Work and jobs

Both Issei and Nisei took jobs within the camps, at wages set not to exceed soldiers' pay: $12 per month for unskilled labor, $16 for skilled labor, and $19 for professional employees. WRA staff was paid much more for the same jobs. Though public opinion mandated such low pay, dissatisfied Japanese Americans objected to losing their right to make a decent living. They had to use their sparse income for necessities, such as warm clothing and shoes.

World War II (231)
Concentration camps (1434)
Work and jobs (1359)

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1359 items

doc Japs to Enlist in Work Corps (May 15, 1942) (ddr-densho-56-796)

The Seattle Daily Times, May 15, 1942, p. 12

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-796/

doc Many Japs Balk at Low Camp Pay (June 10, 1943) (ddr-densho-56-929)

The Seattle Daily Times, June 10, 1943, p. 21

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-929/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 84, No. 17 (May 6, 1977) (ddr-pc-49-17)

Selected article titles: "70 Co-Sponsor Mineta Bill for Retirement Credit" (p.1, 5), "Tuition Bill at Critical Stage" *p.1), "Guayule Rubber Developed by Evacuees" (p.2, 7), "Noguchi's 'Skygate'" (p.3).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-49-17/

img Nisei soldier and the staff of the Minidoka Irrigator (ddr-densho-10-1)

T-Sergeant Ben Kuroki (center front), a famous Nisei war hero, poses with the staff of the Minidoka Irrigator, the Minidoka concentration camp newspaper. Front (left to right): Mitsu Yasuda, Cherry Tanaka, Ben Kuroki, Kimi Tambara, and Kerry Soejima. Middle: Mitsuko Miyoshi, unidentified, Sachi Yasui, Miye Takatsuka, Masako Tsujikawa, and Watson Asaba. Back: Johnny Okamoto, Peter Ohtaki, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-10-1/

img The staff of the Minidoka Irrigator (ddr-densho-10-3)

The staff of the Minidoka Irrigator, the weekly newspaper of the Minidoka concentration camp, outside the paper's office. The Minidoka Irrigator, a weekly paper, ran from September 10, 1942, through July 28, 1945, and contained news about the camp and of the war when Nisei began enlisting. Japanese Americans with a background in journalism worked on …

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

img The staff of the Minidoka Irrigator (ddr-densho-10-2)

The staff of the Minidoka Irrigator, the newspaper of the Minidoka concentration camp, is shown in the paper's office. Far right (left to right): Takako Matsumoto (left) and Elsie Sata. Front (left to right): unidentified, Kimi Tambara, Cherry Tanaka, John Kanda, Miyuki Inouye, and Sachi Yasui. Back: Mitsuko Miyoshi, Harry Nakata, Watson Asaba, unidentified, unidentified, Mitsu …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-10-2/

img The staff of the Minidoka Irrigator (ddr-densho-10-4)

People of various ages worked on the Minidoka Irrigator, the newspaper of the Minidoka concentration camp. Issei were in charge of writing the Japanese section of the newspaper, for those who did not understand English. The Nisei concentrated on stories in English. Front (left to right): Kimi Tambara, Cherry Tanaka, and Mitsu Yasuda. Middle: Miyuki Inouye …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-10-4/

[Minutes of the regular meeting of the advisory council and the Co-ordinating Committee of the Tule Lake Center, February 25, 1944] (ddr-csujad-2-28)

doc [Minutes of the regular meeting of the advisory council and the Co-ordinating Committee of the Tule Lake Center, February 25, 1944] (ddr-csujad-2-28)

Meeting minutes of incarceree-led Tule Lake Camp government. Includes discussion of release of prisoners from army stockades, especially who to target for releasing, and lack of employment. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sjs_sch_0028

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-2-28/

doc [Minutes of the special meeting of the divisional heads of the Tule Lake Center, January 12, 1944] (ddr-csujad-2-33)

Meeting minutes of incarceree led Tule Lake Camp government. Discusses plans for incarcerees to go back to work toward the end of the martial law period in the camp, a hunger strike, and the official formation of the Co-ordinating Committee. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sjs_sch_0033

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-2-33/

doc [New Officer "Onus Probandi"] with note from Fred J. Graves, Chief of Internal Security at Gila River (ddr-csujad-2-2)

Training manual for new police officers written by Fred J. Graves, Chief of Internal Security at the Gila River incarceration camp. Includes handwritten note from Graves to Schmidt. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sjs_sch_0002

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

img Tule Lake Camp group photograph (ddr-csujad-2-67)

Appears to be group photograph of internal security officers at Tule Lake Camp. Photograph includes Willard Schmidt, Chief of Internal Security at Tule Lake Camp. Includes list of members in photograph. Names from left to right: Seventh Row: Okino, Y., Kato, J., Taniguchi, S., Yoshihara, D., Asada, E., Yamakawa, M., Yoshihara, G., Iwawaki, H., Yokoyama, K., …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-2-67/

doc [Minutes of the joint meeting of the advisory council and the Co-ordinating Committee of the Tule Lake Center, March 7,1944] (ddr-csujad-2-22)

