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 [Soldier] (ddr-csujad-56-150)

Candid portrait of Japanese American soldier sitting in front of window outside. Photo provided by Tak Kameoka. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-02-017

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-150/

img [Portrait of Haruo Kawase] (ddr-csujad-56-192)

Haruo Kawase crouched down near living quarters with an unidentified object in his hand. Page 1 of Kawase Family Photo Album, Book One. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-03-001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-192/

img [Baseball] (ddr-csujad-56-202)

Incarcerees play baseball at Amache with a large crowd of fellow incarcerees. Page 11 of Kawase Family Photo Album, Book One. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-03-011

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-202/

img [Artistic wonders] (ddr-csujad-56-245)

Young Japanese American man works on papers at a desk. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-03-054

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-245/

doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, November 11, 1944 (ddr-csujad-56-95)

Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry. The original letters are housed with the Sonoma County Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), and were borrowed for digitization courtesy of the JACL, December 2014. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-093

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-95/

img [Picnic] (ddr-csujad-56-227)

Masaji and two others eat a picnic lunch by the Arkansas River near Camp Amache. Page 13 of Kawase Family Photo Album, Book Two. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-03-036

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-227/

img Hold your breath! (ddr-csujad-56-139)

Photo of x-ray technician and x-ray machine. Photo provided by Tak Kameoka. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-02-006

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-139/

doc Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, December 30, 1951 (ddr-csujad-56-130)

Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito. The original letters are housed with the Sonoma County Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), and were borrowed for digitization courtesy of the JACL, December 2014. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-128

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-130/

img [Picnic meal] (ddr-csujad-56-237)

A group of Japanese American incarcerees including Haruo, Sadayo, and Taneko get food from a small pit in the sand by the Arkansas River. Page 23 of Kawase Family Photo Album, Book Two. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-03-046

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-237/

img [Picnic] (ddr-csujad-56-234)

Tsuyako, Cowl, Tamaki, and other Japanese American women eat a picnic lunch. Page 20 of Kawase Family Photo Album, Book Two. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-03-043

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-234/

doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, November 20, 1942 (ddr-csujad-56-24)

Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry. The original letters are housed with the Sonoma County Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), and were borrowed for digitization courtesy of the JACL, December 2014. Transcript is found in item: ssu_nbea_9022. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-022

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-24/

img [Incarcerees preparing food] (ddr-csujad-56-134)

Photo of three people preparing food with two others standing next to them. A third young man is exiting the scene. Photo provided by Tak Kameoka. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-02-001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-134/

doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, March 9, 1943 (ddr-csujad-56-43)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-43/

doc Letter probably from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, January 4, 1944 (ddr-csujad-56-61)

Letter probably from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito. The original letters are housed with the Sonoma County Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), and were borrowed for digitization courtesy of the JACL, December 2014. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-059

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-61/

doc Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, February 8, 1943 (ddr-csujad-56-38)

Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito. The original letters are housed with the Sonoma County Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), and were borrowed for digitization courtesy of the JACL, December 2014. Transcript is found in item: ssu_nbea_9036. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-036

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-38/

img [Amache in the snow] (ddr-csujad-56-201)

Aerial photo of Camp Amache in the snow. Page 10 of Kawase Family Photo Album, Book One. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-03-010

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-201/

img [Bonsai and ikebana] (ddr-csujad-56-161)

Presentation of bonsai trees and ikebana arrangements behind them. Photo provided by Tak Kameoka. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-02-028

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-161/

doc Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, March 26, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-107)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-107/

doc Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, November 10, 1942 (ddr-csujad-56-23)

Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito. The original letters are housed with the Sonoma County Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), and were borrowed for digitization courtesy of the JACL, December 2014. Transcript is found in item: ssu_nbea_9021. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-021

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-23/

img [On the banks of the river] (ddr-csujad-56-147)

Group of incarcerees sitting on the river bank talking to each other. A young girl looks up at the camera. Photo provided by Tak Kameoka. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-02-014

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-147/

doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, May 21, 1945 (ddr-csujad-56-112)

Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry. The original letters are housed with the Sonoma County Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), and were borrowed for digitization courtesy of the JACL, December 2014. Transcript is found in item: ssu_nbea_9110. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-110

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-112/

img Police Department (ddr-csujad-56-140)

Photo of the police department at camp. Photo provided by Tak Kameoka. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-02-007

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-140/

doc Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry, February 1, 1943 (ddr-csujad-56-37)

Letter from Kazuo Ito to Lea Perry. The original letters are housed with the Sonoma County Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), and were borrowed for digitization courtesy of the JACL, December 2014. Transcript is found in item: ssu_nbea_9035. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-035

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-37/

doc Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito, January 17, 1943 (ddr-csujad-56-35)

Letter from Lea Perry to Kazuo Ito. The original letters are housed with the Sonoma County Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), and were borrowed for digitization courtesy of the JACL, December 2014. Transcript is found in item: ssu_nbea_9033. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-01-033

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-35/

img [Camp crafts] (ddr-csujad-56-162)

Presentation of crafts made at camp ranging from paintings to instruments. Photo provided by Tak Kameoka. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nbea08-02-029

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-162/