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)

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1434 items

img Seasons greetings, [winter card] (ddr-csujad-56-189)

Card from Camp Amache; "Seasons Greetings" is written across the front over a photo of Amache in the snow. Photo provided by Tak Kameoka. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-02-056

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-189/

doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, November 3, 1944 (ddr-csujad-56-94)

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_9092. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-092

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-94/

doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, June 5, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-114)

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: nbea08-01-112

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-114/

img Fire Department (ddr-csujad-56-174)

Photo of the camp's fire engine with incarcerees surrounding it and watching men working with the truck. Photo provided by Tak Kameoka. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-02-041

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-174/

doc Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, November 1943 (ddr-csujad-56-32)

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: nbea08-01-030

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-32/

doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, July 25, 1944 (ddr-csujad-56-85)

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_9083. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-083

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-85/

img [Wrestling] (ddr-csujad-56-148)

Two men wrestling in the sand by the river while a small group of others watch. Photo provided by Tak Kameoka. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-02-015

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-148/

doc Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, March 21, 1944 (ddr-csujad-56-73)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-73/

doc Letter from Frank Ito to Joe and Lea Perry, May 5, 1943 (ddr-csujad-56-46)

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_9044. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-044

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-46/

img [50th anniversary reunion] (ddr-csujad-56-246)

50th anniversary reunion of incarcerees from Camp Amache are featured in this color photo. [Haruo kawase] See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-03-055

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-246/

doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, December 14, 1943 (ddr-csujad-56-57)

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: nbea08-01-055

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-57/

doc Letter from Frank Ito to Joe and Lea Perry, April 29, 1944 (ddr-csujad-56-78)

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_9076. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-076

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-78/

doc Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, September 13, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-125)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-125/

doc Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, May 10, 1943 (ddr-csujad-56-48)

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_9046. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-046

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-48/

img [Produce display] (ddr-csujad-56-164)

Display of produce with pieces of paper placed on them. Photo provided by Tak Kameoka. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-02-031

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-164/

doc Letter from Frank Ito to Joe and Lea Perry, May 18, 1944 (ddr-csujad-56-80)

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_9078. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-078

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-80/

img Granada Station (ddr-csujad-56-178)

Train from the assembly center arriving at Camp Amache, inscribed with a note "End of the long train trip". Photo provided by Tak Kameoka. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-02-045

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-178/

doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, September 17, 1943 (ddr-csujad-56-52)

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_9050. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-050

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-52/

doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, January 5, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-100)

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_9098. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-098

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-100/

img [Chicken coops] (ddr-csujad-56-155)

Photo of several chicken coops and chickens meandering around. Photo provided by Tak Kameoka. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-02-022

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-155/

img [Personnel housing] (ddr-csujad-56-193)

Living quarters with desert plants in foreground. Page 2 of Kawase Family Photo Album, Book One. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-03-002

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-193/

img [Japanese American soldier] (ddr-csujad-56-181)

Picture of Japanese American incarceree and soldier standing in front of Amache Honor Roll four-sided board. Photo provided by Tak Kameoka. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-02-048

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-181/

img [Pyramid] (ddr-csujad-56-243)

Haruo Kawase, Fred and another young man from Camp Amache pose for the camera. Page 29 of Kawase Family Photo Album, Book Two. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-03-052

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-243/

doc Letter from Johnny written by Kazuo to Lea Perry, July 12, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-118)

Letter from Johnny written by 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: nbea08-01-116

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-118/

doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, October 18, 1944 (ddr-csujad-56-92)

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_9090. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-090

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-92/