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
[Graduation day] (ddr-csujad-56-177)
img [Graduation day] (ddr-csujad-56-177)
A photo of the high school graduation at the camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-02-044
Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, August 7, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-121)
doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, August 7, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-121)
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: nbea08-01-119
Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, November 26, 1942 (ddr-csujad-56-25)
doc Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, November 26, 1942 (ddr-csujad-56-25)
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_9023. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-023
[Kanji digging] (ddr-csujad-56-239)
img [Kanji digging] (ddr-csujad-56-239)
Kanji, a young Japanese American man incarcerated at Camp Amache, digs a hole by the Arkansas River. Page 25 of Kawase Family Photo Album, Book Two. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-03-048
[Little girls in the snow] (ddr-csujad-56-191)
img [Little girls in the snow] (ddr-csujad-56-191)
Original photo of two Japanese American girls holding hands at Camp Amache in the snow. Photo provided by Tak Kameoka. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-02-058
Letter from Lea Perry to Frank Ito and family, June 26, 1944 (ddr-csujad-56-83)
doc Letter from Lea Perry to Frank Ito and family, June 26, 1944 (ddr-csujad-56-83)
Letter from Lea Perry to Frank Ito and family. 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: nbea08-01-081
Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, February 14, 1943 (ddr-csujad-56-40)
doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, February 14, 1943 (ddr-csujad-56-40)
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_9038. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-038
[Beautification project] (ddr-csujad-56-196)
img [Beautification project] (ddr-csujad-56-196)
Rock garden with pond and plants near living quarters. Page 5 of Kawase Family Photo Album, Book One. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-03-005
[Group photo] (ddr-csujad-56-205)
img [Group photo] (ddr-csujad-56-205)
Group of Japanese American incarcerees standing in sun, wearing coats. Same group in 'Group Photo II'. Page 14 of Kawase Family Photo Album, Book One. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-03-014
Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, August 11, 1943 (ddr-csujad-56-50)
doc Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, August 11, 1943 (ddr-csujad-56-50)
Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito and family. 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: nbea08-01-048
Letter from Frank Ito to Joe and Lea Perry, December 30, 1944 (ddr-csujad-56-99)
doc Letter from Frank Ito to Joe and Lea Perry, December 30, 1944 (ddr-csujad-56-99)
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_9097. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-097
Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito and family, August 25, 1944 (ddr-csujad-56-88)
doc Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito and family, August 25, 1944 (ddr-csujad-56-88)
Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito and family. 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_9086. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-086
Letter from Lea Perry to George Ito, October 22, 1942 (ddr-csujad-56-20)
doc Letter from Lea Perry to George Ito, October 22, 1942 (ddr-csujad-56-20)
Letter from Lea Perry to George 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: nbea08-01-018
Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, July 18, 1944 (ddr-csujad-56-84)
doc Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, July 18, 1944 (ddr-csujad-56-84)
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: nbea08-01-082
Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, January 9, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-101)
doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, January 9, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-101)
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: nbea08-01-099
Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, February 12, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-105)
doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, February 12, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-105)
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: nbea08-01-103
Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, December 11, 1944 (ddr-csujad-56-96)
doc Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, December 11, 1944 (ddr-csujad-56-96)
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: nbea08-01-094
Letter from Minoru Ito to Joe and Lea Perry, August 23, 1944 (ddr-csujad-56-87)
doc Letter from Minoru Ito to Joe and Lea Perry, August 23, 1944 (ddr-csujad-56-87)
Letter from Minoru 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_9085. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-085
Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, November 27, 1942 (ddr-csujad-56-26)
doc Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, November 27, 1942 (ddr-csujad-56-26)
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: nbea08-01-024
Money, apology won't ease pain of Camp Amache (ddr-csujad-56-319)
doc Money, apology won't ease pain of Camp Amache (ddr-csujad-56-319)
Gaye Lebaron's article titled: Money, apology won't ease pain of Camp Amache. Published in "The press Democrat" on Sunday May 1, 1988. The original image is housed with the Sonoma County Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), and was borrowed for digitization courtesy of the JACL. This image belongs to a group of images related to the …
[Cowl and Mazie by the river] (ddr-csujad-56-229)
img [Cowl and Mazie by the river] (ddr-csujad-56-229)
Cowl and Mazie lay on a blanket by the Arkansas river near Camp Amache. Page 15 of Kawase Family Photo Album, Book Two. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-03-038
Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito and family, April 23, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-108)
doc Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito and family, April 23, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-108)
Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito and family. 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: nbea08-01-106
Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, August 14, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-122)
doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, August 14, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-122)
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: nbea08-01-120
[Playing by the river] (ddr-csujad-56-141)
img [Playing by the river] (ddr-csujad-56-141)
Group of internees wrestling and playing around in the dirt by the river near camp. Photo provided by Tak Kameoka. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-02-008
Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, August 26, 1942 (ddr-csujad-56-15)
doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, August 26, 1942 (ddr-csujad-56-15)
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: nbea08-01-013
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