Meeting minutes between incarceree-led Tule Lake Camp government and the Advisory Council. Describes change to transportation equipment in the center and vandalism within the public school. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sjs_sch_0022

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-2-22/

doc Memo from Co-ordinating Committee to Mr. W. [Willard E.] Schmidt, Chief of Administrative Police, April 7, 1944 (ddr-csujad-2-74)

Memo regarding resignation. Stating that the Center has returned to a state of "normalcy" including the return of approximately 2,000 ex-employees to work, it declares the dissolution of the Co-ordinating Committee, in order to make way for the election by all incarcerees ("the entire colonists' vote") of a new responsible body. The memo is signed by …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-2-74/

doc Standard position description, guard (ddr-csujad-2-73)

Position description for Guard, CPC-5, position code: Q2aD65; date allocated: May 13, 1943. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sjs_sch_0073

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-2-73/

doc [Minutes of the meeting of the Co-ordinating Committee and the Project Director and Colonel Austin, January 10, 1944] (ddr-csujad-2-32)

Meeting minutes between incarceree-led Tule Lake Camp government and Camp Director Raymond Best and Commander of Military Police Colonel Verne Austin. Discusses farm worker unrest and release of prisoners from army stockades. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sjs_sch_0032

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-2-32/

doc Memo from Co-ordinating Committee to W. [Willard E.] Schmidt, [1944] (ddr-csujad-2-98)

List of names, addresses, family numbers, and start dates of active fielders (in subject line, the job title is spelled "fiedlers" but is elsewhere spelled correctly); start dates of the 32 fielders range from January 13, 1944 to February 4, 1944. Names: Hamada, Isao; Nakanishi, Yoichi; Iwohara, Tsugio; Okamoto, Chiyoko; Keiunji, Masaru; Sakai, Masayoshi; Oda, Yoshitsugu; …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-2-98/

doc Standard position description, internal security officer (ddr-csujad-2-75)

Description for Internal Security Officer (Organization Title), CAF - 7, Assistant Internal Security Officer (Class Title); duties include training and supervising incarceree patrolmen "in all phases of a positive program" that includes protection of people and property, enforcement of laws, and traffic control, among other duties. The second page contains only an official stamp. See this …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-2-75/

doc Termination notice, Form WRA-114, George Naohara (ddr-csujad-38-567)

A notice of termination, Form WRA-114, issued by "Tule Lake Relocation Center," War Relocation Authority. It notifies George Nobuo Naohara of the termination date and reason from his farmer's position. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_05_13_020

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-567/

img Geroge Naohara and Atsushi Ishida (ddr-csujad-38-92)

A photograph of Atsushi Ishida (center) and George Naohara (right) posing at the entrance to a mess hall in the Jerome camp in Arkansas. A photo from "George Naohara photo album" (csudh_nao_0001), page 21. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_01_21_007

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-92/

img George Nobuo Naohara's handwritten note: postcard business at the Tule Lake camp (ddr-csujad-38-107)

George Nobuo Naohara's handwritten note describing his business at the Tule Lake camp in California. English translation: Geroge Naohara made postcards, adding his illustrations on blank cards, and sold them at the Post Exchange at the Tule Lake camp where his old friend worked. George's friend helped him to sell his postcards at the store. The …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-107/

img Incarcerees at the Jerome camp, cutting trees (ddr-csujad-38-279)

Photographed are male incarcerees at the Jerome camp in Arkansas, working on cutting trees. The photo was sent from Sally Sakaye Sasaki at the Jerome camp to Mitzi Masukawa Naohara at the Poston camp in Arizona. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 16. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-279/

img Lumbering (ddr-csujad-38-288)

Photographed are male incarcerees lumbering. The handwritten note on the back side reads: We would bring the wood into the camp and prepare for the winter. We will cut 5000 acres of trees. We cut ___ acres last year. We will cut 10,000 acres total. [In Japanese]. The photo was sent from Sally Sakaye Sasaki at …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-288/

img Community enterprises store no. 1 (ddr-csujad-38-258)

Photographed are staff members of the community enterprises store no. 1 in the Jerome camp in Arkansas. Includes Yoshiye Dorothy Naohara, a cousin of George Naohara. The caption reads: Jerome, Arkansas, 1944. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 14. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_02_14_003

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-258/

img Canteen store no. 1 (ddr-csujad-38-260)

Photographed are staff members of the community enterprises store no. 1 in the Jerome camp in Arkansas. Includes Yoshiye Dorothy Naohara, a cousin of George Naohara. The caption reads: Canteen store no. 1, Denson, Arkansas, 1944. Title from caption. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 14. See this object in the California State …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-260/

img Lumbering in the Jerome camp (ddr-csujad-38-285)

Photographed are two male incarcrees in the Jerome camp, Arkansas, posing during the lumbering work. The photo was sent from Sally Sakaye Sasaki at the Jerome camp to Mitzi Masukawa Naohara at the Poston camp in Arizona. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 16. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-285/