McFarling (J. Ralph) Collection

Collection

Identifier: SPC-2011-005

Staff Only

Scope and Content

This collection contains materials generated by J. Ralph McFarling documenting the Granada (Amache) incarceration camp in Amache, Colorado where Japanese Americans were imprisoned during World War II. It contains a ten page typescript memoir entitled The Day the Ban was Lifted by McFarling describing conditions in the camp, weekly reports written by McFarling to the War Relocation Administration, namely his supervisors John H. Provinse and Ned (Edward H.) Spicer (1944-1945), memos and other data relating to camp management, letters from former prisoners who discuss their resettlement throughout the United States, a “resettlement” handbook and guides to the Amache camp published at the camp. There is also a Smithsonian pamphlet entitled The Japanese published in 1943, a pamphlet entitled The Displaced Japanese-Americans published by the American Council on Public Affairs and a pamphlet entitled Japan by the editors of Fortune Magazine, 1944. Other materials include four camp photographs and three watercolor paintings of concentration camp barracks and their desert surroundings by Hajime Takata.

Dates

1943-2007
Majority of material found within 1943-1946

Creator

McFarling, Joseph Ralph (Person)

Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Publication Rights

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

History

Joseph Ralph McFarling was a Community Analyst for the War Relocation Authority at Granada (Amache) incarceration camp in Amache, Colorado during the war. He was born in Rock Port, Missouri on May 11, 1901 attending the Univeristy of Missouri, Methodist College in Cameron, the University of Chicago, Moody Bible Institute and University of Denver. He was the deputy Postmaster in Rock Port. Later, he worked at the boy’s reformatory in Jefferson City and a welfare worker for Atchison County. After the war, he was transferred to Seattle, Washington to help establish communities for relocated Japanese Americans. He died in Seattle on October 9, 1977. While at Granada incarceration camp, he reported to John H. Provinse and Edward Spicer, two noted anthropologists.

Extent

1 box

.5 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection contains materials generated by J. Ralph McFarling, a Community Analyst for the War Relocation Authority, documenting the Amache Incarceration Camp in Granada, Colorado where Japanese Americans were imprisoned during World War II. Some of this collection has been digitized and is available online.