Returning home
When the camps closed, Japanese Americans were handed $25 and put on trains headed for the places they had been forcibly removed from nearly four years earlier. Harassment was common -- many returning Japanese Americans were greeted with signs reading "No Japs Allowed." Other discovered their property had been vandalized or stolen. Homes and businesses that had been boarded up or left in the care of others were abandoned and stripped of furnishings and goods. For the majority, who did not have homes to return to, housing was the most serious problem. Housing discrimination was severe in many areas and persisted to varying degrees until the civil rights legislation of the 1960s. Former camp inmates with no other options moved into hostels and converted community institutions with conditions not much better than the camps they had just left. Although this period was stressful, it is remembered as a time when people came together to share what they had.
World War II
(231)
Leaving camp
(287)
Returning home
(1049)
Related articles from the
Densho Encyclopedia :
Alien land laws,
Hood River incident,
Kazuo Masuda,
Return to West Coast
1049 items
1049 items
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Letters from James Albert "Al" Johnson to Kay and George Kida (ddr-one-3-74)
Envelope addressed to George Kida in Nyssa, Oregon. Contains a letter to George Kida and a letter to Miyuki "Kay" Kida from James Albert "Al" Johnson dated January 11, 1945. He wants George to come back to White Salmon to take over their land now that loyal Japanese are allowed to return to the West Coast. …
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Home, sweet home (ddr-csujad-38-314)
Photographed is the Masukawa family's house on Lomita Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. The caption reads: Home, sweet home. Title from caption. The handwritten note on the back side describes the house. The second part of the note is found in item: csudh_nao_0339. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 19. See this object …
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Masukawa and Ujita family (ddr-csujad-38-317)
A photograph of the Masukawa and Ujita family. It is taken in Los Angeles, California after returning from the incarceration camps. The house belongs to the Ujitas. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 20. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_02_20_002
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Sasaki family (ddr-csujad-38-315)
Photographed is the Sasaki family, including Hiromi and Sally Sakaye, sitting in front of their house on Lomita Boulevard, Los Angeles, California. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 19. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_02_19_016
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Tomosuke Masukawa (ddr-csujad-38-300)
Photographed is Tomosuke Masukawa. It is taken after he returned from the Poston incarceration camp in Arizona to Los Angeles, California. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 19. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_02_19_001
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Masukawa and Ujita family (ddr-csujad-38-316)
A photograph of the Masukawa and Ujita family. It is taken in Los Angeles, California after returning from the incarceration camps. The house belongs to the Ujitas. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 20. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_02_20_001
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Tomosuke Masukawa (ddr-csujad-38-312)
See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_02_19_013
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Photograph of people with dogs in front of a car and barracks (ddr-csujad-47-329)
Photograph of four people with three dogs on a lawn at Manzanar incarceration camp. Behind them are two cars and several barracks buildings. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0488
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Photograph of the Little family (ddr-csujad-47-310)
Photograph of the Little family getting ready to depart the Manzanar incarceration camp with the Sierra Nevada in the background. They are leaning against the family car. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0461
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Photograph of people in front of a barracks at Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-333)
Photograph of four men, a woman and a young boy outside of a barracks at Manzanar incarceration camp. They are getting ready to depart. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0492
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Letter from Jimmie Tabata, First Vice President, Japanese American Citizens League Monterey Peninsula to Japanese American Citizens League of Monterey Peninsula Board Members, September 17, 1945 (ddr-csujad-44-3)
Letter from Jimmie Tabata, First Vice President of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Monterey Peninsula Chapter, explaining to other board members of the JACL Monterey Peninsula Chapter that the JACL Monterey Chapter Hall will be released by the California State Guards, and Guy Curtis, who had been given power of attorney to represent the JACL …
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Heart Mountain Relocation Project Fifth Community Council, 4th session (August 24, 1945) (ddr-csujad-45-55)
The council minutes feature the report on WRA freight rules for leaving for the East Coast. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMRC_01-01_084
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Photograph of Dr. Morse Little and family getting ready to depart (ddr-csujad-47-315)
Photograph of Dr. Morse and Christine Little with their two sons and the family dog as they are getting ready to depart Manzanar incarceration camp. Behind them is a car, utility pole, several buildings and the Inyo mountains. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0470
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Photograph of Dr. Morse Little and his two sons getting ready to depart (ddr-csujad-47-349)
Photograph of Dr. Morse Little and his two sons as they are getting ready to depart Manzanar incarceration camp. Behind them is a car, utility pole, several buildings and the Inyo mountains. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_1470
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Photograph of Christine Little (ddr-csujad-47-311)
Photograph of Christine Little posing in front of a building near the Manzanar incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0463
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Photograph of Dr. Morse Little (ddr-csujad-47-314)
Photograph of Dr. Morse Little holding a camera with a car and trailer in the background at Manzanar incarceration camp. The trailer is full of their belongings as they are preparing to depart. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0469
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Photograph of mobile structures and trailers (ddr-csujad-47-331)
Photograph of a temporary structure and a large trailer in front of barracks at Manzanar incarceration camp. Two men are walking between the structures. In the foreground there is a clothes pole. The photograph is slightly out of focus. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0490
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Photograph of Bea White and son, with Lucille Bouche and Elizabeth Moxley at the closing of Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-326)
Photograph of Bea White and son, with Lucille Bouche and Elizabeth Moxley at the closing of Manzanar incarceration camp. They are standing in front of the entrance to the camp with the closure notification: This project officially closed, November 21-1945, no admittance, except on business. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization …
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Photograph of a hospital nurse in front of a building (ddr-csujad-47-332)
Photograph of a female hospital nurse standing in front of a brick building at Manzanar incarceration camp. She is wearing her uniform. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0491
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Photograph of Bea White and son, with Lucille Bouche and Elizabeth Moxley at the closing of Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-327)
Photograph of Bea White and son, with Lucille Bouche and Elizabeth Moxley at the closing of Manzanar incarceration camp. They are standing in front of the entrance to the camp with the closure notification: This project officially closed, November 21-1945, no admittance, except on business. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization …
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Photograph of Christine Little (ddr-csujad-47-316)
Photograph of two people, one is Christine Little, standing in front of a car with a trailer attached as the Little family is getting ready to depart the Manzanar incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0471
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Photograph of Christine Little (ddr-csujad-47-312)
Photograph of Christine Little posing in front of a tree with a car in the background at the Manzanar incarceration camp. She is wearing a winter coat. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0464
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Photograph of Bea White and son, with Lucille Bouche and Elizabeth Moxley at the closing of Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-328)
Photograph of Bea White and son, with Lucille Bouche and Elizabeth Moxley at the closing of Manzanar incarceration camp. They are standing in front of the entrance to the camp with the closure notification: This project officially closed, November 21-1945, no admittance, except on business. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization …
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Photograph of women at Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-330)
Photograph of three women with a utility pole in the background at Manzanar incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0489
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Photograph of Dr. Morse Little (ddr-csujad-47-313)
Photograph of Dr. Morse Little holding a camera with a car and trailer in the background at Manzanar incarceration camp. The trailer is full of their belongings as they are preparing to depart. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0468