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 (277)
Concentration camps (1771)

Filters

Facilities

Format

Genre

Usage

Use <Ctrl> or (⌘) keys to select multiple terms

Gallery view
List view

1771 items

img Japanese American young man (ddr-densho-362-28)

A young man dressed in a jacket, shirt, and jeans poses for the camera in front of barracks. A handwritten note on the front reads, " To Mr. and Mrs. Konishi" Signed by Jun Chan on 4/6/1942.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-362-28/

img Three Japanese American girls group picture at railroad crossing (ddr-densho-362-41)

Three girls pose near a railroad crossing. An open field and a mountain are in the background.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-362-41/

img Japanese American men, women, and a boy near barracks steps (ddr-densho-362-7)

Two men, five women, and a small boy pose together on barracks steps.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-362-7/

img Japanese American woman wearing a dress (ddr-densho-362-45)

Picture of a young women wearing a dress with a floral design. An open field with camp cabins appear in the background.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-362-45/

img Group photo of two men, one woman, and a young girl in an open field (ddr-densho-362-36)

Two men, one woman, and a young girl stand in a row for a group photo in an open field.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-362-36/

img Japanese American woman and girl with hat stand together in open field (ddr-densho-362-54)

A young women and girl holding a hat stand together in an open field looking off into the distance.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-362-54/

img Japanese American man and woman (ddr-densho-362-16)

A Japanese American man and woman stand side by side. A number of camp cabins appear in the background.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-362-16/

img Group of Japanese American men, women, and children with coats and blankets (ddr-densho-362-32)

Large group of men, women, and children dressed in coats and blankets, gather for a group picture in an open field.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-362-32/

img Six Japanese Americans at railroad crossing (ddr-densho-362-42)

Two men, two women and two girls gather together near train tracks for a group photo.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-362-42/

img Japanese American girl with stuffed animal dog (ddr-densho-362-30)

Little girl dressed in a black dress poses with a stuffed animal dog.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-362-30/

img Yoshioka family in Topaz (ddr-densho-357-731)

Private Masaru Yoshioka visits his family in the camp in Topaz, Utah. Left to right: Tadaichi Yoshioka, George Yoshioka, Masaru Yoshioka, Yoni Yoshioka, Giichi Yoshioka, June Yoshioka, Vernon Yoshioka (front).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-357-731/