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 (283)
Concentration camps (2384)
Living conditions (1897)

Filters

Facilities

Format

Genre

Usage

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

Gallery view
List view

1897 items

img Photograph of snow-covered Manzanar street with barracks on both sides (ddr-csujad-47-53)

Photograph of snow-covered Manzanar street with barracks on both sides after the storm has passed. The snow-covered Mount Williamson can be seen in the background with all of the camp covered in snow as well. Tracks from vehicles can be seen in the snow, and a few people can be seen walking in the distance. See …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-53/

img Photograph of Melva and Aksel G. Nielsen in front of staff housing (ddr-csujad-47-166)

Photograph of Melva and Aksel G. Nielsen in front of staff housing at the Manzananr Incarceration Camp. They are leaning against the fence of an outdoor patio area. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0292

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-166/

img Photograph of a group of people sitting on rocks in the Sierra Nevada (ddr-csujad-47-297)

Photograph of a group of people sitting on rocks in the Sierra Nevada near the Manzanar incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0446

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-297/

img Photograph of an elderly man posing next to a car near the Manzanar hospital (ddr-csujad-47-259)

Photograph of a man standing next a car while resting his hand on it at Manzanar incarceration camp. Behind him the hospital garden and building are visible. The car is a WRA vehicle with license plate, "US WRA M123." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0407

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-259/

img Photograph of snow falling at Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-157)

Photograph of staff quarters and administrative buildings at Manzanar incarceration camp during a snow storm on Sunday, February 20, 1944. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0273

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-157/

img Photograph of Manzanar staff housing (ddr-csujad-47-341)

Photograph of staff housing at Manzanar incarceration camp. Pete Merrit can be seen entering the second apartment from the right. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0500

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-341/

img Photograph of a group of people holding snow balls on the side of a mountain with a snowman (ddr-csujad-47-295)

Photograph of a group of people holding snow balls on the side of a mountain with a snowman near the Manzanar incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0444

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-295/

img Photograph of Manzanar staff housing (ddr-csujad-47-345)

Photograph of staff housing at Manzanar incarceration camp. A grape trellis is attached to the house as is a lattice-covered seating area. Several saplings are visible in the lawn. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0505

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-345/

img Photograph of Cow Creek Camp in Death Valley (ddr-csujad-47-106)

Photograph of Cow Creek Camp in Death Valley National Park. Incarcerees were transferred to the former Civilian Conservation Camp after the Manzanar Riot for their own protection. Several army trucks can be seen parked in front of one of the buildings and a line of laundry in the lower right corner. See this object in the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-106/

img Photograph of Cow Creek Camp in Death Valley (ddr-csujad-47-348)

Photograph of Cow Creek Camp in Death Valley National Park. Incarcerees were transferred to the former Civilian Conservation Camp after the Manzanar Riot for their own protection. The photograph is taken from the east looking west toward the Panamint range. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_1191

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-348/

img Photograph of three boys, two are on a tricycle, the other is holding a stick (ddr-csujad-47-50)

Photograph of three boys, two are on a tricycle, the other is holding a stick while sitting on the back wheel. Behind them is a basketball hoop and several barracks. The Sierra Nevada is in the background. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0084

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-50/

img Photograph of a woman on skies at Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-174)

Photograph of a woman on skies, holding ski poles, at Manzanar incarceration camp. Behind her are three people playing in the snow. Several cars and administrative buildings are visible in the background. The ground is snow-covered. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0300

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-174/

img Building every half hour (ddr-csujad-47-22)

Photograph of three men constructing the walls of a barracks. A sign in front reads: "BLK 1, BLDG 2." A truck is parked in the background, behind are the Alabama Hills and the Sierra Nevada. Caption reads: A Building Every Half Hour. Title from caption, which was taken from the original photo album. See this object …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-22/

img Photograph of Jone Ingalls standing in a barracks doorway (ddr-csujad-47-175)

Jone Ingalls standing in doorway of Block 7 Building 3 Apartment 4 with a broom in hand at Manzanar incarceration camp. A sign to the left reads, "High Voltage, (exploded)." A bike is in the lower right corner. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0301

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-175/

img Photograph of wedding cake at Manzanar incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-47-353)

Photograph of a three-tier wedding cake with a figurine on top, possibly in Manzanar staff housing. A table is visible in the background with a clock and several photographs on it. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_3500

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-353/

img Photograph of a barracks at Manzanar with melting snow on the ground (ddr-csujad-47-335)

Photograph of the gardens and barracks at Manzanar incarceration camp with melting snow on the ground. The snow-covered Inyo mountains are visible in the background. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0494

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-335/

img Photograph of Manzanar staff housing with a rock fence and a car in front (ddr-csujad-47-352)

Photograph of staff housing at Manzanar incarceration camp. A stone fence with a wooden gate surrounds the house. In the lower right corner is a car with license plate, "84Z272." In the background are the Sierra Nevada mountains. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_2500

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-352/

img Photograph of Martha Shoaf in front of staff housing at Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-178)

Photograph of Martha Shoaf in front of staff housing at Manzanar incarceration camp. She is standing on front step next to a door. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0304

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-178/

img Photograph of Manzanar staff housing with dog in front (ddr-csujad-47-350)

Photograph of staff housing at Manzanar incarceration camp. A dog is visible resting in the shade of the house. In the background a car and mountains are partially visible. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_1500

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-350/

img Photograph of Manzanar staff housing (ddr-csujad-47-342)

Photograph of staff housing at Manzanar incarceration camp. Several buildings surround the central lawn and park which has saplings planted. Several cars are parked along the road. A mountain range is visible in the background. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0501

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-342/

img Photograph of a group of people, including Bernice Sibner, sitting on rocks in the Sierra Nevada (ddr-csujad-47-298)

Photograph of a group of people, including Bernice Sibner, sitting on rocks in the Sierra Nevada near the Manzanar incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0447

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-298/

img Photograph of Mitzie standing in the snow at Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-267)

Photograph of Mitzie standing in snow in front of building at Manzanar incarceration camp. She is wearing a dress and cardigan with boots and a necklace. The photograph is signed, "Miss Jo Hawes, Sincerely Mitzie." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0415

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-267/

img Photograph of Arthur M. Sandridge and his son in front of staff housing (ddr-csujad-47-167)

Photograph of Arthur M. Sandridge and his son in front of staff housing at Manzanar incarceration camp. They are standing in front of the fenced-in patio area. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0293

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-167/

img Photograph of Martha Shoaf in front of staff housing at Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-173)

Photograph of Martha Shoaf in front of staff housing at Manzanar incarceration camp. She is standing on the lawn next to a sapling. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0299

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-173/

img Photograph of the Manzanar orchards (ddr-csujad-47-344)

Photograph of the fruit orchards at Manzanar incarceration camp with Mount Williamson in the background. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0503

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-344/