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 (66)
Temporary Assembly Centers (91)
Living conditions (306)

Gallery view
List view

306 items

vh Kara Kondo Interview Segment 27 (ddr-densho-1000-139-27)

Early memories of life in assembly center: "You're in a daze for a while until you get your bearings"

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-139-27/

vh Mitsuye May Yamada - Joe Yasutake - Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 61 (ddr-densho-1000-135-61)

First impressions of Puyallup Assembly Center: stuffing own mattresses

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-135-61/

vh Satoru Ichikawa Interview Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-236-12)

Arrival in the Puyallup Assembly Center

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-236-12/

vh Jim Akutsu Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1000-2-20)

Attempting to improve conditions at Puyallup Assembly Center and running into resistance

Interview was conducted over two days because of delays caused by technical difficulties.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-2-20/

vh Yosh Nakamura Interview Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1000-385-8)

First impressions of the Tulare Assembly Center

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-385-8/

vh Eugene Tatsuru Kimura Interview Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1000-231-18)

Memories of assembly center: coyotes howling at night

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-231-18/

vh Fumi Kaseguma Interview Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1000-203-11)

Life in the Portland Assembly Center, a former livestock exposition area

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-203-11/

vh Jim Akutsu Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1000-2-18)

Conditions at Puyallup Assembly Center

Interview was conducted over two days because of delays caused by technical difficulties.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-2-18/

vh Bob Suzuki Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1000-452-3)

Childhood memories of the Portland Assembly center and Minidoka concentration camp

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-452-3/

vh June Takahashi Segment 21 (ddr-densho-1000-88-21)

Conditions in Puyallup Assembly Center: barracks, food, activities

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-88-21/

vh June Takahashi Segment 19 (ddr-densho-1000-88-19)

"Visitors" wanting to see an "Eskimo" in Puyallup Assembly Center

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-88-19/

vh Gene Akutsu Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1000-1-8)

Mass removal, and conditions in Puyallup Assembly Center: cleaning septic tanks

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-1-8/

vh Bill Hosokawa Interview Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1000-129-14)

Impressions of the Puyallup Assembly Center, Washington: "What the hell are they trying to do to us?"; controversy over Jimmie Sakamoto's role in Puyallup, and being sent to Heart Mountain concentration camp, Wyoming

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-129-14/

vh Gene Akutsu Interview II Segment 4 (ddr-densho-1000-210-4)

Brother's organization of a "tray service" in camp

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-210-4/

vh Masao Watanabe Segment 15 (ddr-densho-1000-103-15)

Attitude towards incarceration: "all this liberty and crap was all crap"

At the time this interview was taped, Mr. Watanabe was recovering from a recent series of cancer treatments.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-103-15/

vh Chiye Tomihiro Segment 2 (ddr-densho-1000-93-2)

Life at the Portland Assembly Center: the shame of being visited by former schoolmates

This interview was conducted at the Voices of Japanese American Redress Conference, held on the UCLA campus and sponsored by the UCLA Asian American Studies Center and the UCLA School of Public Policy and Social Research. Because of the full conference schedule, ...

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-93-2/

vh Betty Morita Shibayama Interview Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-152-17)

First impressions of the Pinedale Assembly Center: becoming sick from the heat

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-152-17/

vh Shig Yabu Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-272-10)

Living conditions at the Pomona Assembly Center

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-272-10/

vh Mutsu Homma Segment 22 (ddr-densho-1000-24-22)

Husband uses own money to buy equipment after being assigned as an official dentist of Santa Anita Assembly Center

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-24-22/

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

Struggling to feed family in assembly center

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-24-24/

vh Mutsu Homma Segment 30 (ddr-densho-1000-24-30)

Husband's frustration as camp dentist

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-24-30/

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

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

http://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"

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

vh June Yasuno Aochi (Yamashiro) Berk Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1000-453-6)

Memories of Rohwer: restful time for parents, attending school

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-453-6/

vh Nobu Suzuki Interview I Segment 26 (ddr-densho-1000-84-26)

Attitude toward violation of rights, "There was nothing we could do about it because they had the guns"

References are made to several of Nobu Suzuki's personal papers, which are currently available for public perusal at the University of Washington's Manuscripts and University Archives.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-84-26/