Hear from the author Cathy Irwin of the new book Twice Orphaned: Voices from the Children's Village of Manzanar , and from former orphans of the Manzanar's Children's Village, the sole orphanage in all of the ten relocation centers during World War II.

The panel will consist of:
Cathy Irwin (moderator): Dr. Irwin is assistant professor of English in the Modern Languages Department of the University of La Verne and the author of Twice Orphaned: Voices from the Children’s Village of Manzanar.

Tamo Isozaki (panelist): Born in 1926, Mr. Isozaki , lived from the age of nine in northern California orphanages with his siblings until coming to live at the Children’s Village in the Manzanar War Relocation Center during World War II. He has served as an advisor for the Children’s Village Oral History Project at California State University, Fullerton, and his interview appears in Twice Orphaned.

Annie Shiraishi Sakamoto (panelist): Sent to live in a Los Angeles orphanage as a baby, Ms. Sakamoto entered the Children’s Village at Manzanar at age three and left at age six to live in a foster home. Her interview is included in Twice Orphaned.

Celeste Loi Teodor (panelist): After being raised in a Los Angeles-based orphanage, Ms. Teodor came to live in the Children’s Village at Manzanar when she had just turned six years of age. At war’s end she lived in a series of foster homes until reaching the age of eighteen. An interview with her is contained in Twice Orphaned.

Wilbur Sato (panelist): Born in 1929, Mr. Sato was evicted along with all other families on Terminal Island in the Los Angeles area and was later incarcerated in the Manzanar camp. His barracks home was located in Block 29, close to the Children’s Village, with whose residents he frequently interacted. An advisor for the Children’s Village Oral History Project at Cal State Fullerton, he has written a poem about the Village that is featured in Twice Orphaned.

Art Hansen (commentator): An emeritus professor in history and Asian American studies at Cal State Fullerton, Dr. Hansen conceived of and has served as the coordinator for the Children’s Village Oral History Project at CSUF’s Center for Oral and Public History.

Following the panel, there will be a book-signing, with Cathy Irwin, for Twice Orphaned. Copies of the book can be purchased through the Museum Store.
 

Picture Credit: Ansel Adams, photographer
Library of Congress, Prints Photographs Division,
Title: Mr. Matsumoto and children at children's garden, Manzanar Relocation Center, CA
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