Social and recreational activities

Japanese Americans found ways to fill the long days created by the enforced idleness of camp life. They made jewelry from shells found in the desert, built furniture for their rooms using scrap lumber and renovated the exteriors of their barracks. People also played cards, chess, checkers, mahjongg, and the Japanese games 'go' and 'shogi.' Camp inmates held dances, concerts, plays, and arts and crafts exhibitions. In Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho, they even held a beauty contest to select the "Sweetheart of Minidoka."

World War II (231)
Concentration camps (1454)
Social and recreational activities (1166)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Arts and crafts in camp, Music in camp

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1166 items

doc Starmaker (ddr-csujad-38-397)

An announcement card for a movie, "Starmaker," presented by Associated Student Body at the Poston camp in Arizona at 6:30 PM on December 30, 1944. An item from: Mitzi Naohara scrapbook (csudh_nao_0400), page 27. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_03_28_002

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-397/

img Block R's of Block 318 (ddr-csujad-38-189)

Photographed are Todd, Tosh, Ben, and John, who are members of "Block R's of Block 318," a Nisei men's club of the high school, at the Poston camp in Arizona. The caption reads: Block R's of Block 318, 1943, Poston, Ariz. Title from caption. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 4. See this …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-189/

img 318 Sigma Debs (ddr-csujad-38-212)

Photographed are members of a Nisei women's club, 318 Sigma Debs, at the Poston camp in Arizona. They were also baseball players. The caption reads: 318 Sigma Debs. Title from caption. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 7. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_02_07_008

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-212/

doc Poston III Christmas Bazzar (ddr-csujad-38-350)

A drawing ticket at "Poston III Christmas Bazzar [Bazaar]" which was held at the Poston camp in Arizona, December 3-5, 1943. The caption reads: The ticket that did not win. An item from: Mitzi Naohara scrapbook (csudh_nao_0400), page 3. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_03_04_003

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-350/

doc Personality cards (ddr-csujad-26-38)

Journal entries written by high school students discussing their observations and perspectives on a variety of topics including classes, class discussions, assignments, grades, exams, homework and studying, interclass sports, graduation, dances, and a carnival fundraiser for yearbook. Each entry includes the full date and student name. The entries were part of a class assignment and collected …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-38/

doc Personality cards (ddr-csujad-26-44)

Journal entries written by high school students discussing their observations and perspectives on a variety of topics including social and cultural differences, personality conflicts, friendships, social interactions, school, dogs, memories, reflections on camp life, weather, a friend in the military visiting his parents in camp, hobbies, and opinions about other people and daily life. Each entry …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-44/

doc Memorandum to Mr. E.R. Smith, Project Director from Morton J. Gaba, re: Community Activities Section report, July 21-August 21, 1942 (ddr-csujad-26-29)

Memo to camp director of the development of the Community Activities Section regarding the selection and development of staff; designing, building, and equipping of recreation halls and play fields; and the planning and initial development of program. Includes a list of activities with attendance counts. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-29/

doc Chapter 8, 9, 10 personality cards (ddr-csujad-26-35)

Journal entries written by high school students discussing their observations and perspectives on a variety of topics including movies, dances, dissatisfaction with recreation, family dynamics, desire to leave camp, cultural and generational differences, and weather. Each entry includes the full date and student name. The entries were part of a class assignment and collected for the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-35/

doc Recreation: dances (ddr-csujad-26-22)

Report includes case-studies of dances, chronicles specific situations and observations of social interactions between men, women, and between incarcerees from California and the Northwest. Subject headings include: "significance of dances, group characteristics, group ways, sectionalism, the battle against stags, and block 25 dance." Report compiled as a portion of the Japanese American Evacuation and Resettlement Study …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-22/

doc Outline of University of California study of evacuation and resettlement (ddr-csujad-26-2)

Outline for an academic social science study, the Japanese American Evacuation and Resettlement Study (JERS), led by the University of California of the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. Outline highlights area of administrative, social, political and personal areas to be studied by a team of researchers encamped with incarcerees. See this object in …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-2/

img Fashion show (ddr-csujad-26-127)

Two Japanese American women pose in front of an audience during a fashion show. Verso reads, "a fashion show." From photo album of Robert Billigmeier. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: mei_05_096

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-127/

img Beauty contest (ddr-csujad-26-134)

Seven young Japanese American women pose in formal dresses. Verso of photo reads, "beauty contest." The woman in the center is presumed to be the winner as she is seated, wears a crown, and holds a bouquet. From photo album of Robert Billigmeier. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-134/

doc Personality cards (ddr-csujad-26-43)

