Contents

See also VF Santa Anita Assembly Center for Mrs. Murayama's oral history

1. Interview with Roy H. Pike, who has lived in Arcadia since 1925. (1976)

2. Interview with George McCoy, 81 years old. Sept. 1978.

3. Conversation held July 10, 1980 with Mary Cuellar Rodrigues.

4. Conversations and interview with Henry Mauch and his wife, Cacilie, at their home September 12, 1980.

5. Raymond Bowman, Arcadia High School Band Director. 1976

6. Patrick Carlin, Arcadia resident. 1976

7. Dr. Norvell Dice, Superintendent of Arcadia Schools, 1976

8. Eunice Easley, secretary to Mr. Lowery McCaslin, owner of Anoakia. 1976

9. Julian Fisher, son of E.J. Baldwin's farrier. 1976.

10. Fujikawa. Interview about Japanese internment. 1976

11. Edwin J. Gengler. 1977

12. Mrs. James M. Green. 1976

13. James Griffitts, former City Councilman. 1976

14. R.H. Hamilton, resident at 170 E. Longden Avenue, 1976

7/12/2006

15. Rudolph Hartman, pioneer pharmacist of Sierra Madre who remembered Anita Baldwin. 1976

16. Morris Hegg, long time plumbing contractor . 1976

17. Murray Imhoff. 1976

18. Benjamin Kiley. 1976

19. Ed Knisley, son of business manager of Anita Baldwin in later years. 1976.

20. Florence Knurr, owner of Clara Baldwin Stocker home on Foothill Boulevard. 1977.

21. Earl Kramer. 1976.

22. Tony Lopez, son of family that formerly lived on Baldwin Ranch. 1976.

23. Mrs. James Matthews. 1976

24. Joseph Mullender, grandson of Clara Baldwin. 1976

25. Joseph Mullender. 1977.

26. Catherine Mundy, newspaper columnist with the Arcadia Tribune. 1976 or 1977.

27. Roy Pike, Arcadia Poultryman. 1976

28. Sidney Platford, local history authority and long-time Arcadia resident. 1976

29. Raymond Ramuz, nurseryman. 1976

30. Conrad Reibold, former City Councilman. 1976

31. F. Harold Roach, Arcadia Tribune owner and editor for many years. 1976

32. F. Harold Roach. Interview by different interviewer.

33. Mark Sellers, jockey who grew up in Arcadia. 1977

34. William Shoemaker, noted jockey. 1976.

35. Mrs. Marilyn Stoke, race horse owner. 1976.

36. Miss Adele Strutzenberg. 1976

37. Fernando Toro, jockey. 1976

38. Adrian E. Winkler. 1976.

39. Alice Wood. 1976

40. Joseph D. Mullender, great grandson of Lucky Baldwin. 1964

41. Joseph D. Mullender and Mrs. W.A. Heater, recent owner of Clara Baldwin Stocker home.

42. Claire Charles, friend of Anita Baldwin. 1963

43. Charles W. Jones, mayor of Sierra Madre in 1907. 1962

44. William D. Millard, sixth mayor of Arcadia. 1963.

45. Clara Bertolina, whose husband used to work for Lucky Baldwin. 1968.

46. Lucille Bateman. 1976

47. John Edmund Moore, "My life story," no date.

48. Julian Fisher, son of E.J. Baldwin's African-American farrier. August 4, 1976. Transcribed interview conducted at Julian Fisher's home.

49. Julian Fisher, son of E.J. Baldwin's African-American farrier. August 17, 1976. Transcribed interview.

50. Joe Sciarra, an Arcadia resident and World War II veteran, born in 1924. Interviewed on video, on June 1, 2022. Transcribed interview. Joe's 6 part oral history videos can be viewed at Arcadia Public Library's YouTube playlist called Arcadia Oral History Project at https://tinyurl.com/mukmyfv9

Subjects

Oral History

Physical Description

3 folders

Item ID

159AF

Collection

Subject Files

Less detail

Contents

1. "The Santa Anita Rancho." By Percy Bonebrake. Seven pages.

