Administration

Working under abnormal conditions created by the exigencies of war the difficult task of a formation of a center to house and feed some 10,000 evacuees fell on the initial administrative staff headed by Clayton E. Triggs. Under his leadership Manzanar was first created as a reception center under the WCCA supervision. With the establishment of the WRA Manzanar was changed formally into the first of the 10 relocation centers with Roy Nash called in to replace Triggs. The recent appointment of Ralph P. Merritt marked the last of many changes in the project head.

The Administration is the hardest and most trying of any departments. To meet and solve all the difficult problems created by the unprecedented evacuation and the establishment of a community was an enormous task. That the center is now functioning smoothly is a creditable reflection on the sincere efforts of the staff.

The present staff is headed by Ralph P. Merritt, Project Director; Robert L. Brown, Assistant Director; and Edwin R. Hooper, Senior Administrator.

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Community Welfare

Delicacy and tact are the primary requisites in the work handled by this department. Organization and supervision of family case work including grants in aide, clothing, social welfare, evacuee storage and freight deliveries, weddings, funerals, YM and YW groups, religious activities and the like keep the workers busily engaged.

Families, separated by the enforced evacuation, were reunited through the efforts of this department which handies all transfer cases.

Christmas in this center was made more joyous for innumerable children through the indefatiguable work of the welfare workers.

Capably headed by Mrs. Margaret D'Ille the staff includes: Mrs. Jean Ramberg, assistant counselor; Mrs. Hatsu Hayashi, office manager; Joe Itano, repatriation; Roy Ito, intercamp transfer; Kakunosuke Arai, Mary Ohashi, and Shig Haito, clothing; Larry Mihara, funerals and marriages; Roy Tashima, Tashi Hori and Kenchi Namba, storage; Yuichi Hirata, YMA; Alice Asaka and Mrs. Miya Kikuchi, YWA; Mrs. Moxley, Red Cross; Mrs. Kiso Naito, used clothing.

One of the foremost aims of the YWA is to build close relationship between groups in the community and with the outside world. The progress of the organization has been gradual but received the support and cooperation of the residents.

The first activity on the calendar was in August which saw the arrival of Miss Helen Flack and Miss Esther Briesemeister, who helped the group out of its infancy. Then the Fall Conference was held with Miss Briesemeister and Betty Lyle, followed by the World Fellowship week with Ruth Woodsman of the World's YWCA and Mrs. Edna Monroe. The White Sierra Conference with Fay Allen's delegation from UCLA met in February.

There are 19 clubs, with 8 in the Older Girls' clubs, 9 in Girl Reserves, the Junior Matrons and the newly formed Jr. Girl Reserves. Staff members are Fumi Shimizu, older girls' secretary, Sally Kusayanagi, girl reserves secretary, Grace Ito, office secretary, Alice Asaka, general secretary, and Yoshiye Yoshimura, social activities secretary.

Meeting on August 20 at the home of Thomas Temple, the organizing committee formulated plans for the YMA. Plans were laid and with the coming of George B. Corwin of the national YMCA, the machinery of organization was set up. Then a staff was brought together, an office set up at 36-15, and a dormitory established in 36-14.

The staff consists of Yuichi Hirata, general secretary, Roy Ono, Hi-Y secretary, George Ono, pioneer and younger boys' secretary, and Tomi Masunaka, office secretary.

The Hi-Y has 38 fully-recognized members. Aims of the group are to help in student government and school activities and prepare for citizenship. Ralph Smeltzer has been advising the organization.

Activities sponsored by the YMA include midget basketball tournament, marble tournament, dances, socials, and joint meetings, while still in blueprint stage are father and sons banquet, lectures on current topics and picnics.

Through the efforts of Larry Norrie of the Pacific Southwest Area Council and George B. Corwin, materials and equipment were gathered. It is hoped that Manzanar will have a recognized branch of the YMA.

Others responsible for developing the "Y" program are: Mrs. Margaret D'Ille, Mrs. M. Kikuchi, Barbara Dougherty and Ralph Smeltzer.

Agriculture

With the object to help make this center as self-sustaining as possible the Agricultural Division, under the capable supervision of Horace R. McConnell, had a really successful year.

Production estimated at 717 tons of vegetables, melons and fruits was harvested witch the value of $43,500 based on prevailing Los Angeles market quotations. Surplus watermelons (2 car loads) and nappas (3 carloads) also were made available to other centers.

The primary purpose of the first year was to find out the adaptability of vegetables to this climate and soil. Because of the abundance of man power and difficulties in acquiring adequate machinery and equipment the project utilized the use of maximum hand and minimum machine labor. On April 15 the first crew was sent to dig out sage rabbit brush and small willow trees. Ground was broken for the beginning of green vegetable gardens on May 11.

Inasmuch as the land had not been under cultivation for quite a time much work was required to reclaim the land for farming. Approximately 8 miles of ditches were reconditioned and 120 acres on the south side of the center cleared and cultivated. The first planting began May 16.

The rabbit pest menace was overcome with the acquirement of 5 greyhounds and afghans. Recent winter activities included clearing, plowing and discing of more than 300 acres of new land, installing and improving of further irrigation facilities.

Personnel of the project heads Includes: Field Superintendent Yoshio Sugihara, Assistant Katsugoro Kawase and, Field Foremen Noboru Miyamoto, Harutaro Takata, Banichi Iguchi, John Fukazawa, Masanobu Goishi; Joe Kishi, Nursery Foreman; Takeo Shima, orchard; Benji Iguchi, tractors; Kenneth Y. Nakata, diesel mechanic; James K. Shimokawa, marketing supervisor; Frank K. Shimoda, soil analyst.

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Children's Village

Children's Village, the home of 64 youngsters ranging from 1 to 18 years of age, was founded on June 23, with the arrival of the first occupants from the Japanese Children's Home of Southern California, Maryknoll Home for Japanese Children, both of Los Angeles, and a child from San Diego. Later others arrived from the Salvation Army Children's Home of San Francisco.

Comprised of three substantially constructed buildings located near the Hospital it contains offices, kitchens and dining halls as well as the dormitories for the children and adjacent quarters for the supervising staff. Sleeping quarters of the kiddies are sunny and cross-ventilated. The buildings are planned to have windows situated on the outside walls with each child provided with a shelf for his personal possessions. Large closets in each quarter supply the space for their clothing. Education is provided through attendance in the local public schools. The nursery schools are held in the Village.

Attempting to create opportunities for a choice of activities through which they can express their individual interests and talents, hobbies, clubs, and participation in community life is encouraged.

Fundamental duties of house keeping are given to each child according to his age and strength, while the value of money and its uses is taught by means of providing each child with some spending money.

A haven for homeless children, it is supervised by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Matsumoto.

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