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Japanese-American Internment Camps During WWII

Topaz Internment Camp Exhibit

Life Behind Barbed Wire

The single internment camp located in Utah was at Topaz, Utah, sixteen miles west of Delta, Utah. Named for a nearby mountain, Topaz was in the middle of an area charitably described as a "barren, sand-choked wasteland." The first internees were moved into Topaz in September, 1942, and it was closed in October, 1945. At its peak, Topaz held 9,408 people in barracks of tarpaper and wood.

The George G. Murakami Collection

The items in this exhibit were graciously lent to the University of Utah by George G. Murakami, a young American from Berkeley, California, who was interned in Topaz.

A large group of former students gathered for the 40th Topaz High reunion, holding a colorful banner, in San Francisco, 1983.

Topaz internment camp
A black and white photo of four individuals standing together in a sparse outdoor setting with wooden buildings in the background.
Five young men pose together outdoors in front of a rustic building, wearing casual clothing, smiling for the camera.
A black-and-white photo of a woman in a white blouse and skirt standing next to a man in a light button-up shirt, with wooden crates behind them.
A textured cream-colored invitation for the 1945 commencement ceremony at Lopaz City High School, featuring elegant typeface and decorative elements.
Diploma from Topaz High School in Utah, certifying George H. Murakami's graduation in June 1944, signed by school officials.
An embossed graduation booklet cover with "Class of 1944" in gold text and a blue ribbon on the left side.
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 Last Modified 4/29/25