Japanese-Americans at Seabrook Farms photographs, 1943-1945
Permanent ID:
14244Dates:
January 31 1944August 20 1943
September 4 1945
January 31 1944
Image Description:
Charles F. Seabrook and his three sons ran a frozen foods business in Seabrook. During World War II, they faced a labor shortage for their food processing plants. This led the company to recruit interned Japanese Americans starting in late 1943 and to bring in after the war. Within a year, nearly 1,000 workers had relocated to Seabrook from Japanese American internment camps, and the total number of Japanese Americans resettled there reached close to 3,000. Also recruited were Latin Americans of Japanese ancestry who had been rounded up and transported to American internment camps run by the U.S. Justice Department. These Latin American internees were eventually, through the efforts of civil rights attorney Wayne M. Collins, offered "parole" relocation to Seabrook. Many eventually became naturalized American citizens.This digital record contains fourteen images that depict eight photographs held in folder 1221, labeled as, "Immigration Phila. - Aliens-Enemy - Work." This folder contains an additional eight photographs which are not currently digitized.
Inscription:
Yoso Kuramoto (left) and William Kashiwase, both 18, pack frozen food at Seabrook Farms, near Bridgeton, N. J. American-born of Japanese ancestry, they convinced Uncle Sam of their loyalty. Yoso has led War Bond rallies. (back of photograph 1)Henry Ogadawa, who formerly was manager of a $3,000,000 business on the West Coast, now works as a truck driver for a produce firm here. (back of photograph 2)
The future Dr. Hiromi Sato, one of dozen American citizens of Japanese extraction released from Government camps to work at Seabrook Farms, near Bridgeton, N. J. All have withstood acid test of their loyalty, have brothers or other relatives in Uncle Sam's armed forces and are Christians. Sato, 22, was a pre-medical student at University of California, plans to continue studies in spare time and resume college after the war. He is also about to become an Eagle Scout. (back of photograph 4)
Mrs. Chujoko Taukahara Hiraoko, whose husband is in the U. S. Army, works at the office of the National Japanese-American Student Relocation Council. (back of photograph 6)
George N. Sakamoto, 29, was a fruit orchardist operating 30 acres in California before Pearl Harbor. Now he is packaging frozen lima beans at Seabrook Farms, where 11 other Japanese Americans, including one woman, have been assigned by the Government. All withstood acid test of loyalty. (back of photograph 7)