Living conditions

All of the camps were constructed according to the War Department's specifications, which included barbed-wire fences, guard towers, and armed guards around the perimeter. The camps were organized in "blocks" consisting of twelve to fourteen barracks, a mess hall, communal showers and toilets, laundry facilities, and a recreation hall. Each barracks was divided into four or six rooms with each room housing one family, no matter how large, and there was no running water. The furnishings that Japanese Americans found on their arrival were canvas cots, a potbellied stove, and a single bare light bulb. The thin walls offered little protection from the harsh weather, which ranged from 110 degrees in the summer to 25 degrees below zero on winter nights. The flimsy construction allowed no privacy and made normal family life difficult. Camp inmates improved their own living conditions by creating interior walls and partitions, constructing furniture from scrap lumber, and planting gardens.

World War II (231)
Concentration camps (1434)
Living conditions (1751)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Arts and crafts in camp, Community analysts, Manzanar Children's Village

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1751 items
Group of women (ddr-csujad-11-198)
img Group of women (ddr-csujad-11-198)
A photograph of a group of women, including Tazu Kawamoto. It is probably taken in the Gila River incarceration camp, Arizona. From page 79 of: Tazu Kawamoto photo album (csudh_taz_0001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: taz_01_79_001
Housing Barracks (ddr-csujad-13-19)
img Housing Barracks (ddr-csujad-13-19)
A distant view of housing barracks inside Tulelake with a handwritten caption at the bottom of the photograph that reads, "Jap quarters Tulelake." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tul_01_01_014
View of Buildings at Tule Lake Incarceration Camp (ddr-csujad-13-15)
img View of Buildings at Tule Lake Incarceration Camp (ddr-csujad-13-15)
A row of barracks or some other structures at the Tule Lake incarceration camp are photographed from inside a vehicle. Caption on back of photograph reads, "Cruising along streets of Camp Tulelake during Jap disturbance in Nov. 43." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tul_01_01_010
Landscaping done by incarcerees of Camp No. 1 at Colorado River incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-61)
img Landscaping done by incarcerees of Camp No. 1 at Colorado River incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-61)
Landscaping done by incarcerees of Camp No. 1 at Colorado River incarceration camp. December 31, 1942. Photo by Francis Stewart. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_f26
Fourth grade school in Barracks 35-4-B at Rohwer incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-63)
img Fourth grade school in Barracks 35-4-B at Rohwer incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-63)
Fourth grade school in Barracks 35-4-B at Rohwer incarceration camp. Teacher is Nareen Oura. November 24, 1942. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_f28
Four technicians and a blood-test patient in hospital laboratory at Granada incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-47)
img Four technicians and a blood-test patient in hospital laboratory at Granada incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-47)
Four technicians and a blood-test patient in hospital laboratory at Granada incarceration camp. December 12, 1942. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_f12
General view of Granada incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-7)
img General view of Granada incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-7)
General view of Granada incarceration camp. December 12, 1942. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_007
Shoemakers at work in shoe repair shop at Heart Mountain incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-60)
img Shoemakers at work in shoe repair shop at Heart Mountain incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-60)
Shoemakers at work in shoe repair shop at Heart Mountain incarceration camp. January 11, 1943. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_f25
George Baba and Tokiji Umeda overhauling a truck loader in motor pool repair section at Rohwer incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-24)
img George Baba and Tokiji Umeda overhauling a truck loader in motor pool repair section at Rohwer incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-24)
George Baba and Tokiji Umeda overhauling a truck loader in motor pool repair section at Rohwer incarceration camp. March 10, 1943. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_024
Aerial view of unidentified incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-27)
img Aerial view of unidentified incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-27)
Aerial view of unidentified incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_027
School nurse administrating throat swabbing to grade school students at Granada incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-4)
img School nurse administrating throat swabbing to grade school students at Granada incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-4)
School nurse administrating throat swabbing to grade school students at Granada incarceration camp. December 10, 1942. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_004
Three students doing steamed crayon work for tablecloths and wall hangings in adult crafts class at Granada incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-41)
