As part of the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library (KVML)‘s first anniversary celebration on Saturday, January 28, the library will host an hour-long panel discussion with survivors of Japanese-American internment camps. The panelists will recount their family lives before World War II, their experiences in the camps, and their lives after the war ended.

The Vonnegut Library began exploring the stories of Japanese-American internees in November 2011 with a screening of the award-winning documentary The Cats of Mirikitani and an exhibition of the art of former internee, Jimmy Mirikitani. As January 29 is the last day of the Mirikitani exhibit, we could think of no better way to conclude it than to hear from other internees in these camps.

Panelists include

• Jean Umemura, a 50-year resident of Indianapolis and retired teacher
• Charles Matsumoto, a 46-year resident of Indianapolis and retired pharmacologist
• Katherine Ase, a 31-year resident of Indianapolis and retired nurse 
• Anne Moore, a 40-year resident of Indianapolis and retired librarian 

The discussion is free and open to the public. It begins at 1PM on Saturday, January 28, at the library and will be moderated by KVML’s Executive Director Julia Whitehead.

Please join us for eyewitness accounts of a time in United States history when national security concerns trumped individual liberties. If you are unable to attend, please share this post with your social networks.

–Shannon

Tagged as: Anniversary, Event