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 (215)
Concentration camps (1192)
Food (233)

Gallery view
List view

233 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/

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 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 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/

img Mess hall (ddr-densho-37-247)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-247/

img Japanese Americans baking bread (ddr-densho-37-245)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-245/

img Japanese Americans in mess hall (ddr-densho-37-738)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-738/

img Child waiting for mess hall meal (ddr-densho-37-518)

Original WRA caption: Granada Relocation Center, Amache, Colorado. It is a long time between meals at the mess hall for a hungry man, so the cracker box at the Kobayashi barracks gets a frequent raiding.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-518/

img Mess hall food (ddr-densho-37-413)

Original WRA caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Meals are being served cafeteria style at this War Relocation Authority Center.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-413/

img Japanese American preparing lunch (ddr-densho-37-330)

Original WRA caption: Dave K. Yoshida, from Seattle, Washington former Chef for Benjamin Franklin Hotel. Kitchen crew preparing lunch. Menu: Baked macaroni with Spanish sauce, spinach, pickled beets, bread-pudding, tea, bread & butter.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-330/