Living conditions

All of the camps were constructed according to the War Department's specifications, which included barbed-wire fences, guard towers, and armed guards around the perimeter. The camps were organized in "blocks" consisting of twelve to fourteen barracks, a mess hall, communal showers and toilets, laundry facilities, and a recreation hall. Each barracks was divided into four or six rooms with each room housing one family, no matter how large, and there was no running water. The furnishings that Japanese Americans found on their arrival were canvas cots, a potbellied stove, and a single bare light bulb. The thin walls offered little protection from the harsh weather, which ranged from 110 degrees in the summer to 25 degrees below zero on winter nights. The flimsy construction allowed no privacy and made normal family life difficult. Camp inmates improved their own living conditions by creating interior walls and partitions, constructing furniture from scrap lumber, and planting gardens.

World War II (283)
Concentration camps (2384)
Living conditions (1897)

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1897 items

img Former California mechanic Chester Ishii repairing piece of farm machinery at Rohwer incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-25)

Former California mechanic Chester Ishii repairing piece of farm machinery at Rohwer incarceration camp. March 10, 1943. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_025

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-14-25/

img Mechanic honing cylinders in a truck motor at Heart Mountain incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-53)

Mechanic honing cylinders in a truck motor at Heart Mountain incarceration camp. January 2, 1943. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_f18

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-14-53/

img Former Californian K. Inoye operates hand saw (ddr-csujad-14-17)

Former Californian K. Inoye operates hand saw in cabinet shop at Jerome incarceration camp. March 12, 1943. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_017

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-14-17/

img Group of women (ddr-csujad-11-198)

A photograph of a group of women, including Tazu Kawamoto. It is probably taken in the Gila River incarceration camp, Arizona. From page 79 of: Tazu Kawamoto photo album (csudh_taz_0001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: taz_01_79_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-11-198/

img Usami Terada (ddr-csujad-4-7)

A photograph of Usami Terada around age 21. It is taken at the Rohwer incarceration camp in McGehee, Arkansas. It depicts Usami Terada standing in front of one of the barracks in the camp. The inscription on the backside reads: Usami Terada, March 1944, Rohwer Relocation Center, McGehee, Arkansas. See this object in the California State …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-4-7/

doc Letter from Usami Terada to Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Thomas, October 29, 1942 (ddr-csujad-4-15)

A letter from Usami Terada, an incarceree at the Rohwer incarceration camp, to Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Thomas in Lawndale, California. In the letter, he describes his life and the conditions of the Rohwer incarceration camp. He also describes the Japanese American soldiers visiting the camp: among the soldiers, he finds Sam Kita, one of his …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-4-15/

img Tsuyoshi Terada (ddr-csujad-4-6)

A photograph of Tsuyoshi Terada around age 11. The photograph is taken at the Rohwer incarceration camp. It depicts Tsuyoshi Terada standing in front of one of the barracks in the camp. The inscription on the backside reads: Tsuyoshi Terada, March 1943, Rohwer Relocation Center, McGeehee, Arkansas. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-4-6/

doc Letter from Emiko [Amy] Terada to Miss Laura Thomas, January 19, 1945 (ddr-csujad-4-22)

A letter from Emiko Amy Terada, an incarceree at the Rohwer incarceration camp, to Miss Laura Thomas in Lawndale, California. In the letter, Emiko asks Laura about the conditions in Lawndale, California, expressing her concern about housing. She also describes school in the camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-4-22/

doc Letter from Emiko [Amy] Terada to Miss Laura Thomas, October 11, 1944 (ddr-csujad-4-21)

A letter from Emiko Amy Terada, an incarceree at the Rohwer incarceration camp, to Miss Laura Thomas in Lawndale, California. In the letter, Emiko expresses her feelings, missing her family's farm in Lawndale, California. She tries to get camera film, but describes the situation that "this year it look so hard to get it." See this …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-4-21/

doc Letter from Usami Terada to Mr. Thomas, September 30, 1942 (ddr-csujad-4-13)

