Halford Wilson Correspondence 1938

Halford Wilson Correspondence 1938

Description

Title Proper PR0038 MS0012 BOX 1 FILE 01
Date(s) of material from this resource digitized 1938
General material designation
From this file, LOI has digitized one textual record or image.
Scope and content
This file contains correspondence between Halford Wilson and various citizens, organizations, and officials including: the Attorney-General of the United States regarding American “measures adopted to control the Orientals”; The Royal Society of St. George offering support to Wilson’s “most worthy fight against the Oriental penetration of British Columbia” in which Wilson replies that “Oriental aggression”, in his view, was “particularly by the Japanese”; British Columbia Immigration Board of Review thanking Wilson for his report on “Oriental penetration into Vancouver business life”; the Native Sons of British Columbia thanking Wilson for his efforts; and the Vancouver Dry Goods Company complaining about garments being produced out of Japanese homes. Most of the letters from private citizens concern Japanese-Canadians and naturalized citizens. In one such letter (16 May 1938) the writer complains that he or she witnessed “a couple of Japanese taking moving pictures of [the] airport”. In another letter (24 May 1938) the writer requests the return of legislation banning Asian women from entering the province; and another (4 June 1938) complains about Japanese women receiving pension.
Name of creator
Wilson, Halford David, 1904-1988 created this archive during his time as a Vancouver politician.
Immediate source of acquisition
The digital copies of the records were acquired by the Landscapes of Injustice Research Collective between 2014 and 2018.
This record was digitized in full.

Metadata

Title

Halford Wilson Correspondence 1938
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Terminology

Readers of these historical materials will encounter derogatory references to Japanese Canadians and euphemisms used to obscure the intent and impacts of the internment and dispossession. While these are important realities of the history, the Landscapes of Injustice Research Collective urges users to carefully consider their own terminological choices in writing and speaking about this topic today as we confront past injustice. See our statement on terminology, and related sources here.