Avis Atkinson and Governor Andrew Schoeppel correspondence
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1943-1947 : Schoeppel)
Date: February 12-16, 1943
This correspondence deals with the possibility of moving Japanese Americans to Kansas to serve as laborers during World War II. In the letter to Governor Schoeppel, Avis Atkinson of Fall River, Kansas, urges the Governor to do everything in his power to keep the U.S. government from allowing Japanese Americans to work in Kansas because "Once a Jap Always a Jap." Governor Schoeppel's reply is cordial but reinforces the fact that, if the federal government so desires, he will comply with their wishes and house Japanese Americans and/or Japanese prisoners of war.

Kansas approves amendment on poll tax
Creator: Topeka Capitol
Date: March 29, 1963
This is a clipping from the Topeka Capitol. The article explains how Kansas became the twenty sixth state in the country in 1963 to approve an amendment to the United States Constitution to abolish poll taxing nationwide. Poll taxing had been used in several states since the end of the Civil War, particularly southern states, as a way to prevent African Americans from voting. The poll taxing amendment was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964. The right to vote openly and freely was at the core of the Civil Rights Movement. The passage of the poll tax amendment secured every American citizen the right to vote without having to meet any financial qualifications in order to do so.

Mary Golden to Governor Andrew Schoeppel
Date: March 31 - April 4, 1943
This correspondence addresses the possibility of moving Japanese Americans to Kansas to serve as laborers. In her letter to Shoeppel, Mrs. Mary Golden of Matfield Green, Kansas, argues that Japanese Americans should not be allowed to work in Kansas because of the way the Japanese military has treated American prisoners of war. In his reply to Mrs. Golden's letter, Governor Schoeppel explains that he is only doing what the federal government asks with regard to the Japanese Americans, and, if required, he will work with the U.S. Government "in utilizing American born Japanese labor on projects or in areas approved by your government, and my government officials." A searchable, full-text version of this letter is available by clicking "Text Version" below.

Mitchell's Japanese Palm Garden Restaurant, Salina, Kansas
Creator: Kansas Post Card Company, Salina, Kansas
Date: 1908
This colored postcard shows a view of the patio area at the Mitchell's Japanese Palm Garden Restaurant in Salina, Kansas.

Prisoners of war press release
Creator: U.S. Department of State
Date: May 25, 1943
This U.S. Department of State press release details U.S. policy toward civilian internees and prisoners of war held by the Axis powers. The document is from the Arthur Capper papers.

Virginia A. Kurata video nterview on experiences in World War II (transcript)
Creator: Kurata, Virginia M.
Date: September 30, 2007
Virginia A. Kurata enlisted in the Women Marines in September 1943 and served until the end of 1945. She did her training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and she attended quartermaster school in Quantico, Virgina. Interviewed by Deborah Pye on Sept. 30, 2007, Kurata talked about military experiences in the Second World War. She was born May 25, 1922, in Morgantown, West Virgina, but she grew up in Washington, Pennsylvania. She graduated from high school in Avella, Pennsylvania, in 1940. She held several jobs before her enlistment. while she was working in the office of steel mill, she met her husband to be who was of Japanese descent. She references the concern about her dating a Japanese man but also the issues his family faced during the war. They were married January 14, 1946. They moved to Lawrence when he was offered a job as a professor in the Kansas University School of Engineering. The 2005 Kansas Legislature passed a bill funding the WWII Veterans Oral History grant program. This transcript is from one of the community institutions receiving grants. The transcript of the interview is presented here; the original video copy of the interview is available through the Watkins Community Museum of History (Lawrence) and through the Kansas State Historical Society.