NPS Photo

Grace and George Izumi have told their stories, and are profiled in Manzanar's ID Card program.

Manzanar Oral History Project

The Manzanar Oral History Project documents the World War II experiences of Japanese Americans at Manzanar, the other nine relocation centers, and other government related internment facilities through the personal accounts of former internees, War Relocation Authority staff, military police, and Owens Valley residents. The project focuses on immigration, settlement, evacuation, camp life, and resettlement from 1900 to the present. The project also documents other historical eras at Manzanar including American Indian settlement, ranching, and the Manzanar orchard community.

Nearly 200 oral history interviews have been collected since 1999, preserving stories and experiences for future generations. Manzanar's oral histories are used for educational and research purposes. Oral and written histories are gathered and preserved at the Manzanar National Historic Site Archives. Some of the site's oral histories are available online through the Densho Archive. We encourage those with personal connections to this chapter of history to complete an Oral History Workbook. Many participants in Manzanar's oral history program are also profiled in ID Card booklets.

Please contact our Oral History department at (760) 878-2194, ext. 3312, if you are interested in participating in this program.

Contact the National Archives

If you are interested in obtaining War Relocation Authority records about a family member who spent time in an internment camp, please contact the National Archives by mail or electronically.