Explore Ralph Carr’s desk to find out more about his life.

Governor Carr’s decision to welcome Japanese Americans who were removed from the West Coast to Colorado angered many people. Carr felt the decision to imprison Japanese Americans was racially motivated and unconstitutional.

When the first Japanese Americans arrived at the Amache Relocation Center in Granada, they were threatened by an angry mob. Ralph Carr confronted the mob, telling them, "If you harm them, you must first harm me."

Ralph Carr was never elected to office again. He returned to his law practice, and died in 1950 without being honored for standing up for the rights of Japanese internees.

Governor Carr felt that internment was illegal. He also believed that people of Japanese descent living in America were American citizens and deserved the same rights as other Americans.

Colorado Governor Ralph Carr speaking from a microphone at the Japanese American Citizens' League's (JACL) national convention in Denver, Colorado, 1946. The convention was the first post-war event held by the JACL, with around 400 in attendance.

On April 7, 1942, the War Relocation Authority held a meeting of western governors, asking them to help with the relocation of Japanese Americans from the West Coast. Ralph Carr was the only governor of a western state who was willing to cooperate, leading to a flood of letters, both outraged and complimentary, from the people of Colorado. He answered every letter ever sent to him—some with form letters—but others personally.

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