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George Kennan is horrified at the situation with the School Board in San Francisco. He hopes that if President Roosevelt meets them he can see them for who they are as individuals with illicit character. It is creating a San Francisco where men of character are leaving.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-02
David Starr Jordan thinks that if Americanism is the true motto of the country, then Japanese immigrants who meet all the qualifications should be naturalized as citizens. President Roosevelt and his administration have been successful in preventing the creation of a “Jim Crow” class while also protecting America’s dignity in interacting with Japan. Even in interfering in local matters, it has only been limited to when there are possible constitutional violations at stake, like when the local school board in San Francisco made their ruling about the Japanese school-aged children. There are definite economic advantages to maintaining trade with Asia, but an influx of immigration to the United States does raise some valid concerns along economic and social lines.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-03
This article, published in The Outlook, seeks to present the principles which “should, and eventually will, determine the whole question of the treatment of the Oriental races in this country.” Considering specifically the case of California, where Japanese children were being excluded from public schools, the article highlights three issues: the prerogative of the states to control and make decisions about public schooling, the right of the Federal Government to determine who may enter into the country, and the power of Congress to make naturalization laws to determine who may become a citizen. After explaining these, the article then applies them to the situation in California.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-29
David Starr Jordan apologizes for the labor unions in San Francisco. Unfortunately, the school board exerts almost complete control over who can enroll in the local schools and has segregated Japanese children. Jordan advises Kakichi Mitsukuri that the Japanese government should continue to limit the immigration to the United States, despite the fact that Hawaii is in desperate need of labor. Jordan believes that those who immigrate to Hawaii only stay for a short period of time and then quickly move to San Francisco, which is only making the situation worse. Japan in moving forward with these negotiations should never accept an inferior position. President Roosevelt aims to treat them fairly.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-10
President Roosevelt praises William G. Frost’s work in the southern mountains. He has heard about the emergency at Berea College which necessitates separate schools for African Americans and whites. He hopes that the fund Frost is seeking to establish will solve the problem without interfering with the work being done at Berea.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-11
President Roosevelt implores Secretary of State Root to contact Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf about the actions of the school authorities in San Francisco enforcing segregation of students of Asian ethnicity, specifically Japanese children. Roosevelt asks Root to prepare directives for immigration agents and custom authorities in order to deter further mistreatment towards Japanese immigrants.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-27
President Roosevelt pens his son Kermit Roosevelt with updates about the family’s activities over the previous weekend, including rides on the presidential yacht and hikes with Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. He is especially gushing about his wife, and Kermit’s mother, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt’s aptitude for physical activity and general intelligence. Roosevelt goes on to describe his trouble responding to the San Francisco Board of Eduction’s attempt to remove Japanese students from schools. He believes that the general distain for the Japanese among Americans on the Pacific Coast, stemming from labor disputes and racism, is to blame. Congress’ refusal to fund new fortifications in Hawaii and the Philippines has added to Roosevelt’s woes in the region.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-04
President Roosevelt shares with George Kennan the difficulties he has had dealing with the movement in California to remove the children of Japanese immigrants from schools. Although labor is partially to blame, Roosevelt believes deeply rooted racism is also at fault.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-09
President Roosevelt updates his son Kermit Roosevelt on the comings and goings of the White House and his thoughts on a recent article that appeared in Outing. Roosevelt had hoped to keep his upcoming visit to Groton School and Harvard University private, but it has leaked. He is having difficulties resolving the segregation of Japanese students from San Fransisco schools and the resulting diplomatic tensions, but has decided immigration from Japan must be curtailed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-09
The United States Senate directs the Secretary of Commerce and Labor, Victor Howard Metcalf, to provide copies of all documents related to his investigation of Japanese students attending public schools in San Francisco.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-05
Secretary of State Root returns the original report made by Secretary of Commerce and Labor Victor Howard Metcalf on the exclusion of Japanese children from public schools in San Francisco.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-13
Kentarō Kaneko is disheartened to hear about the situation in San Francisco where the local school board will not allow Japanese children to enroll in schools. Kaneko is working his hardest to quell anger in Japan, and is heavily resting on the notion that this is an entirely local problem – not a national one.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-31
President Wheeler of the University of California gives President Roosevelt an update on the San Francisco Graft Trials. Wheeler also gives Roosevelt a summary of the candidates for the 1906 California gubernatorial race and relates how California schools are segregating Chinese, Japanese, and Korean students.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-31
United States Attorney Robert T. Devlin replies to Attorney General William H. Moody’s telegram with details about lawsuits in San Francisco regarding Asian American children being segregated in public schools.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-26
Kentarō Kaneko writes to President Roosevelt about the recent call in San Francisco by school administrators to pull Japanese children out of schools. Kaneko describes Japan as a “consistently firm friend” and asks that Roosevelt take appropriate measures immediately, for justice and humanity.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-26
Solicitor General Hoyt forwards to President Roosevelt a telegram regarding a lawsuit over the segregation of Japanese school children in public schools in San Francisco, California.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-27