Director of Poston Camp II
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| James D. Crawford |
After graduating from Steamboat Springs High School, James attended the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1931 with a major in geology. He went to California and in 1933 he married Emogene Harrison of Inglewood, California. James spent the Depression years working for the Federal Works Progress Administration, first in Lakeport, California (100 miles north of San Francisco) where he drew mining claim maps for the Recorder's Office in Lake County, and later in San Francisco, where he was assigned to the California Division of Mines to help complete the California geologic map published in 1938.
In 1938, James Crawford obtained permanent employment with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). He was assigned to the United Pueblos Agency in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he conducted the 1940 U. S. Census on the Indian reservations in the area. His wife, Emogene died of heart problems due to childhood rheumatic fever.
James Crawford married Hildegard Ruth Stoeckly of Garden City, Kansas, who he had met at college. Their first daughter, Nancy, was born in 1941.
In May of 1942, James transferred to Poston, Arizona and he arrived on May 4th, four days before the first Japanese internees arrived. Initially, James lived for 10 days in Parker, a boom town holding 2,400 construction workers. For the first two months, he worked in Intake/Registration until he was promoted to Director of Unit II (Poston camp II) under Wade Head. James became the first person to live at Unit II (Poston camp II) when he took a cot and blanket on July 1, 1942 and used one of the barracks where he could see the stars.
At the end of July, 1942, his wife Ruth and daughter Nancy joined him. The Crawford family lived in two office rooms in one of the administration buildings in Unit II for about 5 months then moved to Building 28 in the personnel housing area.
At the end of 1943 when control of Poston was transferred from the BIA to the War Relocation Authority (WRA), James Crawford was appointed Relocation Program Officer for all three units (Poston camps).
In September, 1944, Sharon was born to James and Ruth Crawford, one week before James left Poston to become the BIA superintendent at the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in Belcourt, North Dakota. He held similar positions at the Hopi Reservation in Arizona and the Fort Peck reservation in Montana.
At the end of July, 1942, his wife Ruth and daughter Nancy joined him. The Crawford family lived in two office rooms in one of the administration buildings in Unit II for about 5 months then moved to Building 28 in the personnel housing area.
At the end of 1943 when control of Poston was transferred from the BIA to the War Relocation Authority (WRA), James Crawford was appointed Relocation Program Officer for all three units (Poston camps).
In September, 1944, Sharon was born to James and Ruth Crawford, one week before James left Poston to become the BIA superintendent at the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in Belcourt, North Dakota. He held similar positions at the Hopi Reservation in Arizona and the Fort Peck reservation in Montana.
James Crawford ended his 32-year career with the BIA working in the area office in Billings, Montana as Community Development Officer, which was involved primarily with the schools on the Indian reservations in Montana and Wyoming. Two more children were born to James and Ruth Crawford.
James Crawford was an elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Billings, Montana. He was an active member of the Lions Club and three times received the Distinguished Service Award. He served in local, state, and national capacities with the Boy Scouts of America and served on the board of the Girl Scout Council. James was also active in the Billings Archaeological Society and the Billings Garden Club and was an enthusiastic stamp collector.
James Crawford was an elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Billings, Montana. He was an active member of the Lions Club and three times received the Distinguished Service Award. He served in local, state, and national capacities with the Boy Scouts of America and served on the board of the Girl Scout Council. James was also active in the Billings Archaeological Society and the Billings Garden Club and was an enthusiastic stamp collector.
At the age of 67 years, Mr. Crawford died of cancer on July 28, 1975 in Montana. His wife, Ruth died in 2004 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
Submitted by: Jim L. Crawford, son of James D. Crawford
