Cold cream, masculinity, and imprisonment: The archaeology of Japanese American internees at Idaho's Kooskia Internment Camp, 1943--1945

The Kooskia Internment Camp was an all-male Japanese American Internment Camp in Idaho during World War II. Archaeological excavation in 2010 and 2013 of the Kooskia Internment Camp near Lowell, Idaho revealed the presence of cold cream jars at the site. Cold cream is a moisturizing and cleansing cream applied to facial skin that is generally associated with female cosmetic routines. This thesis analyzes cold cream jars within the context of masculinity and of Japanese American internment during World War II. The main research question addressed in this thesis is: why and how were the men of the Kooskia using cold cream? The framework of this research is grounded in theories that utilize holistic approaches to understanding the archaeology of gender and masculinity, and the archaeology of transnationalism. Analysis of the cold cream jar fragments involved research on the use of cold cream, the history of cosmetics, and the practice of Japanese kabuki performing arts. Three theories are developed as a result of this research; first, that the men of Kooskia were using cold cream for its intended purpose of cleansing and moisturizing to maintain their complexion; second, the men were using cold cream as a substitution for shaving cream or lather; and third, that the men were using cold cream to remove stage makeup from kabuki performances such as odori dances.