Temporary Assembly Centers

In spring 1942, the Wartime Civil Control Administration (WCCA) hastily prepared temporary "assembly centers" to house the individuals of Japanese ancestry who were removed from their homes after the signing of Executive Order 9066. The centers were surrounded by barbed-wire fences and patrolled by armed military police. People were housed in animal stalls and barracks with communal bathrooms and mess halls. After spending up to six months in the "assembly centers," Japanese Americans were moved inland to permanent concentration camps.

World War II (231)
Temporary Assembly Centers (231)

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231 items

doc Envelope from George Kida to his mother Miyuki "Kay" Kida (ddr-one-3-132)

Envelope is addressed to Miyuki "Kay" Kida in the Portland Assembly Center. Postmarked August 3, 1942 from Nyssa, Oregon. Presumably from George Kida.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-3-132/

doc Envelope and letters to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from Teru Koyama (ddr-one-5-20)

White air mail envelope with a red, white and blue border. The envelope is addressed to Dr. Keizaburo Koyama at Camp Livingston from his wife, Teru Koyama. The envelope is postmarked Jul 21, 1942, and in red pencil below the postmark is the date 7/25/42. On the left side of the envelope is a purple "Censored" …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-20/

doc Postcard to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from Lois Sato (ddr-one-5-18)

Postcard addressed to Dr. Keizaburo Koyama at Camp Livingston from Lois Sato at the Portland Assembely Center. Postmarked Jul 9, 1942. On the left side of the front of the postcard is a red Censored stamp with an unknown signature. On the back of the postcard is a handwritten message from Lois Sato. She writes about …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-18/

doc Envelope to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from Teru Koyama (ddr-one-5-17)

White air mail envelope with a red, white and blue border. The envelope is addressed to Dr. Keizaburo Koyama at Camp Livingston. Sender information written in the upper left corner as "Mrs. Kei Koyama/No 16109 sec. 3-D-10/Japanese Assembly Center/N. Portland, Oregon." Postmarked June 23, 1942. Two additional dates handwritten below the postmark: "June 23-42" and "June …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-17/

doc Envelope and letters to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from Miriam Kiyo Koyama and William Koyama (ddr-one-5-28)

Envelope addressed to Dr. Keizaburo Koyama at Camp Livingston from his children, William Koyama and Miriam Kiyo Koyama, at Minidoka. Postmarked Sep 11, 1942. To the left of the postmark “Sept 14, 42” is written in red pencil. On the left side of the envelope is a purple "Censored" stamp. Inside the envelope are two letters, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-28/

doc Postcard to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from Teru Koyama (ddr-one-5-12)

One cent postcard addressed to Dr. Keizaburo Koyama at Fort Sill from his wife, Teru Koyama, at the Portland Assembly Center. Postmarked May 14, 1942. Message on the back dated May 13, 1942. Teru writes to Kei about her and the children getting their first typhoid shots, her new work duties, and the family's enjoyment of …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-12/

doc Postcard to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from Teru Koyama (ddr-one-5-24)

Yellowed postcard address to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama at Camp Livingston from his wife Teru Koyama at the Portland Assembly Center. The postcard is postmarked August 31, 1942. On the left side of the postcard is a purple stamp that reads “Censored/Camp Livingston/Internment Camp/HARMON M. TURNER.” On the back side of the postcard, which is dated …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-24/

doc Letter to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from his son William Koyama on Father's Day (ddr-one-5-15)

A letter written to Kei Koyama from his son William Koyama. It is dated June 21, 1942. In the letter William writes to encourage his father to stay positive and look to God as the rest of the family is doing. In the postscript written on the side of the letter, William wishes that they be …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-15/

doc Postcard to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from Teru Koyama (ddr-one-5-23)

One cent postcard addressed to Dr. Keizaburo Koyama at Camp Livingston from his wife, Teru Koyama, at the Portland Assembly Center. Postmarked Aug 28, 1942. Below the postmark “Sept 1 1942,” is written in red pencil. On the left side of the postcard is a purple "Censored" stamp. The message on the back of the postcard …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-23/

doc Postcard to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from Teru Koyama (ddr-one-5-13)

Postcard addressed to Dr. Keizabruo Koyama at Fort Sill from his wife, Teru Koyama, at the Portland Assembly Center. Postmarked May 15, 1942. Dated May 14, 1942. On the back Teru writes Kei asking if he needs more clothes, and that she had stored their belongs with Eva "Aunt Eva" Goodenough. She describes the food at …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-13/

doc Postcard to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from Eva Koyama (ddr-one-5-11)

Front of one cent postcard is addressed to Dr. K. Koyama at Fort Sill from his daughter Eva Koyama at the Portland Assembly Center. Postmarked May 11, 1942. On the back of the postcard Eva writes about the family and first few days at the Portland Assembly Center. Dated May 7, 1942.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-11/

doc Postcard to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from Teru Koyama (ddr-one-5-27)

