Finding Your Japanese Roots in the US & in Japan with Linda Okazaki

Would you like to learn how to document your unique family history? 

Dorothea Lange, WRA, Densho Digital Archive, 2008

On Saturday September 27, from 10-2, Linda Harms Okazaki is returning to CGS to present her seminar, Finding Your Japanese Roots in the US and in Japan. Adelle Treakle was a recent attendee of Linda Okazaki’s Finding Your Japanese Roots class and this sparked her quest to locate records on her family at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in Washington DC. During the Second World War, members of Adelle’s family were held at Poston, the Colombia Relocation Center in Arizona. She kindly shares her experience:

"After attending Linda’s Finding Your Japanese Roots class, I was inspired to track down my family’s records at the National Archives in Washington DC. I requested the RG 210 files for my grandparents and their six children who were in the Poston Relocation Center. It is very moving to be able to hold in your hand the documents that had such significance to your family and their history. I took my laptop and scanner, and scanned every page, reading some along the way. Over a couple of days, I managed to scan more than 400 pages. The WRA [War Relocation Authority] kept every document, from camp intake forms, letters to and from WRA officials, and work, health and school records.

One of best treasures I found were school essays about the evacuation and camp life written by my aunt when she was in the eighth grade. Intake documents included information the family didn’t know about my grandparents in Japan, such as their mothers’ maiden names, family occupations and the schools they attended there. I hope to use this information for more genealogical research in Japan. Shortly after my DC trip, I was able to share my research at a family reunion, including giving my aunt copies of her long forgotten essays. It was gratifying to learn and share so much about such a historic event in my family’s life."

The California Genealogical Society proudly announces a repeat offering in our ongoing ethnic research series: Finding Your Japanese Roots in the US & in Japan. 

Join Linda Harms Okazaki for an encore presentation of this seminar. 
The first half will focus on background and research in the United States: 

• the political climate and pertinent U.S. laws
• internment camps
• post WWII experience
• repatriation and redress.

The second half of the seminar will concern research in Japan:

• finding your koseki 
• understanding ohaka and kakocho
• visiting relatives, cemeteries and temples

The seminar is suitable for beginners as well as more experienced attendees. Attendees are welcome to bring lunch, meet seminar participants and discuss their Japanese-American history.

When: Saturday, September 27, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 
(please bring a bag lunch)

Where: California Genealogical Society
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2
(Entrance on 22nd St)
Oakland, California

How: Register online: http://tinyurl.com/Japanese2014Reg 

Cost: Free for members. Non-members fee is $20.00 (non-refundable) and can be applied towards membership on the day of the class.

Please note, this class is limited to thirty participants. Preregistration is required. Walk-ins will not be admitted.

Call CGS: (510) 663-1358 or E-mail: events@californiaancestors.org


Copyright © 2014 by Ellen Fernandez-Sacco, California Genealogical Society and Library.