8 Replies Latest reply on Nov 12, 2019 1:00 PM by Barb LaFara

Are registration records of Japanese Americans available?

Barb LaFara Oct 24, 2019 1:54 PM

Are the registration records of Japanese Americans from WW2 available? I am specifically interested in finding the "Enemy Alien" registration of my uncle, Frank Takeo Flucawa. Frank lived in Henry County, Indiana where he was a commercial flower grower. Frank was born in Tottori-ken in 1882 and he immigrated to the US in 1905, but was not naturalized until 1955. Frank told me about registering with the county sheriff in 1942, I'd like to know what information he was required to provide and if I can view the original document. Frank said he was required to turn over his radio, could this be right? Thank you

Re: Are registration records of Japanese Americans available?

Lisha Penn Oct 30, 2019 2:22 PM (in response to Barb LaFara)

Dear Ms. LaFara,

Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!

We searched the Access to Archival Databases (AAD) and located a database titled Records About Japanese Americans Relocated During World War II, created, 1988 - 1989, documenting the period 1942 - 1946 but did not locate an entry for your uncle Frank Takeo Flucawa.

We suggest that you review the National Archives website WWII Japanese American Internment & Relocation Records for research tips and other resources to find more information about your uncle’s possible registration with the Federal government.

You also may wish to search From Internment to the Midwest: Japanese Americans after WW2; Henry County Indiana Public Records or the Henry County Historical Society for additional information.

We hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your family research!

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- Re: Are registration records of Japanese Americans available?
  
  Barb LaFara Oct 31, 2019 12:34 PM (in response to Lisha Penn)
  
  It just occurred to me that my uncle changed the spelling of his surname and when he first immigrated it was Furukawa. Can you check for that spelling? Also, he arrived on the Kanagawa Maru, if that would help with the search.
  
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Re: Are registration records of Japanese Americans available?

J. Andrew Oct 30, 2019 4:27 PM (in response to Barb LaFara)

It sounds like he would not have been part of the relocation and internment, because he did not live within the military restricted zones. However he still would have been subject to special rules. Among other things, according to Presidential Proclamation No. 2525, "(5) No alien enemy shall have in his possession, custody or control at any time or place or use or operate any of the following enumerated articles... f. Short-wave radio receiving sets, g. Transmitting sets, h. Signal devices..."

It could be that your uncle's radio fell under one of those categories, or that an overzealous official interpreted that to mean any any and all radios.

The following provides information about "enemy alien" programs during World War II.

https://www.archives.gov/research/immigration/enemy-aliens-overview

https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Alien_Registration_Files

According to Family Tree Magazine, "These registration forms provide a genealogical goldmine of information... Unfortunately, many of these records no longer exist. Those that do are scattered between the regional branches of the National Archives. Records for enemy alien residents of Kansas, North Dakota, Minnesota, eastern North Carolina, Phoenix, San Francisco, Shreveport, Allen County (Indiana), and Frankfort (Kentucky) are all known to exist, and there are likely more to be found."
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- Re: Are registration records of Japanese Americans available?
  
  Barb LaFara Oct 31, 2019 9:27 AM (in response to J. Andrew)
  
  Thank you for the info about PP2525, which may well be the crux of the radio story and the links to further information. I'll try the Allen Co. library as a possible repository for Frank's registration papers. Knowing they may be a "goldmine" is very interesting. My uncle was a very kind person (he was a Quaker) and I knew him well, yet I do not know the names of his parents. Hopefully, some family details will be on his registration.
  
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  - Re: Are registration records of Japanese Americans available?
    
    J. Andrew Oct 31, 2019 10:56 AM (in response to Barb LaFara)
    
    Now that I look at it closer, I think the Family Tree article might be talking specifically about WW 1 registrations when it says which ones are still around. Sorry for the confusion. I looked through the National Archives Catalog using the term enemy alien and narrowing down the dates to the 1940s, and I found a number of records about the topics but none that look like they would have the enemy alien registrations. It is likely that the federal government didn't make a concerted effort to keep these after the war was over.
    
    You might also want to contact the USCIS Genealogy Program. While they likely wouldn't have his enemy alien registration, they might have other records relating to his immigration, his status as an alien, and his naturalization.
    https://www.uscis.gov/genealogy
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    - Re: Are registration records of Japanese Americans available?
      
      Barb LaFara Oct 31, 2019 12:31 PM (in response to J. Andrew)
      
      Thank you again for taking the time to look for the information I requested. The FamilySearch link did include WW2 resources, however, they were mostly for relocations. I think your suggestion of contacting the Allen Co library may be the best course. I am familiar with their genealogy section but I did not realize they could have these records. I have my uncles' naturalization records, the originals, and have been able to document the story of his immigration. Thinking about those documents, I realize I left out a key item... he changed his name! When he arrived he spelled his name Takeo Furukawa, he began using Flucawa later because he thought it was easier for Americans to say and spell. Can you check for that name in the archives?
      
      Frank came here to get his PhD in theology at Butler College in Indianapolis, he never defended his thesis but instead married my aunt Grace and together they were commercial farmers of poultry and flowers. I wrote a brief biography for his alma mater's 150th anniversary a few years ago: https://barblafara.com/frank-takeo-flucawa/
      
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Re: Are registration records of Japanese Americans available?

Lisha Penn Nov 12, 2019 8:51 AM (in response to Barb LaFara)

Dear Ms. LaFara,

Thank you for posting your follow-up request on History Hub!

We searched the Access to Archival Databases (AAD) and located a database titled Records About Japanese Americans Relocated During World War II, created, 1988 - 1989, documenting the period 1942 - 1946 but again did not locate an entry for your uncle using variants of Frank Takeo Furukawa or Takeo Furukawa. We were unable to locate any Federal records pertaining to the confiscation of his radio by the sheriff in Henry County, Indiana.

We also searched the National Archives Catalog and located Index to Alien Arrivals at Canadian Atlantic and Pacific Seaports, 1909-1940 in the Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (Record Group 85). The record are not yet digitized or available in the Catalog. For access to and/or copies, please contact the National Archives at Washington - Textual Reference (RDT1) via email at archives1reference@nara.gov.

On Ancestry, and using Takeo Furukawa, we located his 1916 arrival at age 18 in St. Albans, Vermont; his arrival at age 22 in Washington State (first name misspelled); and his Naturalization Record showing his new surname change. there may be a fee for using Ancestry. However, you may view these records online at one of NARA's facilities for free via a NARA PC. For the nearest NARA location, please consult our web page at https://www.archives.gov/locations/. Also, some of the images from Ancestry are available for free on Family Search at https://www.familysearch.org/en/.

We suggest that you also review NARA’s website for how to Start Your Genealogy Research and Census Resources for tips on how to access census records that may are digitized in the National Archives Catalog or available on our partners’ websites as well as how to view them for free at a NARA facility. NARA has census schedules on microfilm dating from 1790 to 1930 but data from recent censuses are not available after 1940 due to the 72-year restriction on access to the Census. Most researchers find it helpful to begin with the 1940 Census and work backwards to locate people in earlier generations.

We hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your family research!

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- Re: Are registration records of Japanese Americans available?
  
  Barb LaFara Nov 12, 2019 1:00 PM (in response to Lisha Penn)
  
  Thank you for trying to find the registration records for my uncle. I will pursue them as suggested in the replies. I have his original immigration documents.
  
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