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)

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389 items
Assembly center new arrivals (ddr-densho-151-4)
img Assembly center new arrivals (ddr-densho-151-4)
Original WRA caption: Stockton, California. Noon on a hot day at the Stockton Assembly center, which is a converted fairgrounds. This group of people on the race track are new arrivals who have been registered, inspected, medically examined, and are now on their way to their assigned places in the barracks.
Assembly center barracks (ddr-densho-151-25)
img Assembly center barracks (ddr-densho-151-25)
Original WRA caption: San Bruno, California. Barracks for family living quarters. Each door enters into a family unit of two small rooms. Tanforan Center was opened two days before this photo was made. The truck seen coming down the dirt road is bringing bed-rolls and baggage to evacuees who have just arrived and are occupying these …
Assembly center new arrivals standing in lines (ddr-densho-151-60)
img Assembly center new arrivals standing in lines (ddr-densho-151-60)
Original WRA caption: San Bruno, California. This assembly center has been open for two days. Bus-load after bus-load of evacuated persons of Japanese ancestry are arriving on this day after going through the necessary procedures, they are guided to the quarters assigned to them in the barracks. Only one mess hall was operating today. Photograph shows …
Telegram from Shigeo Fukuhara to Tatuya Ichikawa (ddr-densho-258-205)
doc Telegram from Shigeo Fukuhara to Tatuya Ichikawa (ddr-densho-258-205)
A telegram sent to Tatsuya Ichikawa at Santa Fe Department of Justice Internment Camp from Shigeo Fukuhara at Minidoka Concentration Camp informing Tatsuya that his two youngest children have been hospitalized. Fukuhara informs Ichikawa that telegrams from the Minidoka Health Nurse and Social Service Counselor have been sent to help Ichikawa get temporary parole so he …
Tule Lake Cooperator, Vol. 2 No. 36 (November 13, 1943) (ddr-densho-289-3)
doc Tule Lake Cooperator, Vol. 2 No. 36 (November 13, 1943) (ddr-densho-289-3)
Selected article titles: "Co-op Will Keep Cash For Colonists With Interest" (p. 1), "Editorial: Government" (p. 1), "Difficulty in Supplying Laundry Soap" (p. 1).
Information Bulletin No. 1 (ddr-densho-320-2)
doc Information Bulletin No. 1 (ddr-densho-320-2)
Contains information about living quarters, meals, and other services in the camps.
Information Bulletin No. 1 (ddr-densho-320-1)
doc Information Bulletin No. 1 (ddr-densho-320-1)
Contains information about living quarters, meals, and other services in the camps.
Letter to Kinuta Uno at Fort Missoula (ddr-densho-324-17)
doc Letter to Kinuta Uno at Fort Missoula (ddr-densho-324-17)
Correspondence from Kinuta Uno's wife and daughter discussing life at Pinedale Assembly Center.
Memo to assembly center managers on clothing allotment procedure (ddr-densho-356-781)
doc Memo to assembly center managers on clothing allotment procedure (ddr-densho-356-781)
Memo to all Assembly Center Mangers from R. L. Nicholson, Chief, Reception Center on the procedure for the purchasing of clothing for evacuees.
Postcard to Yuri Domoto from May Morioka (ddr-densho-356-286)
doc Postcard to Yuri Domoto from May Morioka (ddr-densho-356-286)
Postcard to Yuri Domoto from May Morioka in which she talks about life at Tanforan and asks for Yuri to write back so they can keep in touch. Item tied together with all objects between ddr-densho-356-277 and ddr-densho-356-320.
Letter to Yuri Domoto from Sonoko Riusaki (ddr-densho-356-281)
doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Sonoko Riusaki (ddr-densho-356-281)
Letter to Yuri Domoto Tsukada from her sister Sonoko Domoto Riusaki in which she provides advice for preparing for forced removal and what to prepare for live in the Assembly Centers. Item tied together with all objects between ddr-densho-356-277 and ddr-densho-356-320.
