Food

The eating facilities in the camps were large mess halls with long lines and crowded tables. Group living tended to erode family solidarity, as teenagers escaped parental authority by eating with friends rather than family. The quality of the food was poor and milk and fresh meat were constantly in short supply. Inexpensive foods such as wieners, dried fish, pancakes, macaroni and pickled vegetables were served often. The diets of the camp inmates improved only after they began growing some of their own food.

World War II (66)
Concentration camps (594)
Food (154)

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154 items

doc [Report on Tule Lake disorders] (ddr-csujad-2-64)

A report written from the Community Analysis Section at Camp Granada regarding transfers to Amache Camp from Tule Lake Camp. The report describes the protests at Tule Lake Camp which led to martial law from November, 1943-January 1944. Highlights of the report include protests against the low quality and quantity of food present at Tule Lake …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-2-64/

doc CO-OP canteen moving out sale (ddr-csujad-7-19)

Advertisement for sale at the camp commissary at Amache. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_Co-op Canteen Moving Out Sale

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-7-19/

img Farm [farm workers loading truck] (ddr-csujad-26-72)

Three workers smile at the camera while loading a truck. Caption on back of photograph reads, "The farm." From photo album of Robert Billigmeier. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: mei_05_009

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-72/

University of California evacuation and resettlement study: The Gila River WRA relocation center, Rivers, Pinal County, Arizona (ddr-csujad-26-27)

doc University of California evacuation and resettlement study: The Gila River WRA relocation center, Rivers, Pinal County, Arizona (ddr-csujad-26-27)

Description of the Gila River incarceration camp during the first month of occupation, including camp location, climate, landscape, barracks, issues with camp construction, poor conditions and lack of furnishings, incarcerees who were subjected to upon arrival. Camp administration, food and housing issues, camp employment, security, recreation, and social groups are described and analyzed. Report compiled as …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-27/

Evacuation and resettlement study, structural report, section II: the first six months at Tule Lake: social changes and a chronology of events (ddr-csujad-26-4)

doc Evacuation and resettlement study, structural report, section II: the first six months at Tule Lake: social changes and a chronology of events (ddr-csujad-26-4)

Report chronicling the first six months Tule Lake camp including the establishment of community activities, employment, schools, and barracks infrastructure. Describes challenges of adjusting to life in camp often using direct quotations from incarcerees to express struggles amid social and cultural groups as well as conflicts and strikes. Several events are also described including a description …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-4/

vh An Oral History with Norman Y. Mineta (ddr-csujad-29-55)

Japanese American congressman, representing the Thirteenth Congressional District of California, born and raised in San Jose, California, discusses his early life, graduation from the University of California, Berkeley, and receiving a commission and serving in the armed forces from 1953-1956. Recalls the removal, "relocation," and incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II at the Heart …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-55/

doc O-OP canteen sale (ddr-csujad-7-22)

Advertisement for sale at the camp's commisary. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_Canteen_Sale_P01

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-7-22/

doc John Kubota (ddr-csujad-8-31)

Oral history interview with John Kubota. Information on the oral history project is found in: csuf_stp_0012A; Glossary in: csuf_stp_0014. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: FCPL Kubota, John

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-8-31/

img Incarcerees having lunch at Granada incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-36)

Incarcerees having lunch at Granada incarceration camp. August 20, 1942. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_f01

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-14-36/

doc Manzanar From Inside Out (ddr-csujad-19-2)

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 …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-19-2/

doc Chapter 6 and 7 personality cards (ddr-csujad-26-34)

Journal entries written by high school students discussing their observations and perspectives on a variety of topics including living in barracks, block noise, lack of privacy, mess hall dining, nosy neighbors, jobs, leisure time, sports, movies, church attendance, the Young Buddhist Association (YBA), family dynamics, social changes, dating, and rumors. Each entry includes the full date …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-34/

img Cooperatively owned canteen (ddr-csujad-26-130)

