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 Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, August 31, 1942 (ddr-csujad-56-16)
doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, August 31, 1942 (ddr-csujad-56-16)
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: nbea08-01-014
Letter from Frank Ito to Joe and Lea Perry, December 29, 1943 (ddr-csujad-56-60)
doc Letter from Frank Ito to Joe and Lea Perry, December 29, 1943 (ddr-csujad-56-60)
Letter from Frank Ito to Joe and 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_9058. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-058
Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, January 31, 1944 (ddr-csujad-56-65)
doc Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, January 31, 1944 (ddr-csujad-56-65)
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. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-063
[Incarcerees] (ddr-csujad-56-184)
img [Incarcerees] (ddr-csujad-56-184)
Group photo of incarcerees in front of a truck; photo is blurry. Photo provided by Tak Kameoka. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-02-051
[Typewriter] (ddr-csujad-56-219)
img [Typewriter] (ddr-csujad-56-219)
Male incarceree works on a typewriter while others mill about. Page 5 of Kawase Family Photo Album, Book Two. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-03-028
[Junior High Class] (ddr-csujad-56-208)
img [Junior High Class] (ddr-csujad-56-208)
A group portrait of Camp Amache Junior High Class. Page 17 of Kawase Family Photo Album, Book One. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-03-017
Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, May 19, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-111)
doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, May 19, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-111)
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_9109. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-109
[Portrait of Haruo Kawase] (ddr-csujad-56-244)
img [Portrait of Haruo Kawase] (ddr-csujad-56-244)
Professional portrait of Haruo Kawase, a young Japanese American incarcerated at Camp Amache. He snuck a camera into the facility and took many photos of daily life. Page 30 of Kawase Family Photo Album, Book Two. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-03-053
Fire Department (ddr-csujad-56-175)
img Fire Department (ddr-csujad-56-175)
Three incarcerees watch or try to attach a hose to the fire truck while what appears to be a camp warden watches. A fourth incarceree sits in the truck. Photo provided by Tak Kameoka. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-02-042
[Living quarters] (ddr-csujad-56-176)
img [Living quarters] (ddr-csujad-56-176)
Living quarters at the camp with furniture and a room divider. Photo provided by Tak Kameoka. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-02-043
Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, July 17, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-119)
doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, July 17, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-119)
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: nbea08-01-117
Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, December 4, 1942 (ddr-csujad-56-28)
doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, December 4, 1942 (ddr-csujad-56-28)
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: nbea08-01-026
Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, July 24, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-120)
doc Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, July 24, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-120)
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. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-118
Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, May 12, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-110)
doc Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, May 12, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-110)
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. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-108
Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, February 4, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-104)
doc Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, February 4, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-104)
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. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-102
8F, [soldiers] (ddr-csujad-56-152)
img 8F, [soldiers] (ddr-csujad-56-152)
Candid portrait of Japanese American soldier holding gloves and a piece of paper. Photo provided by Tak Kameoka. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-02-019
[Newspaper packaging] (ddr-csujad-56-216)
img [Newspaper packaging] (ddr-csujad-56-216)
Incarcerees fold and package camp newspaper for distribution. Page 2 of Kawase Family Photo Album, Book Two. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-03-025
Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, December 23, 1943 (ddr-csujad-56-58)
doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, December 23, 1943 (ddr-csujad-56-58)
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_9056. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-056
When American citizens lost their freedom, [newspaper article] (ddr-csujad-56-180)
doc When American citizens lost their freedom, [newspaper article] (ddr-csujad-56-180)
A newspaper article from the Press Democrat published on September 15, 1977. Interview of ex-incarceree, Murakami. Photos of recently arrived incarcerees and buildings at Camp Amache. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-02-047
[Tsurumoto in the garden] (ddr-csujad-56-203)
img [Tsurumoto in the garden] (ddr-csujad-56-203)
Bill Tsurumoto crouched down in rock garden near living quarters. Page 12 of Kawase Family Photo Album, Book One. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-03-012
[Off the truck] (ddr-csujad-56-213)
img [Off the truck] (ddr-csujad-56-213)
Japanese American woman and two men are greeted by other incarcerees, as they get off a truck. Page 22 of Kawase Family Photo Album, Book One. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-03-022
[Ladies group photo] (ddr-csujad-56-222)
img [Ladies group photo] (ddr-csujad-56-222)
A group of young Japanese American girls interned at Camp Amache. Page 8 of Kawase Family Photo Album, Book Two. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-03-031
Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, August 13 1942 (ddr-csujad-56-14)
doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, August 13 1942 (ddr-csujad-56-14)
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: nbea08-01-012
Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, November 30, 1943 (ddr-csujad-56-56)
doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, November 30, 1943 (ddr-csujad-56-56)
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: nbea08-01-054
[Soldier] (ddr-csujad-56-149)
img [Soldier] (ddr-csujad-56-149)
Candid portrait of Japanese American soldier. Photo provided by Tak Kameoka. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-02-016
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