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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Amache Silk Screen Shop
1359 items
1359 items
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400 Japs go to Tule Lake: volunteers en route to harvest crops (ddr-csujad-34-8)
A newspaper clipping. It reports that 400 Japanese American incarcerees were hired from other camps to harvest crops in the Tule Lake camp while the incarcerees in the Tule Lake went on strike. It portraits the Tule Lake incarcerees as "disloyal Japs." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: hrs_06_001
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Photograph of people with dogs in front of a car and barracks (ddr-csujad-47-329)
Photograph of four people with three dogs on a lawn at Manzanar incarceration camp. Behind them are two cars and several barracks buildings. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0488
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Photograph of Henry Matsumoto with orphan incarcerees at Children's Village (ddr-csujad-47-162)
Photograph of Henry Matsumoto, superintendent of the Children's Village, with five babies sitting on a blanket at the park in the Children's Village at Manzanar incarceration camp. Three of the babies are laying on the stomachs, one is being held by Henry, and the fifth is sitting upright on their own. See this object in the …
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Photograph of Irene Gavigan, R.N., holding a newborn on the steps leading to the Manzanar hospital (ddr-csujad-47-223)
Photograph of Irene Gavigan, R.N., holding a newborn at Manzanar incarceration camp. She is sitting on the rock steps in the hospital garden. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0367
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Photograph of a laughing group of people at a Manzanar hospital staff picnic (ddr-csujad-47-239)
Photograph of a laughing group of people sitting on the ground at a Manzanar hospital staff picnic. A small boy is in front look at the camera while holding a bottle. In the background are additional people and tables. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0384
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Photograph of the Little family (ddr-csujad-47-310)
Photograph of the Little family getting ready to depart the Manzanar incarceration camp with the Sierra Nevada in the background. They are leaning against the family car. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0461
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Photograph of Irene Gavigan, L. Josephine Hawes and Eleanor Thomas (ddr-csujad-47-304)
Photograph of Irene Gavigan, L. Josephine Hawes and Eleanor Thomas sitting in front of a stand of trees near the Manzanar incarceration camp at a hospital staff picnic. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0453
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Photograph of Lillian and Harry Matsumoto with an infant at the Children's Village park in Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-160)
Photograph of Lillian and Harry Matsumoto, superintendents of the Children's Village at Manzanar incarceration camp, and a baby sitting in the park near the Children's Village. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0277
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Photograph of four people, including L. Josephine Hawes, posing near a lantern at Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-243)
Photograph of four people, including L. Josephine Hawes, posing near a lantern at Manzanar incarceration camp. Trees can be seen in the background. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0388
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Photograph of Lillian and Harry Matsumoto from the waist up (ddr-csujad-47-159)
Photograph of Lillian and Harry Matsumoto, superintendents of the Children's Village, from the waist up at Manzanar incarceration camp. Signed, "To Miss Hawes- Lillian and Harry Matsumoto" See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0276
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Photograph of produce packing at Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-60)
Photograph of two men working to pack produce crates near a field at Manzanar incarceration camp. Two men are supervising from the right side. A stack of crates is ready to be distributed in the foreground. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0095
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Memorandum from Howard Marumoto, Fair Practice Chairman, Fair Practice Committee, to members of the administrative staff, November 3, 1942 (ddr-csujad-48-134)
A memorandum from Howard Marumoto, chairman of the Fair Practice Committee at the Manzanar incarceration camp, outlining the purpose of the committee and more broadly of the Manzanar Work Corps. Transcription is found in item: ecm_wells_9943. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_wells_0943
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Dealing with Japanese-Americans by John F. Embree, Documents Section, Office of Reports (ddr-csujad-48-131)
Short report from WRA Documents Section leader John F. Embree on recommended attitudes, suggestions, and practices while interacting with incarcerated Japanese Americans. According to Embree, race is hereditary while culture is acquired, and Caucasians should refrain from making stereotypical images of "Japanese types." Embree describes the differences in culture and attitudes including questions of loyalty between …