Photo of people working and shopping inside a canteen. Goods are seen divided by type. Verso reads "cooperatively owned canteen." From photo album of Robert Billigmeier. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: mei_05_100

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-130/

doc Memo from WRA Administrative Division re: war ration books, May 18, 1943 (ddr-csujad-26-40)

Memo advising recipient to relinquish war ration books due to living in a "group institutional user establishment." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: mei_03_08_003

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-40/

doc Messhalls in Tule Lake (ddr-csujad-26-23)

Report describing the mess halls of Tule Lake including: administrative organization, operations, personnel, duties, conflicts, wages, food procurement and distribution, food preparation, schedules, sample menus, dietary accommodations, food rationing and shortages, seating capacity, seating arrangements and systems, utensils, and incarceree attendance. The report analyzes workers and incarceree behaviors, status, mental faculties, disposition, religion, age, and gender. …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-23/

doc Victim of the Japanese Evacuation and Resettlement Study (JERS) (ddr-csujad-26-31)

An affidavit written to invalidate purported distortions and false accusations made against the author in two books published using research material collected by Rosalie Hankey Wax during de Cristoforo's incarceration at Tule Lake. The books are "Doing Fieldwork: Warnings and Advice" by Rosalie H. Wax and "The Spoilage" by Dorothy Swaine Thomas and Richard S. Nishimoto …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-31/

doc Structural report, chapter I: an introduction to Tule Lake (ddr-csujad-26-3)

Portion of a report compiled as part of the Japanese American Evacuation and Resettlement Study (JERS) describing the landscape, climate, barracks, facilities, schedule, and daily life routines of incarcerees at the Tule Lake incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: mei_01_34_001

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-3/

doc Mess Hall Identification Card (ddr-csujad-29-24)

Manzanar mess hall identification card. Block 20, Building 11, Apt. 4. Belonging to Ruth Hochi. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 4137_M03

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-24/

av An Oral History with Seiko Ishida (ddr-csujad-29-11)

Retired Kibei teacher recounts samurai parents' background and their immigration to Seattle, Washington; socioeconomic composition of Seattle's Japanese community; earlier teacher training; prewar stays in Japan as a child and as a tutor in a missionary family; experiences as a teacher in the wartime resettlement in New York; and postwar return to Los Angeles. This oral …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-11/

doc Camp meal ticket (ddr-densho-13-25)

This meal ticket was required when a camp inmate wanted to eat outside his or her designated mess hall.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-13-25/

img Japanese American in mess hall line (ddr-densho-15-75)

Mr. Okawa in the cafeteria line.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-15-75/

img Japanese American preparing meal (ddr-densho-15-70)

Jim Shiga, well-known for his cooking skills, prepares a meal in the camp's warehouse kitchen.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-15-70/

doc Visitor's receipt for meals (ddr-densho-25-110)

In 1943, Mitsuo Iseri was on leave from the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. He visited Minidoka, and received this receipt for meals.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-25-110/

img Japanese American child (ddr-densho-26-91)

Minidoka camp photograph

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-26-91/

doc Envelope and letter to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from Teru Koyama (ddr-one-5-40)

Slightly yellowed envelope addressed to Dr. Keizaburo Koyama in Camp Livingston from his wife, Teru Koyama, at Minidoka. Postmarked October 19, 1942. Along the top 10-23-1942 is written in red pencil. On the left side of the envelope is a purple "Censored" stamp. Inside the envelope is a letter dated October 17, 1942. Teru writes about …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-40/

doc Envelope and letters to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from Teru Koyama (ddr-one-5-20)

White air mail envelope with a red, white and blue border. The envelope is addressed to Dr. Keizaburo Koyama at Camp Livingston from his wife, Teru Koyama. The envelope is postmarked Jul 21, 1942, and in red pencil below the postmark is the date 7/25/42. On the left side of the envelope is a purple "Censored" …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-20/