img Three students doing steamed crayon work for tablecloths and wall hangings in adult crafts class at Granada incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-41)
Three students doing steamed crayon work for tablecloths and wall hangings in adult crafts class at Granada incarceration camp. December 10, 1942. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_f06
Young Nisei girl purchasing Christmas wrappings in cooperative notion store at Granada incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-40)
img Young Nisei girl purchasing Christmas wrappings in cooperative notion store at Granada incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-40)
Young Nisei girl purchasing Christmas wrappings in cooperative notion store at Granada incarceration camp. December 10, 1942. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_f05
Misae Oku receiving instruction from instructor, Mrs. Sadako Yasue (ddr-csujad-14-22)
img Misae Oku receiving instruction from instructor, Mrs. Sadako Yasue (ddr-csujad-14-22)
Misaye [Misae] Oku receiving instruction from instructor, Mrs. Sadako Yasue, in sewing class at Rohwer incarceration camp. March 7, 1943. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_022
Aerial view of section of emergency center at Granada incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-48)
img Aerial view of section of emergency center at Granada incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-48)
Aerial view of section of emergency center at Granada incarceration camp, looking north and west. December 12, 1942. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_f13
In the Engineering and Operation Division of Jerome incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-13)
img In the Engineering and Operation Division of Jerome incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-13)
In the Engineering and Operation Division of Jerome incarceration camp, Yoshiyuki Murata, graduate engineer, prepares plans for center construction. March 10, 1943. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_013
Young former California boy learning to ice skate at Heart Mountain incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-58)
img Young former California boy learning to ice skate at Heart Mountain incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-58)
Young former California boy learning to ice skate at Heart Mountain incarceration camp. January 10, 1943. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_f23
Ninth grade classroom at Rohwer incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-21)
img Ninth grade classroom at Rohwer incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-21)
Ninth grade classroom at Rohwer incarceration camp. Teacher is Mrs. M.H. Ziegler. November 24, 1942. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_021
Young artist completing a poster in poster shop at Heart Mountain incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-9)
img Young artist completing a poster in poster shop at Heart Mountain incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-9)
Young artist completing a poster in poster shop at Heart Mountain incarceration camp. January 8, 1943. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_009
Teenage incarceree spending Sunday afternoon in various activities such as ironing, playing cards, etc. at Granada incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-37)
img Teenage incarceree spending Sunday afternoon in various activities such as ironing, playing cards, etc. at Granada incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-37)
Teenage incarceree spending Sunday afternoon in various activities such as ironing, playing cards, etc. at Granada incarceration camp. August 30, 1942. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_f02
Grade school library in one of barracks at Granada incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-44)
img Grade school library in one of barracks at Granada incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-44)
Grade school library in one of barracks at Granada incarceration camp. Photo by Tom Parker. December 11, 1942. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_f09
Machinist operating drill press in motor pool shop at Heart Mountain incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-57)
img Machinist operating drill press in motor pool shop at Heart Mountain incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-57)
Machinist operating drill press in motor pool shop at Heart Mountain incarceration camp. January 9, 1943. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_f22
Incarceree in front of barracks at unidentified incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-26)
img Incarceree in front of barracks at unidentified incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-26)
Incarceree in front of barracks at unidentified incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_026
Howard Hisayasu family in barracks room home at Heart Mountain incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-56)
img Howard Hisayasu family in barracks room home at Heart Mountain incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-56)
Howard Hisayasu family in barracks room home at Heart Mountain incarceration camp. January 1, 1943. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_f21
Former Californian Dr. Fugikawa examining a patient (ddr-csujad-14-14)
img Former Californian Dr. Fugikawa examining a patient (ddr-csujad-14-14)
Former Californian Dr. Fugikawa examining a patient, S. Ego, with Jerome incarceration camp hospital's fluoroscope. March 11, 1943. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_014
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