Ishigo, Estelle.

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Estelle (Peck) Ishigo was born in Oakland, CA, 1899; attended Otis Art Institute; met and married San Franciscan Nisei, Arthur Ishigo (ca. 1929); following Pearl Harbor, both were fired from their jobs and Arthur ordered to a concentration camp; Estelle voluntarily accompanied him and they were eventually assigned to Heart Mountain concentration camp in Wyoming; Estelle documented life at the camp through her artwork; they lived in poverty for many years following the war; Arthur died, 1957; fellow Heart Mountain inmates helped Ishigo republish her 1972 book, Lone Heart Mountain, ca. 1984; filmmaker Steven Okazaki made a documentary of Ishigo's life titled, Days of waiting; she died before seeing the film (1990).

From the description of Papers, 1941-1957. (University of California, Los Angeles). WorldCat record id: 41538961

Estelle Ishigo, a European-American, married Arthur Ishigo, a Japanese American, in 1928. During World War II the Ishigos were transferred along with other Japanese-Americans to the Heart Mountain Relocation Center outside of Powell, Wyoming. They remained in the camp from 1942-1945. Following their release, Arthur worked at the Los Angeles Airport until his death in 1957 and Estelle worked as an artist. In 1972 she published "Lone Heart Mountain," a recollection of her experience at the Relocation Center, along with her sketches and drawings of the camp.

From the description of Estelle Ishigo photographs, ca. 1928-ca. 1972 (bulk 1942-1945) (University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center). WorldCat record id: 39255545

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Ishigo, Estelle. Papers, 1941-1957. University of California, Los Angeles
creatorOf Estelle Ishigo photographs Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Heart Mountain Relocation Center, Wyoming. corporateBody
associatedWith Ishigo, Arthur. person
associatedWith Ishigo family. family
associatedWith Japanese American Research Project (University of California, Los Angeles) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
California
Wyoming
Subject
Japanese Americans
Japanese evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945
Women artists
Occupation
Artists
Activity

Person

Birth 1899-07-15

Death 1990-02-25

Female

Americans

English

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