Social and recreational activities
Despite deplorable living conditions at the "assembly centers," camp inmates tried to make the best of it by organizing various social and recreational activities. Japanese Americans participated in dances and musical groups; sports and gardening were also popular.
World War II
(231)
Temporary Assembly Centers
(231)
Social and recreational activities
(93)
93 items
93 items

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Letter from the Suzuki's to Rev. and Mrs. Miller, circa 1942 (ddr-csujad-20-13)
Letter from the Suzuki's to Rev. and Mrs. Miller regarding recent happenings at the Santa Anita Assembly Center. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: WLM_01-46_14
![Letter from Lester Suzuki to Brother [Wendell L.] Miller, May 4, 1942 (ddr-csujad-20-3)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/ba/a9/baa95644ece51dbe7ffca89e00ac3476.jpg)
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Letter from Lester Suzuki to Brother [Wendell L.] Miller, May 4, 1942 (ddr-csujad-20-3)
Personal letter written from the Santa Anita Temporary Assembly Center and describing early days there, including lack of regular work and schooling schedules and of appropriate food for children; scouts and boys' clubs being in development; religious services on Sundays attracting nearly 2000 people; and the need to wait for community facilities such as laundry and …

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Letter from George K. Sakai, 1942 May 4 (ddr-csujad-20-14)
Letter from George Sakai to United Methodist Church regarding address information for a mutual friend. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: WLM_01-46_13
![Letter from Henry [Katsumi] Fujita to Mr. H. A. Strong, Electrolux Corporation, August 9, 1942 (ddr-csujad-23-13)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/14/24/142413aac9733a9c7ff730c050eb232e.jpg)
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Letter from Henry [Katsumi] Fujita to Mr. H. A. Strong, Electrolux Corporation, August 9, 1942 (ddr-csujad-23-13)
Letter from Henry K. Fujita to his boss Mr. H. A. Strong of the Electrolux Corporation in San Francisco dated August 9, 1942. Rich in details, the letter describes the physical layout of the Merced Assembly Center, the poor-quality construction of the barracks, the daily schedules, the camp organization and facilities, the hardships and illnesses and …

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Letter from Tsuruno Meguro to Yoneko Takano, June 1942, Japanese typescript (ddr-csujad-42-52)
Japanese typescript of the letter: csudh_tak_0050. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_01_28_001_jpn

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Letter from Tsuruno Meguro to Fumio Fred and Yoneko Takano, July 13, 1942, English translation (ddr-csujad-42-54)
English translation of the letter: csudh_tak_0053. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_01_29_001_eng

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Letter from Tsuruno Meguro to Yoneko Takano, June, 1942 (ddr-csujad-42-50)
A letter from Tsuruno Meguro in the Pomona Assembly Center to her daughter, Yoneko Takano in the Santa Anita Assembly Center. In the letter, Tsuruno describes the lives and conditions in the camp, including the hot weather, classes and entertainment, church, allowance and wages, and other incarcerees who she met in the camp. She writes about …

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Letter from Tsuruno Meguro to Yoneko Takano, June 1942, English translation (ddr-csujad-42-51)
English translation of the letter: csudh_tak_0050. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_01_28_001_eng

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Letter from Tsuruno Meguro to Fumio Fred and Yoneko Takano, July 13, 1942, typescript (ddr-csujad-42-55)
Japanese typescript of the letter: csudh_tak_0053. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_01_29_001_jpn

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Letter from Tsuruno Meguro to Fumio Fred and Yoneko Takano, July 13, 1942 (ddr-csujad-42-53)
A letter from Tsuruno Meguro in the Pomona Assembly Center to her son-in-law and daughter, Fumio Fred and Yoneko Takano in the Santa Anita Assembly Center. In the letter, she describes the lives in the assembly center, including her daily routine. English translation is found in item: csudh_tak_0054. Typescript is found in item: csudh_tak_0055. See this …

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Some of the first arrivals to the assembly center at Tanforan Race Track, near San Francisco in 1942 (ddr-csujad-52-4)
A LaserPhoto copy of an Associated Press image, taken in 1942, shared in 1981. Caption on photo reads "These were among the first Japanese to be moved into the newly built assembly center at Tranforan Race Track, near San Francisco in 1942. The people here were watching a horse race at the track." A message from …

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Santa Anita pacemaker, vol. 1, no. 27 (July 18, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1259)
Biweekly newspaper published at the Santa Anita Assembly Center from April through October 1942. Current issue includes information on recreational activities, religious services, sports, a new mess system, jobs, bank hours, hygiene clinic, diphtheria shots, an editorial on "defeatism," and the feature "Win, Place, and Show." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American …

