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 (231)
Concentration camps (1434)
Living conditions (1751)

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1751 items

vh An Oral History with Sumiye Takeno, Part I (ddr-csujad-29-59)

An oral history with Sumiye Takeno, a current resident of Denver, Colorado. This interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. The purpose of this interview was to gather information regarding Takeno's incarceration and resettlement experience during World War II. Specifically, the interview covers her childhood in Florin, California, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-59/

av An oral history with Kin'ichi Kimbo Yoshitomi (ddr-csujad-29-30)

An oral interview with Kinichi Kimbo Yoshitomi, an incarceree at the Tanforan Assembly Center and the Topaz incarceration camp. The interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. Transcription is found in the item: csufccop_jaoh_0112. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 1645.3_T01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-30/

av Oral history with Elso Kanawaga (ddr-csujad-29-82)

An oral interview with Elso Kanawaga, incarceree at the Rohwer incarceration camp. The interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. Transcript is found in item: csufccop_jaoh_0200. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 2379_T01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-82/

av Oral history with Michael Ishikawa (ddr-csujad-29-376)

An oral interview with Michael Ishikawa, child born at the Granada incarceration camp. The interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. Transcript is found in item: csufccop_jaoh_0932. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 1324_T01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-376/

av Oral history with Henry Yoshitake (ddr-csujad-29-77)

An oral interview with Henry Yoshitake, incarceree at the Rohwer incarceration camp. The interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. Transcript is found in item: csufccop_jaoh_0190. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 2373.2_T01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-77/

img [Photograph of Amy Unio Ishii and son] (ddr-csujad-29-231)

Interviewee, Amy Uno Ishii, preparing a meal for her son, Hitoshi Jr., who was born at the Poston camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: P174

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-231/

av An oral history with Kin'ichi Kimbo Yoshitomi (ddr-csujad-29-29)

An oral interview with Kinichi Kimbo Yoshitomi, an incarceree at the Tanforan Assembly Center and the Topaz incarceration camp. The interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. Transcription is found in the item: csufccop_jaoh_0110. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 1645.2_T01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-29/

av Oral history with Susie O. Shimada (ddr-csujad-29-367)

An oral interview with Susie O. Shimada, incarceree at the Poston camp. The interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. Transcript is found in item: csufccop_jaoh_0914. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 2258_T01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-367/

av An oral history with Fred Tomiyoshi (ddr-csujad-29-51)

An oral interview with Fred Tomiyoshi, incarceree at the Pinedale Assembly Center and the Tule Lake incarceration camp. The interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. Transcript is found in item: csufccop_jaoh_0158. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 2986_T01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-51/

av Oral history with Shonin Yamashita (ddr-csujad-29-385)

An oral interview with Shonin Yamashita, an Issei and incarceree at the Poston War Relocation Center. The interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. Transcript is found in item: csufccop_jaoh_0950. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 1519_T01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-385/

av An oral history with Margaret Yamamoto (ddr-csujad-29-32)

An oral interview with Margaret Yamamoto, an incarceree at the Santa Anita Assembly Center and the Rohwer incarceration camp. The interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. Transcription is found in the item: csufccop_jaoh_0116. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 2237_T01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-32/

doc Evacuee Identification Card (ddr-csujad-29-23)

Manzanar incarceree identification card. Block 20, Building 11, Apt. 4. Belonging to Ruth Hochi. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 4137_M02

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-23/

doc Sketch of barracks (ddr-densho-122-514)

copy of sketch by unknown artist

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-122-514/

doc James Kado Diary 1 (ddr-densho-122-510)

Copy of diary kept by James Kado in camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-122-510/

doc Transcriptions of James Kado diaries (ddr-densho-122-511)

Typed transcriptions of diaries, some errors

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-122-511/

img Sketch of a dust storm at Manzanar (ddr-manz-2-42)

Caption: "First impression of Manzanar."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-2-42/

img Painting of Japanese Americans making improvements to barracks (ddr-manz-2-62)

Caption: "Residents installed plaster boards inside barracks. This was the room of Mr. and Mrs. Kurahashi."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-2-62/

img Painting of the clothing allowance distribution (ddr-manz-2-60)

Caption: "Clothing allowance."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-2-60/

img Painting of the mess hall line (ddr-manz-2-9)

Caption: "Progress after one year. The mess hall line" and "Wall painting by Takamura."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-2-9/

img Painting of barracks (ddr-manz-2-12)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-2-12/

img Camp street with Mt. Williamson in the background (ddr-manz-8-2)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-8-2/

doc Letter to Molly Wilson from Mary Murakami (October 6, 1942) (ddr-janm-1-29)

Handwritten letter to Molly Wilson from Mary Murakami (October 6, 1942).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-1-29/

doc Letter (with envelope) to Mollie Wilson from Lillian (Nobie) Igasaki (March 31, 1944) (ddr-janm-1-51)

Handwritten letter to Molly Wilson from Lillian (Nobie) Igasaki (March 31, 1944). Envelope is postmarked April 1, 1944 from the Manzanar Incarceration Camp in Manzanar, California.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-1-51/

doc Letter (with envelope) to Molly Wilson from Mary Murakami (July 27, 1942) (ddr-janm-1-31)

Handwritten letter to Molly Wilson from Mary Murakami (July 27, 1942). Envelope is postmarked July 27, 1942 from the Poston (Colorado River) Incarceration Camp in Parker, Arizona.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-1-31/

doc Letter (with envelope) to Molly Wilson from Sandie Saito (November 15, 1942) (ddr-janm-1-13)

Handwritten letter to Molly Wilson from Sandie Saito (November 15, 1942). Envelope is postmarked November 18, 1942 from the Granada (Amache) Incarceration Camp in Amache, Colorado.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-1-13/