2. "Caminos - Pioneering with the Paynes (Dee M. Payne), 1907-1947." Published by the Arcadia Historical Society.

3. "Tales of Ben Benadum, Parts I, II and III." Arcadia Tribune August 11 and 14, 1968.

4. "From the notebook of Bruce R. Wetmore, Part 1." No date, four pages.

5. "From the notebook of Bruce R. Wetmore, Part 2." No date, six pages.

6. Shiershke, R. M. - Family History. Beginning narration to be supplemented. Received July, 1978.

7. "Reminiscences of boyhood in Arcadia." Arcadia Tribune, September 21, 1978.

8. "Arcadia city father taps old memories (James A. Stoker)." Arcadia Tribune, August 10, 1967. Two copies.

9. "Arcadia 'just growed like little topsy' (R.H. Schwartzkopf)." Pasadena Star News, January 1950.

10. "Arcadian tells lot of history (Tom Hefferon)." Daily News Post, January 4, 1968.

11. "Ray Dorn, a key figure in Arcadia's life style." Arcadia Tribune, August 11, 1971.

12. Personal recollections of Ranelds Haag. Four page letter from Haag to cousin Alice Schrock, December 1982.

13. "R.H. Schwartzkopf: Pioneer Arcadia Developer." Three pages of conversation compiled by Nancy Hutton, while talking with subject, Summer 1954.

14. Personal recollections of Vera Van Houten Van Iwaarden, November 1980.

15. Personal recollections of Laura Kreutzkamp Belden, daughter of Arcadia Santa Fe Railway agent, 1909-1915. Two pages from an interview with Pat McAdam, November 1980.

16. Interview with Gladys Daniels (Mrs. Albert) conducted by Pat McAdam, February 13, 1981.

17. Recollections of Adrian Winkler as told to Pat McAdam, January 1981.

18. Recollections of Grace Cook, daughter of Jim Duff. News article, no date.

19. Miscellaneous recollections of Arcadia residents during the 1920's. One page of excerpts from long oral interviews conducted by high school students. Use proper names indicated on this page to look up other files on these individuals.

20. Background of Carl Ettensperger, owner of a dairy originally on Sixth and Valnett, circa 1920. Information given by his daughter-in-law, May 1981.

21. Anonymous recollections from the 1930's and 1940's.

22. Recollections of Ava Fickling/ Letter written by subject circa 1966-1967 regarding her father's life and work as foreman of the Lucky Baldwin Rancho.

23. Recollections of Harriet Jordan Mooney. Letter written by subject to Pat McAdam, April 7, 1982.

24. Recollections of Reid Greer, December 1981.

25. Letter from Leon F. Case dated November 12, 2000. With computer enhanced pictures from Leon Case's childhood in Arcadia, with some captions: images of Leon Case at Santa Anita Motor Inn, children on horseback, his mother in 1944.

26. Musings by Jerry Selmer, an article from the Friends of the Library newsletter "Among Friends," Feb-Mar 2010, about Santa Anita Park as a 'relocation center' during World War II. Santa Anita Assembly Center for the Japanese.

Subjects

Personal Narratives (SEE ALSO - Oral History)

Item ID

102AF

Collection

Subject Files

Less detail

Contents

1. Horses replaced by houses at Santa Anita. Arcadia Tribune March 26, 1942.

2. Evacuation base rising at track. Arcadia Tribune March 26, 1942.

3. Santa Anita Race Track now converted. Arcadia Tribune April 8, 1942.

4. The above view of the 40 acre parking lot. news clip, n.d. circa 1942.

5. Santa Anita Race Track opens its gates as temporary assembly. news clip, n.d. circa 1942.

6. Huntington Drive closing denied. Arcadia Tribune April 2, 1942.

7. We Wish to bring to your attention. Handwritten letter to the War Department to correct sewage problem at Center and its reply.