A letter from Usami Terada, an incarceree at the Rohwer incarceration camp, to Mr. Thomas in Lawndale, California. It details his journey from the Santa Anita temporary assembly center, California, to the Rohwer incarceration camp, Arkansas, describing the route and what he saw along the way. He also describes the conditions of the incarceration camp. See …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-4-13/

doc Letter from Emiko [Amy] Terada to Miss Laura Thomas, May 2, 1944 (ddr-csujad-4-20)

A letter from Emiko Amy Terada, an incarceree at the Rohwer incarceration camp, to Miss Laura Thomas in Lawndale, California. In the letter, Emiko describes her life in the camp, such as planting vegetables and flowers in the garden. She also tries to purchase camera film, but describes the situation that they "have hard time to …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-4-20/

doc Letter from Emiko [Amy] Terada to Miss Laura Thomas, August 30, 1942 (ddr-csujad-4-12)

A letter from Emiko [Amy] Terada, an incarceree at the Rohwer incarceration camp, to Miss Laura Thomas. The letter contains basic correspondence between the two individuals, talking about family members, the weather, and school. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nis_06_013

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-4-12/

img Jerome camp (ddr-csujad-38-261)

Photographed are barracks of the Jerome camp in Denson, Arkansas. The caption reads: Denson, Arkansas. The handwritten note on the back side reads: Block 36, 38. Hospital in back ground by smoke sta__. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 14. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-261/

img Inside of the barrack in the Jerome camp (ddr-csujad-38-289)

Photographed is a male incarceree siting inside of the barrack at the Jerome camp in Arkansas. Photographed is Mr. Yokota. The photo was sent from Sally Sakaye Sasaki at the Jerome camp to Mitzi Masukawa Naohara at the Poston camp in Arizona. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 16. See this object in …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-289/

img Cutting firewood in the Jerome camp (ddr-csujad-38-286)

Photographed are one female and two male incarcerees cutting firewood in the Jerome camp in Arkansas. Includes Mr. Umeda. The photo was sent from Sally Sakaye Sasaki at the Jerome camp to Mitzi Masukawa Naohara at the Poston camp in Arizona. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 16. See this object in the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-286/

doc War ration book four, OPA form R-145, Fumio Takano (ddr-csujad-42-125)

A ration book issued to Fumio Fred Takano incarcerated at the Gila River camp in Arizona. Includes the instructions for use. Unused stamps remain. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_01_67_007

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-125/

doc Letter from Tsuruno Meguro to Fumio Fred and Yoneko Takano, August 17-20, 1942, typescript (ddr-csujad-42-73)

Japanese typescript of the letter: csudh_tak_0071. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_01_35_001_jpn

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-73/

doc Letter from Tsuruno Meguro to Fumio Fred and Yoneko Takano, August 17-20, 1942 (ddr-csujad-42-71)

A letter from Tsuruno Meguro to her son-in-law and daughter, Fumio Fred and Yoneko Takano in the Santa Anita Assembly Center. She writes during the train trip to the Heart Mountain incarceration camp and also in the camp after the arrival. The train passes through Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. She describes the train trip, including …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-71/

doc War ration book four, OPA form R-145, Yoneko Takano (ddr-csujad-42-126)

A ration book issued to Yoneko Takano incarcerated at the Gila River camp in Arizona. Includes the instructions for use. Unused stamps remain. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_01_67_008

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-126/

img Gila River incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-42-222)

A photograph of the Gila River incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_02_06_004

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-222/

doc War ration book four, OPA form R-145, Fred Fumio Takano (ddr-csujad-42-124)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-124/

img Gila River incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-42-219)

A photograph of the Gila River incarceration camp. It is taken from the center of the camp, facing south. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_02_06_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-219/

doc Letter from Tsuruno Meguro to Fumio Fred and Yoneko Takano, August 17-20, 1942, English translation (ddr-csujad-42-72)

English translation of the letter: csudh_tak_0071. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_01_35_001_eng

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-72/

doc War ration book no. 3, OPA form no. R-130, Fred Fumio Takano (ddr-csujad-42-123)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-123/

doc War ration book no. 3, OPA form no. R-130, Tomeyo Takano (ddr-csujad-42-122)

A ration book issued to Tomoye Takano incarcerated at the Gila River camp in Arizona. Includes the instructions for use. Unused stamps remain. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_01_67_004

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-122/