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Social and recreational activities

Despite deplorable living conditions at the "assembly centers," camp inmates tried to make the best of it by organizing various social and recreational activities. Japanese Americans participated in dances and musical groups; sports and gardening were also popular.

World War II (66)
Temporary Assembly Centers (97)
Social and recreational activities (37)

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37 items

doc Letter from Henry [Katsumi] Fujita to Mr. H. A. Strong, Electrolux Corporation, August 9, 1942 (ddr-csujad-23-13)

Letter from Henry K. Fujita to his boss Mr. H. A. Strong of the Electrolux Corporation in San Francisco dated August 9, 1942. Rich in details, the letter describes the physical layout of the Merced Assembly Center, the poor-quality construction of the barracks, the daily schedules, the camp organization and facilities, the hardships and illnesses and …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-23-13/

img Group playing Monopoly (ddr-densho-36-38)

Japanese Americans did their best to lead normal lives in the Puyallup Assembly Center. They cultivated gardens, engaged in different types of activities, and played games such as Monopoly.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-36-38/

img Group playing Ping-Pong (ddr-densho-36-37)

Japanese Americans made every effort to lead normal lives in the Puyallup Assembly Center. They cultivated gardens, engaged in different types of activities, and played games such as ping-pong.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-36-37/

img Japanese American gardening (ddr-densho-36-35)

Japanese Americans tried hard to make life at the assembly center bearable. Here, a camp inmate tends to a garden.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-36-35/

doc Postcard to Molly Wilson from Haruko Nagahiro (May 20, 1942) (ddr-janm-1-53)

Postcard to Molly Wilson from Haruko Nagahiro (May 20, 1942). It is postmarked May 20, 1942 from the Pomona Assembly Center in Pomona, California.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-1-53/

doc Letter (with envelope) to Molly Wilson from June Yoshigai (May 30, 1942) (ddr-janm-1-84)

Handwritten letter to Molly Wilson from June Yoshigai (May 30, 1942). Envelope is postmarked but does not give a date from Chicago, Illinois.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-1-84/

doc Letter (with envelope) to Molly Wilson from June Yoshigai (June 26, 1942) (ddr-janm-1-85)

Handwritten letter to Molly Wilson from June Yoshigai (June 26, 1942). Envelope is postmarked June 29, 1942 from the Santa Anita Assembly Center in Arcadia, California.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-1-85/

img Young Japanese Americans gathering outside barracks (ddr-densho-151-253)

Original caption: Stockton, California. Young persons of Japanese ancestry, second and third generation Americans. They have been in camp about a week, where there is little for them to do as yet. The sun is very hot. The oldest of these boys has been studying this morning. The book that he carries is a text on …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-253/

img Japanese Americans playing basketball (ddr-densho-151-464)

Original caption: San Bruno, California. Evacuee boys in the foreground are playing basket-ball. This is one of eight recreation centers which are distributed about the assembly center. One of the barrack buildings is, in each case, set apart for games and recreation under the Recreation program administered by a Wartime Civil Control Administration official with college …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-464/

img Japanese Americans carving wood (ddr-densho-151-338)

Original caption: San Bruno, California. Father and son while away the hours carving small wooden animals for the children in front of their home in the barracks. They have been living at the Assembly center for approximately two weeks.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-338/

img Japanese Americans working in garden (ddr-densho-151-340)

Original caption: San Bruno, California. Mrs. Fujita and her neighbor inspecting the tiny vegetable garden she has planted in front of their barracks.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-340/

doc Letter from the Suzuki's to Rev. and Mrs. Miller, circa 1942 (ddr-csujad-20-13)

Letter from the Suzuki's to Rev. and Mrs. Miller regarding recent happenings at the Santa Anita Assembly Center. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: WLM_01-46_14

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-20-13/

doc Letter from Lester Suzuki to Brother [Wendell L.] Miller, May 4, 1942 (ddr-csujad-20-3)

Personal letter written from the Santa Anita Temporary Assembly Center and describing early days there, including lack of regular work and schooling schedules and of appropriate food for children; scouts and boys' clubs being in development; religious services on Sundays attracting nearly 2000 people; and the need to wait for community facilities such as laundry and …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-20-3/

doc Letter from George K. Sakai, 1942 May 4 (ddr-csujad-20-14)

Letter from George Sakai to United Methodist Church regarding address information for a mutual friend. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: WLM_01-46_13

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-20-14/

doc Drawing of the social hall at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-11)

Caption written by Kenneth Iyeki: "This structure in Tanforan served many purposes. It is adjacent to the huge grandstand and tangent by a stairway. Upstairs in the hall, the internees held dances, badminton, and it was used as a place where visitors could come and see their evacuated friends. The ground level which is under the …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-392-11/

doc Drawing of recreation hall #6 at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-16)

Caption written by Kenneth Iyeki: "The barrack in the foreground was the recreation #6 building. Each area possessed its own rec hall. Competition was keen among them. From out the open window would [?] the sound of ping pong games in progress, little children screaming in laughter or just screaming, girls daring the boys to a …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-392-16/

doc Drawing of the latrine and barracks at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-8)

Caption by Kenneth Iyeki: "A scene midway on the track length on the west side of camp. At the very end of the track to the left is the commisary warehouse. The rails were a favorite of youngsters. They would boast of having walked such and such a distance. Never heard of anyone balancing his way …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-392-8/

doc Drawing of recreation hall #6 headquarters at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-18)

Caption written by Kenneth Iyeki: "The small house was the headquarters for recreation #6. In the backyard, little children would play, while inside, the recreation leaders."

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-392-18/

doc Merced Commencement Program (ddr-densho-356-775)

Program for a Commencement ceremony at Merced Assembly Center.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-775/

doc Grade School Musical and Dramatic Program (ddr-densho-356-776)

Program for the Grade School Musical and Dramatic performances on August 8, 1942.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-776/

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Rosie Suyeyasu (ddr-densho-356-288)

Letter to Yuri Domoto Tsukada from Rose "Rosie" Nakagawa Suyeyasu. In the letter she writes about life at Tanforan and the mutual friends they have. Item tied together with all objects between ddr-densho-356-277 and ddr-densho-356-320.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-288/

doc Letter to Yuri from Yoshito (ddr-densho-356-219)

Envelope and letter addressed to Yuri Domoto from Yoshito Shibata. In the letter Yoshito writes about the descriptions of the Assembly centers he's heard so far and how positive Yuri's description was, pending deployment to Japan, his friendship with fellow Nisei soldier Stg. Harry Fujita, his recent promotion to Tech Sgt. He also describes a USO …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-219/

doc Two letters to Yuri from Min Yonekura (ddr-densho-356-285)

Two letters to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Minoru "Min" Yonekura. Both letters stored in one envelope, unclear if they were mailed together or separately. Letter 5/11: describes forced removal, details items needed in assembly center to make barracks feel homey, food quality in the assembly center and general life there. Letter 2: discusses plans to move …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-285/

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Margaret Saito (ddr-densho-356-291)

Letter to Yuri Domoto from Margaret Saito in which she details life in Tanforan, asks Yuri to keep in touch once she is moved from Merced, and describes her desire to move East and find a job in which she is getting help from a former boss. Item tied together with all objects between ddr-densho-356-277 and …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-291/

doc Four letters to Yuri Domoto from Tomi Domoto (ddr-densho-356-289)

Four letters stored in one envelope to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from her cousin Tomi Domoto. Appears the letters were mailed separately and later stored together in one envelope. 6/8 letter: discusses events leading up to forced removal, inquires about how family are settling into the camp and how hers is and mutual friends. 8/8 letter: discusses …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-289/