Book Description from Back Cover

MANZANAR, CALIFORNIA 1943

Comment from the Back Cover Flap

My father, a graduate of the School of Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, Class of 1931, was not included in the pictures. He was away at Pocatello, Idaho picking potatoes to earn money so we could eventually move out of camp. He purchased two new dresses which he sent to my sister and me, our first store bought dresses since moving to camp. We proudly wore them for our pictures. I remember how happy I was with the unique design of my dress collar.

Ansel Adams returned another time to take pictures of my father, only to learn that he had once again left camp, this time for New York. We posed in different locations around camp for his pictures. Later, he wrote and published the book Born Free and Equal. We were thrilled to see our pictures in the book. I will always remember his kind, outdoorsy face, and his patience while taking our photos.

- Joyce Nakamura -

Pictured on the cover and inside this book with her mother and sister, Joyce Nakamura, now Mrs. Okazaki, is a mother and great-aunt.

Background on the Book's Contributors

Archie Miyatake, born and raised in Los Angeles, until his family's relocation to Manzanar in May of 1942. Son of Los Angeles photographer Toyo Miyatake, Archie studied with his father while interned. He has continued the family tradition of photography at Studio Miyatake in Southern California with his brothers and son. Archie and Sue Kunitomi Embrey met at Manzanar more than a half-century ago.

Sue Kunitomi Embrey, born and raised in Los Angeles, California until her family's relocation to Manzanar on May 9, 1942. While interned there, she wove camouflage nets for the war effort and later, worked at the camp newspaper, The Manzanar Free Press. She graduated from California State University, with a B.A.in English, and received her Masters in Education from the University of Southern California. She cofounded the Manzanar Committee and serves as Chairperson Emeritus, Manzanar National Historic Site Advisory Commission. She is a board member on the Heart Mountain, Wyoming Foundation Advisory Board, the Japanese American Historical Society of Southern California and the National Japanese American Historical Society, San Francisco. Ms. Embrey retired in 1994 from the Los Angeles Unified School District.

William H. Michael is Director of Library and Museum Services for Inyo County and has worked at the Eastern California Museum since 1985. He serves on the Manzanar National Historic Site Advisory Commission.

At the beginning of World War II, the grandfather of publisher and editor Wynne Benti was classified an enemy alien in what Italian Americans call una storia segreta--a secret story. An Italian immigrant and New York City chef, he was not interned, however he was forbidden to travel beyond a five-mile radius of his home. Ms. Benti graduated with honors from Art Center College of Design and the University of California, Davis. She worked for many years at NBC and taught at both Art Center College and UCLA Extension before starting Spotted Dog Press, Inc. She is a member of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.