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Santa Anita pacemaker, vol. 1, no. 31 (August 1, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1263)
Biweekly newspaper published at the Santa Anita Assembly Center from April through October 1942. Current issue includes information on recreational activities, religious services, sports, coupons, regulations, model airplane contest, clothing allowances, an editorial on race-baiting, and the features "Win, Place, and Show" and "Story of the Week." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese …

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Santa Anita pacemaker, vol. 1, no. 19 (June 19, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1251)
Biweekly newspaper published at the Santa Anita Assembly Center from April through October 1942. Current issue includes information on recreational activities, religious services, sports, grievances of camouflage net workers, paychecks, Father's Day events, parent-teacher association, "visitor house," an editorial on New York nisei, and the feature "Win, Place, and Show." See this object in the California …

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Santa Anita pacemaker, vol. 1, no. 38 (July 29, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1270)
Biweekly newspaper published at the Santa Anita Assembly Center from April through October 1942. Current issue includes information on recreational activities, religious services, sports, departure for incarceration camps, social events, nisei soldiers, an editorial on the right to vote, and the features ""Win, Place, and Show"", ""Post Time"", ""Story of the Week"", and ""Feminine Forum."" See …

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Santa Anita pacemaker, vol. 1, no. 39 (September 2, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1271)
Biweekly newspaper published at the Santa Anita Assembly Center from April through October 1942. Current issue includes information on recreational activities, religious services, sports, departure for incarceration camps, funerals, Heart Mountain housing, transfer regulations, an editorial on letters in the Arkansas Gazette, and the features ""Win, Place, and Show"", ""Post Time"", and ""Feminine Forum."" See this …

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Santa Anita pacemaker, vol. 1, no. 22 (July 1, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1254)
Biweekly newspaper published at the Santa Anita Assembly Center from April through October 1942. Current issue includes information on recreational activities, religious services, sports, selective service, a talent show, birth of twins, additional facilities, boy scouts, religious services, sports, recreational activities, schedule of events, an editorial on graduation, and the features "Feminine Forum" and "Win, Place, …

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Santa Anita pacemaker, vol. 1, no. 13 (June 2, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1245)
Biweekly newspaper published at the Santa Anita Assembly Center from April through October 1942. Current issue includes information on recreational activities, religious services, sports, center population, jobs, a wedding, farmers, camp statistics, and the feature "Win, Place, and Show." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1247

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Santa Anita pacemaker, vol. 1, no. 35 (August 19, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1267)
Biweekly newspaper published at the Santa Anita Assembly Center from April through October 1942. Current issue includes information on recreational activities, religious services, sports, clothing catalog, hospital, an editorial on California, and the features "Feminine Forum" and "Win, Place, and Show." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1269

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Santa Anita pacemaker, vol. 1, no. 34 (August 15, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1266)
Biweekly newspaper published at the Santa Anita Assembly Center from April through October 1942. Current issue includes information on recreational activities, religious services, sports, Gene W. Wilbur, a barber shop, nurses, paychecks, Yeiki Matsui, and the features "Win, Place, and Show", "Post Time", "Story of the Week", and "Feminine Forum." See this object in the California …

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Santa Anita pacemaker, vol. 1, no. 9 (May 19, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1241)
Biweekly newspaper published at the Santa Anita Assembly Center from April through October 1942. Current issue includes information on recreational activities, religious services, sports, special diets, boy scouts, an auto collision, "I am an American day," adult English classes, fire drills, and the feature "Win, Place, and Show." See this object in the California State Universities …

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Santa Anita pacemaker, vol. 1, no. 4 (May 1, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1236)
Biweekly newspaper published at the Santa Anita Assembly Center from April through October 1942. Current issue includes information on recreational activities, religious services, sports, a birth at the center, sanitation, postal services, personal property, fire prevention, classes, and other center services. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1238

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Santa Anita pacemaker, vol. 1, no. 16 (June 9, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1248)
Biweekly newspaper published at the Santa Anita Assembly Center from April through October 1942. Current issue includes information on recreational activities, religious services, sports, camouflage nets, handicrafts, and the feature ""Win, Place, and Show."" See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1250

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Santa Anita pacemaker, vol. 1, no. 12 (May 29, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1244)
Biweekly newspaper published at the Santa Anita Assembly Center from April through October 1942. Current issue includes information on recreational activities, religious services, sports, boy scouts, memorial day services, medical calls, food, and center statistics, and the feature "Win, Place, and Show." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1246

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Santa Anita pacemaker, vol. 1, no. 21 (June 27, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1253)
Biweekly newspaper published at the Santa Anita Assembly Center from April through October 1942. Current issue includes information on recreational activities, religious services, sports, graduation, registration, schedule of events, an editorial on "victory volunteers," and the feature "Win, Place, and Show." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1255