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 (97)
Living conditions (334)

Gallery view
List view

334 items

vh Shosuke Sasaki Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1000-78-14)

Memories of Puyallup Assembly Center: a "sea of mud" and a sobbing woman

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-78-14/

vh Lucius Horiuchi Interview Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1000-202-7)

Memories of the Puyallup Assembly Center: receiving visitors

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-202-7/

vh Harry Kawahara Interview Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1000-368-5)

Vivid memories of camp at age ten: "that made an impact"

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 …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-368-5/

vh Sue Takimoto Okabe Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1000-74-5)

Puyallup Assembly Center, mother struggles to adjust, and teenagers learn the latest dances

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-74-5/

vh Marian Asao Kurosu Interview Segment 50 (ddr-densho-1000-118-50)

Trip to Pinedale Assembly Center, California; heat and dehydration

During this interview, Mrs. Kurosu alternately speaks in both English and Japanese. As a result, the English translation of the transcript contains [Jpn.] and [Eng.], which indicate whether the original dialogue was spoken in Japanese or English.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-118-50/

vh Rae Takekawa Segment 21 (ddr-densho-1000-89-21)

"An aimless type of existence": Pinedale Assembly Center

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-89-21/

vh Fumiko Hayashida Segment 21 (ddr-densho-1000-15-21)

Arrival at Manzanar concentration camp, stuffing mattresses

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-15-21/

vh Yosh Nakagawa Interview Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-172-17)

Memories of Puyallup Assembly Center as a child: having fun, selling newspapers

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-172-17/

vh Hank Shozo Umemoto Interview Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-294-17)

Living conditions in camp: better than farm at home

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-294-17/

vh Tokio Hirotaka - Toshio Ito - Joe Matsuzawa Segment 26 (ddr-densho-1000-23-26)

Working at Pinedale Assembly Center, California, a makeshift fire department

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-23-26/

vh Tokio Hirotaka - Toshio Ito - Joe Matsuzawa Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1000-23-23)

Pinedale Assembly Center, California: "Dry, hot, dusty, and dirty"

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

vh Yaeko Nakano - Hiroshi Nakano - Kenichi Nakano - Stanley Nakano Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1000-70-5)

First impressions of Pinedale Assembly Center, California

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-70-5/

vh Rae Takekawa Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1000-89-20)

Organized activities for youth at Pinedale Assembly Center, California

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-89-20/

vh Kajiko Hashisaki Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-201-10)

Receiving a visitor in camp; tight security

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-201-10/

vh Aya Uenishi Medrud Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-213-10)

Conditions in Puyallup: living in a horse stall

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-213-10/

vh George Morihiro Interview Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1000-182-18)

Life in Puyallup Assembly Center: talking with the guards, being warned away from the fence

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-182-18/

vh George Morihiro Interview Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1000-182-16)

Entering Puyallup Assembly Center: "the day you walked through that gate, you know you lost something"

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-182-16/

vh Henry Miyatake Interview II Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-54-12)

Getting news of the outside world in camp

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-54-12/

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 Kara Kondo Interview Segment 28 (ddr-densho-1000-139-28)

Life in the North Portland Assembly Center, Oregon: cramped living quarters, working for the camp newsletter

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-139-28/

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 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 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 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/