The Densho Digital Repository exists today because of federal funding that is now at risk. The reality is that less than 1% of people who use Densho’s resources support us financially. Make a gift to Densho to support free, open access resources that keep Japanese American history alive!

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 (240)
Temporary Assembly Centers (234)
Living conditions (406)

Filters

Facilities

Format

Genre

Usage

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

Gallery view
List view

406 items

vh Mutsu Homma Segment 29 (ddr-densho-1000-24-29)

Description of "riot" at the Santa Anita Assembly Center: protesting lack of food

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-24-29/

vh Mutsu Homma Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1000-24-23)

Description of assembly center: "Santa Anita is a horse place"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-24-23/

vh Mutsu Homma Segment 25 (ddr-densho-1000-24-25)

Separate living quarters for medical professionals

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-24-25/

vh Frank Miyamoto Interview III Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-52-12)

Comparing conditions in Wartime Civil Control Administration assembly centers to War Relocation Authority concentration camps

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-52-12/

vh Amy Iwasaki Mass Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1000-470-5)

Living conditions at the Pomona Assembly Center

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-470-5/

vh Francis Mas Fukuhara Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1000-9-11)

Description of Puyallup Assembly Center: "really kind of horrifying"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-9-11/

vh Shiz Inaba Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1000-538-9)

Memories of the Portland Assembly Center

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-538-9/

vh Shiz Inaba Interview Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1000-538-11)

Living conditions in camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-538-11/

vh Mary Okazaki Kozu Interview Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-511-17)

Memories of daily life in camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-511-17/

vh Mary Okazaki Kozu Interview Segment 15 (ddr-densho-1000-511-15)

First impressions of the Puyallup Assembly Center

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-511-15/

vh Mary Kato - Frances Kajita Nishi Interview Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-494-12)

Living conditions at Tule Lake

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-494-12/

vh Mary Kato - Frances Kajita Nishi Interview Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1000-494-11)

First impressions of Pinedale, a graduation ceremony in camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-494-11/

vh Fumiko Uyeda Groves Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1000-10-18)

Frightened by the sight of soldiers with rifles at the Puyallup Assembly Center

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-10-18/

vh Bob Y. Sakata Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1000-216-9)

Temporary living conditions in Tanforan: "it was sort of a lonely feeling"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-216-9/

vh Marion Tsutakawa Kanemoto Interview Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1000-148-23)

Dealing with the difficulties of living in the Puyallup Assembly Center, new responsibilities as the oldest child at age fourteen

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-148-23/

vh Kazue Yamamoto Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1000-197-9)

Memories of Portland Assembly Center

This interview was conducted as part of a project to capture stories of the Japanese American community of Spokane, Washington. Densho worked in collaboration with the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-197-9/