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
Drawing of the latrine and barracks at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-8)
doc Drawing of the latrine and barracks at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-8)
Caption by Kenneth Iyeki: "A scene midway on the track length on the west side of camp. At the very end of the track to the left is the commisary warehouse. The rails were a favorite of youngsters. They would boast of having walked such and such a distance. Never heard of anyone balancing his way …
Drawing of the music school at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-5)
doc Drawing of the music school at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-5)
Caption written by Kenneth Iyeki: "This is the Tanforan music school which prior to evacuation served the racetrack fans as a refreshment house. At all hours, the sounds of pianos and violins would sound forth from every window. Every so often, music concerts would be held, and the edifice would be jammed every time. The [sic] …
Drawing of the latrine and barracks at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-6)
doc Drawing of the latrine and barracks at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-6)
Caption by Kenneth Iyeki: "This is a scene from the roof of an old stable. The latrine building which served our area [?] to the left. To the right is barrack #16 and between the two buildings is the stable where the batchelors [sic] used to sit all day and talk. Beyond the stable, partially hidden …
Drawing of the view from the top of the grandstand at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-12)
doc Drawing of the view from the top of the grandstand at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-12)
Caption written by Kenneth Iyeki: "This is a portion of the landscape which could be seen from the top of the grandstand across the broad highway. Somehow, it made one feel better when he climbed the long stair to sit alone and look out on the hills. It was so beautiful and such a relief from …
Drawing inside the laundry room at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-25)
doc Drawing inside the laundry room at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-25)
Caption written by Kenneth Iyeki: "This scene is the inside of the camp laundry which we of barracks #14, #13, and #16 used. Most of the time, there would be no hot water, and we would have to carry it from the latrines in pails, if the latrines had hot water. OVer half of the tubs …
Drawing of warehouses and the music conservatory at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-17)
doc Drawing of warehouses and the music conservatory at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-17)
Caption written by Kenneth Iyeki: "On the left is a warehouse, futher down is the music conservatory and finally at the end of the road is the mess mine building. We used to play on the tin roof of the warehouse. I abruptly stopped such shenanigans when an official angrily told me that a mine which …
Drawing of the latrines at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-19)
doc Drawing of the latrines at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-19)
Caption written by Kenneth Iyeki: "These two buildings are the latrines. There were so many people in ration to the facilities that we often was obliged to try and reach another area's latrine 'in time.' The one to the left is the women's and that to the right is the men's. The women, being women put …
Drawing of recreation hall #6 at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-16)
doc Drawing of recreation hall #6 at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-16)
Caption written by Kenneth Iyeki: "The barrack in the foreground was the recreation #6 building. Each area possessed its own rec hall. Competition was keen among them. From out the open window would [?] the sound of ping pong games in progress, little children screaming in laughter or just screaming, girls daring the boys to a …
Drawing of recreation hall #6 headquarters at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-18)
doc Drawing of recreation hall #6 headquarters at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-18)
Caption written by Kenneth Iyeki: "The small house was the headquarters for recreation #6. In the backyard, little children would play, while inside, the recreation leaders."
Drawing of the northwest corner Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-14)
doc Drawing of the northwest corner Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-14)
Caption written by Kenneth Iyeki: "This is a scene near the north west corner of camp. The metal scraps seen on the ground were used by the internees in hammering out useful utensils for use in camp life. The guard part shown, is the scene of the only harshness shown by a guard during my entire …
Drawing of the barracks at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-13)
doc Drawing of the barracks at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-13)
Caption written by Kenneth Iyeki: "This scene is the most repugnant to all the internees at Tanfo. Not the actual [?] but the odors which wafted about, especially on moonlit nights. A sewer[?] which refused to operate properly was the cause. The children who played in the gullies seemed unmindful. A few yards to the right …
Drawing of the inside of a classroom at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-22)
doc Drawing of the inside of a classroom at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-22)
Caption written by Kenneth Iyeki: "This is my wonderful history class (under the grandstand). The entire school was housed under one roof with no partition between classes. There wold be so much noise that one day we, weather permitting, the teachers would [?] their classes out on the grandstand where there would be less noise. The …
Drawing of barracks 16, apartment 28 at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-15)
doc Drawing of barracks 16, apartment 28 at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-15)
Caption written by Kenneth Iyeki: "Barrack 16, apartment 28 where the Iyeki's resided in a palatial horse stable. The balcony which was the only one of its kind in camp proved very useful. The little door under the porch when swung open would reveal many beer and whiskey bottles strewn all over the wet earth. The …
Drawing of the laundry buildings at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-10)
doc Drawing of the laundry buildings at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-10)
Caption written by Kenneth Iyeki: "These are the laundry buildings from which all the internees left for Topaz, Utah. As the time for the trip to Utah neared, fences were put up around these three makeshift structures and people were leaving the camp every day like herds of cattle."
Drawing of the south side of Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-3)
doc Drawing of the south side of Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-3)
Caption written by Kenneth Iyeki: "This is a scene on the south side of Tanforan. The eucalyptus trees were always green, a factor which helped to keep our morale up. The green houses in the background were the better stables, on the opposite side of the track from the 'common' planked horse shelters. These that were …
Drawing of barracks 16 at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-4)
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 …
Drawing of the script books building at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-20)
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."
Drawing of the military camp at Tanforan Assembly Center (ddr-densho-392-7)
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 …
Lois Shikami Interview Segment 5 (ddr-chi-1-8-5)
vh Lois Shikami Interview Segment 5 (ddr-chi-1-8-5)
Arrival at the Puyallup Assembly Center: "It was a shock"
Yoshiko Kanazawa Segment 4 (ddr-jamsj-2-15-4)
vh Yoshiko Kanazawa Segment 4 (ddr-jamsj-2-15-4)
Frightening camp experiences as a child: vaccinations and a long train ride
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