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 (231)
Concentration camps (1434)
Food (237)

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237 items

doc Minidoka short order requisition (ddr-densho-381-44)

A revised short order requisition for the Minidoka concentration camp's hospital kitchen.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-381-44/

doc Camp Menu (ddr-densho-381-40)

A menu for breakfast, dinner, and supper with quantities per 100 persons.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-381-40/

doc Camp Menu (ddr-densho-381-37)

A menu for breakfast, dinner, and supper with quantities per 100 persons.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-381-37/

doc Camp Menu (ddr-densho-381-39)

A menu for breakfast, dinner, and supper with quantities per 100 persons.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-381-39/

doc Camp Menu (ddr-densho-381-34)

A menu for breakfast, dinner, and supper with quantities per 100 persons.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-381-34/

doc Camp Menu (ddr-densho-381-38)

A menu for breakfast, dinner, and supper with quantities per 100 persons.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-381-38/

doc Camp Menu (ddr-densho-381-33)

A menu for breakfast, dinner, and supper with quantities per 100 persons.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-381-33/

doc Report and minority views of the Special Committee on Un-American Activities on Japanese War Relocation Centers (ddr-densho-381-55)

A report submitted by John M. Costello to the House of Representatives discussing concerns with the War Relocation Authority's management of the concentration camps.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-381-55/

doc Camp Menu (ddr-densho-381-32)

A menu for breakfast, dinner, and supper with quantities per 100 persons.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-381-32/

doc Camp Menu (ddr-densho-381-36)

A menu for breakfast, dinner, and supper with quantities per 100 persons.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-381-36/

doc Camp Menu (ddr-densho-381-35)

A menu for breakfast, dinner, and supper with quantities per 100 persons.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-381-35/

img Child eating in mess hall (ddr-densho-39-18)

Original museum description: Photograph, black and white glossy of a little boy (girl?) ready to bite into a morsel of food at the Minidoka internment camp. There is a plate with two huge sausages and a roll. A coffee cup full of coffee and other plates and another coffee cup are in view. Windows have curtains. …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-39-18/

img Japanese Americans lining up for mess hall (ddr-densho-93-21)

Original Ansel Adams caption: Mess line, noon, Manzanar Relocation Center, California / photograph by Ansel Adams.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-93-21/

doc Letter to Mr. West, June 8, 1944 (ddr-csujad-55-1000)

Correspondence regarding purchasing produce with funds from a bank. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1002

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1000/

doc War ration book no. 3, OPA form no. R-130, Aie Yokota (ddr-csujad-55-220)

Booklet of war ration stamps belonging to Aie Yokota incarcerated in Tule Lake camp. OPA Form No. R-130. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0222

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-220/

doc Agricultural products for the duration of the project 1942-1945 (ddr-csujad-55-43)

A list of agricultural products used in the Poston incarceration camp during the incarceration including fruits, vegetables, beans, poultry, pork, and feed crops. List includes crop name, acres planted, pounds harvested per acre, price per pound, and dollar amount for each crop. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_00047

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-43/

doc Meal ticket (ddr-csujad-55-1972)

Meal ticket belonging to Masako Adachi, used at Tule Lake incarceration camp. Verso includes mess hall rules. From the Masako Adachi scrapbook, page 20. See also sac_jaac_1953. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1975

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1972/

doc Grocery store (ddr-csujad-55-1438)

Description of the grocery store, food rationing, and eating habits of internees at Crystal City Department of Justice Internment Camp. Title from caption. From the Mary F. Clark scrapbook, "Before I Forget, 1942-1947," page 89. See also sac_jaac_1334 through sac_jaac_1529. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1440

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1438/

doc Minutes from the Heart Mountain Block Chairmen meeting, March 5, 1943 (ddr-csujad-55-432)

Minutes from the Heart Mountain Block Chairmen meeting. Includes discussion on petition and "food problems." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0434

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-432/

img Citrus grove; Apiary in the citrus grove (ddr-csujad-55-1441)

Scrapbook page containing three black and white photographs of the citrus grove and apiary at Crystal City Department of Justice Internment Camp. Title from caption. From the Mary F. Clark scrapbook, "Before I Forget, 1942-1947," page 92. See also sac_jaac_1334 through sac_jaac_1529. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1443

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1441/

doc Minutes from the Heart Mountain Block Chairmen meeting, August 13, 1943 (ddr-csujad-55-437)

Minutes from the Heart Mountain Block Chairmen meeting. Includes discussion on food, relocation, and clothing allowances. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0439

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-437/

doc Minutes from the Heart Mountain Community Council meeting, December 17, 1943 (ddr-csujad-55-501)

Minutes from the Heart Mountain Community Council meeting. Includes discussion on food and report from the Health and Sanitation Committee. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0503

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-501/

doc Minutes from the Heart Mountain Community Council meeting, October 7, 1943 (ddr-csujad-55-479)

Minutes from the Heart Mountain Community Council meeting. Includes reports on coal, labor, and food. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0481

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-479/

Letter from Minejijro Hayashida, Chairman, Council of Temporary Block Chairman, to Mr. Ernest L. Hawes, Chief Steward, September 26, 1942 (ddr-csujad-55-281)

doc Letter from Minejijro Hayashida, Chairman, Council of Temporary Block Chairman, to Mr. Ernest L. Hawes, Chief Steward, September 26, 1942 (ddr-csujad-55-281)

Correspondence from Minejijro Hayashida to Ernest Hawes regarding the adoption of a "unified menu system" at Heart Mountain incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0283

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-281/

doc Traffic Control Helper, Masako Adachi, early meal every day (ddr-csujad-55-1975)

Traffic Control Helper ticket entitling Masako Adachi to an early meal. From the Masako Adachi scrapbook, page 20. See also sac_jaac_1953. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1978

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1975/