COUNCIL OF CHURCHES, WASHINGTON AND NORTHERN IDAHO

Accession Nos. 1567, 1567-1, 1567-2

COUNCIL OF CHURCHES OF GREATER SEATTLE

Accession No. 1358-7

The Council of Churches of Washington and Northern Idaho served as an agency for cooperative planning and united action among Christian churches. Its members were Protestant churches of many denominations in Washington and Northern Idaho and affiliated local councils of churches from that region. During and immediately fol lowing World War II, the Council facilitated the reintegration of Japanese Americans into the larger society of the region. The local Council of Churches of Greater Seattle played a prominent role in these efforts.

Records of the Council of Churches of Washington and Northern Idaho include a great deal of information on community acceptance problems that many returnees faced, as well as published pamphlets and statements regarding incarceration experiences (Accession No. 1567-2; nine folders in Box 6). Financial records include budgets and requests of national religious organizations for support of the Council's programs for returning Japanese Americans (Accession No. 1567-1, Box 12, Folder 8).

Efforts of the Council of Churches of Greater Seattle during the war focused on providing internees with clergy and religious school staff and with facilitating religious services and children's programs in the camps. In December of 1944, the Council initiated efforts to improve community acceptance of returnees and to promote their reintegration into society. The United Church Ministry to Returning Japanese was formed under the general direction of the Council, reflecting the involvement of the Presbyterian, Methodist, Congregational, Episcopal and Baptist churches, among others. Special programs sponsored by the Ministry included worship services in Japanese, youth fellowships, hostels, and employment and housing advice. Files documenting these activities are found in the Council of Churches of Greater Seattle records (Accession No. 1358-7, Box 15). An inventory of these records is included below.

EXCERPTS OF INVENTORY
Council of Churches of Greater Seattle

Accession No. 1358-7, Box 15

Contents

Dates

Box/Folders

. . .
Subgroups
. . .
JAPANESE AMERICAN RELOCATION
General Correspondence 1942-47, n.d. 15/1-15/2
Minutes 1942-45 15/3
Writings 1943-44, n.d. 15/4
Reports 1942-44, n.d. 15/5
Conference--Joint Conference on Future of Japanese Church Work, Resettlement, and Return 1945 15/6
Statements 1943, n.d. 15/7
Resolutions 1942-45 15/8
Legislation 1942-43 15/9
Newsletters 1942-45 15/10
News Releases 1941-45, n.d. 15/11
Publications 1942, 1944 15/12
Lists 1941-45, n.d. 15/13
Clippings 1942-44, n.d. 15/14
Subject Series
Administration of Japanese Work Committee 1945 15/15
Evacuee Service Council 1945 15/16
Japanese Character 1942 15/17
Japanese Christmas Projects 1942-44 15/18
Japanese Permit Request 1942 15/19
Kitagawa, Joseph 1945, n.d. 15/20
Puyallup Center's Visitors Agreement Regulations for Religious Purposes 1942 15/21
Reception at Camp Harmony 1942 15/22
Returning Japanese of Seattle Area 1945-46, n.d. 15/23
United Church Hostel 1941-45, n.d. 15/24
War Relocation Authority Project Stories 1942-43 15/25
Miscellany 1942-45, n.d. 15/26
Sub-subgroups
Council of Churches. Seattle. Emergency Committee on Aliens 1941-42, n.d. 15/27-15/28
Council of Churches. Seattle. United Church Ministry to Returning Japanese 1945 15/29
Protestant Church Commission for Wartime Japanese Service. Western Area 1942-45, n.d. 15/30-15/31
. . .