Work and jobs

Both Issei and Nisei took jobs within the camps, at wages set not to exceed soldiers' pay: $12 per month for unskilled labor, $16 for skilled labor, and $19 for professional employees. WRA staff was paid much more for the same jobs. Though public opinion mandated such low pay, dissatisfied Japanese Americans objected to losing their right to make a decent living. They had to use their sparse income for necessities, such as warm clothing and shoes.

World War II (283)
Concentration camps (2078)
Work and jobs (1524)

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1524 items

img Recreation department staff (ddr-densho-111-3)

Staff of Tule Lake concentration camp's recreation department. They are sitting on a stage platform which was built in a firebreak, and used for various performances. Second row from front, ninth from left is Harry Mayeda, the Recreation Department Director. Elaine Ishikawa Hayes is in the third row, sixth from left.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-111-3/

img Camp fire station (ddr-densho-13-37)

Fire Station Number 1.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-13-37/

img Hospital pharmacy (ddr-densho-15-87)

Mr. Izui (left) and a colleague inside the hospital pharmacy.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-15-87/

img Interior of camp store (ddr-densho-15-69)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-15-69/

img Japanese Americans picking vegetables (ddr-densho-15-80)

This farm may have belonged to a local Japanese American farmer.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-15-80/

img Interior of hospital laundry (ddr-densho-15-84)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-15-84/

img Interior of camp warehouse kitchen (ddr-densho-15-76)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-15-76/

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.

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

img Japanese Americans playing cards at the fire station (ddr-densho-15-59)

This is the interior of Fire Station Number 1. Left to right: (first name unknown) Hikida, unidentified, Yoshio Akada, and Mr. Sano. The fire station was one of the few buildings with a refrigerator. Mr. Sano owned the bathhouse underneath the Panama Hotel in Seattle, Washington, before World War II.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-15-59/

img Interior of camp store (ddr-densho-15-51)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-15-51/

img Two Nisei men in camp office (ddr-densho-157-50)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-157-50/

av An Oral History with J.S. Kishiyama and Y. Kishiyama (ddr-csujad-29-3)

Reflections of an elderly Orange County, California couple on their experiences in America. He recounts his years as an immigrant; she discusses her family background, makeup of Japanese-American community, and rural living. This oral history was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project, Oral History Program, California State University, Fullerton; interview conducted by Pat Morgan. …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-3/

doc Termination Notice for Chairman of Community Council (ddr-sbbt-2-33)

A termination notice for Yoshito Fujii upon his retirement from the role of Chairman of Community Council.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-sbbt-2-33/

img [Fire drill] (ddr-csujad-29-260)

Men practice putting out fires (?) in an incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: P203

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-260/

doc Letter to Molly Wilson from Mary Murakami (October 6, 1942) (ddr-janm-1-29)

Handwritten letter to Molly Wilson from Mary Murakami (October 6, 1942).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-1-29/

doc Letter (with envelope) to Mollie Wilson from Lillian (Nobie) Igasaki (March 31, 1944) (ddr-janm-1-51)

Handwritten letter to Molly Wilson from Lillian (Nobie) Igasaki (March 31, 1944). Envelope is postmarked April 1, 1944 from the Manzanar Incarceration Camp in Manzanar, California.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-1-51/

doc Letter (with envelope) to Molly Wilson from Mary Murakami (July 27, 1942) (ddr-janm-1-31)

Handwritten letter to Molly Wilson from Mary Murakami (July 27, 1942). Envelope is postmarked July 27, 1942 from the Poston (Colorado River) Incarceration Camp in Parker, Arizona.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-1-31/

doc Letter (with envelope) to Molly Wilson from Chiyeko Akahoshi (March 25, 1943) (ddr-janm-1-105)

Handwritten letter to Molly Wilson from Chiyeko Akahoshi (March 25, 1943). Envelope is postmarked March 26, 1943 from the Manzanar Incarceration Camp in Manzanar, California.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-1-105/

doc Letter (with envelope) to Mollie Wilson from Violet Saito (August 25, 1943) (ddr-janm-1-76)

Handwritten letter to Mollie Wilson from Violet Saito (August 25, 1943). Envelope is postmarked August 26, 1943 from the Granada (Amache) Incarceration Camp in Amache, Colorado.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-1-76/

doc Letter (with envelope) to Molly Wilson from Sandie Saito (July 17, 1943) (ddr-janm-1-16)

Handwritten letter to Molly Wilson from Sandie Saito (July 17, 1943). Envelope (addressed "The 'Flea' ") is postmarked July 19, 1943 from the Granada (Amache) Incarceration Camp in Amache, Colorado.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-1-16/