Concentration camps

The War Relocation Authority (WRA) oversaw construction of ten concentration camps in sparsely populated and isolated areas. Between June and October 1942, Japanese Americans were transferred from the "assembly centers" to the larger camps. Housing approximately 120,000 people, the camps were designed to be self-contained communities, complete with hospitals, post offices, schools, warehouses, and residential areas. The WRA attempted to establish normalcy by setting up newspapers, a degree of self-government, sports leagues, and social events. But confinement, monotony, and harsh conditions exacerbated tensions between pro- and anti-camp administration residents and between the disempowered Issei and their U.S.-born Nisei children. At several centers, conflicts erupted into violence and at the Manzanar concentration camp the unrest resulted in fatal shootings. The WRA gradually granted work and school leave to those they considered "loyal." The last camp closed in March 1946.

World War II (231)
Concentration camps (1434)

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1434 items

img Photograph of distant mountains and sky taken through a wagon wheel in Death Valley (ddr-csujad-47-111)

Photograph of distant mountains and sky taken through a wagon wheel in Death Valley National Park. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0196

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-111/

img Photograph of an orchard during winter with snow-covered Sierra Nevada in the background (ddr-csujad-47-82)

Photograph of an orchard during winter with snow-covered Sierra Nevada in the background. Several bare trees are in the foreground on cleared land. A line of utility poles crosses through the center of the photograph. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0130

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-82/

img Photograph of the apple orchard at Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-155)

Photograph of the apple orchard at Manzanar incarceration camp. The foreground is cleared desert, with the background of the snow-covered Sierra Nevada. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0271

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-155/

img Photograph of an orchard during winter with snow-covered Mount Williamson in the background (ddr-csujad-47-83)

Photograph of an orchard during winter with snow-covered Mount Williamson in the background. Bare trees are in the foreground on cleared land with a number of tire tracks present. A line of utility poles crosses through the center of the photograph. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0131

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-83/

img Photograph of a group of men tilling a Manzanar farm with the Alabama Hills in the background (ddr-csujad-47-56)

Photograph of a group of incarcerees pulling a harrow through a field near the Manzanar incarceration camp. Seven men are pulling the harrow, one is guiding it, and the other is supervising. A row of buildings from Manzanar can be seen in the background, behind which are the Alabama Hills. See this object in the California …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-56/

img Photograph of barracks at Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-338)

Photograph of several barracks and the cleared ground in front of them at Manzanar incarceration camp. Snow covered mountains can be seen in the background. A bare tree is visible in the foreground. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0497

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-338/

img Photograph of Manzanar staff housing (ddr-csujad-47-341)

Photograph of staff housing at Manzanar incarceration camp. Pete Merrit can be seen entering the second apartment from the right. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0500

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-341/

img Photograph of Manzanar staff housing (ddr-csujad-47-345)

Photograph of staff housing at Manzanar incarceration camp. A grape trellis is attached to the house as is a lattice-covered seating area. Several saplings are visible in the lawn. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0505

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-345/

img Photograph of the road outside of Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-153)

Photograph of the road outside of Manzanar incarceration camp. A utility pole is next to the road and a barbed wire fence follows the road. The snow-covered Sierra Nevada is in the background. In the lower left corner is a tricycle. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0268

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-153/

img Photograph of Mount Williamson with view of the desert in the foreground and a tree branch in the upper right (ddr-csujad-47-85)

Photograph of Mount Williamson with view of the desert in the foreground and a tree branch in the upper right. The barbed wire can be seen running along the lower section of the photograph. The line of trees in the background is the north fork of Bairs Creek. See this object in the California State Universities …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-85/

img Potato field after storm of June 1, 1943 (ddr-csujad-47-57)

Photograph of a man standing in the middle of a potato field after the storm of June 1, 1943. The cloud-capped Sierra Nevada can be seen in the background. Caption reads: Potato field after storm of June 1, 1943. Title from caption, which was taken from the original photo album. See this object in the California …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-57/

img Photograph of a barracks at Manzanar with melting snow on the ground (ddr-csujad-47-335)

