Date of Award

8-2025

Degree Type

Creative Project

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

History

Committee Chair(s)

Victoria Grieve (committee chair)

Committee

Victoria Grieve

Committee

Rebecca Andersen

Committee

Daniel Davis

Abstract

When studying the past, what artifacts are left behind for us to study? In understanding Japanese American internment in the United States during WWII, camp newspapers help give a look at the reality of camp life, which included the ongoing issues of a lack of supplies,, the generational divide between older and younger Japanese Americans, and even the racist leanings of some members of the camp. With a balance of humor and seriousness, as well as reality and the abstract, three artists - Roy Kawamoto, Harry Kuwada, and Michiko "Rosie" Arima - who were interred in Camp Jerome (located near Denson, Arkansas) drew comics for the camp newspaper, the Denson Tribune.

These visual memories not only give more insight into the lives of Japanese Americans who lived in these camps, but they also act as a living reminder of those who lived in Japanese American internment camps through the experiences of the characters in the comics and the actions each theme takes. The characters demonstrate the realities and shortcomings of living within the camps.

For instance, Roy Kawamoto's characters explore issues ranging from a lack of supplies to the ever-changing weather but also note the special peculiarities of Japanese American culture not seen in other groups throughout the United States. Harry Kuwada's strip Pete 'n Zeke shows that racial hierarchies operated even within the camps themselves and could be contested and called out by other camp inmates. Finally, Michiko "Rosie" Arima contributes to our understanding of camp life with an exploration of the understanding of pop culture as seen through the eyes of a young Japanese American artist.

Accompanying this paper is a website, providing images and additional interpretation: https://sites.google.com/view/roryolsenmastersproject?usp=sharing

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