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 (1435)

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1435 items

img Japanese American children (ddr-densho-26-184)

Photo taken at the Minidoka concentration camp. Written on back of photograph "taken on Joyce's birthday Aug. 5, 1945 40 Hunty, Idaho"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-26-184/

img Boy Scout Band (ddr-densho-287-148)

Photograph of the Minidoka Boy Scout Troop Marching Band. Written on the bottom is "'43" in black ink.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-287-148/

img Boy Scout Band (ddr-densho-287-149)

Photograph of the Minidoka Boy Scout Troop Marching Band and color gaurd. Written on the bottom is "'43" in black ink.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-287-149/

img Field Labors (ddr-densho-287-150)

Photograph of a group of people tilling a field by hand.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-287-150/

doc Album 1 (ddr-densho-287-21)

Molly (Kageyama) Maeda's red photo album containing images of young nisei at Oregon State College (now Oregon State University), graduation portaits, and images of life at Minidoka.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-287-21/

img Group photograph at the Tule Lake 2nd Annual Conference (ddr-densho-300-7)

Caption on reverse: "Tule Lake Second Annual Conference. Newell, California. April 3-4, 1943. Chairman - Kumeo [?] Yoshinori."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-300-7/

img A group standing in front of barracks (ddr-densho-296-103)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-296-103/

doc Gidra, Vol. I, No. 5 (August 1969) (ddr-densho-297-5)

Selected article titles: "CINCIP Is Here!!" (p. 1), "The Burden of Life" (p. 1), "Hey, Look Me Over" (p. 5), "The Chinese in Los Angeles" (p. 6), "The Korean Americans" (p. 8), "The Filipino Immigrant" (p. 9).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-297-5/

doc Gidra, Vol. I, No. 6 (September 1969) (ddr-densho-297-6)

Selected article titles: "Isaac Honored" (p. 1), "Birth of Amerasia" (p. 1), "Hoover's Yellow Peril" (p. 2), "Dawn of Awakening" (p. 2), "UCLA Sells Out" (p. 5), "Potential for What" (p. 5), "The Failure of Democracy in a Time of Crisis" (p. 6-7).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-297-6/

img A group standing in front of barracks (ddr-densho-296-101)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-296-101/

img Group photograph of the Y.P.C.C. at Tule Lake (ddr-densho-296-26)

Caption on reverse: "Tule. / Y.P.C.C. / 1943."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-296-26/

img Group photograph of the Y.P.C.C. at Tule Lake (ddr-densho-296-95)

Caption on reverse: "Tule. / Y.P.C.C. / 1943."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-296-95/

img Group of Issei and Nisei in front of barrack (ddr-densho-310-2)

Ichikawa family in front of their barrack at Minidoka concentration camp. Also pictured are family friends, Yahachi Suzuki and Mr. Hino. (Front Row, left to right) Akira Ichikawa, Hiroko Ichikawa (Back Row, left to right) Satoru Ichikawa, Mr. Hino, Etsuko Ichikawa, Yasashi Ichikawa, Shinya Ichikawa (In Yasahi's arms), Kazuya Ichikawa, Noriko Ichikawa, Yahachi Suzuki

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-310-2/

img Portrait of Ronald Seiki Miyasato (ddr-densho-320-21)

Caption: "September 1943 / Twin Falls, Idaho / Seiko Miyasato / Internment Camp."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-320-21/

img Family picture in camp (ddr-densho-321-54)

Caption: "Moss, Kayoko, Keiko."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-321-54/

doc Letter sent to T.K. Pharmacy from Tule Lake concentration camp (ddr-densho-319-31)

Basic translation: We have four cases of Sakuramasamune sake and would like to clear our inventry in the warehouse. Let me know if you are interested in purchasing.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-319-31/