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 (239)
Concentration camps (1640)
Work and jobs (1406)

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1406 items

vh Bill Nishimura Interview Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1000-119-5)

Daily activities at Poston concentration camp, Arizona

This interview took place at the 2000 Tule Lake Pilgrimage in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-119-5/

vh Peggie Nishimura Bain Interview Segment 41 (ddr-densho-1000-170-41)

Working for the Reports Office in Minidoka: learning photography

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-170-41/

vh Peggie Nishimura Bain Interview Segment 35 (ddr-densho-1000-170-35)

Experiences working in an concentration camp hospital

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-170-35/

vh Peggie Nishimura Bain Interview Segment 42 (ddr-densho-1000-170-42)

Dealing with suspicion because of association with camp administration

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-170-42/

vh May Ohmura Watanabe Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1000-454-6)

Working in the camp hospital

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-454-6/

vh Mitsu Fukui Interview Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1000-140-23)

Working in Minidoka concentration camp: laundress for the kitchen workers, husband a camp policeman

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-140-23/

vh Richard Murakami Segment 34 (ddr-densho-1000-64-34)

Working as an accountant in Tule Lake

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-64-34/

doc Camp worker's paycheck (ddr-densho-25-16)

Mae Iseri was originally from Thomas, Washington, where her parents ran a small store and berry farm. After being held at the Pinedale Assembly Center in California, Mae was detained at the Tule Lake concentration camp, California, where she worked as a physical education teacher. This was her first paycheck, which she never cashed.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-25-16/

doc Letter from Martha Morooka to Violet Sell (ddr-densho-457-26)

Martha Morooka writes to Violet Sell about health issues, her job, unhappiness in Gila River that boys are being recruited for military service but were denied to opportunity before being incarcerated, other prejudices, and more.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-457-26/

doc Letter from Amy Morooka to Violet Sell (ddr-densho-457-18)

Amy Morooka writes to Violet Sell about her new job, issues with John and Midori, and a request for hair dye.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-457-18/

doc Letter from Martha Morooka to Violet Sell (ddr-densho-457-11)

Martha Morooka writes to Violet Sell about the gardens built at Tulare Assembly Center being destroyed, missing friends, inconsiderate staff at Gila River, updates on people she had helped at the Social Welfare Department, trenches being dug by Black workers, and more.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-457-11/

doc Letter from Amy Morooka to Violet Sell (ddr-densho-457-30)

Amy Morooka writes to Violet Sell about settling debts for items Violet has sent, resettlement, a visit from Clifford Nakadegawa, and more.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-457-30/

doc Letter from Martha Morooka to Violet Sell (ddr-densho-457-13)

Martha Morooka writes to Violet Sell about her plans to work as a nurse and attend the University of Nebraska.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-457-13/

doc Letter from Amy Morooka to Violet Sell (ddr-densho-457-12)

Amy Morooka writes to Violet Sell about her anger at being compensated less than others for work and being used as scapegoats on a radio broadcast, her unhappiness with politics in the concentration camps, and weighing whether continued confinement or facing the wrath of irate Americans outside the camp is the better option.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-457-12/

doc Letter from Amy Morooka to Violet Sell (ddr-densho-457-25)

Amy Morooka writes to Violet Sell about living conditions at Gila River, Martha's job struggles, and wishing the war was over.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-457-25/

doc Letter from Amy Morooka to Violet Sell (ddr-densho-457-19)

Amy Morooka writes to Violet Sell about church happenings and updates on work.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-457-19/

doc Letter to Benjamin Coleman Gosney from Tomio Itabashi (ddr-densho-455-1)

Tomio Itabashi describes his time at Pinedale and his move to Tule Lake.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-455-1/

img Swamper crew (ddr-densho-463-165)

Written beside photograph on scrapbook page: Ted [likely Ted Komoto], Jim, Kato, Geo [likely George Komoto], Henry, Me [James Komoto]; Taken by 2-30 Ht. Mt in background; "Swamper Crew;" May 1944.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-463-165/