8. Birthright of Barbed Wire. re: book by that title.

9. Barricade lifted on Huntington. Arcadia Tribune October 29, 1942.

10. Nisei question. Los Angeles Times April 2, 1967.

11. Nisei evacuation brides. Los Angeles Times May 17, 1967.

12. They're off and running. Los Angeles Times December 26, 1974.

13. Another example of emergency wartime. History of the Los Angeles District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, p.13

14. She gets a diploma at 86. Los Angeles Times June 18, 1976.

15. Dismal memories rekindled - Fashion Park: WWII campsite. Arcadia Tribune, June 2, 1974, p. A1.

16. Camp Santa Anita. San Gabriel Valley Tribune. April 17, 1977.

17. Information sheet giving data on Center newspaper and location of Center records.

18. Famed track has infamous past. Arcadia Tribune. March 26, 1978.

19. Selected bibliography of Japanese Relocation on the West Coast WWII 1942-1945, made at the time of display of National Archives photos in April of 1979.

20. Santa Anita Pacemaker. Photocopy of part of the front page of newspaper for the Center. June 9, 1942.

21. Study of relocation centers for Japanese during WWII completed by Raymond Okamura in 1980. (30 page report sent to Arcadia Public Library December 14, 1981 in response to query by P. McAdam.)

22. Pacific Citizen December 19-26, 1980. Maps and descriptions of the 14 Assembly Centers in California during WWII.

23. Photos on display. Highlander newsclip with photo. April 11, 1979.

24. News release March 9, 1979 about exhibit at Arcadia Public Library.

25. Constitution drawn up by evacuees shortly after establishment of Center. San Gabriel Valley Tribune April 17, 1977.

26. Copy of Executive Order 9066 from CFR Title 3, The President 1938-1943 Compilation.

27. Reparations awaken painful recollections. Los Angeles Times, part IX, p.1 August 18, 1988

28. "The decision to evacuate the Japanese from the West Coast." Greenfield, Kent Roberts, COMMMAND DECISIONS, chapter 4.

29. "The relocation of the Japanese." Bean, Walton. CALIFORNIA: AN INTERPRETIVE HISTORY, 2nd ed. p. 430-438.

30. "Wartime problems." Rolle, Andrew F. CALIFORNIA: A HISTORY. 3rd ed, p.521-524.

31. Fifty years ago, racing went to war, too. THE RACING TIMES, p. 1. December 7, 1991.

32. Best bet: American Friends Service Committee found drawer of documents. Los Angeles Times May 9, 1993.

33. Friends Journal (Quaker Thought and Life Today) November 1992.

34. An Interrupted Heritage. Book review of STUBBORN TWIG by Laura Kessler. Three generations in the life of a Japanese American family. Los Angeles Times January 9, 1994, p.4.

35. Folder of copies of photos of life at the Camp; description of photos provided by National Archives (includes photographer's name and date.)

36. Instructions to all persons of Japanese ancestry. Copy of poster regarding evacuation.

37. "Internment of Japanese Americans." Documents from the National Archives produced by the Education Branch.

38. Photo of plaque at Santa Anita Park recognizing the Park's use as an Assembly Center for the Japanese during WWII. Taken August 2002.

39. Stitches in time, Quilt tells story of 'Life behind Barbed Wire'. Michi Murayama of Alhambra made a full-size memory quilt documenting the experience of her and her families' incarceration in the Santa Anita Assembly Hall and the Jerome Location Center in Arkansas. Pasadena Star News June 30, 2001, p. D1.

40. Photcopies and descriptions of photographs taken by Clem Albers at the Santa Anita Assembly Center, 1942. From the War Relocation Authority, Midland Savings Bldg., Denver, Colorado.

41. Correspondence from Bronslaw Kielbasa to Arcadia Public Library dated September 1, 1998 with "Report on Civilian Detention Camp Tuna Canyon, Tujunga, California, May 28, 1942." (Declassified information from the General Records of State Department.)

42. Postcard about a book signing at Vroman's in Pasadena for "The Evacuation Diary of Hatsuye Egami" by Claire Gorfinkel. (Tulare Assembly Center, California)

43. Rising Sons, Remembering America's forgotten wartime casualties - Prisoners of race by Jana J. Monji. Pasadena Weekly, February 13, 2003, p.14.