Photograph of the gardens and barracks at Manzanar incarceration camp with melting snow on the ground. The snow-covered Inyo mountains are visible in the background. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0494

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-335/

img Photograph of Manzanar staff housing with a rock fence and a car in front (ddr-csujad-47-352)

Photograph of staff housing at Manzanar incarceration camp. A stone fence with a wooden gate surrounds the house. In the lower right corner is a car with license plate, "84Z272." In the background are the Sierra Nevada mountains. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_2500

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-352/

img Photograph of Manzanar staff housing with dog in front (ddr-csujad-47-350)

Photograph of staff housing at Manzanar incarceration camp. A dog is visible resting in the shade of the house. In the background a car and mountains are partially visible. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_1500

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-350/

img Photograph of Manzanar staff housing (ddr-csujad-47-342)

Photograph of staff housing at Manzanar incarceration camp. Several buildings surround the central lawn and park which has saplings planted. Several cars are parked along the road. A mountain range is visible in the background. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0501

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-342/

img Photograph of the Manzanar hospital (ddr-csujad-47-340)

Photograph of the hospital at Manzanar incarceration camp taken from across the street with a vehicle parked in front. The snow-covered Sierra Nevada are visible in the background. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0499

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-340/

img Photograph of a front door at Cow Creek Camp with a pine bough decoration (ddr-csujad-47-108)

Photograph of a front door decorated with a pine bough at Cow Creek Camp in Death Valley National Park. Incarcerees were transferred to the former Civilian Conservation Camp after the Manzanar Riot for their own protection. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0193

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-108/

img Photograph of a building with a ladder in front at Cow Creek Camp in Death Valley (ddr-csujad-47-110)

Photograph of a building with a ladder in front at Cow Creek Camp in Death Valley. Incarcerees were transferred to the former Civilian Conservation Camp after the Manzanar Riot for their own protection. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0195

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-110/

img Photograph of the Manzanar orchards (ddr-csujad-47-344)

Photograph of the fruit orchards at Manzanar incarceration camp with Mount Williamson in the background. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0503

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-344/

img Photograph of Manzanar with snow on the ground and guard tower in the background (ddr-csujad-47-336)

Photograph of cleared ground at Manzanar incarceration camp with puddles and melting snow on the ground. In the distance a guard tower is visible and the snow-covered Sierra Nevada are in the background. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0495

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-336/

img Photograph of a group of men tilling a Manzanar farm with the Sierra Nevada in the background (ddr-csujad-47-55)

Photograph of a group of incarcerees pulling a harrow through a field near the Manzanar incarceration camp. Seven men are pulling the harrow, one is guiding it, and the other is supervising. The Sierra Nevada can be seen in the background. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0090

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-55/

img Photograph of Death Valley with an irrigation wheel in the foreground (ddr-csujad-47-107)

Photograph of an irrigation wheel and pipe at Cow Creek Camp in Death Valley National Park. Incarcerees were transferred to the former Civilian Conservation Camp after the Manzanar Riot for their own protection. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0192

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-107/

img Photograph of Mount Williamson with brush in the foreground (ddr-csujad-47-84)

Photograph of Mount Williamson with brush in the foreground. The sky is filled with clouds. It appears the photograph was taken close to ground-level. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0132

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-84/

img Photograph of Manzanar with mountains in the background (ddr-csujad-47-337)

Photograph of Manzanar incarceration camp taken from a guard tower looking toward the snow-covered Inyo mountains. Several blocks of the camp are visible with a utility pole in the lower right corner. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0496

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-337/

img Barracks with birds at Tule Lake (ddr-csujad-44-58)

A photograph of barracks at Tule Lake with birds, possibly cranes, on the ground and in the air. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: csumb_ms15_0058

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-44-58/