[Letter to Clara Breed from Louise Ogawa, Arcadia, California, April 23, 1942]

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[Letter to Clara Breed from Louise Ogawa, Arcadia, California, April 23, 1942]

Maker Ogawa, Louise

Date1942

Mediumpaper, ink

DimensionsH: 10 in, W: 8 in (sheet) H: 3.5 in, W: 6 in (envelope)

ClassificationsArchives

Credit LineGift of Elizabeth Y. Yamada

Object number93.75.31HM

DescriptionTranscription: April 23, 1942/Dear Miss Breed,/I just received the two intensely interesting books which you so kindly sent. I was overwhelmed with joy to see the books when the postman opened the package for inspection. I cannot express in words my feeling of gratitude./I want to thank you so much that I feel like writing pages and pages of "Thank you, Miss Breed, Thank you!" But I shall not for I must conserve on paper. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. The first thing I did after receiving the books was run to my parents and show them the nice books. Then I ran to Margaret Ishino and showed them to her. I was so happy I had to show them to someone./Yesterday began my third week in Santa Anita. It is a beautiful place. It is the first time I have been here and I enjoy it very much. The weather differs greatly from San Diego. It is cold and rainy one day and the next day it is as hot as it could be./Since I have been here I visited Seabiscuit's statue and have gone around the race track a few times./We are fed three meals a day and the food is just fine. This is just like an army camp for the store is called a canteen and the cafeteria is called a mess hall. Everyday a line is, which people refer to as a bread line, formed leading to the mess hall when meal time is near. This line is blocks and blocks long. I often wait an hour or two before entering the mess hall. The mess hall is a huge room. The other morning I was the one thousandth person to enter it../It took me a while to get use to my new home, but I am quite use to it now. I am sleeping where Seabiscuit used to sleep, I hope. "I am sleeping where Seabiscuit used to sleep" is a common saying around here./School has not started yet and I am getting lonesome for homework. I heard we are going to have a library soon. It was the best news I have heard. I just love to read. By just looking at the books you sent, I recall the days when I use to walk to the library and have you help me find a nice book to enjoy./The first week after we arrived, father, brother, sister, and I went everyday to the scrap wood pile to find wood to make our furnitures. We finally gathered enough wood to make a few tables and chairs. After looking at the results I thought of the primitive people who did what we did today./But bitter feelings do not enter my head because I know we were sent to Santa Anita Assembly Center for our own protection. I am grateful to the Govt. for gathering us in such a nice place. If I am helping the Govt. by staying here, I am glad. I want so much to be of some use to the Govt./My! all I have been doing is talking about myself. Now I would like to know how you are and all about San Diego. I imagine many students come to the library to get reference books. I wish I was still among them! I seem to be going on and on like the ticking of a clock, but the running out of ink has told me to stop. Before closing I would like to thank you again and I certainly would appreciate your correspondance./Very sincerely yours,/Louise Ogawa/(over)/My address is:/Louise Yoshiko Ogawa/Santa Anita Assembly Center/Barrack 7 Avenue 7 Apt. #1/Santa Anita, California/Ps. I shall anxiously await your letter./;1 letter and envelope from Louise Ogawa to Clara Breed.