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 (277)
Concentration camps (1771)
Work and jobs (1416)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Amache Silk Screen Shop

Filters

Facilities

Format

Genre

Usage

Use <Ctrl> or (⌘) keys to select multiple terms

Gallery view
List view

1416 items

img Co-op store (ddr-densho-37-739)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-739/

img Japanese Americans making tofu (ddr-densho-37-154)

Original WRA caption: The paste-like crushed bean mash is cooked thoroughly in the big vat shown in the picture and constantly stirred. This tofu (pronounced To-o-fu) factory is operated by the Tule Lake Co-op.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-154/

img Japanese American auto mechanic (ddr-densho-37-557)

Original WRA caption: Topaz, Utah. A young resident at the Topaz Relocation Center adjusting a carburetor on a well worn War Relocation Authority truck.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-557/

img Japanese Americans clearing land (ddr-densho-37-567)

Original WRA caption: Topaz, Utah. Volunteer workers clearing sagebrush and wild guayule from a section of the lands of the Topaz Relocation Center to be used for truck gardening and animal foreage acreage.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-567/

img Japanese American firemen playing cards (ddr-densho-37-179)

Original WRA caption: The evacuee firemen spend their recreation moments, as do all firemen, by playing a good old American game of cards.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-179/

img Construction of barracks (ddr-densho-37-563)

Original WRA caption: Topaz, Utah. Young volunteer workers of Japanese parentage haul lumber for the construction of barracks and interiors at he Topaz Relocation Center.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-563/

img Shoe repair shop (ddr-densho-37-148)

Original WRA caption: All shoe repair work for the entire colony is done in this shop which is under the Tule Lake Co-operative Enterprise, Inc.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-148/

img Fire crew in front of station (ddr-densho-37-694)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-694/

img Japanese Americans harvesting corn (ddr-densho-37-711)

Original WRA caption: Harvesting the first corn crop at the Minidoka Relocation Center from fields which were covered with sagebrush last spring. Note the sleeves and the cloth and head cloth work by the evacuee woman on the left to protect her from the sun.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-711/

img Japanese American architect (ddr-densho-37-242)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-242/

img Japanese Americans cutting timber (ddr-densho-37-549)

Original WRA caption: Rohwer Relocation Center, McGehee, Arkansas. Much of the timber cleared from reclaimed farm lands is used for fuel to heat barracks homes. Cutting and chopping is done by volunteer workers enlisted by block managers, to provide fuel for each individual block. Each capable resident is expected to contribute his share of time to …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-549/

img Japanese Americans picking peas (ddr-densho-37-141)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-141/

img Japanese Americans harvesting mustard (ddr-densho-37-408)

Original WRA caption: Rohwer Relocation Center, McGehee, Arkansas. One of many truck loads of mustard being harvested by the residents of the Rohwer Relocation Center on the land cultivated by the evacuees.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-408/

img Japanese Americans harvesting cabbages (ddr-densho-37-807)

Original WRA caption: Jerome Relocation Center, Dermott, Arkansas. Cutting cabbages which have been left for winter harvest.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-807/

img Farmers loading truck (ddr-densho-37-83)

Original WRA caption: Evacuee farmers loading a truck with recently dug potatoes at the farm at this relocation center.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-83/

img Construction of an irrigation gate (ddr-densho-37-566)

Original WRA caption: Topaz, Utah. Vocational training class in farm construction gets some real action at the Topaz Relocation Center. Picture shows them getting practical class work in construction of irrigation gate.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-566/

img Japanese Americans plowing a field (ddr-densho-37-704)

Original WRA caption: A tractor drawn disk breaks up soil of a new farm field from the sagebrush adjacent to the Minidoka Relocation Center.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-704/

img Camp fire crew (ddr-densho-37-214)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-214/

img Japanese Americans harvesting spinach (ddr-densho-37-316)

Original WRA caption: Trucking crated spinach from the fields to the packing shed. All vegetables which are not needed here are washed, iced and crated and sent to other relocation centers.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-316/

img Japanese American clearing land (ddr-densho-37-707)

Original WRA caption: An evacuee drives a heavy tractor pulling a triangle of heavy railroad irons breaking off sagebrush. This is one of the methods of clearing off land of the sagebrush adjacent to the Minidoka Relocation Center.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-707/