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 Letter to Tomoye and Henri Takahashi from Henri's sister, Helen (ddr-densho-410-46)

Description of camp conditions, freezing temperatures, asking for some items to be sent

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-46/

doc Letter from Ruth Yamada to Matsuye Koike, July 2, 1942 (ddr-densho-432-4)

This letter discusses life at Santa Anita Assembly Center. Matsuye Koike received the letter while imprisoned at Fort Lincoln, Bismark, ND. The letter was "detained alien enemy mail examined."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-432-4/

doc Letter from Ruth Yamada to Matsuye Koike, c. 1942 (ddr-densho-432-3)

This letter discusses life at Santa Anita Assembly Center, including Ruth Yamada's thoughts on school, church, and food. Matsuye Koike received the letter while imprisoned at Fort Lincoln, Bismark, ND. The letter was "detained alien enemy mail examined."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-432-3/

doc Letter from Ruth Yamada to Matsuye Koike, May 18, 1942 (ddr-densho-432-1)

This letter discusses Ruth Yamada's arrival at Santa Anita Assembly Center. It includes her impressions on the journey, their living conditions, work, and Social and recreational activities|id:63 in camp. Matsuye Koike received the letter while imprisoned at Fort Lincoln, Bismark, ND. The letter was "detained alien enemy mail examined."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-432-1/

doc Letter from Ruth Yamada to Matsuye Koike, June 1, 1942 (ddr-densho-432-2)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-432-2/

img Lillie McCabe (ddr-csujad-29-19)

Photo of Lillie McCabe. Oral history audio and transcript are found in csufccop_jaoh_0030, csufccop_jaoh_0031, and csufccop_jaoh_0032. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 1949_P03

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-19/

doc Camp Harmony, internal camp memos and files (ddr-densho-122-850)

Administrative files, requests for services etc.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-122-850/

doc Camp Harmony, internal camp memos and files (ddr-densho-122-851)

Administrative files, requests for services etc.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-122-851/

doc Letter from Massie to Brett Kuwada (ddr-densho-560-4)

Describing life in Assembly center and camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-560-4/

doc Asian American Community: The Internment Camps and My Family: Part 1: General overview (ddr-densho-560-8)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-560-8/

img Japanese Americans eating in a mess hall (ddr-densho-37-482)

Original WRA caption: Arcadia, California. Meal time, cafeteria-style, for these children at Santa Anita assembly center for evacuees of Japanese ancestry.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-482/

img Japanese Americans serving food (ddr-densho-37-484)

Original WRA caption: Arcadia, California. Cafeteria-style assures promptness in serving meals at Santa Anita assembly center for evacuees of Japanese ancestry. Evacuees are transferred later to War Relocation Authority centers for the duration.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-484/

img Assembly center check-in (ddr-densho-37-584)

Original WRA caption: Salinas, California. Seated in family groups, evacuees of Japanese ancestry check in at Armory before moving into the Salinas Assembly Center. They will later be transferred to War Relocation Authority centers for the duration.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-584/

img Japanese American inside barracks (ddr-densho-37-485)

Original WRA caption: Salinas Assembly Center, Salinas, California. Barracks interior at assembly center where persons of Japanese ancestry lived temporarily after evacuation from the west coast in the spring of 1942.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-485/

img Salinas Assembly Center (ddr-densho-37-576)

Original WRA caption: Salinas Assembly Center, California. Panorama of Salinas Assembly center. Persons of Japanese ancestry evacuated from coastal areas were held first in assembly centers before being assigned to relocation centers further inland.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-576/

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.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-781/

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.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-287/

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.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-281/

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.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-798/

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.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-778/

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 …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-289/

doc Clothing Issuance (ddr-densho-356-797)

Information from Santa Anita Assembly Center on clothing allotments and issuing.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-797/

doc Clothing Request (ddr-densho-356-773)

Carbon copy of a clothing request made by Yuriko Domoto

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-773/

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 …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-219/

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 …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-285/