One cent postcard addressed to Dr. Keizaburo Koyama at Camp Livingston from his wife, Teru Koyama, at the Portland Assembly Center. Postmarked Sep 1, 1942, with a 6 cent airmail stamp. On the left side of the postcard are two purple stamps; one is an air mail stamp and the second is a "Censored" stamp. On …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-27/

doc Envelope and letter to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from Andrew "Uncle Chape" Goodenough and Eva "Aunt Eva" Goodenough (ddr-one-5-25)

Envelope addressed to Dr. Kei Koyama in Camp Livingston from Andrew "Uncle Chape" Goodenough and Eva "Aunt Eva" Goodenough in Portland. Postmarked Aug 31, 1942. On the left side of the envelope is a purple "Censored" stamp. Inside the envelope was a newspaper clipping about Boy Scout Troop at the Portland Assembly Center. William Koyama's name …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-25/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 104, No. 12 (March 27, 1987) (ddr-pc-59-12)

Selected article titles: "'More Perfect Union': Smithsonian Gets Hate Mail on JA Exhibit" (pp. 1, 3), "Walerga Park: WW2 Assembly Center Site Memorialized with Plaque" (pp. 1, 3), "JACL Personnel Manual: Framework for Discussion" (pp. 4-5), and "Backlash on the Campuses" (p. 5).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-59-12/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 84, No. 18 (May 13, 1977) (ddr-pc-49-18)

Selected article titles: "Plan Mark for Camp Walerga" (p.1), "More Specific Asian Breakdown in 1980 Census Requested" (p.1), "Needs of Asian Elderly Told to Federal Committee" (p.1, 3), "WCCA Preceded the WRA Camps" (p.2), "School Integration" (p.4), "Carnage in Cambodia" *p.5).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-49-18/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 85, No. 6 (August 5, 1977) (ddr-pc-49-30)

Selected article titles: "Pro-Minority Text Dropped from OK List" (p.1, 3), "Bakke Case Jeopardizes Civil Rights Won Since 1940s, Rep. Chisholm Tells JACL" (p.1, 3), "Internment Credit Bill Hearing Set" (p.2), "Assembly Centers to Be Historical Site" (p.2), "Fresno Senior Citizens Express Needs in Survey" (p.3), "Nisei in Japan: Japanese and Nikkei Influences" (p.8).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-49-30/

doc Letter from S. [Koni] to Hon [F de Amat], November 13,1943 (ddr-csujad-2-4)

Letter from Shunichi K. to [F. de Amat] requesting status on his application to be repatriated to Japan with his wife. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sjs_sch_0004

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-2-4/

doc Letter from An American Mother to Rev. Wendell L. Miller, May 2, 1942 (ddr-csujad-20-1)

Vociferous indictment of the Ladies aid of the Methodist Church for holding a luncheon picnic for "Japanese leaving Santa Anita," and similar efforts, stating that such overtures to "entertain enemies of their native land" are "traitor[ous]" and "disgrace the good sense of American woman hood." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-20-1/

doc Letter from Lester E. Suzuki to Mrs. Miller, 1942 May 31 (ddr-csujad-20-16)

Letter from Lester E. Suzuki to Mrs. Miller addressing improved food conditions. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: WLM_01-46_16

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-20-16/

doc Letter from George Yoshioka to Rev. [Wendell L.] Miller, [September 11, 1942] (ddr-csujad-20-6)

Personal letter written from Santa Anita Assembly Center. Yoshioka discusses the start of "movement to Relocation Centers," naming Parker Dam; Wyoming; Granada, Colorado; Arkansas; and Gila, Arizona, along with locations from which people are being removed, including San Diego, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Long Beach, and other Southern California locations. He also mentions that his family has …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-20-6/

doc Letter from Jane Harino to Rev. Wendell [L.] Miller, circa 1942 (ddr-csujad-20-7)

Personal letter states that she is going to Jerome, Arkansas rather than to Granada, a change that pleases her because "there's a certain someone in Jerome - We're both so very happy"; also mentions passes for Miller [and Mrs. Miller?] as well as for the Reverend and Mrs. Clay, and asks that Miller help her by …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-20-7/

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/

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 …

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

doc From the Immigrant and Negro Press-AMERICA'S YOUNGEST NEWSPAPER (ddr-csujad-19-52)

This is an article form the magazine "Common Ground," summer 1942, which discusses in detail about a lively mimeographed news paper called the "Manzanar Free Press" from the Manzanar incarceration camp which was one of the first camps in California for the people of the Japanese ancestry forced to evacuate. See this object in the California …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-19-52/

doc Constitution and by-laws, self government assembly of the Santa Anita Assembly Center (ddr-csujad-16-2)

According to its preamble, this "Constitution for the Santa Anita Assembly Center" was established by its residents "in order to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States, to foster and spread the true spirit of Americanism, to build the character of our people morally and spiritually on American ideals, and to promote the welfare …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-16-2/