Library: Nisei Digital Exhibit: Home

Organizations Advocating for Japanese Americans

Definitions & Terminology

Nisei
Term for the children of Japanese immigrants, originating from the Japanese language term for "second generation." In the American context, the term is generally understood to apply specifically to the American-born—and thus U.S. citizen—children of Japanese immigrants who arrived prior to the cessation of Japanese immigration to the U.S. under the dictates of the Immigration Act of 1924.
Issei
Term for Japanese immigrants originating from the Japanese language term for "first generation." In the American context, the term is generally understood to apply to those who migrated prior to the cessation of Japanese immigration to the U.S. under the dictates of the Immigration Act of 1924, the bulk arriving after 1885. The vast majority of Issei were thus middle-aged or older during World War II.
Sansei
Term for third generation Japanese Americans, originating from the Japanese language term for "third generation." In the American context, the term is understood to refer to the grandchildren of Japanese immigrants who arrived prior to the cessation of Japanese immigration to the U.S. under the dictates of the Immigration Act of 1924. The vast majority of Sansei were born after the war, and their generational range parallels that of the baby boomers.
Yonsei
Term for fourth generation Japanese Americans, originating from the Japanese language term for "fourth generation." In the American context, the term is understood to refer to the great-grandchildren of Japanese immigrants who arrived prior to the cessation of Japanese immigration to the U.S. under the dictates of the Immigration Act of 1924. The vast majority of Yonsei were born a generation or more after the World War II, and given the boom in intermarriage rates among Japanese Americans starting in the 1960s, many are of mixed race heritage.
Glossary of Terms
From Fresno State Library

Exploring the Nisei Collection Digital Exhibit

In honor of the 80th anniversary of Park admitting Nisei students in 1942, we've created a digital exhibit with resources on the history of Pearl Harbor and Japanese internment camps, the past and present challenges faced by Japanese-Americans, and our entire digitized collection of Nisei artifacts.

Interview with the Archives

Dr. William Lindsay Young

William Lindsay Young (1893-1959) was the son of a coal miner who worked in the mines before founding and directing the University of Montana's School of Religion. He was named the president of Park College in Missouri in 1937.

After visiting the Santa Anita Assembly Center and becoming aware of the plight of Japanese Americans, Young worked with the National Japanese American Student Relocation Council and his board of trustees and faculty at Park to enroll six Nisei students for the fall semester of 1942. A requirement to release the students to attend college was that the town approve the students' arrival, so Young petitioned the local sheriff to sign an approval letter, enraging the town's residents.

When the Nisei students arrived, they were encouraged to minimize trips to town and be accompanied by white students as often as possible. In the end, 20 Nisei students were enrolled, with nine going on to graduate. Young left Park in January 1944 to become the regional director of the National Conference of Christians and Jews.

50th Reunion of the Class of 1945

Frances Fishburn Archives

The Fishburn Archives and Special Collections, located in the Academic Underground, houses manuscripts, print material, photographs, scrapbooks, artwork, and artifacts including furniture, sports trophies, and textiles. The Fishburn Archives provides personalized academic research and information services to alumni, students, faculty, staff, and community patrons.

The Fishburn Archives and Special Collections preserves, protects, and provides information services related to Park College (1875-2000), Park University (2000 to Present), the City of Parkville, Missouri (1844 to Present), and County of Platte, Missouri (1838 to Present) records.

Access to archived materials is available by appointment. Contact the Fishburn Archives by email at archives@park.edu.

Archivist

Dr. Timothy Westcott

Associate University Archivist

George S. Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War

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Nisei Digital Exhibit: Home

Introduction to the Nisei Collection