Daily Log: October 16-18, 1942

(Hospital dedication)

(Excerpts from the Daily Log of the WAR RELOCATION AUTHORITY Central Utah Relocation Project, Project Reports Division, Historical Section. Topaz, Utah)

OCTOBER 16 (1942)

BABY FOOD — Baby food was cooked in Dining Hall 11 and distributed to each dining hall.

SECOND DEATH — Umeyo Furuta, 57, 33-9-D, died in Delta at 2:05 a.m.

WRA PHOTOGRAPHER — Tom Parker, photographer of the IRA reports division, took pictures of the city, including 16 mm. movies in color.

Japanese American young men tackle each other in the desert, with barracks in the background. — “Tough football.” Topaz, Utah. Tough football, as practiced by these young residents at the Topaz center, develops into a very rough game indeed, despite the lack of head gear or any suitable equipment. Tom Parker, WRA. 10/19/1942. NARA 538667.

Three Japanese American men dig around a large tree--the only tree in the picture, with open space to the horizon behind. — Topaz, Utah. To soften the general atmosphere at the hospital at the Topaz Relocation Center, these volunteer workers are preparing to move a tree to be transplanted near the hospital grounds. Tom Parker, WRA. 10/16/1942. NARA 538694.

An older Japanese American man in a suit speaks to an audience from makeshift platform outside the new hospital barrack, — Topaz, Utah. With a fervent prayer, this Japanese Topaz resident, a Christian Minister, opens the dedication ceremonies at the Relocation Center at Topaz. Tom Parker, WRA. 10/17/1942. NARA 538708.

OCTOBER 17

SIXTH BABY — The sixth Topaz Baby was born at 10:07 a.m, to Mrs. Misaye Uyeno, 26-3-D.

OCTOBER 18

HOSPITAL DEDICATION — Dedication of the Topaz hospital took place in the afternoon. The informal program included the speakers, Project Director Ernst, and Dr. Ramsey, chief medical officer.

FOOTBALL GAME — The first touch-tackle football games were played at Topaz.

SHOW CLOSES — The first art and crafts show closed tonight. The event was under the supervision of Chiura Obata, art education chief.

Previous “Daily Log” entries:

October 14-15: First Nisei soldier visits
October 12-13: “Jankee”
October 7-9: Fresnans, Santa Anitans arrive
October 3-5: Tar
September 29-October 1: Community Council
September 27-28: Dust, new arrivals
Sep tember 23-26: Outside workers, lost and found
September 22: First baby
Sept ember 18-21: First frost
September 17: First group arrives
September 15: Topaz Times launched
September 11: Welcome to Topaz

The Topaz Stories Team

Plan to visit the Topaz Stories Exhibit in Salt Lake City before it closes on December 31, 2022.

Media Coverage:
Watch Topaz survivors tell their stories (abc4 news, 4/22/2022)
Listen to the “In the Hive” podcast with interviews with Ann Dion, Jonathan Hirabayashi, and Topaz survivors Jeanie Kashima and Joseph Nishimura (KCPW, 4/28/2022)
Read How a Utah exhibit about Topaz Camp looks to find empathy in ‘an ugly stain on American history (ksl.com, 4/22/2022)
Read “Topaz Stories rise from the dust,” (Department of Culture & Community Engagement, 4/2022)
Listen to KQED Forum, Day of Remembrance interview with Ruth Sasaki, 2/15/2022
Listen to Max Chang and Ruth Sasaki interviewed (KRCL RadioActive, 2/9/2022
Read On Topaz Stories and ‘Authentic Voice’, the Discover Nikkei interview with Ruth Sasaki (10/14/2022)
Listen to Remembering the Japanese American Incarceration, the Topaz Stories podcast with Ruth Sasaki and Jonathan Hirabayashi (6/2/2021)

Daily Log: October 16-18, 1942

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