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

doc Letter from Joseph Conard to Joseph Ishikawa (ddr-densho-468-121)

Request for WRA Form #26

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-121/

doc Letter from Willis Hanson to Joseph Ishikawa (ddr-densho-468-129)

Request for information about Ishikawa's experience with war relocation program

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-129/

doc Letter from John S. Ishikawa to Frances Shirack (ddr-densho-468-126)

Request to send financial statements to National Student Relocation Council

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-126/

doc Oral Memoirs of Joseph Ishikawa (ddr-densho-468-94)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-94/

doc Letter from Joseph Ishikawa to Willis Hanson (ddr-densho-468-128)

Two drafts of letter to Willis Hanson, the leave officer at Granada, explaining Ishikawa's leave for the University of Nebraska.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-128/

doc Nonfiction manuscript: "Road to Freedom" with submission letter and rejection letter (ddr-densho-468-158)

Manuscript of nonfiction narrative describing experience as Japanese-American seeking student leave from World War II incarceration. The manuscript incorporates letters to various college admission staff. Page one is a submission letter to the Yale Review. Page two is a rejection slip.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-158/

doc Educational Leave paperwork (ddr-densho-468-127)

Certification and other paperwork authorizing Joseph Ishikawa to leave the Granada Relocation Area to attend school at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, NE.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-127/

doc When you leave the relocation center (ddr-densho-468-130)

Manual of policies for Japanese Americans leaving camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-130/

doc A.D. 1977: Japanese Christians in America: The Church That Survives Hate (ddr-densho-446-394)

Article in the July/August 1977 issue of A.D. 1977 on the experience of Japanese Christians in America through the end of WWII.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-394/

doc Minidoka Remembered 2003 (ddr-densho-449-2)

75 pages of people reflecting and remembering the 3 day event of Minidoka Remembered in 2003 where more than 1000 people participated. This book has images of folks who attended the event.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-449-2/

img Chidori band (ddr-densho-471-166)

The Chidori band pose for a group photograph while holding their instruments. Note from donor: "Chidori band 1945 Tule Lake".

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-471-166/

img Tule Lake Shigin group (ddr-densho-471-165)

The Tule Lake Shingin group pose for a group photograph. Note from donor: "Tule Lake 1945 Shigin group".

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-471-165/

img Two girls standing in front of barracks (ddr-densho-292-1)

Caption on reverse: "Topaz, Utah. Shigeko Omori on left, Mary Kaibe, right 17 years. 1943? Nishioka family residence Block 31A, family # 20752."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-292-1/

img Portrait of a baby (ddr-densho-359-1091)

Lynn Iwasa. The portrait is signed "To Mr. + Mrs. Otsuka Eisei Lynn". The caption in the album is "5 mos. old".

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-359-1091/

img Portrait of young boy (ddr-densho-359-1087)

Portrait of Kyoji Ralph Iwasa at Manzanar Concentration Camp in California. The photograph is signed "To Mr. + Mrs. Otsuka Kyoji Ralph Iwasa". The caption written in the album "1 yr. 7 mos."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-359-1087/

img Eddie and Jeanette Otsuka photograph album (ddr-densho-359-758)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-359-758/

img Family portrait (ddr-densho-359-1086)

A family portrait taken at Manzanar Concentration Camp in California. The photograph is signed "To Mr. + Mrs Otsuka Iwasa Family 5/22/43". Kyoichi Iwasa with Ralph Iwasa, Yonchan Iwasa with Lynn Iwasa

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-359-1086/

img Boy playing (ddr-densho-359-1093)

Wayne Nakata plays in front of a barrack at Manzanar Concentration Camp in California.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-359-1093/

img Three children (ddr-densho-359-1089)

Brothers pose for a photograph at Manzanar Concentration Camp in California. Left to right: Don, Kenji, and Wayne Nakata

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-359-1089/

img Okano family 1940s photo album (ddr-densho-359-1298)

Phillip and Alice Okano's first family photograph album. The album begins with their wedding and their honeymoon and moves through the war years and their time in Idaho and into the post-war years.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-359-1298/

img Man and boy (ddr-densho-359-1090)

Jitsuzo Nakata and his grandson, Wayne Nakata, pose for a photograph next to a sprinkler at Manzanar Concentration Camp in California.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-359-1090/

img Group photograph (ddr-densho-359-1088)

A group photograph of the Nakata family at Manzanar Concentration Camp in California. Top row, left to right: Masaaki and Pauline Nakata, Sachan Nakata, Yonchan and Kyoichi Iwasa, Ken Nakata. Front row, left to right: Shima Nakata, Wayne Nakata, Bob Kenji Nakata, Don Nakata, Jitsuzo Nakata

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-359-1088/

img Family portrait (ddr-densho-359-1108)

The caption in the album is "Crystal City Texas 1943".Back row, left to right: Shoji Kanogawa, Yae Kanogawa, Reo Kanogawa; front row: Shizu and Sho Kanogawa

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-359-1108/

img Family portrait (ddr-densho-359-1092)

Grandparents and their grandsons pose at Manzanar Concentration Camp in California.Left to right: Shima Nakata, Don Nakata, Jitsuzo Nakata, with Wayne Nakata in front, Kenji Nakata

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-359-1092/

img Garden with gazebo (ddr-densho-475-279)

Black and white photograph of a small Japanese garden at Poston concentration camp that features a bridge, pond, and gazebo.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-475-279/