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
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.
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.
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 …
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.
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.
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
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 …
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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