News Release
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April 12, 2006
Speaker to Address WWII Internment Camp Experience
A former resident of the Manzanar War Relocation Center, a Japanese American
internment camp, will speak at 7 p.m. April 27 in the Boise State University
Student Union Lookout Room. Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston’s address is free and
open to the public. Free parking is available in the Student Union Visitor
Lot.
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Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston |
Houston was 7 years old when she was interned with her
family in California’s Manzanar internment camp, despite the fact that she
was born in the U.S. and spoke only English. Behind barbed wire and under
the watchful eyes of armed guards, she was involved in many camp activities
that seemed out of place in that location, including glee club, talent shows
and baton twirling. After leaving the camp in 1945 she continued her
education, attending San Jose State College where she studied journalism and
sociology.
With her husband, James D. Houston, she coauthored “Farewell to Manzanar,” a
memoir of her childhood in the camp. Called a classic in American letters,
it was later made into a movie and the book is currently required reading in
California public schools.
Houston’s address is sponsored by Boise State’s Department of History,
College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs, Cultural and Ethnic Diversity
Board and the Cultural Center.
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Contact: Robert Sims, Department of History, (208) 426-3777,
rsims@boisesetate.edu
Media Contact: Kathleen Craven, University Communications, (208)
426-3275, kcraven@boisestate.edu
Boise State University is the largest institution of higher education in
Idaho with about 18,600 students and 2,200 faculty and staff. More than 190
undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and technical degrees are offered within
eight colleges. A metropolitan university located in the capital city, Boise
State is committed to life-enhancing research, teaching excellence and
public service.
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Last reviewed on Wednesday, January 03, 2007