Tsuneo Iwata - President of the Turlock Social Club

Biography

Tsuneo Iwata was formerly president of the Turlock Social Club which was located at 326 Center Street, Turlock, California. He was born in 1918 in the United States, both of his parents fully Japanese. Tsuneo had a Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences and Mathematics, putting it to good use in his community. He was single, no spouse, but he did travel to the Merced Assembly center with his parents. Most of his letters had the same structure and layout, just sent to different individuals. He stated repeatedly that he was hopeful to come back to his community as well as being accepted once he came back.  From our research, Tsuenos last permanent address was in Turlock, CA, so we can assume that he returned back home to his community just like he hoped he would.

The Turlock Social Club

The Turlock Social Club was a club dedicated to its community. Their goals were to help the community grow and flurish, along side with what their goals were as a club. During the evacuation, the goals of the club were set aside in order to  fully support the evacuees. The President of the Turlock Social Club made the choice to communicate with others that had power or whose voice had more power to help his club members and people in his community to have a place to keep their things safe while they were being asked to evacuate. Before the evacuation, they held fundraisers and also recieved donations to help the club grow but also Turlock as a whole. 

Purpose of Letters

Tsueno wrote letters to certain elites of the community to voice his gratitude and appreciation towards the individuals that contributed to the Turlock Social Club and to thank them for their generosity over the years. He subtly reminded those people that he had the power and the ability to get things done, using his privilege to help support the evacuees (& himself). His main priority was to obtain the Social hall as a potential place for those affected to store their belongings during the time gone. With that, Iwata had to communicate with Harold Johnson, who was another advocate for the evacuees, voicing their opinion towards the federal government to have permission for the Social Hall in Turlock. Fortunately, with his role in (WCCA) Wartime Civil Control Administration, he was able to grant the evacuees with that luxury.

Letter from Tsuneo Iwata to Dr. Albert Julien

• This letter was written from Tsuneo Iwata to Dr. Albert Julien who is estimated to be a doctor they are familiar with, stating "most of us came into this world through Dr. Eric Julien and your helpful hands". "To express our most sincere appreciation for the kindnesses you bestowed upon us and out parents for more than a cedade," he states his gratitude for Dr. Julien's kindness and generosity over the years. He informs him about the mass removal, "military necessity that we evacuate". He hopes to come back to his community and his home like he has stated before in the original artifact. 

Letter from Tsueno Iwata to Mayor Roy Day

“throughout our education, we have been taught the American way -- the democratic way of life”

• Tsuneo Iwata informs Mayor Roy Day that all he has known is the  American way since in America is where he was born and what he was taught. He mentions this as a way to get Mayor Roy to understand that he was not a threat, he was born here. 

Letter from Roy E. Weaver to Tusneo Iwata

"If we can be, at any time, of service to you, please do not hesitate to call upon us; and we will surely be looking forward to the time when everything will again be functioning in a normal manner, when your members will be a part of our community”

• In this letter Roy  is letting Iwata know that he can count on him and also any members of his club to do anything they need. This must've been a relief for Iwata to hear because all he wanted was to be welcomed back to the community. 

Letter from Tsuneo Iwata to Evacuee Property Department 

 “we understand that you are arranging storage facilities for evacuees’ properties at government expenses “

• Tsuneo Iwata was informing the evacuee property department that they had space in the Social hall in Turlock and was giving out the basics for them to rent the place for the people. He put his priorites aside to put his community members first. Many of the evacuees were worried and this gave them a sense of relief to know that their belongings were safe.