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
Kaneji Domoto Diary, 1942 (ddr-densho-329-950)
doc Kaneji Domoto Diary, 1942 (ddr-densho-329-950)
Kaneji's diary from March 6, 1942 - October 7, 1942, spanning the Domoto family's time from being at home in California to about a month after arrival at Amache. Early pages of the diary resemble a notebook loosely structured by date and containing a mixture of daily activities, accounting, notes from work at the nursery, and, …
Cody, Wyoming (ddr-densho-37-796)
img Cody, Wyoming (ddr-densho-37-796)
Original WRA caption: Heart Mountain Relocation Center, Heart Mountain, Wyoming. Looking west over the Heart Mountain Relocation Center with its sentry name sake, Heart Mountain, on the horizon.
Japanese Americans meet in an assembly center (ddr-densho-37-583)
img Japanese Americans meet in an assembly center (ddr-densho-37-583)
Original WRA caption: Salinas, California. Members of two evacuee families of Japanese ancestry meet at this assembly center located on the Salinas Rodeo grounds. These people will be transferred later to a War Relocation Authority center.
Japanese Americans out on a walk (ddr-densho-37-582)
img Japanese Americans out on a walk (ddr-densho-37-582)
Original WRA caption: Salinas, California. Evacuee girls out for a stroll at the Salinas Assembly center.
Barracks interior (ddr-densho-37-578)
img Barracks interior (ddr-densho-37-578)
Original WRA caption: Salinas Assembly Center, Salinas, California. Evacuees of Japanese descent enjoy a moment of relaxation before setting up housekeeping at this assembly center. They will be transferred to War Relocation Authority centers for the duration.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Clothing list and request for Richard Tsukada (ddr-densho-356-796)
doc Clothing list and request for Richard Tsukada (ddr-densho-356-796)
List of approved clothing items and their prices and a clothing request form filled out for Richard "Dick" Tsukada.
Louise Kashino Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-31-12)
vh Louise Kashino Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-31-12)
Leaving Seattle: packing extra food just in case; first impressions of the Puyallup Assembly Center

For the first hour of this interview, an additional camera crew from KCTS Television was also present.

Louise Kashino Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1000-31-16)
vh Louise Kashino Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1000-31-16)
Working as a "tray girl" in Puyallup Assembly Center

For the first hour of this interview, an additional camera crew from KCTS Television was also present.

Louise Kashino Segment 13 (ddr-densho-1000-31-13)
vh Louise Kashino Segment 13 (ddr-densho-1000-31-13)
Health concerns, bad Vienna sausages in Puyallup Assembly Center

For the first hour of this interview, an additional camera crew from KCTS Television was also present.

Akio Hoshino Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1000-26-8)
vh Akio Hoshino Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1000-26-8)
Memories of Puyallup Assembly Center: friendly guards, ice skating, and arguing over steel cots
Nobu Suzuki Interview I Segment 26 (ddr-densho-1000-84-26)
vh Nobu Suzuki Interview I Segment 26 (ddr-densho-1000-84-26)
Attitude toward violation of rights, "There was nothing we could do about it because they had the guns"

References are made to several of Nobu Suzuki's personal papers, which are currently available for public perusal at the University of Washington's Manuscripts and University Archives.

Nobu Suzuki Interview I Segment 24 (ddr-densho-1000-84-24)
vh Nobu Suzuki Interview I Segment 24 (ddr-densho-1000-84-24)
Memories of Puyallup Assembly Center: setting up a makeshift hospital without medical equipment

References are made to several of Nobu Suzuki's personal papers, which are currently available for public perusal at the University of Washington's Manuscripts and University Archives.

Nobu Suzuki Interview I Segment 25 (ddr-densho-1000-84-25)
vh Nobu Suzuki Interview I Segment 25 (ddr-densho-1000-84-25)
Conditions in Puyallup: getting chicken pox, army looks for contraband in a chocolate cake brought by visitors

References are made to several of Nobu Suzuki's personal papers, which are currently available for public perusal at the University of Washington's Manuscripts and University Archives.

Tsuguo
vh Tsuguo "Ike" Ikeda Interview I Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-123-10)
Memories of the Portland Assembly Center, Oregon: working to distribute dairy products, help people settle

As a teenager prior to World War II, began keeping scrapbooks with newspaper articles and memorabilia, a lifetime habit.

Hideo Hoshide Interview I Segment 43 (ddr-densho-1000-184-43)
vh Hideo Hoshide Interview I Segment 43 (ddr-densho-1000-184-43)
Dealing with difficult living conditions in Pinedale: no privacy, incredible heat, shared facilities
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