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 (283)
Concentration camps (2078)

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2078 items

img Holiday greeting card (ddr-csujad-3-18)

Christmas card featuring Santa Claus presenting a landscape photo of the Tule Lake incarceration camp from outside a barbed wire fence looking in on buildings in camp with a hill in the distance. Card reads "Season's greetings." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tos_01_001_019

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-3-18/

img Holiday greeting card (ddr-csujad-3-14)

Christmas greeting card featuring Santa Claus presenting a photo of the Tule Lake incarceration camp buildings and landscape from what appears to be a guard tower. Card reads "Season's greetings." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tos_01_001_015

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-3-14/

img Tule Lake perimeter landscape (ddr-csujad-3-7)

Panoramic photograph of a part of the perimeter of Tule Lake with buildings, telephone poles, fencing and watch towers lining up in the distance. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tos_01_001_007

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-3-7/

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 Couple poses outside barracks (ddr-densho-368-521)

A young couple poses outside a barrack in an incarceration camp.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-368-521/

img Man sitting on porch railing (ddr-densho-368-525)

Young man poses on porch railing outside barracks of an incarceration camp.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-368-525/

doc Japanese America: Contemporary Perspectives on the Internment (ddr-densho-462-276)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-462-276/

img Manzanar and Tule Lake Plaque (ddr-densho-508-6)

Two sided plaque with Japanese characters on front. Inscription on back reads "OUR SEGREGATION TRAIN LEFT MANZANAR ON THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY 21-1944 AND AFTER PASSING THROUGH SNOWY CALIFORNIA ARRIVED AT TULE LAKE THE NEXT NIGHT"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-508-6/

img Heart Mountain Plaque (ddr-densho-508-4)

Two sided plaque with Japanese characters on front. Inscription on back reads "HEART MT. WYO FEB. 1943"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-508-4/

doc Draft letter to Mrs. Young (ddr-densho-468-173)

"If there is a problem, please remember that it wouldn't have existed if we hadn't been forced into glorified concentration camps."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-173/

doc Draft letter to University of Iowa and University of Minnesota (ddr-densho-468-138)

Inquiry on admission policy for students of Japanese ancestry

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-138/

doc Letter from Joseph Ishikawa to Joseph Conard (ddr-densho-468-119)

Letter with updated address and request for update on diploma verification

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-119/

doc Memoir: "The Ishikawa Family Who Came to America" (ddr-densho-468-96)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-96/

doc Letter from Theodore C. Blegen to Joseph B. Ishikawa (ddr-densho-468-137)

Explanation that the University of Minnesota's policy on Japanese-American students has not yet been adopted

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-137/

doc Letter from Joseph Ishikawa to Dr. Goss (ddr-densho-468-120)

Letter with updated address and update on student relocation process

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-120/

doc Note for student leave narrative (ddr-densho-468-133)

Continuation of narrative from ddr-densho-468-104.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-133/

doc Letter from Joseph Ishikawa to Joseph Conard (ddr-densho-468-123)

Letter confirming acceptance to University of Nebraska with estimate of expenses and confirmation of contact in Lincoln who will help Ishikawa find employment

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-123/

doc Letter from Helen G. Duggan to Joseph Ishikawa (ddr-densho-468-147)

Refusal of admission to the University of Colorado

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-147/

doc Letter from Joseph Conard to Joseph Ishikawa (ddr-densho-468-125)

Update on travel permit and FBI clearance.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-125/

doc Letter from Joseph Ishikawa to Eva (ddr-densho-468-99)

Letter written from Granada (Amache) describing life in the concentration camp compared to Santa Anita.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-99/

doc Letter from Joseph Ishikawa to State University of Iowa Registrar (ddr-densho-468-134)

Inquiry on admission policy for students of Japanese ancestry

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-134/

doc Letters to Joseph Ishikawa from Henry "Hank" Ishikawa with letter of acceptance from University of Nebraska (ddr-densho-468-100)

Page one is a brief letter from Hank. Page two is Joseph Ishikawa's letter of acceptance confirming his transfer from UCLA to the University of Nebraska

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-100/

doc Letter from George H. Sabine to Joseph B. Ishikawa (ddr-densho-468-145)

Letter explaining Cornell University's willingness to admit Japanese American students

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-145/

doc Letter from Joseph Ishikawa to Joseph Conard (ddr-densho-468-124)

Letter informing National Student Relocation Council of missing letter with permit to go to Nebraska.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-124/

doc Letter from RW Goss to Joseph Ishikawa (ddr-densho-468-122)

Confirmation of receipt of letter dated Sept. 12 with enclosure of copy of Goss's letter from September 17. Notice that October 3 is last day to register for graduate college.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-122/