By Shuma Iwai

Spotlight on Research: Guest author Shuma Iwai was awarded a 2025 Grant-in-Aid Award at the Immigration History Research Center Archives (IHRCA). He visited Andersen Library for five days to study the activism of White Americans who supported the civil rights of Japanese Americans in the incarceration camps, among other topics, as explained in this blog post. Dr. Shuma Iwai is Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

As a historian, I have been researching Japanese American incarceration camps during World War II. In particular, I am interested in examining the activism of White Americans who supported the civil rights of Japanese Americans in these camps during this period. While there is substantial research on the camps themselves, there are few studies that look at the activism of Americans who protested these injustices and advocated for the civil rights for Japanese Americans. My research offers a unique perspective on the history of Japanese Americans at the incarceration camps by exploring their experiences and stories from the viewpoint of American activists.

Galen Fisher (1873-1955) is one of the few American activists involved in supporting Japanese American incarcerees. I have examined his advocacy efforts and his commitment to the civil rights for this marginalized group. My work highlights the voices and activism of this marginalized group that spoke out against the injustices Japanese Americans experienced during WWII. This was not an easy task for these activists during the war,with both nations in a heated battle. As my research progressed, I became interested in exploring other American activists who supported Japanese Americans and incarcerees.

As a recipient of the Immigration History Research Center Archives (IHRCA) Grant-in-Aid award, I had the privilege of visiting the archives to expand my research on another key activist, Annie Clo Watson (1891-1960). Watson was a prominent American social worker and activist for Japanese Americans during and after WWII. In addition to her contribution to the local chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the California Conference of Social Work, Watson organized the Pacific Coast Committee for American Principles and Fair Play—a committee on which Galen Fisher also served. This collaboration reveals significant overlap in their efforts to promote civil rights of Japanese Americans. I sought to explore Watson’s contributions, particularly as a female activist during and after WWII, through the archival materials available to the IHRCA.

Another purpose for my archival visit was to analyze the injustices faced by Japanese Americans using rare primary sources from both during and after WWII. Two historical figures were central to my research: Susumu Andow (1884-1968) and Tometaro Kitagawa (1876-1962). Susumu Andow, a first generation Japanese American, and his family lived at the Minidoka Incarceration Camp in Idaho. They experienced racial discrimination both at the camp and after the war. The IHRCA holds Susumu Andow’s handwritten diaries. Using his diaries, I analyzed these diaries to understand his personal experiences during the incarceration, as well as the hate crimes, racial discrimination, and post-war struggles he faced. The second figure, Tometaro Kitagawa, was a Japanese-born American businessman. He opened a shop specializing in Japanese imports in Minneapolis. However, he had to close it due to bankruptcy in 1941, the same year when Executive Order 9066 was issued. Kitagawa’s diaries document the upheaval caused by the incarceration camps beginning in March 1942, as well as his resettlement experiences after he left Minneapolis, struggles, and family life after the incarceration camp.

During my archival research, I was able to access rare, primary sources at the IHRCA on these figures, which provided invaluable insights into their daily lives, financial difficulties, cultural conflicts, and experiences with racial discrimination. With the help of Ms. Ellen Engseth, Curator and Head of the IHRCA, I was able to narrow down and locate key archival documents for my research. Additionally, Ms. Engseth connected me with Mr. Daniel Necas, another archivist at the IHRCA, during my visit. As I conducted my research at the IHRCA, I came across information on John Trumbull Swift. He was a missionary in Japan and helped build the first YMCA building there. Through Mr. Necas’ guidance, I was able to explore archival documents about Swift’s life and work at the Kautz Family YMCA Archives. This opportunity was an important addition to my research.

Overall, my visit to the IHRCA was highly productive. I am currently analyzing the archival documents for potential publications and conference presentations to highlight the work of missionaries and activists who supported Japanese Americans, as well as to share the experiences of this minority group. I deeply appreciate the support from the IHRCA and its staff.