1. SUMMARY INFORMATION
Title: John McGilvrey Maki Papers
Creator: John McGilvrey Maki
Date: 1942-2004 (bulk 1942-1946)
Extent: 0.5 linear feet (1 box)
Language: English
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
John Maki and his wife, Mary, were one family of many American-born Japanese who were sent
to an internment (relocation) camp during World War II. However, instead of letting this
setback brings him down, he achieved a high level in the Civilian Government Section during
the war, and was sent over to Japan to examine the operation of the Japanese government as
well as change it. In 2003, he began to write his memoirs about his life before, during, and after
internment.
He was born on April 19, 1909, in Tacoma, Washington to Japanese immigrants who would later
give him up to an American family, named McGilvrey, to be raised. He lived a regular American
life, went to school, and worked for his family. He would later go off to college to pursue writing
and eventually wed his wife, Mary. He would become an instructor in the Far Eastern
Department at the University of Washington. Never looking at himself from being different
from other Americans, the start of World War II for the United States was an eye opener.
On March 18, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the War Relocation Authority,
which operated out of the War Department. This civilian agency was tasked on evacuating,
relocating, and providing work opportunities for the incarcerated Japanese. On May 16, 1942,
John and Mary Maki were first sent to the temporary Puyallup Assembly Center, also known as
Camp Harmony, located in Puyallup, Washington. At this center, Maki was set-up as an
Information Supervisor in which he controlled and coordinated the functioning of the
Intelligence section of the center. They were sent to a relocation camp in the same year.
Eventually, Maki was sent overseas as a part of the Civilian Government Section to help
reestablish the Japanese government after the war. In Japan, he was able to explore the land
talked to those involved in the government, and assess the damage caused by the war. In
August 1946, Maki’s mission ended, and he was sent home along with many interned Japanese.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

2. The John McGilvrey Maki Papers has a vast assortment of materials that explores the life of an
individual and his family through the beginning of the Japanese Internment to the end. What
brings these papers together is an autobiography of Maki’s life that he began writing in 2003.
This autobiography mainly consists of the beginning of his life and how it changes before,
during, and after Japanese Internment, this history is explored through the 187 personal letters
that he sent to his wife from February to August 1946. Included in these personal papers are
tags from their luggage and one photograph of Maki fishing.
Maki’s papers also have various government papers from the Office of War Information and the
War Relocation Authority, Camp Harmony (a relocation camp) official papers, and a map of a
prohibited area under Exclusion Order No. 57. These papers shed light on the United States
government process in removing, relocating, and containing many Japanese during World War
II. One such writing is a “Circular of Information for Enlistees and their Families,” written by the
War Relocation Authority, it explains and defines to Japanese Americans why they must
abandon their homes and leave their friends behind to a remote internment camp until the end
of the war.
Other materials like newspaper and magazine articles and newsletters from various periodicals
like The Evening Star, the Collier, Junior College Journal, Harper’s Magazine, and many more on
the relocation program and the Japanese Americans reaction to it are spread throughout the
collection. Of particular interest is S. Burton Heath’s article, “What About Hugh Kiino,” in the
October 1943 issue of Harper’s Magazine. It goes into detail about the true nature of the
internment camps and debunks many of the rumors surrounding the relocation centers. It as
well as many of the other periodical articles tries to explain to white America the reason why
these incarcerations were wrong and must be corrected.
CONTENTS LIST
Title of series: Government Correspondences
Dates of materials in series: 1942-1946
Extent of series: Box 1; 2 Folders
Scope and content for series: These correspondences are put in chronological order so that the
progression of the relocation program can be experienced and studied from beginning to end.
One such writing is a “Circular of Information for Enlistees and their Families,” written by the
War Relocation Authority, it explains and defines to Japanese Americans why they must
abandon their homes and leave their friends behind to a remote internment camp until the end
of the war. Other correspondences include a question and answer pamphlet (undated) on what
evacuees should do to prepare for relocation and what to expect at the camps. Also included
are the Office of War Information and the War Relocation Authority, Camp Harmony (a
relocation camp) official papers, and a map of a prohibited area under Exclusion Order No. 57.

3. Title of series: Writings
Dates of materials in series: 1946-2004
Extent of series: Box 1; 2 folders
Scope and content for series: These writings contain Maki’s unfinished autobiography, his
personal letters to his wife (1946), a photograph, luggage tags, and letters to the government.
The main bulk of these writings is his autobiography and personal letters. The autobiography
touches on his childhood, high school, and time he was away in Japan in 1946. The personal
letters are a more intimate look into Maki’s life. These writings are put in chronological order.
Title of series: Printed Material
Dates of materials in series: 1942-1946
Extent of series: Box 1; 1 folder
Scope and content for series: The majority of printed materials are newspaper and magazine
articles and newsletters from various periodicals like The Evening Star, the Collier, Junior
College Journal, and Harper’s Magazine. The October 1943 issue of Harper’s Magazine goes into
detail about the true nature of the internment camps and debunks many of the rumors
surrounding the relocation centers. Other materials reflect on the activities that take place in
Camp Harmony (1942), the temporary center John Maki was sent at the beginning of the
relocation process. In addition, there are press clippings from the New York Times (March 1943)
that goes into detail about the workers who went to go help the evacuees in the relocation
centers. These materials are put in chronological order starting from 1942 until 1946.