Mary and Chester Blackburn began homesteading land in 1947 that had been part of the Heart Mountain Relocation Center near Cody, Wyoming, for Japanese-Americans during World War II. Over the years, they began learning the stories of the internees at the camp and later decided to collect the history. Along with others, they founded the Heart Mountain Relocation Center Memorial Association, of which Mary was president and treasurer. They worked closely with Bill Hosakawa, a former internee, and at that time a writer for the DENVER POST, to bring together other internees and their stories, and to create the memorial. Mary and Chester Blackburn, traveled extensively throughout Wyoming and other places to give presentations of her research into the history of the Heart Mountain Camp.
From the guide to the Mary Blackburn Heart Mountain Relocation Center Papers, 1981-1999, (University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.)
