The
broad mission of the recently renamed Japanese American
Museum of San Jose (JAMsj) is to collect, preserve, and
disseminate the arts, culture, and history of Japanese
Americans (JAs). A specific goal is to collect and share
artifacts and historical documents that capture the Japanese
American experience, particularly those that tell the
story of JAs who lived in and contributed to the development
of the Santa Clara Valley. In support of this goal, JAMsj
now has several permanent exhibits, an extensive library,
and personal computers for the public to view and use.
The latter — aided by a wireless network and a broadband
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) — can perform high-speed
searches and make presentations. In an effort to go beyond
the walls of the museum, JAMsj has an Internment Speaker's
Bureau whose members visit local schools and other groups
to share their firsthand experiences, particularly those
relating to World War II. JAMsj also offers teacher-training
workshops to help prepare teachers to integrate the lessons
of the World War II incarceration into their instruction.
