1. Topics

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 (277)
Concentration camps (1771)
Living conditions (1870)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Arts and crafts in camp, Community analysts, Manzanar Children's Village

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1870 items
Block 207 log (September 12, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1100)
doc Block 207 log (September 12, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1100)
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 the need for recreational activities. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese …
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1100/
Block 207 log (December 15, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1183)
doc Block 207 log (December 15, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1183)
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-55-1183/
Food (ddr-csujad-55-881)
doc Food (ddr-csujad-55-881)
Petition in connection with food problems at Heart Mountain incarceration camp. Covers problems and requests related to the quality, quantity, and price of food. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0883
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-881/
Menu (ddr-csujad-55-1906)
doc Menu (ddr-csujad-55-1906)
Menu for breakfast, dinner, and supper at the Tule Lake incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1909
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1906/
Block 207 log (December 9, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1177)
doc Block 207 log (December 9, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1177)
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. Includes brief comments on the "Camp 1 …
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1177/
Block 207 log (October 14, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1127)
doc Block 207 log (October 14, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1127)
Recording log submitted by 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 cold temperatures in the barracks. See this object …
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1127/
Block 207 log (November 5, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1145)
doc Block 207 log (November 5, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1145)
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. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project …
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1145/
Block 207 log (September 18, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1105)
doc Block 207 log (September 18, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1105)
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 the need for better lighting in the barracks. See this object in the California …
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1105/
Block 207 log (January 10, 1943) (ddr-csujad-55-1208)
doc Block 207 log (January 10, 1943) (ddr-csujad-55-1208)
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_1210
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1208/
Minutes from the Heart Mountain Block Chairmen meeting, October 30, 1942 (ddr-csujad-55-304)
doc Minutes from the Heart Mountain Block Chairmen meeting, October 30, 1942 (ddr-csujad-55-304)
Minutes from the Heart Mountain Block Chairmen meeting. Includes discussion on schools and winter clothing allowances. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0306
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-304/
Block 207 log (November 25, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1163)
doc Block 207 log (November 25, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1163)
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. Includes brief comments on the "Camp 1 …
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1163/
Block 207 log (December 8, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1176)
doc Block 207 log (December 8, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1176)
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-55-1176/
Block 207 log (November 4, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1144)
doc Block 207 log (November 4, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1144)
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 student labor. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project …
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1144/
Housing early in camp life (ddr-csujad-55-1365)
img Housing early in camp life (ddr-csujad-55-1365)
Scrapbook page containing two black and white photographs depicting barracks at Crystal City Department of Justice Internment Camp. Includes Clark's brief description of the types of living quarters. From the Mary F. Clark scrapbook, "Before I Forget, 1942-1947," page 36. See also sac_jaac_1334 through sac_jaac_1529. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization …
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1365/
Block 207 log (December 11, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1179)
doc Block 207 log (December 11, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1179)
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. Includes brief comments on the "Camp 1 …
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1179/
Block 12 requisition to Maintenance Dept. (ddr-csujad-55-961)
doc Block 12 requisition to Maintenance Dept. (ddr-csujad-55-961)
Requisition form for electric light bulbs for Block 12 at Heart Mountain incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0963
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-961/
Block 207 log (October 21, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1132)
doc Block 207 log (October 21, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1132)
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_1134
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1132/
On wings of forgiveness (ddr-csujad-55-261)
doc On wings of forgiveness (ddr-csujad-55-261)
Article published in Reader's Digest describing Yuzuru John Takeshita's experience in the Tule Lake incarceration camp, his teacher Margaret Gunderson, and post-incarceration events. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0263
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-261/
Letter from Mrs. Minnie Umeda to Mrs. Margaret Waegell, November 9, 1942 (ddr-csujad-55-63)
doc Letter from Mrs. Minnie Umeda to Mrs. Margaret Waegell, November 9, 1942 (ddr-csujad-55-63)
Handwritten correspondence from Minnie Umeda to Mrs. Waegell describing the train ride from Fresno Assembly Center to the Jerome incarceration camp and living conditions, food, and the environment at the incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_00067
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-63/
Sewing and wash tubs at Crystal City Department of Justice Internment Camp (ddr-csujad-55-1371)
img Sewing and wash tubs at Crystal City Department of Justice Internment Camp (ddr-csujad-55-1371)
Scrapbook page containing four black and white photographs depicting the laundry and mending facilities at the Crystal City Department of Justice Internment Camp. Includes a photograph of three Japanese women. From the Mary F. Clark scrapbook, "Before I Forget, 1942-1947," page 42. See also sac_jaac_1334 through sac_jaac_1529. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese …
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1371/
Gila River War Relocation Center (ddr-csujad-55-2481)
doc Gila River War Relocation Center (ddr-csujad-55-2481)
Illustration of a typical block and barrack layout at Gila River incarceration camp. Includes camp data and statistics. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2587
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2481/
Minutes from the Heart Mountain Block Chairmen meeting, January 31, 1944 (ddr-csujad-55-443)
doc Minutes from the Heart Mountain Block Chairmen meeting, January 31, 1944 (ddr-csujad-55-443)
Minutes from the Heart Mountain Block Chairmen meeting. Includes reports on maintenance and housing. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0445
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-443/
Block 207 log (October 8, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1122)
doc Block 207 log (October 8, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1122)
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_1124
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1122/
Block 207 log (November 2, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1142)
doc Block 207 log (November 2, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1142)
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. See this object in the California State …
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1142/
Block 12 requisition to Maintenance Dept. (ddr-csujad-55-957)
doc Block 12 requisition to Maintenance Dept. (ddr-csujad-55-957)
Requisition form for supplies for Block 12 at Heart Mountain incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0959
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-957/
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