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 (239)
Concentration camps (1640)

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1640 items

img Woman (ddr-densho-475-191)

Black and white photograph of an unidentified woman smiling with an American flag on the wall behind her.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-475-191/

img Garden gazebo (ddr-densho-475-280)

Black and white photograph of the gazebo in the small Japanese garden at Poston concentration camp.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-475-280/

img Soldier in garden (ddr-densho-475-192)

Black and white photograph of an unidentified man in a US military uniform in a garden with an American flag in the background. His right arm has been partly amputated so the right sleeve is pinned up.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-475-192/

img Group camp photo (ddr-densho-475-765)

Black and white photograph of a large group at Poston.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-475-765/

img Poston canal with lifeguard tower (ddr-densho-475-31)

Black and white photograph of Poston canal with dock/staging area and lifeguard tower. (related object: ddr-densho-475-235)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-475-31/

img Group of 14 (ddr-densho-475-185)

Black and white photograph of fourteen unidentified people posed in front of a barrack.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-475-185/

img Poston Japanese garden with water feature and gazebo (ddr-densho-475-28)

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-475-28/

img Japanese garden and landscape (ddr-densho-475-301)

Black and white photograph of Japanese garden with gazebo at Poston concentration camp, buildings, and skyline.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-475-301/

img Large group of young adults (ddr-densho-475-195)

Black and white photograph of an unidentified large group posing for a photo.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-475-195/

img Colorado River Relocation Center road sign (ddr-densho-475-341)

Black and white photograph of a sign on a road that reads: "Colorado River Relocation Center 17 Poston"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-475-341/

img Embroidery class (ddr-densho-475-47)

Black and white photograph of a classroom of women participating in an embroidery class at Poston internment camp. All the women are working on projects and five cloths of varying sizes with embroidered flowers hang on the wall in the back.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-475-47/