treasures, and boarded up their homes, they could only take what they could carry. Remarkably, many of the Issei women would stuff their pockets with precious vegetable seeds, wrapped in cloth handkerchiefs. Resourceful, they would begin planting them between their horse stall barracks. They would hand-water them until little patches of green leafy vegetables would sprout. Amid the harsh conditions behind barbed wire, they would nourish their families and regain a sense of continuity to their daily lives. Photographer Dorothea Lange captured it so well.
During this shelter in place, have you decided to start a garden? What makes you appreciate growing something? Do you have a Gaman moment?
Fact Point: Since 1917 Kitazawa Seed Company has been selling heirloom seeds. https://www.kitazawaseed.com/about.html For our lesson plan school tours on gaman and resilence, we had students plant seeds in the garden at the MIS Historic Learning Center. Their seed packets are given as favors at our Annual Awards Dinners.
What Would You Like To Do?
Please take this SURVEY (Click Here) to find out what is important to you and how we can best serve your needs. For example, we can offer online author /curator talks
Thank You, We Love Your Support!
We want to take this time to thank each and every donor, member, visitor, and customer who has supported us over the years and continues to do so. Because we rely on your support and admissions & sales to keep the operations going (even during this shutdown, we still have to pay for security upkeep, cooling/heating/ventilation/ fire protection systems for our collections, insurance, & staff maintenance etc) every dollar counts. Here are some ways you can win and continue your love & support.
- Summer Raffle. Win a chance for cash prizes, travel all to benefit our educational summer workshops for 150 teachers across the country
- Annual Awards Tribute. While postponed until September 5. We still honor our most influential leaders on their lifetime achievements.
John Tateishi, Dr. Reiko True, Rev. Ron Kobata, Asian American Curriculum Project (Founders: Florence & Mas Hongo,) - Donate on-line or mail donation to NJAHS, 1684 Post Street, SF CA 94115
- Commemorative Donor Wall. Honored your Loved One permanently on our Donor Wall at the MIS Historic Learning Center.
- Membership: Join or Renew On-line
- Shop on-line for past issues of Nikkei Heritage, DVDs, books out of print.
