KEARNEY -Th Buffalo County Historical Society/Trails & Rails Museum is bringing a traveling exhibit that will focus on the history that led to the incarceration of Japanese Americans in World War II.
From October 23 – December 22, the Buffalo County Historical Society/Trails & Rails Museum will host its last traveling exhibition for the year in the West Wing of the Family History Center. Additionally, a Grand Opening, with refreshments, is scheduled for the new exhibit Saturday, October 28 with the doors opening at 4pm and a ceremony starting at 5pm.
Righting a Wrong: Japanese Americans and World War II is a Smithsonian traveling exhibition that examines the complicated history and impact of Executive Order 9066 that led to the incarceration of Japanese Americans following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Embracing themes that are as relevant today as they were over 75 years ago, Righting a Wrong looks at immigration, prejudice, civil rights, heroism, and what it means to be an American. The exhibition explores the complex history through historical images, personal stories, and objects from those incarcerated at the camps.
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan on Dec. 7, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 which sent 75,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry and 45,000 Japanese nationals to incarceration camps. Ten large, barbed wire-enclosed incarceration camps and dozens of other installations were scattered west of the Mississippi, far from their homes from March 1942 to March 1946. Young and old lived crowded together in the hastily built camps, endured poor living conditions, and were under the constant watch of military guards for two and a half years. Of the many artifacts and items on display, a duffle bag used by the Imada family when they were relocated to the Gila River camp in Arizona reflects the restrictions to bring only what they could carry. Takeo Shirasawa’s 1943 high school diploma from the Post on camp in Arizona exemplifies the experience of thousands of other teens who had to complete their high school education in camps.
According to Broc Anderson, the Community Engagement Director for the Trails & Rails Museum, “this exhibit highlights a largely forgotten and neglected part of American history.” “While we had no Japanese internment camps in Nebraska, we still had a major Japanese population within the State during the 1940s that faced many hardships and served during World War II that this exhibit highlights” according to Anderson. Like all traveling exhibits coming to the museum, the Trails & Rails Museum was fortunate to have this one come to Kearney. “There was a last-minute opening for Righting a Wrong and we jumped on it as soon as we could with some additional granting funding in the community and from the Smithsonian,” said Anderson. “We are just thrilled to have the support locally and at the Smithsonian to bring this exhibit out to a more rural part of the country.”
Prior to the Trails & Rails Museum, the previous hosting venue was at the Nebraska History Museum in Lincoln. Righting a Wrong was also accompanied by a supplemental exhibit from the Legacy of the Plains in Gering that specifically highlights Japanese Nebraskans during World War II. Vickie Schaepler, of Kearney and former board of director for the Trails & Rails Museum, has had an instrumental role in advocating for Japanese American history within the State has been a critical part of its planning at both venues. Even so much that the complimentary exhibit at the Nebraska History Museum, Preserving a Legacy Japanese Americans in Nebraska, will also be featured in the upcoming exhibit to Kearney. According to Schaepler, “Preserving a Legacy describes the Japanese immigrant story to Nebraska and some of their stories during World War II.” Specifically, Nebraska colleges and universities had a major role in bringing people out of the internment camps for educational opportunities. “The University of Nebraska was third largest acceptor of Japanese students across the nation, while Nebraska Wesleyan and Scottsbluff Jr. College also accepted a larger Japanese population on their campuses” said Schaepler. Additionally, several Japanese in Nebraska served during World War II. One of the most well-known soldiers from Hershey, Nebraska, Ben Kuroki, served in both Europe and Pacific theaters of the war. As a gunner on one of the US Army Air Corps bombers, Kuroki was the only known Japanese American solider fighting in the Pacific theater and made national headlines at the time. Other Japanese in Nebraska served in the 442nd RCT and became widely decorated and recognized for their service. The supplemental exhibit for Righting a Wrong from the Legacy of the Plains, will eventually become part of a permanent display in the Japanese Hall most recently moved the museum in Gering.
Righting a Wrong: Japanese Americans and World War II was developed by the National Museum of American History and adapted for travel by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. The national tour received Federal support from the Asian Pacific American Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, the Terasaki Family Foundation, and C. L. Ehn & Ginger Lew. For more information about Righting a Wrong, visit sites.si.edu and for more information about the Trails & Rails Museum, visit bchs.us or “Buffalo County Historical Society” on Facebook!
