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 (1454)
Living conditions (1770)

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1770 items

doc Block 207 log (September 16, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1103)

Recording log covering daily activities and events in Block 207 at Poston II incarceration camp. Includes the following topics: I. Staff, II. Block Activities, III. Emergencies, IV. Visitors, V. Memorandums, VI. Remarks, VII. Miscellaneous, and VIII. Managers Notes. Includes brief remarks on Toru Asada. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1103/

doc Requisition to replace from Block 12 to Engineering Division, Heart Mountain (ddr-csujad-55-731)

Form for mechanical equipment to be requisitioned and replaced in Block 12 facilities at Heart Mountain incarceration camp. Signed by manager, Shoji Nagumo. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0733

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-731/

doc Block 207 log (November 6, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1146)

Recording log submitted by Kazuo Kushida, a manager, and Mabel Okino, a secretary, covering daily activities and events in Block 207 at Poston II incarceration camp. Includes the following topics: I. Staff, II. Block Activities, III. Emergencies, IV. Visitors, V. Memorandums, VI. Remarks, VII. Miscellaneous, and VIII. Managers Notes. See this object in the California State …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1146/

doc Block 207 log (January 16, 1943) (ddr-csujad-55-1214)

Recording log covering daily activities and events in Block 207 at Poston II incarceration camp. Includes the following topics: I. Staff, II. Block Activities, III. Emergencies, IV. Visitors, V. Memorandums, VI. Remarks, VII. Miscellaneous, and VIII. Managers Notes. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1216

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1214/

doc Minutes from the Heart Mountain Block Chairmen meeting, August 13, 1943 (ddr-csujad-55-437)

Minutes from the Heart Mountain Block Chairmen meeting. Includes discussion on food, relocation, and clothing allowances. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0439

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-437/

doc Minutes from the Heart Mountain Community Council meeting, January 25, 1944 (ddr-csujad-55-516)

Minutes from the Heart Mountain Community Council meeting. Includes discussion on administration, clothing, and "relocation." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0518

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-516/

doc Block 207 log (December 4, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1172)

Recording log submitted by Kazuo Kushida, a manager, covering daily activities and events in Block 207 at Poston II incarceration camp. Includes the following topics: I. Staff, II. Block Activities, III. Emergencies, IV. Visitors, V. Memorandums, VI. Remarks, VII. Miscellaneous, and VIII. Managers Notes. Includes brief comments on the "Camp 1 situation." See this object in …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1172/

doc Block 207 log (October 12, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1125)

Recording log covering daily activities and events in Block 207 at Poston II incarceration camp. Includes the following topics: I. Staff, II. Block Activities, III. Emergencies, IV. Visitors, V. Memorandums, VI. Remarks, VII. Miscellaneous, and VIII. Managers Notes. Includes brief remarks on "evacuee" labor. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1125/

doc Block 207 log (September 22, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1108)

Recording log covering daily activities and events in Block 207 at Poston II incarceration camp. Includes the following topics: I. Staff, II. Block Activities, III. Emergencies, IV. Visitors, V. Memorandums, VI. Remarks, VII. Miscellaneous, and VIII. Managers Notes. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1110

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1108/

doc Block 207 log (January 7, 1943) (ddr-csujad-55-1205)

Recording log covering daily activities and events in Block 207 at Poston II incarceration camp. Includes the following topics: I. Staff, II. Block Activities, III. Emergencies, IV. Visitors, V. Memorandums, VI. Remarks, VII. Miscellaneous, and VIII. Managers Notes. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1207

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1205/

doc Clothing (ddr-csujad-55-883)

Petition regarding an increase in clothing allowances at Heart Mountain incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0885

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-883/

doc Minutes from the Heart Mountain Block Chairmen meeting, December 29, 1942 (ddr-csujad-55-390)

Minutes from the Heart Mountain Block Chairmen meeting. Includes discussion on coupons, wages, and recreation. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0392

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-390/

doc Block 207 log (January 23, 1943) (ddr-csujad-55-1220)

Recording log covering daily activities and events in Block 207 at Poston II incarceration camp. Includes the following topics: I. Staff, II. Block Activities, III. Emergencies, IV. Visitors, V. Memorandums, VI. Remarks, VII. Miscellaneous, and VIII. Managers Notes. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1222

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1220/

img Lil Dan'l: one year in a relocation center (ddr-csujad-55-341)

Comic strip depicting the life of a fictional character, Lil Daniel, at Rohwer incarceration camp. Covers topics related to everyday life at an incarceration camp including arrival, clothing allowances, facilities, sports, holidays, seasons, gardening, and leisure activities. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0343

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-341/

doc Block 207 log (December 12, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1180)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1180/

doc Block 207 log (January 1, 1943) (ddr-csujad-55-1199)

Recording log covering daily activities and events in Block 207 at Poston II incarceration camp. Includes the following topics: I. Staff, II. Block Activities, III. Emergencies, IV. Visitors, V. Memorandums, VI. Remarks, VII. Miscellaneous, and VIII. Managers Notes. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1201

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1199/

doc Minutes from the Heart Mountain Block Chairmen meeting, October 27, 1942 (ddr-csujad-55-302)

Minutes from the Heart Mountain Block Chairmen meeting. Includes discussion of a night coal crew, disaster relief services, and winter clothing allowances. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0304

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-302/

doc Housing assignment (ddr-csujad-55-2381)

Housing assignment for the Nakamura family, probably at Tule Lake incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2487

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2381/

doc Minutes from the Heart Mountain Community Council meeting, November 30, 1943 (ddr-csujad-55-495)

Minutes from the Heart Mountain Community Council meeting. Includes discussion on clothing allowances, subcommittee reports, and personal property. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0497

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-495/

img Photograph of the Jerome camp in Denson, Arkansas (ddr-csujad-55-2643)

Photograph of the Jerome camp in Denson, Arkansas, 1943. See also sac_jaac_2808 for envelope. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2807

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2643/

img Tule Lake at night (ddr-csujad-55-1300)

Panoramic black and white photograph of the Tule Lake incarceration camp at night. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1302

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1300/

doc Block 207 log (September 11, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1099)

Recording log covering daily activities and events in Block 207 at Poston II incarceration camp. Includes the following topics: I. Staff, II. Block Activities, III. Emergencies, IV. Visitors, V. Memorandums, VI. Remarks, VII. Miscellaneous, and VIII. Managers Notes. Includes brief remarks on conditions in the barracks. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1099/

doc Block 207 log (October 2, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1117)

Recording log covering daily activities and events in Block 207 at Poston II incarceration camp. Includes the following topics: I. Staff, II. Block Activities, III. Emergencies, IV. Visitors, V. Memorandums, VI. Remarks, VII. Miscellaneous, and VIII. Managers Notes. Includes remarks about the lack of mess halls for workers and generally poor conditions in the barracks. See …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1117/

doc Minutes from the Heart Mountain Block Chairmen meeting, November 17, 1942 (ddr-csujad-55-318)

Minutes from the Heart Mountain Block Chairmen meeting. Includes discussion on clothing allowances, Drafting Committee, Fair Practice Committee, and indefinite leave. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0320

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-318/

doc Block 207 log (October 29, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1139)

Recording log submitted by Kazuo Kushida, a manager, and May Taketaya, a secretary, covering daily activities and events in Block 207 at Poston II incarceration camp. Includes the following topics: I. Staff, II. Block Activities, III. Emergencies, IV. Visitors, V. Memorandums, VI. Remarks, VII. Miscellaneous, and VIII. Managers Notes. Includes brief remarks on the lack of …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1139/