Heritage Matters
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NEWS OF THE NATIONS DIVERSE CULTURAL HERITAGE HERITAGE MATTERS OCTOBER 2000 Japanese American citizens during Brigade, the only all-Japanese Ameri The Japanese World War II. During 1942, the United can units to fight in World War II. The American Theme Study States Government carried out one men who fought in this regiment and of the largest controlled migrations in brigade became the most decorated Cassandra Lachica, Cultural history, in rapid fashion, and without soldiers in military service. They gave Resources Diversity Intern 2000 much resistance. This involved the their lives to prove their loyalty to their movement of 110,000 people of Japan The Japanese American Theme Study country that imprisoned them for ese descent from their homes in an was initiated in the summer of 2000. their ancestry. This unit suffered many area bordering the Pacific Coast into Authorized by the U.S. Congress, P.L. losses and disappointments. The unit war-time "relocation centers," con 102-240, this theme study will identify was an all-volunteer group that was structed in remote areas around the and document historic properties exposed to prejudice and incarceration country. 0) associated with Japanese Americans after returning from the war. Many of the displaced soldiers were placed back that have not been adequately reflected To date, six of the ten relocation camps •Mi into the internment camps after serv in National Historic Landmark (NHL) are listed in the National Register. The ing their country. •Mi designations and National Register remaining four should be documented listings. When completed, the theme and evaluated for possible listing. Each 1 was glad to have an opportunity to > study will result in new and upgraded I Ml of the ten camps serves as a reminder participate in this study as a member NHL designations and new National and a chance to reflect on what hap of the NPS Cultural Resources Diversi Register listings. It also can be used in pened at each site during World War ty Internship Program. I learned more o broader educational initiatives and II. The Language School of the United about the NHL and the National Reg provide the basis for the preparation < States Army, opened November 1, ister programs in general, and the pos of technical assistance materials on 1941, at the Presidio in San Francisco sibilities of using historical research to how to prepare NHL and National to utilize their Japanese enlisted men reveal the complex nature of national Register nominations on diverse his in the service also should be included ideals and actual historical events. The toric properties. in this study. Japanese American Theme Study o touches on many universal themes in During the summer of 2000,1 partici Closely related to the story of the American history. This summer's expe pated in this research project by exam camps are the heroics of the 442nd rience helped me understand the •> ining the ten "relocation camps," or Regiment and the 100th Battalion "interment camps" used to house continued on page 2 Manzanar Barracks Thousands of Americans of Japanese descent were involuntarily moved from their homes to camps, and housed in barracks, tike those pictured here. The Japanese American Theme Study will document the historic properties associated with Japanese Americans. Q. Photo courtesy of the National Historic Landmark Files 15 c o 15 z page 1 significant in American history, archi meeting of the National Conference tecture, archeology, engineering, and of State Historic Preservation Officers culture currently are listed in the (NCSHPO) in Washington, DC. National Register. Each nomination The roundtable speakers shared exam file includes written documentation ples of successes and challenges in on the property's physical appearance reaching out to diverse communities and significance, photographs, and and incorporating diverse resources maps. However, the public could not into their programs. Jon Smith of the benefit directly from the wealth of Indiana SHPO, related his office's spon information contained in these nomi sorship of a statewide conference on nations until the outreach programs the Underground Railroad. The UGRR were established. conference attracted a much more Through the summer internship with diverse audience than has been custom the National Register, History, and ary with historic preservation confer Education program of the National ences. Ruth Pierpont of the New York Park Service, I was introduced to the SHPO related the state's efforts to Travel Itinerary program, the Teaching increase the number of recognized his Streets of Manzanar with Historic Places program, and toric properties associated with African This "street" in the Manzanar Relocation camp separated blocks of barracks. others that produce on-line and print Americans, women, and gays and les In the background is the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Photo courtesy of the National Historic Landmark Files ed publications. These are part of an bians. In Raleigh, NC, Dan Becker of ongoing effort to demonstrate to the the Raleigh Historic Districts Commis general public how and why our shared sion described a survey and publication heritage does in fact matter to us all. project that addressed African Ameri National Register historian and Her can communities in Raleigh. National Park As an anthropology student currently itage Tourism Director, these travel itin Service Activities in my senior year at Howard University, Other state representatives described eraries are based on either a geographic my work on the Travel Itinerary pro diversity-related studies of historic continued from page 1 location or a related theme. They pro gram prtwed to be invaluable as it offered properties. Allyson Brooks of Wash vide historic and tourist information on potential of historic preservation work. me an opportunity to see first-hand the ington related her experience with tra listed sites and can enrich a vacation or I plan to continue my studies in his results of the work of historians and ditional cultural properties associated day trip for travelers and tourists. The toric preservation in order to partici other social scientists. I gained practi with American Indian tribes. Ray Luce itineraries help to make family outings pate in researching important aspects cal experience as a historian, using of Georgia described the work of the meaningful, memorable, and most of American history and communicat skills I developed as a student and saw Georgia African American Heritage importantly educational, by providing ing the findings to the public. their use in a professional, public histo commission and the Women's history opportunities for visitors to learn more ry environment. context study. Barbara Mattick of For more information on the Japanese Ameri about the place that they have chosen to Elorida described her state program's can Theme Study, contact John Sprinkle at make a part of their vacation or outing. For more information on the National 202/343-8166, e-mail: [email protected] Register's Travel Itinerary Program, use of folklore scholars to bring about Travel itineraries such as "Aboard the contact Patrick Andrus at 202/343-9519, National Register listing for Eatonville, e-mail: [email protected] Underground Railroad" and "We Shall other African American properties, National Register Overcome: Historic Places of the Civil and Jewish and Hispanic historic places. Outreach Programs: Daniel Abeyta of California and Terry Rights Movement" are examples of the Diversifying the The Travel Itinerary Collie of Texas described efforts of their range of topic matter covered. The National Register Initiative offices to reach out to diverse commu diversity of the American experience, of Historic Places nities. Abeyta recommended that the Maya Catherine Harris, specific in this case to the African Amer Antoinette J. Lee, preservation field focus on the recent National Council for Preservation ican experience, is available to visitors. Special Projects Manager, past in order to address the heritage of Education Intern 2000 Sites can be selected on their geographi cal and thematic proximity, to enhance National Center for Cultural newer immigrant groups. Established in the fall of 1995, the the learning experience for visitors. Resources, NPS Carol Shull, John Sprinkle, and Toni Travel Itinerary Initiative is an out A roundtable of National Park Service, Lee of the National Park Service reach program of the National Register Authorized under the National Historic state historic preservation office described a variety of bureau programs. of Historic Places. The travel itinerary Preservation Act of 1966, the National (SHPO), and local government staff Shull discussed the current demograph incorporates information on historic Register of Historic Places was estab met on March 27, 2000, to discuss how ics of the National Register of Historic properties listed in the National Regis lished as the nation's official list of cul more diverse historic places could be Places and the program's efforts to ter of Historic Places in an accessible tural resources worthy of preservation identified, evaluated, and listed in the promote diversity education through Web or print format. Produced under administered by the National Park National Register of Historic Places. the World Wide Web and publications. the direction of Patrick Andrus, Service. More than 72,000 districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects The session was part