Grateful for The Quakers’ help in camp and finding jobs outside of camp

Transcripts available in the following languages:

The Quakers were wonderful people; they came – they were the first people, I think, to come voluntarily to our camp, and offered to help us to find – to apply to college. We had no idea how to do this, right? Brought applications to various colleges and universities, and for jobs in the outside world. And so I think many, many of us were helped – were, you know, aided by their kindness, and – and in leaving camp too… I think there were three ways that we could leave camp: whether we – to get accepted by a college, to – for a job, or to volunteer for the army.

I couldn’t get accepted to any college or university, and so – I think his name is Bob O’Brian – this Quaker said, “Well, you know, they’re looking for workers in the cafeteria – or in the dining hall – at the Unviersity of Cincinnati. Would you like to apply for one of those jobs?” And I said, “Well yeah, sure,” you know, it was the closest I could get to a university, and so I got a job as a worker in the dining hall, and I left with my brother for Cincinnati.

Date: August 7, 2018
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Sharon Yamato
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

camp jobs Quakers volunteers

Get updates

Sign up for email updates

Journal feed
Events feed
Comments feed

Support this project

Discover Nikkei

Discover Nikkei is a place to connect with others and share the Nikkei experience. To continue to sustain and grow this project, we need your help!

Ways to help >>

A project of the Japanese American National Museum


Major support by The Nippon Foundation