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)

Filters

Facilities

Format

Genre

Usage

Use <Ctrl> or (⌘) keys to select multiple terms

Gallery view
List view

1751 items

img Young women (ddr-csujad-26-142)

Four young Japanese American women pose with a Caucasian woman in front of an automobile. Barracks building is in the background. From photo album of Robert Billigmeier. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: mei_05_112

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-142/

img Minidoka incarceration camp barracks (ddr-csujad-32-6)

Photograph of camp barracks at the Minidoka incarceration camp. Photo featured on page 4 of the Minidoka Incarceration Camp Photograph Album (csudh_ben_001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ben_01_001_005_014

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-32-6/

img Minidoka incarceration camp barracks (ddr-csujad-32-9)

Photograph of camp barracks in snow at the Minidoka incarceration camp. Photo featured on page 5 of the Minidoka Incarceration Camp Photograph Album (csudh_ben_001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ben_01_001_006_018

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-32-9/

img Women in snow (ddr-csujad-32-10)

Photograph of three women in the snow at the Minidoka incarceration camp. Trucks and other camp buildings can be seen in the background. Photo featured on page 5 of Minidoka Incarceration Camp Photograph Album (csudh_ben_001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ben_01_001_006_019

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-32-10/

img Minidoka incarceration camp photograph album (ddr-csujad-32-1)

The photograph album contains 69 photographs from mostly the Minidoka incarceration camp. It may have been compiled by Lona Haug, vice-principal of the Blk 10 school at the Minidoka incarceration camp in 1943. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ben_01_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-32-1/

img Minidoka incarceration camp barracks (ddr-csujad-32-7)

Photograph of the Minidoka incarceration camp barracks from a distance. Photo featured on page 5 of the Minidoka Incarceration Camp Photograph Album (csudh_ben_001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ben_01_001_006_015

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-32-7/

img Women standing in front of camp barrack (ddr-csujad-32-8)

Photograph of three women, [Ev, Louise, and Gwen] in front of a barrack at the Minidoka incarceration camp. Photo featured on page 5 of the Minidoka Incarceration Camp Photograph Album (csudh_ben_001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ben_01_001_006_017

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-32-8/

doc Manzanar diary (ddr-csujad-34-1)

One diary written by Hiroshi Fukuwa, a Kibei Nisei of Los Angeles, California. His diary starts from his departing day from Los Angeles to move into the Manzanar incarceration camp as one of the first group of volunteer incacerees. He was transferred to the Gila River camp, Arizona, to join his brother's family, and segregated into …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-34-1/

doc Manzanar diary (ddr-csujad-34-2)

English translation of a diary written by Hiroshi Fukuwa, a Kibei Nisei of Los Angeles, California. His diary starts from his departing day from Los Angeles to move into the Manzanar incarceration camp as one of the first group of volunteer incacerees. He was transferred to the Gila River camp in Arizona, to join his brother's …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-34-2/

img Grove of the Poston desert (ddr-csujad-35-13)

A photograph of a grove of the Poston desert. Dried sage plants are captured. The handwritten note on the back side reads: A grove of the Poston desert, Colo. River Relocation Center, Poston, Arizona, 1942-1945. Aug. 18th. Title from note. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: kuw_01_13_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-35-13/

img Poston mountains with dried sage plants (ddr-csujad-35-32)

A photograph of Poston mountains with dried sage plants in Arizona. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: kuw_01_24_005

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-35-32/

img Mesquite trees (ddr-csujad-35-31)

A photograph of mesquite trees in the Poston camp in Arizona. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: kuw_01_24_004

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-35-31/

img Dried trees in the Poston camp (ddr-csujad-35-30)

A photograph of dried trees in the Poston camp in Arizona. Signed by: June Kuwahara. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: kuw_01_24_003_01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-35-30/

img View of Colo. River (ddr-csujad-35-14)

A photograph of the Colorado River. The handwritten note on the back side reads: View of Colo. River, May 27th 1942-1945. Colorado River Relocation Center, Poston, Arizona. Title from note. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: kuw_01_13_002

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-35-14/

img Poston I barracks (ddr-csujad-35-28)

A photograph of barracks in the Poston camp in Arizona. The handwritten note on the back side reads: Poston I, June Kuwahara, original. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: kuw_01_24_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-35-28/

img Photograph of Manzanar with mountains in the background (ddr-csujad-47-339)

Photograph of Manzanar incarceration camp taken from a guard tower looking toward the Sierra Nevada mountains. The staff housing and administrative buildings visible along with several cars. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0498

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-339/

img Photograph of a side road facing the Sierra Nevada with barracks on the side (ddr-csujad-47-343)

Photograph of a dirt road facing the snow-covered Sierra Nevada at Manzanar incarceration camp. Several buildings are visible on the right side. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0502

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-343/

doc Manzanar session of the Inyo and Mono counties (ddr-csujad-48-49)

Public outreach brochure for Manzanar Session of the Inyo and Mono Counties; the front page contains a stylized print of the barracks with a tree in front (possibly a wood-cut or etching). Contains a program for a visit to Manzanar and anecdotal information and facts regarding the incarceration camp and the people within. Transcription is found …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-48-49/

doc Manzanar from the inside (ddr-csujad-48-62)

Text of address by Roy Nash, Director of the Manzanar War Relocation Project, given to the Commonwealth Club of California, San Francisco, on July 31, 1942 for the purpose of "interpret[ing] the actuality of a War Relocation Center housing 10,000 evacuees" in view of perceptions of mistreatment of incarcerees in California. Sections of the speech include …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-48-62/

img Barracks at Tule Lake (ddr-csujad-44-59)

A photograph of barracks at Tule Lake. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: csumb_ms15_0059

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-44-59/

img Nisei women standing outside a barrack (ddr-csujad-44-44)

A photograph of five young Nisei women incarcerated at Tule Lake, California. They are standing outside posing together for the camera. Barracks are visible behind them. Photo inscription on back: "Can you recognize me? -Mary." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: csumb_ms15_0044

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-44-44/

img Young Nisei women standing outside barrack (ddr-csujad-44-42)

A photograph of five young Nisei women incarcerated at Tule Lake, California. They are standing outside posing together for the camera. Barracks are visible behind them. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: csumb_ms15_0042

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-44-42/

img Photograph of a young boy, the last resident to leave Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-17)

Photograph of a young boy, the last resident to leave Manzanar, standing in front of a barracks at Manzanar. Next to him are stacks of abandoned furniture including chairs, benches, side tables and a baby stroller. The boy is looking down at his feet. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-17/

img Cost per barracks--$2,848.55! (ddr-csujad-47-24)

Photograph of carpenters working to construct the barracks at Manzanar. A utility poles is connected to a primary connection point. Several stacks of cut and un-cut lumber are visible as is a ladder next to one of the utility poles. The Inyo Mountains are in the background. Caption reads: Cost per barracks -- $2848.55! Title from …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-24/

img Photograph of Melva Nielsen with gardening equipment (ddr-csujad-47-165)

Photograph of Melva Nielsen holding a rake and broom while standing on the stoop of a lattice-covered patio at Manzanar incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0291

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-165/