This collection of art and craft objects created by Japanese Americans while incarcerated in American concentration camps during World War II was transferred to JANM in 2015. The display includes physical and digital representations of every item in the collection that in their own way reveal a history of the Japanese American experience. Contested Histories is intended to “crowd source” as much information about each object so that JANM’s efforts to preserve and catalog the collection can be as complete as possible. Camp survivors and their family members and friends will be encouraged to share with JANM information they know or remember about the objects, including who is depicted in the many photographs, most of which were shot by photographers working for the War Relocation Authority. Presentations about the collection will be offered throughout the day. 

Admission to Contested Histories is free, but must be scheduled in advance. Tickets include admission to The Noguchi Museum and the No Monument special exhibition. A limited number of walk-up tickets will be available based on museum capacity. 

If you are a member of the Japanese American community and would like to make priority reservations, please email us at education@noguchi.org or call 718.204.7088 ext 205.

For more details about Contested Histories and its travel itinerary, visit janm.org/contested-histories. 

Contested Histories was funded, in part, by a grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant Program. Additional support was provided by George and Brad Takei, the Earle K. & Katherine F. (Muto) Moore Foundation, and Richard Sakai.