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 Japanese Americans working in a wood shop (ddr-densho-39-41)

Original museum description: Photograph, snapshot size, black and white glossy of three men working at a wood shop at the Minidoka, Idaho camp. They are making wooden trucks. (Info from original museum description)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-39-41/

img Japanese American welding (ddr-densho-39-7)

Original museum description: Photograph, black and white glossy taken at Minidoka internment camp. Shows man welding in a shop. Information attached to the back says it is an adult education class in welding. (Info from original museum description)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-39-7/

img Camp farm field (ddr-densho-39-33)

Original museum description: Photograph, black and white glossy of a field outside Minidoka internment camp being plowed by two Fordson-Ferguson tractors, chicken farm is on left and landmark water tower in center. (Info from original museum description)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-39-33/

img Japanese Americans working on a farm (ddr-densho-39-12)

Original museum description: Photograph, black and white glossy of a farm on the outskirts of the Minidoka internment camp. Workers are all women, five of whom are on the left side with one standing and two women squatting on the right. Other women are working in the back. (Info from original museum description) Japanese Americans raised …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-39-12/

doc Narrative report of M & O (ddr-densho-392-53)

"Narrative Report of M & O / November 1942-August 1944 / by (Mrs.) Minoru Iyeki (Co-ordinator of M & O)."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-392-53/

doc Narrative report by (Mrs.) Minoru Iyeki Co-ordinator of M & O (ddr-densho-392-61)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-392-61/

img Sugar beet farmers (ddr-densho-328-292)

Caption in album: "Kinko's Gang."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-328-292/

img Nisei woman (ddr-densho-325-174)

Hisa Nimura in her hospital aide uniform. The handwritten inscription on the front of the photograph reads "To Sumito Sincerely Hisa". Written on the back of the photograph "July 1944).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-325-174/

img Sugar beet farmers (ddr-densho-328-290)

Caption in album: "Who wants sugar?"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-328-290/

doc Payment Records (ddr-densho-355-176)

For Gentaro Takahashi

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-355-176/

doc Takami Hibiya reference letter (ddr-densho-381-142)

A reference letter from Frank H. Hattori to Dillon S. Myer about Takami Hibiya. Hattori mentions Takami's work in the housing division at Minidoka and states that he is "very much Americanized."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-381-142/

doc Takami Hibiya reference letter (ddr-densho-381-141)

A reference letter from Lorne Huycke to Dillon S. Meyer for Takami Hibiya. Huycke speaks about his contact with Takami at the Minidoka Project, where they worked together in the Housing Department.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-381-141/

doc Clipping from Placement Office Statistics Division (ddr-densho-383-489)

Showing comparison of employment by divisions as of January 16, 1943, probably from Minidoka Irrigator

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-383-489/

doc Notice of Assignment (ddr-densho-387-3)

Notice of Assignment for Yotsu Iwata to work in Kitchen

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-387-3/

doc Notice of Assignment (ddr-densho-387-4)

Notice of Assignment for Yotsu Iwata to work as waitress

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-387-4/

doc Manzanar Mess Hall Card (ddr-densho-387-2)

Manzanar Mess Hall Card

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-387-2/

img Labor in Topaz (ddr-densho-357-744)

Handwritten caption: "Cooks, assistants, dishwashers."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-357-744/

img Employees in the Manzanar Housing Department (ddr-densho-420-31)

Caption on reverse: "Housing department / 1943."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-420-31/

img Masa Ogawa and Sandy Sandridge (ddr-densho-420-3)

Masa Ogawa nannied for Sandy Sandridge whose mother was Gladys Sandridge, a teacher living on site at Manzanar concentration camp.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-420-3/

img Sandy Sandridge (ddr-densho-420-2)

Masa Ogawa nannied for Sandy Sandridge whose mother was Gladys Sandridge, a teacher living on site at Manzanar concentration camp.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-420-2/

img Police department at Manzanar (ddr-densho-420-21)

Caption on reverse: "March, 22, 1943 To Masa / from / Joe Tami / Manzanar California / Police Dept. / Look."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-420-21/

img Two men harvesting potatoes near Minidoka (ddr-densho-420-8)

Masa Ogawa's cousin. Caption on reverse: "Here is myself / taken while I / was working at / the local farm / nearby the camp / in 1943 or 44. / Don't I look / a mess huh? / Well I will send / you a better one / soon. / Roy / P.S. me without …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-420-8/