Journal entries written by high school students discussing their observations and perspectives on a variety of topics including family interactions, memories, homesickness, friendships, social interactions, school, self-reflection, juvenile delinquency, peer behaviors, death, religion, opinions, and worldviews. Each entry includes the full date and student name. The entries were part of a class assignment and collected for …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-43/

doc Personality cards (ddr-csujad-26-42)

Journal entries written by high school students discussing their observations and perspectives on a variety of topics including social interactions, friendships, "going steady," and personality traits. Each entry includes the full date and student name. The entries were part of a class assignment and collected for the Japanese American Evacuation and Resettlement Study (JERS). Additional personality …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-42/

University of California evacuation and resettlement study: The Gila River WRA relocation center, Rivers, Pinal County, Arizona (ddr-csujad-26-27)

doc University of California evacuation and resettlement study: The Gila River WRA relocation center, Rivers, Pinal County, Arizona (ddr-csujad-26-27)

Description of the Gila River incarceration camp during the first month of occupation, including camp location, climate, landscape, barracks, issues with camp construction, poor conditions and lack of furnishings, incarcerees who were subjected to upon arrival. Camp administration, food and housing issues, camp employment, security, recreation, and social groups are described and analyzed. Report compiled as …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-27/

doc Chapter 11 personality cards (ddr-csujad-26-36)

Journal entries written by high school students discussing their observations and perspectives on a variety of topic including a fundraising carnival, yearbooks, class subjects and discussions, sports, homework, books, and teachers. Each entry includes the full date and student name. The entries were collected as part of a class assignment and used for the Japanese American …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-36/

doc Tule Lake recreation center community affairs report for the period August 20, 1942 to September 20, 1942 (ddr-csujad-26-11)

Summary of community youth recreation activities at Tule Lake before school began including descriptions of administration, leadership and training, the "Community Activities Commission," advisory board, planning board, staff, organization, and activities. Report compiled as a portion of the Japanese American Evacuation and Resettlement Study (JERS). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-11/

doc Social groups: creative writers, Caucasian-Japanese relationship, Mr. Cook, leadership (ddr-csujad-26-12)

Report on a creative writers group including establishment, membership, meetings, purpose, and leadership. The group gathered weekly to critique each other's work for submittal to the Tulean Dispatch and outside publications. Describes the involvement, influence, and eventual tension with Mr. Cook and the writers group as an example of a "Caucasian-Japanese relationship" in the camp. Report …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-12/

doc Tule Lake monograph (ddr-csujad-26-1)

Unpublished manuscript includes a collection of diary entries, letters, and essays written by school students incarcerated at the Tule Lake camp and collected through the Japanese American Evacuation and Resettlement Study (JERS). The writings include first-person descriptions of travel to the Tule Lake camp, adapting to camp, limitations of camp, day-to-day camp life, family life, community …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-1/

doc Chapter 6 and 7 personality cards (ddr-csujad-26-34)

Journal entries written by high school students discussing their observations and perspectives on a variety of topics including living in barracks, block noise, lack of privacy, mess hall dining, nosy neighbors, jobs, leisure time, sports, movies, church attendance, the Young Buddhist Association (YBA), family dynamics, social changes, dating, and rumors. Each entry includes the full date …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-34/

doc Recreational organization (ddr-csujad-26-10)

Report detailing the establishment of a recreation and community activities department including its organization, activities planning, personnel problems and conflicts, issues with structure and equipment, and a structural diagram of the community activities section. The report focuses on the place of recreation in the lives of incarcerees and the differences between Issei and Nisei leading to …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-10/

doc Recreational activities in the Gila community (ddr-csujad-26-28)

Report detailing the establishment of the Community Activities Department to organize sports, dances, a library, movies, talent shows, drama performances, and lectures by the National Park Service about the desert environs. Includes description of issues with the installation of organized recreation due to lack of funding and personnel issues. Report compiled as a portion of the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-28/

img Group of male children on barrack stairs (ddr-csujad-32-18)

Group photograph of male children standing on the stairs of Minidoka incarceration camp barrack. Photo featured on page 8 of the Minidoka Incarceration Camp Photograph Album (csudh_ben_001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ben_01_001_009_028

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-32-18/

img Flag raising at Minidoka incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-32-26)

Group photograph of children watching a flag being raised at the Minidoka incarceration camp. Photo featured on page 12 of the Minidoka Incarceration Camp Photograph Album (csudh_ben_001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ben_01_001_013_044

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-32-26/

img Woman wearing kimono (ddr-csujad-32-34)

Photograph of a Caucasian woman wearing a kimono. She is possibly a teacher. Photo featured on page 17 of the Minidoka Incarceration Camp Photograph Album (csudh_ben_001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ben_01_001_018_060

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-32-34/