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Hirata, Lili

Last Name: Hirata
First Name: Lili
Dates:
*10.3.1932 (Date of Birth)
Biography/History: "When we were relocated - being Japanese American, my mother walked 5 miles to town to buy this doll for me. I was nine years old. My brother had just finished building a new home for us - so my two sisters and I could have a bedroom to ourselves or to share. We were never able to live in it for even one day. In the train on our way to Heart Mountain, Wyoming, the intoxicated soldiers kept counting "Rosie" as another person." Lili was born March 10, 1932 and grew up working with her family on a leased farm in Wapato. She worked hard on the farm, making crates for cantaloupes and tomatoes and packing them. As Japanese Americans were being interned after December 7, 1941, Lili's mother had to collect all their Japanese items and burn them. At that time, she walked 5 miles into the town of Wapato to buy this doll for Lili, her youngest daughter, then age 9. The family was first taken to the Portland Assembly Center, living there for a short time in a space like a horse stall. Lili remembers enjoying picture puzzles and roller skating around the arena with other children. In the desert at Heart Mountain, Wyoming, Lili remembers rattlesnakes, lizards and horned toads (her favorites) and having a good time with other children. Soon after they arrived, her father left to become a cook for the railroad; other men went out to work on sugar beet farms in the area. Her parents lived separately from that time on. Lili's brother left the camp before Mrs. Kajiyama and the girls; he moved to Spokane and married. Lili was 12 when the rest of her family was released from the camp [1944?]. Mrs. Kajiyama and daughters followed her son to Spokane. Lili remembers Mrs. Kajiyama working hard to support her children, sometimes leaving the girls in Spokane while she went to Oregon to pick beans. Lili attended Lincoln School and Lewis & Clark High School. She received a 4-year art scholarship to attend Holy Names College. Sister Edith helped her get her first job at Virgil Warren (c.1953-56) creating poster graphics, silkscreening, and making bus cards by hand with an exacto knife. Later she worked for Crescent Advertising drawing marketing art (merchandise, fashion, portraits). She first worked in the Crescent office (1956-57), then for several years from home after her first child was born; her husband brought merchandise home from the Crescent, and she drew advertising illustrations late at night. For 20 years, (c.1976-96), Lili worked for The Spokesman-Review, first in the art department, then briefly after the art department closed, in the engraving department. Sam's father Kazuma Hirata died on July 4, 1954 or 1955, not long before Sam and Lili married in 1956. Sam's mother Jun was good at saving and had business talent; she was one of the first in her generation to open a savings account at Washington [Trust?] Bank. She paid the down payment on Albert Apartments on Pacific and Division for Sam and Lili to live in and manage; they lived there 42 years, raising 5 boys and 2 girls, before selling the Albert Apts. and moving to their current condo. Eventually, they brought both of Lili’s parents there to care for them. Sam Hirata lived in Spokane his whole life; he died in 2005. Lili went once to see their house in Wapato, but nothing looked the same. She has enjoyed several Heart Mountain reunions and stays connected with 3-4 friendships formed there.
Related Participants:
Related Objects:
4365.1 (Doll, Lili Hirata's Composite Baby Doll and Clothes, 1941)
4365.1B (Robe; Clothing, Doll, Doll Kimono, 1941)
4365.1H (Robe; Clothing, Doll, Doll Kimono, 1941)