44. Racing plant will shelter enemy aliens - stables being turned into quarters for evacuees. The Pasadena Post, March 23, 1942.

45. Army closes highway near evacuee camp - portion of Huntington Drive barricaded indefinitely. The Pasadena Post, May 15, 1942.

46. "Santa Anita Track Opens Gates as Temporary Assembly Station for Japanese." News clipping of large photograph with caption. Accompanying story not available. No date. Circa 1942.

47. "Santa Anita gates open to 1000 Japs: evacuees from San Pedro and Long Beach find well-prepared plant for assembly," Los Angeles Times, April 4, 1942.

48. "Charges filed against Japs: Santa Anita internees accused of violating reception center rules, " Los Angeles Times, June 25, 1942.

49. "Behind the line with Dick Hyland," column with biography of Michael Henry Fidelis Mahoney, who for the last four months has been the assistant personnel relations officer at the Santa Anita Assembly Center for the Japanese. Los Angeles Times, June 30, 1942.

50. "Health peril meeting set: Arcadia seeks action on sewage condition at Santa Anita Jap Camp," Los Angeles Times, July 13, 1942.

51. "Jap evacuation work criticized: Leland Ford calls it social experiment and hits lack of guards, " Los Angeles Times, July 19, 1942.

52. "Japanese to start moving from Santa Anita Wednesday," Los Angeles Times, August 22, 1942.

53. "Thousand Japanese to leave Santa Anita over week-end," Los Angeles Times, September 19, 1942.

54. "More Japs leave Arcadia: transfer of 500 to Arkansas cuts camp population under 8000," Los Angeles Times, September 26, 1942.

55. "Army will move 5000 Japs by end of week," Los Angeles Times, April 1, 1942.

56. "Aliens jam Santa Anita: thousand Japanese moved from harbor by trains and autos," Los Angeles Times, April 6, 1942.

57. "Bay City Japs en route here: evacuees to bring total at Santa Anita to 3150; many await transfer," Los Angeles Times, April 7, 1942.

58. "Center gets 1246 Japs from south: contingent arriving on four special trains swells population at Santa Anita to 4353," Los Angeles Times, April 9, 1942.

59. "More awaiting Santa Anita trip: Downey and Lawndale Japanese must be evacuated by Tuesday," Los Angeles Times, April 11, 1942.

60. "Japs leave Downey and Lawndale tomorrow: army officials will move 2500 by auto and bus to Santa Anita," Los Angeles Times, April 12, 1942.

61. "More Japanese leaving today: Downey and Lawndale exodus scheduled to be completed tomorrow," Los Angeles Times, April 13, 1942.

62. "Japs in two more city areas ordered out: April 29 set as deadline, number told to leave Los Angeles since Saturday now 5000," Los Angeles Times, April 20, 1942.

63. "New Japanese exodus from coast ordered: latest evacuation decree will affect nearly 13,000 , including 5950 in southland area," Los Angeles Times, April 22, 1942.

64. "Japs to get final orders: instruction for mass evacuation May 1 will be given over week-end," Los Angeles Times, April 23, 1942.

65. "Japs register for removals: hundreds line up at two control stations under Army's orders," Los Angeles Times, April 26, 1942.

66. "New batch of Japanese ouster orders announced: thousands more to depart for Santa Anita and Tulare Reception Centers next Thursday," Los Angeles Times, May 1, 1942.

67. "Army orders removal of 2100 more Japanese: heads of families in two sections of city must register tomorrow and Tuesday," Los Angeles Times, May 3, 1942.

68. "Downtown Japs register: two churches utilized for signing of 2100 more for evacuation," Los Angeles Times, May 5, 1942.

69. "Japs will go to Pomona Fairgrounds camp: more aliens told to move, new evacuation orders will take half of Nipponese from coast," Los Angeles Times, May 6, 1942.

70. "Population of Santa Anita Japanese Center now 13,000: another contingent arrives as settlement at Pomona prepares to receive first group of evacuees tomorrow," Los Angeles Times, May 7, 1942.

