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 (1434)
Social and recreational activities (1155)

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

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1155 items

img Photograph of a group of people sitting on rocks in the Sierra Nevada (ddr-csujad-47-297)

Photograph of a group of people sitting on rocks in the Sierra Nevada near the Manzanar incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0446

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-297/

img Photograph of seven men next to Pleasure Park pond at Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-80)

Photograph of seven men arranged around the waterfall feature of the pond at Pleasure/ Merritt Park at Manzanar incarceration camp. They are all wearing suits and ties. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0120

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-80/

img Photograph of eight women standing outside next to a barracks with the Sierra Nevada in the background (ddr-csujad-47-186)

Photograph of eight women (employees of the Manzanar hospital) standing outside next to a barracks at Manzanar incarceration camp. Several women are wearing robes. The snow-covered Sierra Nevada are visible in the background. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0322

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-186/

img Photograph of Zabriske Point area in Death Valley with rock wall in the foreground (ddr-csujad-47-96)

Photograph of Zabriske Point area in Death Valley with rock wall in the foreground. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0175

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-96/

img Photograph of L. Josephine Hawes standing on a diving board on New Year's Day in Death Valley (ddr-csujad-47-118)

Photograph of L. Josephine Hawes standing on a diving board on New Year's Day in Death Valley National Park. Scrub brush and a mountain line can be seen in the background. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0203

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-118/

img Photograph of the Goodwin family at Zabriskie Point in Death Valley (ddr-csujad-47-141)

Photograph of the Goodwin family (two women and a boy scout) posing at Zabriskie Point in Death Valley National Park. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0226

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-141/

img Photograph of a desert plant in front of a swimming pool in Death Valley (ddr-csujad-47-120)

Photograph of a palm tree, possibly a yucca plant, in front of a swimming pool in Death Valley National Park. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0205

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-120/

img Photograph of a group of people holding snow balls on the side of a mountain with a snowman (ddr-csujad-47-295)

Photograph of a group of people holding snow balls on the side of a mountain with a snowman near the Manzanar incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0444

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-295/

img Photograph of Irene Gavigan and Morse and Christine Little at Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-286)

Photograph of Irene Gavigan and Morse and Christine Little posing in front of a building at Manzanar incarceration camp. The building is probably staff housing. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0435

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-286/

Photograph of five women sitting around a picnic bench, including Lucy Adams, Gertrude Wetzel, Bernice Sibner, and Lucy Wilcox (ddr-csujad-47-303)

img Photograph of five women sitting around a picnic bench, including Lucy Adams, Gertrude Wetzel, Bernice Sibner, and Lucy Wilcox (ddr-csujad-47-303)

Photograph of five women sitting around a picnic bench, including Lucy Adams, Gertrude Wetzel, Bernice Sibner, and Lucy Wilcox 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_0452

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-303/

img Photograph of group gathering at Pleasure Park at Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-79)

Photograph of approximately 40 people at Pleasure / Merritt Park at Manzanar incarceration camp. They are arranged in small groups of three to six people. The Sierra Nevada can very faintly be seen in the background on the left side of the photograph. A stone obelisk with Japanese writing is on the left. See this object …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-79/

img Photograph of L. Josephine Hawes and three others sitting in an Army jeep in Death Valley (ddr-csujad-47-133)

Photograph of L. Josephine Hawes and three others sitting in an Army jeep in Death Valley National Park. Incarcerees were transferred to the former Civilian Conservation Camp after the Manzanar Riot for their own protection. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0218

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-133/

img Photograph of three people walking in Natural Bridge Canyon in Death Valley (ddr-csujad-47-150)

Photograph of three people walking under the Natural Bridge in Death Valley National Park. They are walking away from the camera. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0246

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-150/

img Photograph of a mountainside with some snow and pines trees (ddr-csujad-47-291)

Photograph of a mountainside with some snow and pines trees. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0440

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-291/

img Photograph of the sign at Bad Water in Death Valley (ddr-csujad-47-99)

Photograph of the sign at Bad Water in Death Valley National Park. The sign reads: Bad Water; 279.6 feet below sea level; lowest point in the Western Hemisphere. The photograph is taken looking down the road that heads toward Furnace Creek. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0182

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-99/

img Photograph of a woman on skies at Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-174)

Photograph of a woman on skies, holding ski poles, at Manzanar incarceration camp. Behind her are three people playing in the snow. Several cars and administrative buildings are visible in the background. The ground is snow-covered. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0300

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-174/

img Photograph of L. Josephine Hawes, Mrs. Chamberlain and an army guard in Death Valley (ddr-csujad-47-98)

Photograph of L. Josephine Hawes, Theo Chamberlain and an army guard in Death Valley. The face of the woman in the back is partially obscured by the army guard. The shadow of the photographer can be seen in the lower right corner. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0181

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-98/

img Photograph of the face of Rainbow Falls near Mammoth Lakes, California (ddr-csujad-47-92)

Photograph of the face of Rainbow Falls near Mammoth Lakes, California. The photograph only includes the left portion of the face and focuses on the base of the falls and the rock cliff next to it. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0171

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-92/

img Photograph of Dr. Morse Little at a Manzanar hospital staff picnic (ddr-csujad-47-279)

Photograph of Dr. Morse Little and another man and women near Manzanar incarceration camp at a hospital staff picnic. In the background is a picnic table with food and drinks on it. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0428

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-279/

img Photograph of three people standing next to Harmony Borax Works equipment in Death Valley (ddr-csujad-47-125)

Photograph of L. Josephine Hawes, another woman, and an army guard standing next to Harmony Borax Works equipment in Death Valley National Park. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0210

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-125/

img Photograph of a women crouching in the snow on a hillside (ddr-csujad-47-307)

Photograph of a women crouching in the snow on a hillside near the Manzanar incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0458

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-307/

img Photograph of a group of people, including Bernice Sibner, sitting on rocks in the Sierra Nevada (ddr-csujad-47-298)

Photograph of a group of people, including Bernice Sibner, sitting on rocks in the Sierra Nevada near the Manzanar incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0447

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-298/

img Photograph of a women leaning on rocks in a stream in the Sierra Nevada (ddr-csujad-47-300)

Photograph of a women leaning on a number of rocks in a stream in the Sierra Nevada near the Manzanar incarceration camp. She is wearing a cardigan, plaid shirt, and jeans. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0449

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-300/

img Photograph of Bernice Sibner (ddr-csujad-47-299)

Photograph of Bernice Sibner holding a branch over her head next to a stream in the Sierra Nevada near Manzanar incarceration camp See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0448

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-299/

img Photograph of L. Josephine Hawes and Thelma McBride at a Manzanar hospital staff picnic (ddr-csujad-47-278)

Photograph of L. Josephine Hawes and Thelma McBride near Manzanar incarceration camp at a hospital staff picnic. A third person can be seen in the background. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0427

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-278/