History is so rarely told from the perspective of young people, but we know that the events written about in the history books affected them, too. This online curriculum introduces several kids from the Mid-Willamette Valley. Learn about what their experiences were like growing up here at various points during our history. Explore actual documents from the Willamette Heritage Center’s archives and start a conversation!
Salem resident Haruko Tsukamoto’s life changed forever when the Japanese military attacked a U.S. Military base in Pearl Harbor, even though she lived over 2000 miles away from the attack.
Discussion Question:
- How would you feel if you were ordered to leave your home in 12 days?
See the Source:
Read Haruko’s letter back to her former classmates at Salem High School from the Tule Lake Incarceration Camp
Learn More:
Densho Project-explore oral history interviews, documents and curriculum documenting the experiences of Japanese Americans who were unjustly incarcerated during World War II
1942 Salem Area census of Japanese American residents. Read the list of residents and explore some more resources about other families of Japanese ancestry living in the local area at the time.
Follow in Footsteps:
Tule Lake National Monument – where the Haruko and here family were incarcerated from 1942-1945.
Leona Fast found her world turned upside down when she was diagnosed with Tuberculosis. She had to leave her home and move into the Oregon State Tuberculosis Hospital in Salem. Because her family didn’t have a car, they weren’t able to visit very often.
Discussion Question:
How would you feel if you had to stay at the hospital for two years?
See the Source:
Leona Fast’s Scrapbook from the Hospital (Willamette Heritage Center Collections 2005.015.0001)
Learn More:
Follow in Footsteps:
Oregon State Tuberculosis Hospital is now the campus of Corban University in Salem.