71. "Army moves 793 from Little Tokyo: Japs centered at Santa Anita with second batch of 548 sent directly to Manzanar," Los Angeles Times, May 9, 1942.

72. "Japs gambling charges filed: complaints against 10 arrested in raid on Santa Anita issued," Los Angeles Times, May 26, 1942.

73. "Santa Anita Center officials defended: noted citizens familiar with conditions deny Japanese evacuees are kept underfed," Los Angeles Times, May 31, 1942.

74. Letters to The Times -- Feeding of Japanese, by Mrs. C.B.S., Arcadia. Los Angeles Times, June 3, 1942.

75. "Santa Anita Japs end sit-down: work on project resumed by 800," Los Angeles Times, June 18, 1942.

76. "Japanese-Chinese wedding deferred: girl didn't want mate to live at Santa Anita," Los Angeles Times, July 11, 1942.

77. "American-born Jap wants to enter war poster contest," Los Angeles Times, July 12, 1942.

78. "Wipe-out of Santa Anita Race Track assessment refused: appeal to board says Turf Club put out of business by Federal use of plant as Jap Assembly Center," Los Angeles Times, July 25, 1942.

79. "Santa Anita liquor smuggling plot charged as four booked: two stewards, chef and cook accused of scheme to take in whisky for sale to Japanese," Los Angeles Times, August 8, 1942.

80. "Troops quell Jap riot of 2000 at Santa Anita," Los Angeles Times, August 8, 1942.

81. "Fire sweeps roof at Santa Anita: blaze controlled by Jap-manned force," Los Angeles Times, August 25, 1942.

82. "Santa Anita Japs will be moved: three thousand will leave for Colorado Relocation Center," Los Angeles Times, September 15, 1942.

83. "Rigid Manzanar control sought: Leland Ford warns 'Socialistic experiment' will cause more trouble," Los Angeles Times, December 11, 1942.

84. "Remembering Pearl Harbor--differently," Los Angeles Times, April 4, 1972.

85. "L.A. Then and Now: Racetrack had part in dark chapter of history," by Alison Bell, Los Angeles Times, November 8, 2009, p. A44.

86. Bacon Sakatani: Valley man shares internment experience. The Weekly Star, October 14, 2010. Although Sakatani's family was sent to Pomona Fairgrounds temporarily, then to Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Wyoming, Santa Anita Race Track in Arcadia is mentioned.

87. Application for registration of historical landmark # 934, the temporary detention camps for Japanese Americans, in the counties of Fresno, Inyo, Los Angeles, Merced, Monterey, Sacramento, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Yuba. May 13, 1980.

88. Plaque at Santa Anita Goes Unnoticed. A plaque dedicated to the Japanese Americans who were "processed" at Santa Anita Park was erected in May, with little fanfare. Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, 22, December 13, 2001.

89. Executive Order 9066 was signed 75 years ago today. The other date of infamy. by Stephanie K. Baer, Pasadena Star News, February 19, 2017. Retrieved from Pasadenastarnews.com on February 21, 2017.

90. Internees reunite: Japanese-Americans detained at Santa Anita Park before being shipped to camps share photos, memories and friendship at 75th anniversary event in Little Tokyo. Pasadena Star News, April 16, 2017.

91. Transcription of interview with Mrs. Murayama, October 1998. She spoke of her incarceration at Santa Anita Assembly Center, living in horse stables and army-type barracks. Oral history. See PDF in K: drive.

92. Documentary to Share Citizens' Stories, Memories. Pasadena Star News, March 6, 2023. Effort to document Japanese American encampments at the Santa Anita Race Track in Arcadia, the Fairplex in Pomona and ten other temporary California detention centers. Three detainees now in their nineties (Bacon Sakatani, Mike Hatchimonji and Ted Hamachi) share their memories with writer Sharon Yamato, photojournalist Stan Honda and historian Brian Niiya. The goal of the project, is to create a website that compares how sites look today with how they looked in 1942, as well as how the public can find the centers.

Subjects

Santa Anita Assembly Center for the Japanese

Item ID

193AF

Collection

Subject Files

Less detail