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)

Filters

Facilities

Format

Genre

Usage

Use <Ctrl> or (⌘) keys to select multiple terms

Gallery view
List view

1434 items

img Tule Lake nighttime panoramic landscape (ddr-csujad-3-10)

High vantage point panoramic clear nighttime photograph of Tule Lake camp lit by moonlight and the lights from the camp buildings. The photograph shows the expanse of the camp against the darkened landscape. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tos_01_001_011

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-3-10/

img Holiday greeting card (ddr-csujad-3-15)

Christmas card of Santa Claus presenting a photo of the Tule Lake incarceration camp featuring buildings, fencing, a snowy road, and vehicles. Card reads "Season's greetings." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tos_01_001_016

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-3-15/

img Holiday greeting card (ddr-csujad-3-18)

Christmas card featuring Santa Claus presenting a landscape photo of the Tule Lake incarceration camp from outside a barbed wire fence looking in on buildings in camp with a hill in the distance. Card reads "Season's greetings." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tos_01_001_019

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-3-18/

img Holiday greeting card (ddr-csujad-3-14)

Christmas greeting card featuring Santa Claus presenting a photo of the Tule Lake incarceration camp buildings and landscape from what appears to be a guard tower. Card reads "Season's greetings." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tos_01_001_015

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-3-14/

img Tule Lake perimeter landscape (ddr-csujad-3-7)

Panoramic photograph of a part of the perimeter of Tule Lake with buildings, telephone poles, fencing and watch towers lining up in the distance. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tos_01_001_007

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-3-7/

doc Heart Mountain Wyo. Camp Life Album (ddr-densho-464-1)

Yellow photo album. Written on front: Camp Life Album. Likely compiled by Kimi (Kuwahara) Komoto

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-464-1/

img Couple poses outside barracks (ddr-densho-368-521)

A young couple poses outside a barrack in an incarceration camp.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-368-521/

img Man sitting on porch railing (ddr-densho-368-525)

Young man poses on porch railing outside barracks of an incarceration camp.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-368-525/

img Portrait of a baby (ddr-densho-359-1091)

Lynn Iwasa. The portrait is signed "To Mr. + Mrs. Otsuka Eisei Lynn". The caption in the album is "5 mos. old".

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-359-1091/

img Portrait of young boy (ddr-densho-359-1087)

Portrait of Kyoji Ralph Iwasa at Manzanar Concentration Camp in California. The photograph is signed "To Mr. + Mrs. Otsuka Kyoji Ralph Iwasa". The caption written in the album "1 yr. 7 mos."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-359-1087/

img Eddie and Jeanette Otsuka photograph album (ddr-densho-359-758)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-359-758/

img Family portrait (ddr-densho-359-1086)

A family portrait taken at Manzanar Concentration Camp in California. The photograph is signed "To Mr. + Mrs Otsuka Iwasa Family 5/22/43". Kyoichi Iwasa with Ralph Iwasa, Yonchan Iwasa with Lynn Iwasa

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-359-1086/

img Boy playing (ddr-densho-359-1093)

Wayne Nakata plays in front of a barrack at Manzanar Concentration Camp in California.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-359-1093/

img Three children (ddr-densho-359-1089)

Brothers pose for a photograph at Manzanar Concentration Camp in California. Left to right: Don, Kenji, and Wayne Nakata

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-359-1089/

img Okano family 1940s photo album (ddr-densho-359-1298)

Phillip and Alice Okano's first family photograph album. The album begins with their wedding and their honeymoon and moves through the war years and their time in Idaho and into the post-war years.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-359-1298/

img Man and boy (ddr-densho-359-1090)

Jitsuzo Nakata and his grandson, Wayne Nakata, pose for a photograph next to a sprinkler at Manzanar Concentration Camp in California.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-359-1090/

img Group photograph (ddr-densho-359-1088)

A group photograph of the Nakata family at Manzanar Concentration Camp in California. Top row, left to right: Masaaki and Pauline Nakata, Sachan Nakata, Yonchan and Kyoichi Iwasa, Ken Nakata. Front row, left to right: Shima Nakata, Wayne Nakata, Bob Kenji Nakata, Don Nakata, Jitsuzo Nakata

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-359-1088/

img Family portrait (ddr-densho-359-1108)

The caption in the album is "Crystal City Texas 1943".Back row, left to right: Shoji Kanogawa, Yae Kanogawa, Reo Kanogawa; front row: Shizu and Sho Kanogawa

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-359-1108/

img Family portrait (ddr-densho-359-1092)

Grandparents and their grandsons pose at Manzanar Concentration Camp in California.Left to right: Shima Nakata, Don Nakata, Jitsuzo Nakata, with Wayne Nakata in front, Kenji Nakata

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-359-1092/

img Garden with gazebo (ddr-densho-475-279)

Black and white photograph of a small Japanese garden at Poston concentration camp that features a bridge, pond, and gazebo.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-475-279/

img Woman (ddr-densho-475-191)

Black and white photograph of an unidentified woman smiling with an American flag on the wall behind her.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-475-191/

img Garden gazebo (ddr-densho-475-280)

Black and white photograph of the gazebo in the small Japanese garden at Poston concentration camp.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-475-280/

img Soldier in garden (ddr-densho-475-192)

Black and white photograph of an unidentified man in a US military uniform in a garden with an American flag in the background. His right arm has been partly amputated so the right sleeve is pinned up.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-475-192/

img Group camp photo (ddr-densho-475-765)

Black and white photograph of a large group at Poston.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-475-765/

img Poston canal with lifeguard tower (ddr-densho-475-31)

Black and white photograph of Poston canal with dock/staging area and lifeguard tower. (related object: ddr-densho-475-235)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-475-31/