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 (283)
Temporary Assembly Centers (254)
Living conditions (407)

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407 items

doc Drawing of barracks 16 at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-4)

Caption written by Kenneth Iyeki: "This # barrack 16 served as our dwelling during the months spent at Tanforan. During our stay, peculiar odors persisted, reminding us of horse manure. We lived in the end apartment. The balcony came in very handy as we had an excellent view. All day long evacuees would be scurrying back …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-392-4/

doc Drawing of the script books building at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-20)

Caption written by Kenneth Iyeki: "This is where the script books were sold, and where they were distributed free. If anyone wanted extras, they would have to pay for them. Cash was not used in in the center."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-392-20/

doc Drawing of the military camp at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-7)

Caption by Kenneth Iyeki: "After drawing this picture of the military camp in the south-west corner of Tanforan, I found that such pictures were prohibited. The soldiers in this camp were all swell fellows, and when on guard duty, were as amicable as could be. Along the fence, the soldiers would play horseshoes, and wash the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-392-7/

doc Drawing of the San Francisco sign on the hills outside of Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-9)

Caption written by Kenneth Iyeki: "This is a scene drawn from the porch where my cousins lived. The huge sign up on the [?] hills were late blacked out as a precaution against possible air raids. Out over the fence about a mile along can be seen the old dog race grounds. The huge wooden grandstand …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-392-9/

doc Drawing of the northwest corner Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-2)

Caption written by Kenneth Iyeki: "This is the north west corner of camp. Beyond the two green tankers, concealed in the trees was a cleverly hidden guard post. Beyond the fence lay the highway. People used to come roaring up, then slam[?] their cars close to satisfy their curiosity. Some waived, some smiled, some frowned, and …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-392-2/

doc Drawing of Mess Hall #8 at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-26)

Caption written by Kenneth Iyeki: "This is the mess hall which served our area. The trees in the background served as a fringe to the race track. Hiding views of possible distaste from those watching the show. The tired looking stove pipes belched forth black soot all the day long. I was amazed at the 'variety; …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-392-26/

doc American Concentration Camps VOLUME 6 June, 1942- December, 1942 (ddr-densho-372-6)

Volume 6 divides into six sections. Description about this volume reads directly from the book as follows: Section 1 presents archival documents from June 1942 that show the first major modifications of relocation policies and depict the resistance by Western Defense Command to any amelioration of the condition of the Japanese Americans. Section 2 contains selected …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-372-6/

doc Letter from Nobutaka (probably Nobuko Yanagimachi) to Tamako Inouye (ddr-densho-383-556)

Re: conditions at Camp Harmony. Nobuko Yanagimachi was a fellow UW student and member of Fuyo-Kai

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-383-556/

doc 1942 Journal, Transcribed by Tama Tokuda. Missing pages 1 and 2. (ddr-densho-383-624)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-383-624/

doc Memorandum to George Tokuda from A. Christine Pelegren (ddr-densho-383-530)

Re: scheduling volunteer donors for a blood drive at Camp Harmony

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-383-530/

doc Transcription of diary from Camp Harmony and Minidoka (ddr-densho-383-625)

Some overlap with transcription in object 383-624

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-383-625/

doc Letter from Bill to Tama (ddr-densho-383-543)

Dated "2nd Night", describing living conditions at Camp Harmony

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-383-543/

doc Takeharu Inouye Diary (ddr-densho-365-1)

Takeharu Inouye's first diary documents his family's forced move to the Sacramento Assembly Center, followed by their move to the Tule Lake concentration camp. Since his mother, Miyoe Inouye, was a teacher, thirteen-year-old Takeharu's diary focuses on his classes in the Japanese and American schools at Tule Lake. His struggles with his schoolwork, as well as …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-365-1/

doc "Why not sift out loyal Japanese?" (ddr-densho-423-143)

Editorial from The Christian Century

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-423-143/

doc Letter from Martha Masako Nozawa to Tomoye Takahashi (ddr-densho-423-6)

Charles Ernst, Topaz camp director, came to St. Louis and invited the former Topaz internees to dinner. Discussed the shooting at camp.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-423-6/

doc "This Isn't Japan" (ddr-densho-423-151)

Article written by Mary Oyama describing the Santa Anita Assembly Center and emphasizing that the Japanese incarcerated there are Americans. Reprinted from Common Ground

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-423-151/

doc List, document in Japanese, with envelope addressed to Tomoye Takahashi from S. Ozawa (ddr-densho-423-353)

Pages 1-2: List of ideas for decorating barrack homes. Pages 3-4: Address for Yasinori Nozawa at Camp Livingston. Pages 5-7: document in Japanese.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-423-353/

doc Credit memo, Lodging Dept. (ddr-csujad-55-862)

Card for lodging supply credits at Pomona Temporary Assembly Center. Issued to Shoji Nagumo. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0864

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-862/

doc Letter from Minnie Umeda to Mrs. Waegell, June 8, 1942 (ddr-csujad-55-59)

Handwritten correspondence from Minnie Umeda to Mrs. Waegell describing living conditions at the Fresno Assembly Center. Waegell is spelled as Wegella. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_00063

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-59/

doc Walerga wasp, no. 6 (May 30, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-2511)

Newspaper published at the Walerga Assembly Center covering news, updates, camp services, and events. Current issue includes articles on beet workers, adult education, and sports. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2617

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2511/

doc Saturday news (Fresno, California) (May 16, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-46)

News bulletin from the Fresno Assembly Center. Topics include sanitation, baby formula, milk prescription, repairs, press room, mail order, alien change of address, selective service, church notes, typhoid inoculation, and lost and found. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_00050

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-46/

doc Letter from Mary Kuwabara to Mrs. Waegell, June 8, 1942 (ddr-csujad-55-2563)

Letter from Mary Kuwabara to Mrs. Waegell regarding arriving at Pinedale Assembly Center. She writes about daily life at the camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2671

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2563/

doc Walerga wasp, no. 7 (June 4, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-2512)

Newspaper published at the Walerga Assembly Center covering news, updates, camp services, and events. Current issue includes articles on "evacuation," schools, and sports. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2618

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2512/

doc Walerga wasp, no. 2 (May 13, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-2507)

Newspaper published at the Walerga Assembly Center covering news, updates, camp services, and events. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2613

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2507/

doc Walerga wasp, no. 5 (May 27, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-2510)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2510/