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Project Director's bulletin, no. 37 (November 27, 1942) (ddr-csujad-48-133)
A bullentin from the project director, Ralph Merritt, addressing procedures for functional activities in the personnel section. The subject headings are: personnel needs, recruiting of personnel, appointments, oaths administered, war savings bonds, annual leave, sick leave, leave without pay, applications for leave, daily attendance report of absentees, change of status requested, and resignations. Attached are two …
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Lists of names of staff members at Manzanar incarceration camp written by Harry Bentley Wells (ddr-csujad-48-142)
Two lists of names of staff members at Manzanar Incarceration Camp written by Harry Bentley Wells. Transcription is found in item: ecm_wells_9952. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_wells_0952
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Manzanar from the inside (ddr-csujad-48-62)
Text of address by Roy Nash, Director of the Manzanar War Relocation Project, given to the Commonwealth Club of California, San Francisco, on July 31, 1942 for the purpose of "interpret[ing] the actuality of a War Relocation Center housing 10,000 evacuees" in view of perceptions of mistreatment of incarcerees in California. Sections of the speech include …
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Memorandum from Elmer Rowalt, Acting Director, War Relocation Authority, to all employees of the War Relocation Authority, January 16, 1943 (ddr-csujad-48-126)
Memorandum to all employees of the War Relocation Authority highlighting the War Bond savings program and the push to have 90% of employees pledge 10% of their salary and reminding employees that their salaries have been increased by the overtime bill passed by Congress. (6-4069-BU-COS-WP). Transcription is found in item: ecm_wells_9935. See this object in the …
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Project Director's bulletin, no. 39 (January 15, 1943) (ddr-csujad-48-108)
A bulletin from Ralph Merrit, Project Director, regarding hours of work for all federal employees, including civil service employees at Manzanar Incarceration Camp. Procedures for submitting time sheets are addressed as well as the means to request leave. Transcription is found in item: ecm_wells_9917. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project …
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Nisei men with saws and hammers working on platform outside barrack (ddr-csujad-44-49)
A photograph of six Nisei men doing construction while incarcerated at Tule Lake, California. They are kneeling and crouching on a raised wooden deck outside a barrack. Two of them are using hand saws to cut boards. Two are holding hammers. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: csumb_ms15_0049
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Nisei woman carrying a beam (ddr-csujad-44-50)
A photograph of a Nisei woman walking while carrying a beam at Tule Lake, California. Two other people are walking behind her, each carrying a chair. Another person behind her is carrying an American flag. A barrack is in the background. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: csumb_ms15_0050
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Nisei men grouped around the back of truck (ddr-csujad-44-48)
A photograph of seven Nisei men, incarcerated at Tule Lake, California, grouped around the back of a large truck. The truck is loaded with furniture and boxes. Three men are in the truck bed. Four men are on the ground bending over a crate. A barrack is visible behind them. See this object in the California …
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Photograph of Dr. Morse Little and family getting ready to depart (ddr-csujad-47-315)
Photograph of Dr. Morse and Christine Little with their two sons and the family dog as they are getting ready to depart Manzanar incarceration camp. Behind them is a car, utility pole, several buildings and the Inyo mountains. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0470
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Photograph of Edna Anderson at a Manzanar hospital staff picnic (ddr-csujad-47-285)
Photograph of Edna Anderson sitting on a picnic blanket near Manzanar incarceration camp at a hospital staff picnic. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0434
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Photograph of L. Josephine Hawes, Edna Anderson, and Eleanor Thomas at a picnic table (ddr-csujad-47-306)
Photograph of L. Josephine Hawes, Edna Anderson, Eleanor Thomas and a woman, sitting at a picnic table near the Manzanar incarceration camp at a hospital staff picnic. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0455
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Photograph of man standing in a farm field at Manzanar with Sierra Nevada in the background (ddr-csujad-47-58)
Photograph of a man standing in the middle of a farm field near Manzanar incarceration camp. The crop looks fully grown, and there is a tractor in the middle left of the photograph. The Sierra Nevada can be seen in the background. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0093