– Press release
LOS ANGELES — On April 16, the Manzanar Committee, sponsors of the annual Manzanar Pilgrimage since 1969, and the more recent Manzanar At Dusk program, joined the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation (HWMF), the Ad Hoc Committee to Oppose the Sale of Japanese American Historical Artifacts, and many other organizations and individuals in the community, in welcoming the removal of artifacts from the World War II concentration camps in which over 110,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry were unjustly incarcerated from the auction block.
The auction would have featured 450 prisoner craft objects, personal items, art works and heritage artifacts from the camps, which were given to Allen H. Eaton, the original collector, under the assumption that they would be put on exhibit to educate people about the Japanese American Incarceration experience, and not sold.
On April 12, the Manzanar Committee announced its opposition to the auction, calling on Rago Arts and Auctions to put an immediate halt to the auction of these artifacts. After just a few days of organizing and mobilizing, intense pressure on Rago and the consignor of the artifacts helped convince Rago to remove the artifacts from their April 17 auction.
“The HWMF and the many people who have supported us in the last few weeks are thrilled that the immediate risk to the collection has been averted, and we are appreciative of the wider Japanese American community’s concerns,” HMWF Chair Shirley Ann Higuchi said, in a statement. “We now turn to the challenge of securing the future care of the collection and protecting it in collaboration with all concerned Japanese American-related institutions.”
The threat of litigation also factored into Rago Arts and Auction’s decision to remove the artifacts from the auction block.
“Within hours after legal counsel for the HMWF communicated their intent to file a law suit, the Rago Arts and Auction Center announced that the auction items would be withdrawn,” the HMWF said, in a statement.
Like so many other Japanese American community leaders, Manzanar Committee Co-Chair Bruce Embrey welcomed the news.
“We are more than pleased that Rago Arts and Auction has decided to withdraw the artifacts from Friday’s auction, and has responded to the outcry from many, especially those who were unjustly incarcerated during World War II,” he said. “It is indeed perplexing that, in this day and age, some in our country know so little of our recent history that the idea of profiting from the sale of artifacts of this nature would be acceptable.”
Embrey urged caution and vigilance, noting that this struggle is far from over.
“While we salute Rago Arts and Auction for withdrawing the items from auction, we note that the artifacts are not yet in our community’s possession,” Embrey stressed. “We urge Rago Arts and Auction and the consignor to negotiate with the HMWF in good faith to reach a quick, honest, appropriate and just settlement.”
“We would also like to salute the HWMF, the Ad Hoc Committee, other community organizations, and all the individuals who banded together to effect positive change,” Embrey added. “We reiterate that whether it be Native American artifacts, or items from the Holocaust or Slavery, it is simply not acceptable for anyone to profit from the personal treasures or possessions of an oppressed people. The artifacts and possessions must be used to educate broader society about the true nature of America’s concentration camps. This was, in fact, the very reason Allen H. Eaton sought, and was given, these items.”
For more information, or to lend your voice to the cause, check out the Japanese American History NOT FOR SALE page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/
allen…If that’s the case,then I’ll apologize to Mr. Eaton for what I said….But then,actually,it makes some of it even worse….those that might be argueing and bickering over his estate and going against his wishes after he has passed…I have a loose kinda will made up for a good friend to… Read more »
do some research. Allen Eaton passed away several years ago. He was a very respectable man who dedicated much of his life to helping others and working to educate and inform the public and reform unconstitutional policies. He was not about consumer culture or personal profiting.
This article raised interest and caused me to do more research. Mr.Eaton passed several years ago. He lived a very impressive life. I urge people to take a closer look and research for yourself.
the former incarceries trusted Mr.Eaton with the arts and crafts, maybe you should too. Mr.Eaton did not make his descision in haste, but did so after years of continplating. There may very well be a reason he did not accept the offer. He kept his word to inform and educate… Read more »
Hmmm… Where did the assumption come from? Eatons own writings? Are there other writings or evidence to prove the previous owners were specific and gave the items to Eaton under certain terms and conditions? I think more information and facts are needed before anyone places judgement upon Eaton. Shame on… Read more »
bewildered : says it right in the story,dude….second paragraph….or do you think the guy that gave Eaton the articles suddenly decided to lie about what they must have agreed on ?…why would he do that ?….wouldn’t make sense.
