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 (1434)

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1434 items

img Masonite (ddr-csujad-23-8)

Oil Painting no. 1 of 2 "Masonite" by Geichiro Kare Kuramatsu. Geichiro (Ernest) Kare Kuramatsu was born in Japan in 1885 to a Russian mother and Japanese father. The family moved to Canada, and Ernest saw combat while serving with the Canadian Army in France during World War I. He completed this oil painting in 1943 …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-23-8/

img Little Americans with Japanese faces [Nancy Fujita and Gordon Nagai] (ddr-csujad-23-5)

A photograph of Nancy Kiyoko Fujita from Petaluma, California (Block 10-H, 12-C at Amache) and Gordon Nagai from Livingston, California (Block 10-H, 11-B at Amache) appeared in an issue of "Time" or known as "Time magazine" either in late 1943 or early 1944 along with an article discussing the resettlement issue. See this object in the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-23-5/

img Gary and Nancy Fujita at Granada incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-23-4)

Nancy Kiyoko Fujita and Gary Yoshio Fujita are older children of Henry and Ann Fujita. This 1943 photo appears to have been taken outside of the Fujita's apartment in Block 10-H at Amache. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: lp028-08-003

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-23-4/

doc Letter from Henry [Katsumi] Fujita to Mr. and Mrs. Davis, October 5, 1942 (ddr-csujad-23-14)

Describes in detail the long train ride from Sept. 15-18 between Merced and the Granada (Amache) incarceration camp: the layout of the train cars, times to different towns, tunnels and coal smoke, eating and sleeping arrangements, military troops and equipment staged along the railway, desert scenery, late arrival at Amache, an extra night aboard the train, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-23-14/

img Masonite (ddr-csujad-23-6)

Oil Painting no. 2 of 2 "Masonite" by Geichiro Kare Kuramatsu. Geichiro (Ernest) Kare Kuramatsu was born in Japan in 1885 to a Russian mother and Japanese father. The family moved to Canada, and Ernest saw combat while serving with the Canadian Army in France during World War I. He completed this oil painting in 1943 …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-23-6/

doc Clipping titled Exposed: America's World War II concentration camps (ddr-csujad-24-124)

An article published in Mount Holyoke Alumnae quarterly, Fall 1997. A profile of Michi Wegyln that details her writing of the book "Years of Infamy" as well as her efforts to try to get redress for Japanese American railroad workers who were fired during World War II. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-24-124/

doc Kibei's view of Life in relocation camps during World War II (ddr-csujad-38-582)

A term paper prepared by Eileen Naohara Yoshimura, a daughter of George and Mitzi Naohara, for Professor Donald Teruo Hata's "Basic History 100" course at CSU Dominguez Hills Department of History. It focuses on the experiences of George Nobuo Naohara. She interviewed him about his time spent at the Tule Lake camp. See this object in …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-582/

img View of Poston mountain (ddr-csujad-35-15)

A photograph of Poston Butte. The handwritten note on the back side reads: View of Poston mountain, Colo. River Relocation Center, Poston, Arizona, 1942-1945. Title from note. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: kuw_01_13_003

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-35-15/

img View of the doctor's court in Manzanar hospital (ddr-csujad-36-14)

Colored photograph of the doctor's court at the Manzanar incarceration camp. Verso states, "View of the doctor's court in Manzanar hospital." Title from verso. A photo from: Manzanar Photo Album. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: man_01_015_01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-36-14/

img Children at Manzanar incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-36-6)

Photograph of two children sitting on a bench with two other people, possibly children, standing behind them near a tree. Manzanar incarceration camp barracks are pictured behind them. A photo from: Manzanar Photo Album. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: man_01_007

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-36-6/

img Manzanar incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-36-5)

Photograph of a garden at the Manzanar incarceration camp. A photo from: Manzanar Photo Album. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: man_01_006

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-36-5/

img View from camp of Manzanar (ddr-csujad-36-13)

Colored photograph of the barracks at the Manzanar incarceration camp. Verso states, "View from camp of Manzanar." Title from verso. A photo from: Manzanar Photo Album. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: man_01_014_01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-36-13/

img Children at Manzanar incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-36-2)

Photograph of four children standing on or near a bridge at the Manzanar incarceration camp. Camp barracks can be seen in the background. A photo from: Manzanar Photo Album. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: man_01_002

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-36-2/

img Children at Manzanar incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-36-1)

Photograph of two children standing next to each other at the Manzanar incarceration camp. Mountains and camp buildings can be seen in the background. A photo from: Manzanar Photo Album. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: man_01_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-36-1/

img Ireito (ddr-csujad-36-15)

Photograph of a monument, "Ireito," at the Manzanar incarceration camp cemetery. Man pictured standing near monument. A photo from: Manzanar Photo Album. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: man_01_016

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-36-15/

img Manzanar camp barracks (ddr-csujad-36-4)

Photograph of barracks at the Manzanar incarceration camp. A photo from: Manzanar Photo Album. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: man_01_004

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-36-4/

img Heart Mountain incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-37-16)

Panorama of Heart Mountain incarceration camp in Cody, Wyoming. People pictured walking down a street in between camp barracks. Snow covered Heart Mountain is seen behind. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: mhf_016

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-37-16/

img Camp barracks at Heart Mountain (ddr-csujad-37-14)

Landscape photograph of camp barracks at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp in Wyoming. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: mhf_014

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-37-14/

img Camp barracks at Heart Mountain (ddr-csujad-37-13)

Photograph of snow covered camp barracks at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp in Wyoming. Handwritten note on the back of the photograph states, "Heart Mt. [Mountain] Wyoming." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: mhf_013_01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-37-13/

img Woman at Heart Mountain incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-37-8)

Photograph of a woman at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: mhf_008

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-37-8/

img Camp barracks at Heart Mountain (ddr-csujad-37-12)

Landscape photograph of camp barracks at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp in Wyoming. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: mhf_012

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-37-12/

doc Map of incarceration camps (ddr-csujad-38-25)

A clipping mapping the incarceration camps during the war. An item from "George Naohara photo album" (csudh_nao_0001), page 8. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_01_08_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-25/

doc Life in camp: three different views (ddr-csujad-38-581)

A term paper submitted to Professor Donald Teruo Hata at CSU Dominguez Hills Department of History. The author summarizes three interviews conducted and adds their biographical information. The interviewees are the author's mother, uncle, and aunt, and talk about their camp experiences during World War II. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-581/

img People posing in snow (ddr-csujad-26-122)

Photo of three Japanese Americans and four Caucasian people, including Robert Billigmeier, posing with snowballs and a dog. Related photo in sequence ucsb_mei_0070. From photo album of Robert Billigmeier. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: mei_05_091

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-122/

img Camp buildings with dust cloud (ddr-csujad-26-69)

Camp barracks buildings line a road with dust cloud. People can be seen in front of the buildings in distance. From photo album of Robert Billigmeier. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: mei_05_006

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-69/