Concentration camps

The War Relocation Authority (WRA) oversaw construction of ten concentration camps in sparsely populated and isolated areas. Between June and October 1942, Japanese Americans were transferred from the "assembly centers" to the larger camps. Housing approximately 120,000 people, the camps were designed to be self-contained communities, complete with hospitals, post offices, schools, warehouses, and residential areas. The WRA attempted to establish normalcy by setting up newspapers, a degree of self-government, sports leagues, and social events. But confinement, monotony, and harsh conditions exacerbated tensions between pro- and anti-camp administration residents and between the disempowered Issei and their U.S.-born Nisei children. At several centers, conflicts erupted into violence and at the Manzanar concentration camp the unrest resulted in fatal shootings. The WRA gradually granted work and school leave to those they considered "loyal." The last camp closed in March 1946.

World War II (231)
Concentration camps (1434)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Concentration Camps, U.S.A. (book), Gila River, Heart Mountain, Jerome, Manzanar, Minidoka, Poston (Colorado River), Psychological effects of camp, Rohwer, Sites of incarceration, Topaz, Tule Lake

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1434 items
Letter from Yuzuru John Takeshita to Mrs. Margaret Gunderson, November 25, 1984 (ddr-csujad-55-254)
doc Letter from Yuzuru John Takeshita to Mrs. Margaret Gunderson, November 25, 1984 (ddr-csujad-55-254)
Correspondence from Yuzuru John Takeshita to Margaret Gunderson. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0256
Relocation of Japanese-Americans (ddr-csujad-55-332)
doc Relocation of Japanese-Americans (ddr-csujad-55-332)
Report by the War Relocation Authority on the "Relocation of Japanese-Americans." Sections include: "Background", "Relocation Program," "Evacuated People," "Relocation Centers," "Student Relocation," and "Conservation of Evacuee Property." Includes photographs. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0334
Letter from Harvey M. Coverley, Project Director, to George Hideo Nakamura, April 5, 1943 (ddr-csujad-55-2418)
doc Letter from Harvey M. Coverley, Project Director, to George Hideo Nakamura, April 5, 1943 (ddr-csujad-55-2418)
Correspondence from Harvey Coverley to George Hideo Nakamura regarding Nakamura's recognition in the Order of Merit at Tule Lake incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2524
Identification tag (ddr-csujad-55-1285)
doc Identification tag (ddr-csujad-55-1285)
Baggage tag for Takaichi Tsukamoto. Family number 28169. WCCA-Form S-4. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1287
Postcard from Mrs. D.L. Cooke to Sam Tanaka, August 1943 (ddr-csujad-55-2014)
doc Postcard from Mrs. D.L. Cooke to Sam Tanaka, August 1943 (ddr-csujad-55-2014)
Postcard from Mrs. D.L. Cooke to Sam Tanaka in the Jerome incarceration camp including a greeting and update from Cooke. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2117
Amache, Colorado (ddr-csujad-55-354)
doc Amache, Colorado (ddr-csujad-55-354)
Booklet describing the history of the "Amache Relocation Center," the surrounding region, incarcerees, community government, administration, leisure activities, facilities, medical services, schools, employment, housing, food, and farming. Includes maps and illustrations. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0356
My only crime is my face (ddr-csujad-55-2118)
doc My only crime is my face (ddr-csujad-55-2118)
Clipping from the magazine "Liberty" detailing one Japanese-American woman's experience of being removed from the west coast military zone during World War II and incarcerated in Heart Mountain incarceration camp before relocating to Denver, Colorado with her family. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2221
Relocation problems and policies: address by Director D. S. Myer of the War Relocation Authority (ddr-csujad-55-1644)
doc Relocation problems and policies: address by Director D. S. Myer of the War Relocation Authority (ddr-csujad-55-1644)
Transcription of a speech by Dillon Myer to the Tuesday Evening Club regarding the history and activities of the War Relocation Authority, the "relocation program," incarceration camps, registration (also known as the "loyalty questionnaire"), Tule Lake and segregation, military service, propaganda, and opposition to the WRA program. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese …
Memo from Saburo Nakashima, Chairman, Heart Mountain Community Council, to Relocation Program officers, April 14, 1944 (ddr-csujad-55-934)
doc Memo from Saburo Nakashima, Chairman, Heart Mountain Community Council, to Relocation Program officers, April 14, 1944 (ddr-csujad-55-934)
Memorandum of understanding from Saburo Nakashima of the Heart Mountain Community Council to Relocation Program Officers regarding liberalization of the relocation policy and elimination of leave procedures. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0936
Our 110,000 new boarders (ddr-csujad-55-180)
doc Our 110,000 new boarders (ddr-csujad-55-180)
Opinion article by J.P. McEvoy on the Japanese incarceration during World War II. Includes the author's perspective on implications of the incarceration for American taxpayers and armed forces, history of Japanese labor in the United States, and opinion on the incarceration. Condensed from the Baltimore Sunday Sun. A version of this article also appeared in Reader's …
Supplementary statement by Mr. D. S. Myer (ddr-csujad-55-1643)
