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| Many of the artworks in the collection depicted life in the interment camps. |
“The mission of the Japanese American National Museum is to share this story,” said JANM President and CEO Greg Kimura in a press release. “We honor the sacrifice of our forebears who suffered to prove their loyalty to the U.S. by ensuring that such Constitutional violations never happen again.
"I’m very pleased that our museum, Rago Arts and Auction Center, and the John Ryan family of Connecticut, which possessed the artifacts, were able to reach an agreement that reflects our mutual interests. We all want to see these items appropriately preserved.“
That is when George Takei stepped in. "Many of the photos picture peoples' grandparents and parents, and there's a strong emotional tie there," Takei told the LA Times. "To put that up on the auction block to the highest bidder, where it would just disappear into someone's collection, was insensitive."
So Takei -- who is a board member of the Japanese American National Museum, which is located in Los Angeles -- personally spoke with David Rago, a founding partner of Rago Arts.
"The most appropriate and obvious place for the collection was the Japanese American National Museum," Takei said. "I talked to David Rago after the uproar, and he was very thoughtful and receptive."
At the last minute, the auction was canceled, and the museum was able to acquire the entire collection.
The announcement about the exhibit came during the museum’s annual gala dinner, which honored Star Trek actor and activist Takei with its Distinguished Medal of Honor for Lifetime Achievement and Public Service.
As a child, Takei and his family were among those incarcerated during World War II. He wrote a musical, Allegiance, about the interment camps. Allegiance, starring Broadway star Lea Salonga, debuts in New York this fall.
“All of us can take to heart that our voices were heard and that these items will be preserved and the people who created them during a very dark period in our history will be honored.” Takei said in a statement.
That is when George Takei stepped in. "Many of the photos picture peoples' grandparents and parents, and there's a strong emotional tie there," Takei told the LA Times. "To put that up on the auction block to the highest bidder, where it would just disappear into someone's collection, was insensitive."
So Takei -- who is a board member of the Japanese American National Museum, which is located in Los Angeles -- personally spoke with David Rago, a founding partner of Rago Arts.
"The most appropriate and obvious place for the collection was the Japanese American National Museum," Takei said. "I talked to David Rago after the uproar, and he was very thoughtful and receptive."
At the last minute, the auction was canceled, and the museum was able to acquire the entire collection.
The announcement about the exhibit came during the museum’s annual gala dinner, which honored Star Trek actor and activist Takei with its Distinguished Medal of Honor for Lifetime Achievement and Public Service.
As a child, Takei and his family were among those incarcerated during World War II. He wrote a musical, Allegiance, about the interment camps. Allegiance, starring Broadway star Lea Salonga, debuts in New York this fall.
“All of us can take to heart that our voices were heard and that these items will be preserved and the people who created them during a very dark period in our history will be honored.” Takei said in a statement.
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