Letter to Yuri Domoto from Margaret Saito (ddr-densho-356-287)
doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Margaret Saito (ddr-densho-356-287)
Letter to Yuri Domoto from Margaret Saito in which she describes life at Tanforan and her volunteering to go to Manzanar early. Item tied together with all objects between ddr-densho-356-277 and ddr-densho-356-320.
Letter to Yuri Domoto from Rosie Suyeyasu (ddr-densho-356-288)
doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Rosie Suyeyasu (ddr-densho-356-288)
Letter to Yuri Domoto Tsukada from Rose "Rosie" Nakagawa Suyeyasu. In the letter she writes about life at Tanforan and the mutual friends they have. Item tied together with all objects between ddr-densho-356-277 and ddr-densho-356-320.
Information Release No. 22: Issue of Clothing (ddr-densho-356-785)
doc Information Release No. 22: Issue of Clothing (ddr-densho-356-785)
Memo to all residents of Merced Assembly Center from Harry L. Black, Center Manager regarding clothing allotments for internees.
Administrative Notice No. 24 Contraband Articles and Possession of Liquor and Drugs (ddr-densho-356-801)
doc Administrative Notice No. 24 Contraband Articles and Possession of Liquor and Drugs (ddr-densho-356-801)
Administrative Notice No. 24 from Santa Anita Assembly Center quotes the Center Regulations regarding the possession of contraband. Contraband includes: Shortwave Radios, cameras, firearms, weapons, alcohol, and drugs.
Barrack, mess and issue record (ddr-densho-356-770)
doc Barrack, mess and issue record (ddr-densho-356-770)
A written record of Yuriko Domoto Tsukada's barrack assignment.
Letter to Yuri from Yoshito (ddr-densho-356-219)
doc Letter to Yuri from Yoshito (ddr-densho-356-219)
Envelope and letter addressed to Yuri Domoto from Yoshito Shibata. In the letter Yoshito writes about the descriptions of the Assembly centers he's heard so far and how positive Yuri's description was, pending deployment to Japan, his friendship with fellow Nisei soldier Stg. Harry Fujita, his recent promotion to Tech Sgt. He also describes a USO …
Clothing Request (ddr-densho-356-773)
doc Clothing Request (ddr-densho-356-773)
Carbon copy of a clothing request made by Yuriko Domoto
Administrative Notice No. 19 Conservation of Water (ddr-densho-356-798)
doc Administrative Notice No. 19 Conservation of Water (ddr-densho-356-798)
Administrative Notice No. 19 from Santa Anita Assembly Center on the conservation of water as water is not draining properly. The Assembly center closed laundry facilities on Wednesday and one shower location each day of the week.
Clothing Issuance (ddr-densho-356-797)
doc Clothing Issuance (ddr-densho-356-797)
Information from Santa Anita Assembly Center on clothing allotments and issuing.
Two letters to Yuri from Min Yonekura (ddr-densho-356-285)
doc Two letters to Yuri from Min Yonekura (ddr-densho-356-285)
Two letters to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Minoru "Min" Yonekura. Both letters stored in one envelope, unclear if they were mailed together or separately. Letter 5/11: describes forced removal, details items needed in assembly center to make barracks feel homey, food quality in the assembly center and general life there. Letter 2: discusses plans to move …
Notice to internees, bathroom hours (ddr-densho-356-778)
doc Notice to internees, bathroom hours (ddr-densho-356-778)
Notice to internees that informs of the times in which one of the bathrooms in male only and female only.
Four letters to Yuri Domoto from Tomi Domoto (ddr-densho-356-289)
doc Four letters to Yuri Domoto from Tomi Domoto (ddr-densho-356-289)
Four letters stored in one envelope to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from her cousin Tomi Domoto. Appears the letters were mailed separately and later stored together in one envelope. 6/8 letter: discusses events leading up to forced removal, inquires about how family are settling into the camp and how hers is and mutual friends. 8/8 letter: discusses …
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