To say “its more than what Japanese Americans got during WWII” is a complete contradiction entirely!! Yes what happened to these people was an injustice. There is nothing nice about war. On the other hand, two wrongs do not make a right. You can not justify depriving Mr. Eaton of… Read more »
What exactly is considered an artifact? Are you saying that items that once belonged to my great grandmother that were given to me, do not belong to me? outcry- in other words Eaton exibited these items in a book he published. By the name of the book, i am guessing,… Read more »
“You cannot decide the fate of property that belongs to another!” (you said that) Here we go… What is a artifact?.. I speak broadly about stuff that I feel is something I need to say, but enough of the broad statements, lets get to specifics; What is a Artifact? I… Read more »
Jeremiah Joseph( I think I know you…Lone Pine ? )…..That is one GREAT post,dude !!!!
The two thumbs down is sayin “don’t you encourage him” :-).
Thanks, and yep, LP Reserve is where I roam.
See what I mean… Artifacts are not your Property! Have some respect for those before and after us, Oh wait? I keep forgetting, its all about the now! #ConsumerCulture If we as a society give the green light to profit from any and all significant artifacts, how long would it… Read more »
So they should go after Inyo Co. next. Because Inyo Co. sold entire buildings form Mazanar. These buildings were bought and moved to new locations all over the county.
Trouble- What do you mean the wrong group? We are talking EQUAL rights.
Allen, not some, but all the Japanese Americans had all their property, houses, jobs and families taken from them. Many of them still volunteered to fight for us. None of them fought to stop their terriable injustice. If they don’t think it’s right for someone to make a profit off… Read more »
There is a huge difference between digging up artifacts and recieving property from someone. So cut the crap. It can just as easily be assumed that had the previous owner wanted the items to be on display, they wouldnt have been given to Eaton. ASSUMPTION = presumption /to assume /guess… Read more »
low- it is entirely different than digging up artifacts! There is no comparision. They were GIVEN to him!! It is only alleged, the property was givin with the ASSUMTION, that they would be displayed. If that is the case, why is it only alleged and why hasnt it been proven?… Read more »
Exactly. Anyone that agrees to this abuse of power should have their private property taken from them next.
That Makes no sense John.
Actually, allen, Eaton’s writing indicates that these arts and crafts objects were donated by Japanese American incarcerees explicitly for that purpose — to exhibit them in order to educate the public about their incarceration experience. For whatever reason, Eaton never got around to putting the exhibit together but he did… Read more »
allen :..If you re-read my comment,you’d see I said “not a lot different than those that dig up artifacts”,which,IMO, is correct.Now if Eaton goes to court on this I’m sure he can do as he pleases with “his property”,since they were given to him by someone hoping he’d “display and… Read more »
Its a ugly slippery slope. what next?
Allen- I think your lecturing out the wrong group about being deprived of equal protection of the law.
Rago Arts and Auctions did the right thing by deciding to avoid litigation and not trying to sell and profit from these artifacts…GIVEN to Eaton with the intent of displaying and educating..not a lot different than those that steal,sell and profit (whether they say they do or not) when someone… Read more »
This is horrible! Every person has the fundamental right to equal protection of property. It is unlawful to deprive any person the right to use and enjoy their property, including the right to sell. If he is the owner he should be able to do whatever he wants with it… Read more »
This is crazy! These items were given to Eaton.They belong to him and he should be able to do what he pleases with them, regardless of the nature of the artifacts. It is awful that this kind of BULLYING is tolerated. The Constitution reads that it is a violation of… Read more »
I’m glad these folks had the heart to do the right thing. Now if only DWP can decide to do so!