Allen Hendershott Eaton Collection

Allen Hendershott Eaton's historic 1952 book, Beauty Behind Barbed Wire: The Arts of the Japanese in Our War Relocation Camps, explored art and craft objects created by Japanese Americans during World War II incarceration. While researching for the book and a never-realized exhibition of camp artifacts, Eaton gathered a significant personal collection of these artifacts.

In 2015, thanks to the efforts of community organizations, leaders, and activists, JANM was entrusted with the safekeeping of the Eaton Collection, approximately 150 artifacts and artworks made by Japanese American incarcerees. Approximately 300 photographic prints, primarily copies of War Relocation Authority photographs, are also part of the collection. They were displayed at JANM's 2018 exhibition Contested Histories: Art and Artifacts from the Allen Hendershott Eaton Collection. It traveled around the United States to gather information from community members. The artifacts are on display again with more stories in the fall 2024 exhibit, Contested Histories: Preserving and Sharing a Community Collection.