doc Supplementary statement by Mr. D. S. Myer (ddr-csujad-55-1643)
Report by Dillon Myer before the Sub-Committee of the Military Affairs Committee of the U.S. Senate regarding the history and activities of the War Relocation Authority and the "relocation program." Includes a memorandum of understanding between the WRA and the War Department, description of problems with the "evacuation program," evacuation of Hawaii, administrative policies on housing, …
Mensaje Para Subditos Japoneses de la Camara de Representantes Japonesa (ddr-csujad-55-880)
doc Mensaje Para Subditos Japoneses de la Camara de Representantes Japonesa (ddr-csujad-55-880)
Correspondence from the Japanese government to incarcerated Japanese nationals in the United States (via the Spanish Ambassador to the United States). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0882
Poston II Camp days (ddr-csujad-55-1864)
doc Poston II Camp days (ddr-csujad-55-1864)
Essay by Minato Kawaguchi reflecting on her experience of being incarcerated, attending the reunion, and pointing out the importance of passing on awareness about the injustices to future generations. From the Poston II Reunion Program. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1867
Vicinity map, Gila River WRA Camp (ddr-csujad-55-2480)
img Vicinity map, Gila River WRA Camp (ddr-csujad-55-2480)
Topographic map of the area near the Gila River incarceration camp in Pinal County, Arizona. Includes barrack and building layouts for the Canal camp and Butte camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2586
Topaz WRA Relocation Camp (ddr-csujad-55-2483)
img Topaz WRA Relocation Camp (ddr-csujad-55-2483)
Map of the Topaz incarceration camp and surrounding area in Millard County, Utah. Includes camp data and statistics. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2589
Group of individuals at an incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-55-2271)
img Group of individuals at an incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-55-2271)
Black and white photograph depicting a group of six individuals at an incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2375
Topaz: 40th year Topaz reunion (ddr-csujad-55-2710)
doc Topaz: 40th year Topaz reunion (ddr-csujad-55-2710)
Pamphlet of the 40th year Topaz reunion held in San Francisco, California, September 24 and 25, 1983. Sponsored by classes of 1943 and 1944. Includes historical photographs and a re-print of the City of Topaz. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2874
Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, August 21, 1943 (ddr-csujad-56-51)
doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, August 21, 1943 (ddr-csujad-56-51)
Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry. The original letters are housed with the Sonoma County Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), and were borrowed for digitization courtesy of the JACL, December 2014. Transcript is found in item: ssu_nbea_9049. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-049
[Nakamura screen printing] (ddr-csujad-56-221)
img [Nakamura screen printing] (ddr-csujad-56-221)
Dorothy Nakamura works on a screen print in the camp printing shop. Page 7 of Kawase Family Photo Album, Book Two. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-03-030
Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, August 1942 (ddr-csujad-56-4)
doc Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, August 1942 (ddr-csujad-56-4)
Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito. The original letters are housed with the Sonoma County Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), and were borrowed for digitization courtesy of the JACL, December 2014. Transcript is found in item: ssu_nbea_9002. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-002
Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, December 8, 1942 (ddr-csujad-56-29)
doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, December 8, 1942 (ddr-csujad-56-29)
Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry. The original letters are housed with the Sonoma County Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), and were borrowed for digitization courtesy of the JACL, December 2014. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-027
[Crop land] (ddr-csujad-56-169)
img [Crop land] (ddr-csujad-56-169)
Field of crops with some trucks on a road in the distance. Photo provided by Tak Kameoka. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-02-036
[Digging] (ddr-csujad-56-240)
img [Digging] (ddr-csujad-56-240)
Young Japanese American man with shovel full of sand from the banks of the Arkansas River near Camp Amache. Page 26 of Kawase Family Photo Album, Book Two. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-03-049
Cow-poly (ddr-csujad-56-223)
img Cow-poly (ddr-csujad-56-223)
Young Japanese American incarcerees pose around a sign reading 'We miss you Cow-Poly'. Page 9 of Kawase Family Photo Album, Book Two. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-03-032
Letter from Lea Perry to Frank Ito and family, May 10, 1944 (ddr-csujad-56-79)
doc Letter from Lea Perry to Frank Ito and family, May 10, 1944 (ddr-csujad-56-79)
Letter from Lea Perry to Frank Ito and family. The original letters are housed with the Sonoma County Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), and were borrowed for digitization courtesy of the JACL, December 2014. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-077
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