Living conditions

The "assembly centers" were hastily erected quarters located throughout the West Coast at fairgrounds, racetracks and other similar facilities. Conditions at these locations were appalling. People were housed in animal stalls and barracks with communal bathrooms and mess halls. Privacy was next to nonexistent. Most families lived in a 20-by-20-foot room separated from the next "apartment" by wood partitions that did not reach the ceiling. Shortages of food and deplorable sanitation were common. Overcrowding, uncertainty, and stress created tension in the "assembly centers," even as the demoralized camp inmates tried to improve living conditions.

World War II (231)
Temporary Assembly Centers (231)
Living conditions (389)

Filters

Facilities

Format

Genre

Usage

Use <Ctrl> or (⌘) keys to select multiple terms

Gallery view
List view

389 items

doc Notice to report to work (ddr-densho-25-78)

Mae Iseri received permission to work as a recreation leader at Pinedale Assembly Center.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-25-78/

doc Letter from Amy Morooka to Violet Sell (ddr-densho-457-2)

Amy Morooka writes to Violet Sell about her experiences during mass removal and arriving at Tulare Assembly Center. She details her journey with her mother and the support they received from their church community along the way.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-457-2/

doc Letter from Martha Morooka to Violet Sell (ddr-densho-457-11)

Martha Morooka writes to Violet Sell about the gardens built at Tulare Assembly Center being destroyed, missing friends, inconsiderate staff at Gila River, updates on people she had helped at the Social Welfare Department, trenches being dug by Black workers, and more.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-457-11/

doc Letter from Amy Morooka to Violet Sell (ddr-densho-457-6)

Amy Morooka writes to Violet Sell with updates on living conditions at the Tulare Assembly Center, her job at the Red Cross Women's Project, and about Christian and Buddhist services.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-457-6/

doc Letter from Martha Morooka to Violet Sell (ddr-densho-457-3)

Martha Morooka writes to Violet Sell about life in the Tulare Assembly Center. Martha talks about the harsh living conditions, like side effects from the typhoid vaccine and lack of privacy in the bathrooms. She also writes about the jobs she and her family are doing and asks Violet for help with book recommendations and card …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-457-3/

doc Letter from Ishi Morishita to Mrs. Charles Gates (ddr-densho-211-5)

Letter explaining the sudden relocation of the Masuda family to Poston, Arizona. Four stamps that match the ones on letters from the Morishitas.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-211-5/

doc Letter from Kikuye Matsuda to Mrs. Charles Gates (ddr-densho-211-1)

Letter from Kikuye Masuda to Mrs. Charles Gates about a house Mrs. Gates is occupying.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-211-1/

doc Horses Move Out; Japanese Move In (March 24, 1942) (ddr-densho-56-712)

The Seattle Daily Times, March 24, 1942, p. 19

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-712/

doc Mass Japanese Removal Begun (August 9, 1942) (ddr-densho-56-832)

The Seattle Daily Times, August 9, 1942, p. 32

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-832/

doc Japanese Organize Own Government at Puyallup (May 6, 1942) (ddr-densho-56-787)

The Seattle Daily Times, May 6, 1942, p. 20

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-787/

doc Where Nipponese Will Await Traveling Orders. Puyallup Assembly Center For Japanese Rises Rapidly. (April 2, 1942) (ddr-densho-56-739)

The Seattle Daily Times, April 2, 1942, p. 20

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-739/

doc Tojo a Rat in Puyallup Evacuee's War-Bond Poster (July 19, 1942) (ddr-densho-56-824)

The Seattle Daily Times, July 19, 1942, p. 8

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-824/

doc Diary entry, May 2, 1942 (ddr-densho-72-64)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-72-64/

doc "'Orientals' Shun Island Japanese" (ddr-densho-68-27)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-68-27/

doc Letter from Rose Tani to Rev. Miller, 1942 May 10 (ddr-csujad-20-17)

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-20-17/

doc Letter from Seda Suzuki to Rev. and Mrs. Miller, 1942 September 11 (ddr-csujad-20-19)

A letter sent to Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Miller giving thanks for his sermon. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: WLM_01-46_19

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-20-19/

doc Letter from the Suzuki's to Rev. and Mrs. Miller, circa 1942 (ddr-csujad-20-13)

Letter from the Suzuki's to Rev. and Mrs. Miller regarding recent happenings at the Santa Anita Assembly Center. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: WLM_01-46_14

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-20-13/

doc Letter from June Harino to Rev. Miller, 1942 October 15 (ddr-csujad-20-22)

A letter from June Harino sent to Miller regarding her being assigned to a camp in Jerome, Arkansas where there awaits a "certain someone" with whom she is very happy. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: WLM_01-46_11

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-20-22/

doc Letter from June Harino to Rev. Miller, 1942 June 9 (ddr-csujad-20-20)

A letter sent to Mr. Wendell L. Miller. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: WLM_01-46_20

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

doc Letter from Lester Suzuki to Brother [Wendell L.] Miller, May 4, 1942 (ddr-csujad-20-3)

Personal letter written from the Santa Anita Temporary Assembly Center and describing early days there, including lack of regular work and schooling schedules and of appropriate food for children; scouts and boys' clubs being in development; religious services on Sundays attracting nearly 2000 people; and the need to wait for community facilities such as laundry and …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-20-3/

doc Letter from T. Takahashi and Family to Rev. Wendell L. Miller, May 14, 1942 (ddr-csujad-20-5)

Personal letter written from the Santa Anita Assembly Center; thanks Miller for his "kind treatment and wonderful assistance in our evacuation" and mentions that his or her mother is now recovering with them after suffering from worry and tiredness. Takahashi states that their life was previously too materialistic, and that this is a "God-given opportunity ... …

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

doc News Clippings (ddr-csujad-20-24)

Newspaper clippings, circa 1942. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: WLM_01-45_01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-20-24/

doc Letter to Wendell L. Miller, 1942 April 27 (ddr-csujad-20-21)

An angry letter sent to Mr. Wendell L. Miller. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: WLM_01-44_03

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-20-21/

doc Letter from George K. Sakai, 1942 May 4 (ddr-csujad-20-14)

Letter from George Sakai to United Methodist Church regarding address information for a mutual friend. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: WLM_01-46_13

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-20-14/

doc Comic Strip, 1943 December 26 (ddr-csujad-20-12)

Clipped comic strip of "Little Joe." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: WLM_01-45_02

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-20-12/