Background on the Book's Contributors
Ansel Adams, born in San Francisco, first studied photography with Bay Area photofinisher Frank Dittman in 1916. He married Virginia Best, daughter of the late painter, Harry Cassie Best, whose painting studio in Yosemite Valley later became their home and gallery. A photomuralist for the United States Department of the Interior in California in 1940, Adams also acted as photography consultant to the Office of War Information in Los Angeles.
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.
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