Repository: St. Louis Mercantile Library Special Collections
Creator: Withington, Joseph S.
Title: M-349: Japanese Internment Papers
Date: 1/14/1942 - 9/08/1945
Extent: 0.1 Linear feet
Language: English
Text [Folder]: M-349: Japanese Internment Papers
Preferred Citation note: The preferred citation for this collection is "From the collections of the St. Louis Mercantile Library at UM - St. Louis."
Biographical/Historical note: The internment of Japanese nationals and Japanese Americans during World War II happened in the wake of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, on December 7, 1941. Racism, as well as the Niihau incident, where a Japanese national and two ethnic Japanese Americans fought others on the island of Ni'ihau to free a captured Japanese airman, contributed to the development of Executive Order 9066, signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 19, 1942. This Executive Order authorized military commanders to designate "military areas", "from which any or all persons may be excluded." Over 100,000 people, including a few Italian and German nationals, were interred in camps. The exclusion order was recinded on January 2, 1945.
Scope and Contents note: The Japanese Internment Papers contains written records relating to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. The collection consists of 10 written records mostly pertaining to the career of Captain, and later Major Joseph S. Withington, who worked on evaluating exemptions from internment for Japanese Americans. The records consist of H.R. 6250 (ammendment to the Nationality Act of 1940), correspondence between Major Withington and others in the army, a telephone transcription, memorandums and a citation from the army.
Arrangement note: This collection has been arranged by date of material, with undated materials arranged at the end of the collection.
Publication Information: St. Louis Mercantile Library Special Collections 1/3/2013
Access Restrictions: Some of the material in Special Collection M-331 may be photocopied, digitally scanned or photographed, subject to condition.
Copyright Information: The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Related Archival Materials:
The National Archives (NARA) have many collections related to the internment of Japanese nationals and Japanese Americans. Please consult the following URL:
The University of the Pacific's University Library also contains collections related to the internment.
The FDR Presidential Library has an interesting PDF for download about President Roosevelt's role in the internment.
Ansel Adams' photographs of Japanese-American Internment at Manzinar are viewable via the American Memory project
King Library Special Collections has digitized some internment photographs as well
The Butler Center has oral histories of interned Japanese-Americans
California State University's Japanese American Archival Collection
Collection Inventory:
1/14/1942; H.R. 6250: An Act to Amend the Nationality Act of 1940.
3/28/1942; To J.H. Stubbe, California Baby Chick Assn.; From John E. Perry, Perry's Hatchery
4/7/1942; Memorandum for field information concerning exemptions from evacuation orders
4/19/1942; To Major Durbin; From Captain Joseph S. Withington
4/23/1942; To Lt. Colonel William A. Boekel, Assistant Provost Marshal; From Captain Joseph S. Withington; Subject: Life History
5/14/1942; Transcription of telephone conversation of Captain Withington and Colonel Boekel; regarding exemptions for hardship cases
8/20/1942; To Commanding Generals, All Sectors, WDC; From Frank Shapro, Major, A.G.D.; Subject: Revocation of WDC Form PM-6 granted on basis of mixed citizenship.
9/--/1942; From Joseph S. Withington. Major, Actg. Ass't Adjutant General; Letter template for temporary certificate of exemption cancellation
n.d.; page 2 of letter from Joseph S. Withington regarding "Statement of Interest in Consideration for Commission in the Regualar Army"
n.d.; Citation for Legion of Merit; Major Joseph S. Withington
