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
(231)
Concentration camps
(1434)
Work and jobs
(1359)
Related articles from the
Densho Encyclopedia :
Amache Silk Screen Shop
1359 items
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Field crew foreman (ddr-densho-151-390)
Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Johnny Fukazawa, foreman of fields Numbers 3, 4, 5, and 6, heading a 20-man field crew on the farm project, says there are many problems they have to solve in their agricultural work at this War Relocation Authority center for evacuees of Japanese ancestry.
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Japanese Americans clearing land (ddr-densho-151-37)
Original WRA caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. More land is being cleared of sage brush at the southern end of the project to enlarge this War Relocation Authority center for evacuees of Japanese ancestry.
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Lath house (ddr-densho-151-384)
Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Exterior view of the lath house of guyaule rubber experiment project in which seedlings are grown under controlled conditions with a staff of 22 workers, under the direction of Walter T. Watanabe. The initial shipment of 100,000 seedlings came from the Salinas Experiment Station. Note decorative desert garden.
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Japanese American workers resting in shade (ddr-densho-151-343)
Original caption: San Bruno, California. Time out for some of the boys on the Work Corps. All maintenance work, repair and construction is done by volunteer evacuee workers. The wages are $8.00 per month for 48 hours a week. This gang of boys and young men are digging a drainage tank along one of the barracks.
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"Help wanted" sign (ddr-densho-151-229)
Original caption: San Bruno, California. "Help Wanted" sign displayed for newly arrived evacuees. There was much work to be done since the center was opened on the previous day. Three weeks later there were 8,000 persons of Japanese ancestry in this center.
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Japanese Americans working in field (ddr-densho-151-391)
Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Field laborers hoeing corn on the farm project at this War Relocation Authority center for evacuees of Japanese ancestry.
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Co-Op News, Vol 1. No. 1 (May 20, 1943) (ddr-densho-288-1)
Selected article titles: "Announcing the First Issue of the Co-Op News!" (p. 1), "Photo Services for Residents" (p. 1), "Questions and Answers" (p. 1).
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Co-Op News, Vol II. No. 1 (September 2, 1943) (ddr-densho-288-12)
Selected article titles: "V.P. to Act as Chairman" (p. 1), "Rate of Rebate Set 15.14% for 2nd Quarter" (p. 1), "Wool Yarns Expected Soon at Dry Goods Store" (p. 1).
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Co-Op News, Vol I. No. 12 (August 19, 1943) (ddr-densho-288-10)
Selected article titles: "Ice Shortage Due to Army Demand Affects Co-Op" (p. 1), "Wanted: Sales Clerks to Replace Tule Lake Transferees" (p. 1), "Salt Lake Tribune: Block Managers Aid in Distribution" (p. 1), "Withdrawls from Bank can be Made at Any Time" (p. 1).
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Correspondence sent to Seiki Ronald Miyasato from Kim Takehara (ddr-densho-320-9)
Discusses life in Minidoka concentration camp and leaving camp to work.
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Two Nisei nurses (ddr-densho-325-153)
Written on the front of the photograph "To a sell friend, Sumito Sincerely, Hisa". Written on the back of the photograph is "July, 1944".
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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).
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Monthly Statistical Reports (ddr-densho-356-995)
Statistical reports for the months of October, November, and December of 1942.