Los Alamos Historian Nancy Bartlit and Bill Nishimura with the suitcase that carried his possessions to four Internment camps during WWII. Courtesy photo

COMMUNITY News:

Anyone curious about the existence of a camp interning men of Japanese descent during World War II in Santa Fe, might enjoy attending a talk by local WWII author and historian Nancy R. Bartlit, 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 18, in the Community Room at Santa Fe Public Library, 145 Washington Ave., in Santa Fe.

Her talk, The Santa Fe Internment Camp (1942-1946) in the Shadow of Los Alamos, includes her research since the early 2000s of life in the vacated camp for Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the city limits. Originally built for 400 persons, the camp was expanded in 1943 for 2,100 beds about the same time the Los Alamos Boys Ranch School was being closed in order for new construction of the Los Alamos laboratory to take place. And General Leslie R. Groves knew about it.

Initial internees were generally successful elderly Japanese leaders in the economy and cultural life of communities along the west coast. Internees who had come to the United States at least 17 years before Pearl Harbor was attacked on Dec 7, 1941, averaged 52 years of age. They were precluded from becoming American citizens by federal law. Consequently, when Japan attacked the United States, they became “enemy aliens” by virtue of their status, not any anti-American activities. Ironically, Italian Enrico Fermi was also considered an “enemy alien”.

Bartlit taught in a private academy for girls in Sendai, Japan, 13 years after the end of WWII. She has returned a number of times to Japan and to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Through her teaching connections, she was introduced to Santa Fe Camp survivor Bill Nishimura. Before Nishimura passed away at 101 years old, he gave Bartlit his suitcase, which once held all his possessions taken to four internment camps, and which she will bring to the talk on Thursday.

Bartlit has visited many WWII WRA camp sites for Japanese families, including Honolulu, and joining Nishimura to attend a pilgrimage to Tule Lake, Calif., and to give a lecture at Manzanar, Calif., about the Santa Fe Internment Camp.

Thursday’s presentation is open to the public and free. Direct questions to Library@santafenm.gov or call 505.955.6781.