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The journey

The journey to temporary "assembly centers" was a difficult and disorienting experience. After gathering at designated locations, Japanese Americans were met by armed soldiers and transported in buses, private cars, and trains to sixteen temporary "assembly centers." When they arrived at their new homes -- often hastily refurbished fairgrounds and racetracks -- they were shocked to see barbed-wire fences, guard towers, and searchlights.

World War II (215)
Temporary Assembly Centers (175)
The journey (111)

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111 items

doc University of California, evacuation and settlement study: case history I (ddr-csujad-26-26)

Correspondence regarding a profile of incarceree Harry Osaka written by Robert Spencer. The profile was taken during a trip to Fresno for Harry's mother's funeral with Spencer as the escort and includes Harry's life and family story, farm business before incarceration, religious practices, holiday practices, description of funeral. Profile included as part of the Japanese American …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-26/

img Japanese Americans boarding train for Manzanar, California (ddr-densho-36-15)

Japanese Americans from Bainbridge Island, Washington are being transported to the Manzanar Assembly Center, California.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-36-15/

img En route to Manzanar Assembly Center (ddr-densho-36-8)

Japanese Americans from Bainbridge Island, Washington are being transported to the Manzanar Assembly Center, California. Manzanar Assembly Center became a WRA incarceration camp on June 1, 1942.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-36-8/

img Mass removal (ddr-densho-36-16)

Sumiko Furuta of Bainbridge Island, Washington, on a special ferry to Seattle. From Seattle, she will board a train headed for Manzanar Assembly Center, California.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-36-16/

img Mass removal (ddr-densho-36-17)

Ritsuko Terayama (left) and Sumiko Furuta as they leave the island on a ferryboat. (Lucille Galbraith, Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community (BIJAC). On March 30, 1942, Japanese Americans from Bainbridge Island became one of the first groups to be excluded, presumably because of their proximity to the Puget Sound Navy Yard (Terminal Island, near Los Angeles, …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-36-17/

doc Evacuee Information Release No. 2 Baggage Instructions (ddr-densho-356-803)

Evacuee Information Release No. 2 from Santa Anita Assembly Center informs internees about the types of baggage allowed and how each type will be transported.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-803/

doc Administrative Notice No. 27 Transfer to Amache (ddr-densho-356-802)

Administrative Notice No. 27 from Santa Anita Assembly Center contains information regarding personal belongings in storage outside of the camp remaining their until settled at Amache at which point individuals my request their items be shipped to camp at the WRA's expense. It also provides instructions regarding train travel to Amache including water conservation, cleanliness, and …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-802/

doc Two letters to Yuri from Min Yonekura (ddr-densho-356-285)

Two letters to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Minoru "Min" Yonekura. Both letters stored in one envelope, unclear if they were mailed together or separately. Letter 5/11: describes forced removal, details items needed in assembly center to make barracks feel homey, food quality in the assembly center and general life there. Letter 2: discusses plans to move …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-285/

doc Instructions to all persons of Japanese ancestry (ddr-densho-381-1)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-381-1/

doc Drawing of the laundry buildings at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-10)

Caption written by Kenneth Iyeki: "These are the laundry buildings from which all the internees left for Topaz, Utah. As the time for the trip to Utah neared, fences were put up around these three makeshift structures and people were leaving the camp every day like herds of cattle."

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-392-10/

doc Letter to Molly Wilson from Sandie Saito (May 12, 1942) (ddr-janm-1-9)

Handwritten letter to Molly Wilson from Sandie Saito (May 12, 1942) from the Santa Anita Assembly Center in Arcadia, California. Letter has return address in the upper left hand corner but not stamped nor postmarked.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-1-9/

doc Letter to Molly Wilson from Chiyeko Akahoshi (April 28, 1942) (ddr-janm-1-100)

Handwritten letter to Molly Wilson from Chiyeko Akahoshi (April 28, 1942) from the Owens Valley Assembly Center in Manzanar, California.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-1-100/

doc Postcard to Molly Wilson from Haruko Nagahiro (May 20, 1942) (ddr-janm-1-53)

Postcard to Molly Wilson from Haruko Nagahiro (May 20, 1942). It is postmarked May 20, 1942 from the Pomona Assembly Center in Pomona, California.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-1-53/

doc Letter to Molly Wilson from Chiyeko Akahoshi (May 9, 1942) (ddr-janm-1-101)

Handwritten letter to Molly Wilson from Chiyeko Akahoshi (May 9, 1942) from the Owens Valley Assembly Center in Manzanar, California.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-1-101/

doc Newspaper clipping "Tanforan, 1942" (ddr-janm-4-42)

Newspaper clipping titled "Tanforan, 1942". The article was written by Soji Kashiwagi on December 17, 1984.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-4-42/

img Families arriving at Turlock (ddr-densho-151-455)

Original caption: Turlock, California. Families of Japanese ancestry arrived at Turlock Assembly. Evacuees will be housed later at War Relocation Authority centers for the duration.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-455/

img Japanese American family boarding bus (ddr-densho-151-145)

Original caption: Byron, California. This family of Japanese ancestry, evacuated from this farm in Contra Costa County, boards bus for Assembly center at Turlock Fairgrounds, 65 miles away. Evacuees will be transported later to War Relocation Authority centers where they will spend the duration.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-145/

img Japanese Americans saying goodbye from train (ddr-densho-151-296)

Original caption: Woodland, California. Evacuees of Japanese ancestry from this rich agricultural district are on their way to Merced Assembly center. This special train consists of ten cars.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-296/

img Japanese Americans waiting for baggage inspection (ddr-densho-151-226)

Original caption: Turlock, California. These evacuees of Japanese ancestry have just arrived at this Assembly center and are awaiting the inspection of their baggage. They will then be assigned places in the barracks to remain until they are transferred to a War Relocation Authority center for the duration.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-226/

img White townspeople saying goodbye (ddr-densho-151-298)

Original caption: Woodland, Yolo County, California. Ten cars of evacuees of Japanese ancestry are now aboard the train and the doors are closed. Their Caucasian friends and the staff of the Wartime Civil Control Administration stations are watching the departure form the platform. Evacuees are leaving their homes, ranches, in a rich agricultural district for Merced …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-298/

img Child looking out of bus window (ddr-densho-151-174)

Original caption: San Francisco, California. A young evacuee looks out the window of bus before it starts for Tanforan Assembly center. Evacuees will be transferred to War Relocation Authority centers for the duration.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-174/

img Last San Francisco family arriving at Tanforan (ddr-densho-151-158)

Original caption: San Bruno, California. The last family off of the bus from San Francisco, have just arrived at this assembly center which will be their home until relocation centers inland have been established and are ready for occupancy.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-158/

img Mother with infant arrives at Stockton (ddr-densho-151-251)

Original caption: Stockton, California. Young mother of Japanese ancestry arrives at Assembly center with 21 day old baby.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-251/

img Issei woman boarding bus (ddr-densho-151-261)

Original caption: San Francisco, California. Friends and neighbors congregate to bid farewell, though not for long, to their friends who are enroute to the Tanforan Assembly center. They, themselves will be evacuated within three days.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-261/

img Japanese Americans waving goodbye from train (ddr-densho-151-299)

Original caption: Woodland, Yolo County, California. Ten cars of evacuees of Japanese ancestry are now aboard and the doors are closed. Their Caucasian friends and the staff of the Wartime Civil Control Administration stations are watching the departure from the platform. Evacuees are leaving their homes and ranches, in a rich agricultural district, bound for Merced …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-299/