Gila News-Courier, Volume 1 #1-5

Vol. 1 #1: Sept.12, 1942

Page 1: 11,550 is the camp's population. There's a statement from the superintendent of schools; one from the CAS director; one on the school program, one about the Pima Indians, and one on a netting project.

Page 2: A notice that the paper is published twice weekly; a letters to the editors column; a cartoon; an article about a possible Japanese language supplement, plus the article below.

Page 3: A statement from the project director; an article on the planning of a colony council; an article about center churches; an article on provisional employment; internal security is assured residents, and pasteurized milk will be available.

Page 4: An article about the project director; posters have been put up marking the boundary of the Gila center; the colony council article continues; only U.S. citizens 21 or older will be allowed to vote in the election; the newspaper makes its debut; firemen report early; jobs are available for mess workers.

Page 5: Two articles on the post office; an article about Block managers; one on a meeting of Scout leaders; a short article about church groups, and an article about fire precautions.

Page 6: An article about residents making the surroundings look better; an article on news from other camps; and an article entitled Issei Father.

Page 7: Articles on the medical staff and the dental staff; an article about animals found in the camp (that might necessitate a trip to the medical facility), and the Issei Father article continues.

Page 8

Page 9: A nursery has opened; an article on the Boy Scouts; an article on activities for women; an article on the schools is continued from page 1; two articles about particular residents; where to get copies of a souvenir map, and fire extinguishers have been installed.

Page 10

Page 11

Page 12: A cartoon; an article on the head of the camp's police (who is from Hawaii); an article asking parents to seat their kids at the mess; an article on sanitation; a mess hall opens; typewriters are wanted; an article on renting horses; a housing article from page 1 continues, and a short thing about buying war bonds.

Page 13: Buddhists held a church dedication; kindergarten starts soon; 1841 people are employed at the camp; there will be a scout rally; judo classes have been delayed; a person is going to address Christians; a musical appreciation hour, and a lost item.

Page 14: Articles on the motor pool and maintenance divisions; thanks given for attending a funeral; the school article (from p. 12) and the Buddhist article (from page 11) continue; there will be a weekly dance, and the Employment Office has moved.

Page 15: A sports page, with articles on football, baseball, volleyball, and girls' softball.

Page 16: More sports, with an article on recreation, a sports editorial, a sports feature, and articles on boxing, horse shoe throwing, and a sports meeting.

Vol. 1 #2: Sept.16, 1942

Page 1: Employment policies announced by WRA; temporary government organized; certain blocks that were going to be moved to make way for schools will not be moved; new arrivals at camp; anyone leaving camp for work outside has to file a change of address card with the F.B.I.; visitor's permit process has been started.

Page 2: Letters; the canteen is showing a profit; a cartoon; there will be a Japanese supplement to the paper.

This one I don't understand.

An interesting article.

Page 3: Three students have left the center for schools elsewhere; a library will be set up; a personal article on one of the residents; teachers and teacher's assistants are needed; there's some unclaimed mail; an On the Slate column consisting of short notes about education at the camp.

The term “mixed couples” is defined.

Page 4: Articles on the mess ticket system; some residents will leave the center to pick cotton; there have been two marriages, ten births and five deaths. There was a dance; a W on an armband designates a warden; an article on some visitors to the camp; an article on Nisei leaving the center for permanent employment elsewhere; an article on employment in the camp.

Page 5: An article on carts to haul wood; a fire bureau has been started; continuation of the article on blocks not being removed from page 1; a Buddhist group held a meeting; continuation of article on people leaving camp for outside employment from page 4; employment policies explained, article continued from page 1; five Nisei saved the life of a soldier trapped by a car accident.

Page 6: A Buddhist church opened; article about the death of a resident; sympathy thank-you article; school registration next day; Red Cross benefit dance; Buddhist club elected officers; July paychecks will be ready soon; adult education course registration continues; employment policy article from page 5 continues; article about several workers needed.

Page 7: Recreation and sports page: assistant supervisor chosen in building recreation program; a number of articles on baseball.

Page 8: More sports, more baseball articles, girls' volleyball, article on a number of specific sports residents.

Vol. 1 #3: Sept.19, 1942

Page 1: The director of the camp project has resigned; volunteers are needed to pick cotton; two blocks will be used for schools; then there's an article with details about cotton picking, including that the volunteers will have to pay for their own meals. The JACL is backing the cotton-picking drive.

