1. Undergraduate Research Center 2013 Request Letter for Project Support
Erika Magnusson, Student in Honors 401W Contemporary Research of the Japanese American Internment
Camps course
My trip to the Manzanar National Historic Site, California and participation in the 44th
annual Manzanar Pilgrimage on Saturday, April 27, 2013 will assist me in my Honors
401W Contemporary Research of the Japanese American Internment Camps course final
research paper.
The objective of my research paper is to examine the soil type used for agriculture by
Issei Japanese American farmers in Japanese American concentration camps. I will
examine how Japanese Americans in concentration camps utilized desert soil formed
from arid climates. Japanese Issei and Nisei (1st
and 2nd
generation Japanese Americans)
were ‘relocated’ to concentration camps in the following states: California, Utah,
Arizona, Colorado, Arkansas, Wyoming, and Idaho. Camps in all States but Arkansas (all
of the Western States) are occupied by desert soils (aridisols).
My study away experience will accompany my research paper proposal goals by:
Gaining knowledge about using camp desert soils (aridisols) for gardening
and agriculture directly from Japanese Internment Camp survivors
Accessing hands-on-materials and primary resources (material culture
objects that address: the camp soil profile, how camp’s desert soil affected
agricultural yield, agricultural techniques of Japanese American farmers,
and historical background of desert soil before camps were built) at the
Japanese American National Museum and the Hirasaki Resource Historic
Center.
I request to receive an URC Project Support Grant to assist me in my research project
study away experience. Although I have previously applied for an Honors Travel Grant,
only a portion (at most $300) of study away travel and stay costs will be covered. A URC
Project Support Grant, if granted, will directly help to cover travel expenses and support
completion of my Honors 401W Contemporary Research of the Japanese American
Internment Camps course final research paper.
Estimated Cost of Travel and Stay for Study Away Experience.
Flight $391
Hotels $140
Food $120
Admissions $40
Ground Transport $40
Total $731
Project Schedule:
Study away experience April 24th
- 29th
Final Research Paper April 29th