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)

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1870 items

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

Typed transcriptions of diaries, some errors

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

doc Letter from Lorraine to Kimi Fujii (ddr-densho-433-19)

Lorraine writes to Kimi Fujii about recent outings, friends who have enlisted, and her job.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-19/

doc Letter from Ed Bando to Kimi Fujii (ddr-densho-433-7)

Ed Bando writes to Kimi Fujii about being drafted, updates on his family, and gives advice about her heartache after Frank's marriage.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-7/

doc Letter from Hank to Kizie Fujii (ddr-densho-433-12)

Hank writes to Kizie (Kimiko) Fujii with updates on friends and a request for green wool and a pair of shoes.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-12/

doc Letter from Hank to Kimi Fujii (ddr-densho-433-21)

Hank writes to Kimi Fujii about his studies

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-21/

doc 70th Anniversary of the Japanese Congregational Church (ddr-densho-474-53)

The Japanese Congregational Church's 70th Anniversary book traces the history of JCC within the context of national and local events.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-474-53/

doc Asian American Community: The Internment Camps and My Family: Part 4: Mae (ddr-densho-560-20)

Narrative of Mae Horiuchi's experiences at Tule Lake and Topaz camps and Pinedale assembly center

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-560-20/

doc Letter from Massie to Brett Kuwada (ddr-densho-560-4)

Describing life in Assembly center and camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-560-4/

doc Asian American Community: The Internment Camps and My Family: Part 1: General overview (ddr-densho-560-8)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-560-8/

doc Asian American Community: The Internment Camps and My Family: Part 2: Masayo (ddr-densho-560-9)

Narrative of Masayo Horiuchi's experiences at Puyallup Assembly Center and Minidoka Camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-560-9/

doc Ordeal of Tokio Yamane (ddr-densho-1007-1825)

Tokio Yamasaki's statement to the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians describing the abuse and discrimination he faced while incarcerated which ultimately led to his renouncement of his U.S. citizenship resulting in his deportation to Japan He then argues his support for redress and reparations.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1825/

doc Testimony of Mitsuye T. Kamada (ddr-densho-1007-1821)

Mitsuye T. Kamada's statement to the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians in New York City, New York on November 23, 1981. She describes her family's experience at Heart Mountain and the multiple impacts of incarceration and argues her support for redress and reparations.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1821/

doc Testimony Submittal of Nobuko Y. Suzuki (ddr-densho-1007-1819)

Nobuko Y. Suzuki's statement to the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians in September, 1981 describing her life before, during, and after the war especially in regard to discrimination she faced throughout her life. She then argues her support for redress.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1819/

av Goro Sumida interviewed by Eric Saul, part 2 of 2 (ddr-densho-1007-1766)

Sumida discusses his family, visiting his family at Rohwer, his impressions of camp, his time in basic training, war stories from Germany, the awards he received after the war, and whether he considers himself lucky. This interview was not conducted specifically for Loni Ding's work, rather for a book the Presidio was putting together. Partial transcript …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1766/

av Interview with John Kaneko, part 2 of 3 (ddr-densho-1007-1760)

Kaneko discusses arriving at Tule Lake, his first impressions of camp, his difficulty meeting people in camp, draft registration/the loyalty questionnaire and the conflict it caused, his father encouraging him to register for the draft, his refusal to register, his arrest and interrogation, and being sent to a CCC camp and forced to work. Interview starts …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1760/