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 (1435)

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1435 items

img Midori (Nakahara) Chikamura (ddr-densho-477-122)

Photograph of Midori (Nakahara) Chikamura standing near a porch. The caption below the image reads "Sister Midori" in black ink.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-122/

img Nakahara Family (ddr-densho-477-119)

Photograph of a the Nakahara family in front of a barrack in Minidoka. Identified left to right: Shohei Nakahara, Saburo Nakahara, Yoshiko (Nakato) Nakahara, Midori (Nakahara) Chikamura. Caption below the image reads "Shohei Sab Yoshiko Midori / Hunt, Idaho 1945" in black ink. Caption to the left of the photo reads "World War II Japanese relocation …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-119/

img The Tobe Family (ddr-densho-477-117)

Photograph of a family of four in Minidoka. Identified left to right back row: George Tobe and Yukiko (Isoshima) Tobe. Front row left to right: Yutaka Tobe, Minoru Jim Tobe. The caption below the photo reads "The Tobe family Yukiko / George, Jim / Yutaka / Waiting for Mr. Tobe to be released 1942" in black …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-117/

doc Gila River Relocation Camp Reunion (1997) (ddr-densho-469-10)

A memory book from the Gila River Relocation Camp Reunion from June 6-8, 1997. Pictures of the Gila River Reunion Committee, reunion, and reunion registrants are included. The book also includes a note from the advisor Sei Dyo, a transcript of a speech delivered by California Assemblyman Nao Takasugi, a reunion update, and a directory of …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-469-10/

doc Second Year at Gila (ddr-densho-469-9)

A summary of the second year spent by camp inmates at the Gila River Relocation Center. Topics on the second year of the camp include the camp's administration, involvement in the war, predominant religions, schools, agriculture, recreation, and population, ending with a timeline of events.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-469-9/

doc Japanese Americans in World War II- A Nisei Remembers (ddr-densho-496-3)

Written account from Kazuyoshi Kawata about his internment at North Portland Assembly Center and Minidoka published in New World Outlook in January of 1982.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-496-3/

doc From Internment to Going Off to War, 1942-1943 (ddr-densho-496-5)

Written account from Kazuyoshi Kawata about his experience in Minidoka and enlisting in the War

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-496-5/

doc Letter to Rev. Robert Inglis from Shin Tanaka (ddr-densho-498-43)

Letter to Robert Inglis from Shin Tanaka telling him about the journey from Tanforan Assembly Center to Topaz Relocation Center

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-498-43/

doc Letter to Rev. Robert Inglis from Masayoshi Wakai (ddr-densho-498-42)

Letter to Robert Inglis from Masayoshi Wakai updating him on life in Topaz.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-498-42/

doc Letter to Rev. Robert Inglis from Isao Tanaka (ddr-densho-498-46)

Letter to Robert Inglis from Isao Tanaka detailing the journey from Tanforan Assembly Center to Topaz Relocation Center.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-498-46/

doc My personal Thoughts on the Re-evacuation from Tanforan to Topaz (ddr-densho-498-50)

Thoughts on re-evacuation and the journey from Tanforan to Topaz

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-498-50/

doc Letter to Rev. Robert Inglis from D. Uchida (ddr-densho-498-52)

Letter to Robert Inglis from D. Uchida updating him on the conditions at Topaz and thanking him for sending Mary Coxhead.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-498-52/

doc Letter to Rev. Robert Inglis from Kay Yamashita (ddr-densho-498-47)

Letter to Robert Inglis from Kay Yamashita explaining what life in Topaz looks like. She also asks for help for Seichi Adachi who is looking to continue his education.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-498-47/

doc Letter to Rev. Robert Inglis from Mas Wakai (ddr-densho-498-48)

Letter to Robert Inglis from Masayoshi Wakai explaining how church and religion are operating in Topaz.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-498-48/

doc Letter to Rev. Robert Inglis from Masaki and George Aki (ddr-densho-498-49)

Letter to Robert Inglis from Masaki and George Aki expressing a want to transfer to a different relocation center due to the large amount of ministers at Topaz. They also mention the conditions and treatment at Topaz, which is unsatisfactory.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-498-49/

doc Heart Mountain Wyo. Camp Life Album (ddr-densho-464-1)

Yellow photo album. Written on front: Camp Life Album. Likely compiled by Kimi (Kuwahara) Komoto

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-464-1/

img Tule Lake landscape photograph (ddr-csujad-3-2)

Photograph taken from high vantage point of Tule Lake incarceration camp depicting an expanse of buildings and roads against the basin landscape. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tos_01_001_002

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-3-2/

img Fire at Tule Lake (ddr-csujad-3-13)

Photograph of fire engulfed buildings in background while firefighters organize and wrangle fire hoses in the foreground. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tos_01_001_014

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-3-13/

img Tule Lake fire damage (ddr-csujad-3-12)

Photograph of burnt buildings demolished by fire at Tule Lake. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tos_01_001_013

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-3-12/

img Tule Lake panoramic landscape (ddr-csujad-3-9)

Photograph of Tule Lake camp showing expanse of camp including buildings, barracks, watch towers, and railways within the basin landscape. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tos_01_001_010

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-3-9/

img Toshio Oku photo album (ddr-csujad-3-22)

Photo album is a collection of landscape and panoramic photos of Tule Lake incarceration camp, holiday greeting cards, photos of a fire, graduation portrait of Toshio Oku, group photo of the Electrical Department, and inside the print shop of the Newell Star. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tos_01_001_023

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-3-22/

img Tule Lake fire (ddr-csujad-3-11)

Photograph of firefighters and fire hoses in the foreground with flaming buildings flaming and smoking in the background. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tos_01_001_012

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-3-11/

img Tule Lake landscape photograph (ddr-csujad-3-3)

Photograph taken from high vantage point, with electical tower in foreground, of Tule Lake incarceration camp depicting expanse of camp buildings against the basin landscape. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tos_01_001_003

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-3-3/

img Holiday greeting card (ddr-csujad-3-19)

Christmas card featuring Santa Claus presenting an aerial photo of the Tule Lake incarceration camp showing buildings, a train, and the surrounding landscape. Card reads "Season's greetings." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tos_01_001_020

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-3-19/

img Holiday greeting card (ddr-csujad-3-17)

Christmas card of Santa Claus presenting a landscape photo of the Tule Lake incarceration camp featuring a barbed wire fence, snow covered path to a gate leading outside camp to a railroad crossing, and a hillside. Card reads "Season's greetings." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tos_01_001_018

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-3-17/