Rohwer Japanese American Relocation Center
The Rohwer Japanese American Relocation Center
Though largely lost to history, important stories remain to be shared.
The National Archives has a database titled Records About Japanese Americans Relocated During World War II that gives extensive information about each individual sent to the camps. You may search by location, name, identification number, assembly center, or other criteria. Typically, it does not include children born in a camp or transferred out of a camp.
The Densho Digital Repository has a Final Accountability Roster Collection which can be search by relocation center. These records provide information for individuals at the time they left the camps, as opposed to when they entered. Thus, using these two sources together can provide a wealth of information.
History
This led to the forced removal of 120,000 Japanese Americans from the West Coast following the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. One third of those removed were foreign-born Issei. Many Issei were more than 50 years old and prohibited from becoming American citizens. The remaining two-thirds were American born citizens–Nisei. Most Nisei were under 21 years old. These Americans left their entire lives behind, including possessions, homes, businesses, and communities and were imprisoned in 10 relocation camps across the United States, including Rohwer and Jerome (south of Rohwer) in Desha County, Arkansas.
Workshops and Tours
A-State proudly partners with the City of McGehee at The Rohwer World War II Japanese American Internment Museum in McGehee. This museum focuses on the camps at Rohwer and Jerome. The museum periodically offers professional development workshops for teachers in cooperation with McGehee Schools.
Professional development workshops for teachers are periodically conducted at the WWII Japanese American Relocation Center Museum in cooperation with McGehee Public Schools.