Page 2: Letters to the editor; a couple of editorials, and a small cartoon.

Page 3.

Page 4: Articles on Christian and Buddhist schools. A Drum & Bugle corps is being organized; people from Tulare need to pick up their clothing; Scout leaders are holding meetings; a special speaker for the Christian Young Peoples service; modern dancing and ballet classes are going on; article urging young boys to join the scouts; camouflage netting will be made; an ad from Pennsylvania wanting a Nisei couple to keep house for elderly people.

Page 5.

Page 6: A column called Merry Go Round which consists of short pieces of information on things going on at the camp. There is a Fine Arts group. There has been one birth and one death. The government wants to buy typewriters. The boundary of the camp has been posted. There will be a speaker for the Young People's Christian group. Plans are under way for a bon festival. There will be a Red Cross benefit that night.

Page 7: A speech from the camp director; shorter hours for irrigation; sign-up for adult school; mess hall workers will take a physical exam; a Canteen Council has been established; the Property Section has been transferred; the CAS director visits.

Page 8: The chief steward talks; an article about things going on in other camps; block moving article from page 1 continues; the clinic hours will be reduce while it's painted; a dance is scheduled; pay from those from Tulare will arrive soon.

Page 9: Sports page, including articles on weight-lifting, volleyball and horseshoes. A note about delays in the recreation program. Articles on basketball, a talent show, and more articles about specific athletes.

Page 10: More sports, including softball, volleyball, boxing, sumo, goh, shogi, and the Community Activities Section (CAS) has a stockroom.

Vol. 1 #4: Sept.23, 1942

Page 1: A head has been picked for the colony labor board; a report on results of picking cotton; the camp director wants residents to improve the looks of their residences by planting things; a meeting of the administrative staff over the cotton picking.

The statement about beautifying their homes.

Page 2: Letters to the editor; articles on cotton for war, and table etiquette, and a small cartoon.

Page 3: Radishes grown by the camp will be served soon; an article about the head of sanitation; article on the scouts, the opening of the library, Gila is closed to alien visitors, a variety show will be held, optometry services, and who will handle camp questions.

Page 4: Articles on the mess hall, dental services, eleven Caucasian teachers have arrived, community garden sites will be selected; fire fighters will work on shifts; On the Slate education-related shorts; American classes will start; a talent show; choir practice; insurance policies; one death after a long illness, a thanks for attending the funeral services.

Page 5: Camp Red Cross is organized; canteen article on sewing machines and water; another article on education with a series of short articles in it; a head has been picked for the camp nursery; typewriters are needed for the school; the Christian Sunday school had a guest speaker; Tulare Red Cross certificates are in; music lessons will be given.

Page 6: Sports page with articles on volleyball, football, baseball, model aircraft, judo, boxing and wrestling.

Vol. 1 #5: Sept.25, 1942

Page 1: The camp director explains the policy on uniting families; article on cotton picking; Issei will not be allowed to hold camp offices; a Red Cross has been established for the camp, and camp-grown radishes are being served.

Page 2: Letters to the editor; editorial about camp beautification; contests will be held for the most beautiful gardens; article on absentee ballots.

Page 3.

Page 4: Truck drivers are to drive carefully; the acting project director talks about camp offices and delays in getting materials; where to address mail to the Granada/Amache camp; biographical article about the acting project director.

Page 5: On the slate, short bits on education; article on a Buddhist council; a speaker for Christians; eight students have left camp for colleges; committee for Sunday services; the camp library has been improved; typewriters will be leased; a drafting class; two births and one death; women's club activities, and who will head the Christian Choir.

Page 6: Articles on a costume designing contest, land set aside for gardening, paychecks are being distributed, an article on the head librarian, a girls' club meeting, seeds have been donated, students who have three years or more of college can become teachers at the camp, a list of Buddhist and Christian services, in case of emergency contact the wardens, a dance, and a request not to steal lumber earmarked for the schools.

Page 7: Sports page with articles on boxing, volleyball, softball, goh, horse shoes; an article on specific athletes, and an article on a dance for that night.

Page 8: More sports articles, these on softball, football, sumo, volleyball, social dancing, a drama group, and a meeting for all athletes seventeen and older.



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