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 WRA Camp office (ddr-densho-379-629)

Frank Aiji Endo is sitting on right side behind the desk. The stamp on the back of the photograph reads "Credit Line War Relocation Authority photo no. 210-G-12E-387 in the National Archives".

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-379-629/

img Group Photo of Block 7 of Rohwer Relocation Center (ddr-densho-379-736)

Group Photo of Block 7 of Rohwer Relocation Center; label: "Note: Service Place"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-379-736/

img Women and child on bench (ddr-densho-379-725)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-379-725/

img Sumida and Shimidzu family portrait (ddr-densho-379-406)

The Sumida and Shimidzu families pose outside at Rohwer Relocation Center.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-379-406/

img Photo of a camp (ddr-densho-483-493)

Black and white photo of a camp facility with a watch tower in the foreground

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-493/

img Photo of a woman with two children outside a barrack (ddr-densho-483-41)

Black and white photo of a woman with two children standing outside a barrack. Caption on reverse reads "Summer 1944" written in pencil.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-41/

img Photo of barracks (ddr-densho-483-499)

Black and white photo of a row of barracks

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-499/

img Photo of barracks in winter (ddr-densho-483-501)

Black and white photo of a row of barracks under a dusting of snow

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-501/

img Photo of a camp barracks (ddr-densho-483-494)

Black and white Photo of a camp barracks taken from a distance

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-494/

doc Relocation Employment form (ddr-densho-483-72)

Blank form with form text in English and Japanese

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-72/

img Photo of barracks (ddr-densho-483-490)

Black and white photo of barracks

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-490/

img Nisei soldier with friends (ddr-densho-2-63)

Soldier Ben Matsumoto is surrounded by inmates at the Minidoka concentration camp. The following people can be identified: Kaz Tsujimoto (wearing the white V-neck sweater) and his brother, Stan, is to his left holding the cigarette. Hiro Nishimoto is in front and Ben Tsujimoto is on the far right.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-2-63/

img Girls group (ddr-densho-2-40)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-2-40/

img Aerial photo of a camp (ddr-densho-483-498)

Black and white aerial photo of an intersection in a camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-498/

img Photo of a camp (ddr-densho-483-495)

Black and white photo of a camp facility with a water tower taken from a distance

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-495/

img Group photo near barracks (ddr-densho-483-440)

Black and white photo of a group standing near a camp barrack

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-440/

img Photo of a camp (ddr-densho-483-491)

Black and white photo of a camp facility taken from a distance

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-491/

img Photo of barracks and water tower (ddr-densho-483-500)

Black and white photo of a row of barracks with a water tower in the background

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-500/

img Photo of a woman with two children outside a barrack (ddr-densho-483-42)

Black and white photo of a woman with two children standing outside a barrack. Caption on reverse reads "Summer 1944" written in pencil.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-42/

doc World War II Magazine: Kenji's Story: A child's memory of life in an American internment camp (ddr-densho-483-139)

Narrative article written by Kenji Ima describing his personal experiences at Minidoka during World War II. Published by HistoryNet.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-139/

img Aerial Photo of a camp (ddr-densho-483-497)

Black and white aerial photo of a camp facility

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-497/

img Photo of a wastewater treatment plant (ddr-densho-483-492)

Black and white photo of a wastewater treatment plant

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-492/

img Dirt from Minidoka (ddr-densho-483-143)

Kenji gathered this dirt during a visit later in his live to replace the dirt he had gathered prior to his departure in 1945 that was lost during a fight with his older brother.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-143/

img Photo of two children outside a barrack (ddr-densho-483-43)

Black and white photo of two children standing outside a barrack. Caption on reverse reads "Summer 1944" written in pencil.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-43/

img Photo of barracks with a tree (ddr-densho-483-496)

Black and white photo of barracks with a bare tree in the foreground

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-496/