Lourdes Nicholls’ grandfather, Kiyotsugu “Bill” Tsuchiya (on the right in the photo), was the curator of Chicago’s Harding Museum from 1925 to 1940. When Harding died in 1939, Bill moved to the Los Angeles area and, during WWII, was incarcerated at Manzanar. Camp Director Ralph Merritt found out about Bill’s museum experience and asked him to start a museum at the camp. Manzanar’s Visual Education Museum opened in September 1942, and presented a wide variety of art and educational exhibitions. Please join Lourdes to learn more about her grandfather’s story, which she will supplement with archival materials and photographs she has collected.

As an ongoing program, Sharing Stories creates a space within the exhibition for dialogue and community. Visitors are invited to come to the 2nd floor lounge area to listen to personal stories and to ask questions, share their own experiences or just join the group to learn more about the Japanese American incarceration camps.