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

doc Termination notice for Henri Takahashi (ddr-densho-410-595)

Leaving job as writer in camp for outside employment

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-595/

img Group clearing trees (ddr-ajah-6-219)

Caption below photo: Clearing land outside of the camp confines. They probably used the wood to heat their barracks. Jerome, Arkansas, November 1943. Written on photo front: Nov. 43

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-6-219/

img Group of cooks at Jerome Camp (ddr-ajah-6-213)

Caption below photo: Cooks gather for a photograph at Jerome, Arkansas, circa 1942-1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-6-213/

img Two men chopping down a tree (ddr-ajah-6-221)

Caption below photo: Clearing land outside of the camp confines. They probably used the wood to heat their barracks. At right is Goro Sato of Alameda, CA., who hurt his back working this job. Jerome, Arkansas, November 1943

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-6-221/

img Men loading logs onto to truck (ddr-ajah-6-220)

Caption below photo: Clearing land somewhere near the camp confines. They probably used the wood to heat their barracks. In the left foreground in Goro Sato of Alameda, CA. Jerome, November 1943. Written on front: Nov. 1943

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-6-220/

doc Letter from Ruth Yamada to Matsuye Koike, July 12, 1943 and an Independence Program (ddr-densho-432-16)

This letter discusses life at Rohwer concentration camp. Matsuye Koike received the letter while imprisoned at Fort Missoula, MT. The letter was "detained alien enemy mail examined."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-432-16/

doc Letter from Ruth Yamada to Matsuye Koike, February 3, 1943 (ddr-densho-432-12)

This letter discusses life at Rohwer concentration camp, including discussion of the social activities, trips into McGehee, and the weather. Matsuye Koike received the letter while imprisoned at Fort Lincoln, Bismark, ND. The letter was "detained alien enemy mail examined."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-432-12/

img [Photograph of Japanese American incarceration camp constructing buildings] (ddr-csujad-29-108)

Two Japanese American incarceree men constructing buildings. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: P026

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-108/

img [Photograph of Japanese American incarceree workers] (ddr-csujad-29-107)

Photograph of three Japanese American incarceree workers planting trees. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: P023

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-107/

img Mess Hall 54 crew (ddr-densho-480-171)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-480-171/

img Mess Hall workers (ddr-densho-363-48)

The caption on the front of the photograph reads "Mess 21-27 heart Mt Wyo.". Standing: Asano Maruayama, Kazuko Yokoi, Kimi Kuwahara; Sitting: Mayeda- san, Muto, Johnny

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-363-48/

img Heart Mountain Fire Department (ddr-densho-363-30)

A poster of the Heart Mountain Fire Department in 1944 including the Inspection Bureau, Platoon A, Platoon B, and Platoon C.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-363-30/

img Firefighter (ddr-densho-363-36)

Frank Komoto sitting on the Heart Mountain Fire Department truck. The caption on the bottom of the photograph reads "Capt. Frank Komoto 1944".

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-363-36/

img Heart Mountain Fire Department (ddr-densho-363-34)

Members of the Heart Mountain Fire Department from left to right: Dick Matsuhira, Mitoshi Takao, Kaneo Abe, William Taketa, Frank Komoto, George Takeshita, Yutaka Tamamoto, and Yoneo Hayakawa

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-363-34/

img Mess Hall picnic (ddr-densho-363-43)

Mes hall 21-27 picnic to the Shoshone River. Front Row: Mr. Nakamura, Asano Maruyama, Kimi Kuwahara, Tomiye Ichida; Back Row: Yanaichi Kubo, Joanne Kuwahara, Nancy Oyama

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-363-43/

img Mess Hall workers (ddr-densho-363-22)

The caption on the back of the photograph reads "Heart Mt Mess Hall workers Kimi Komoto + workers". Pictured from left to right: Unidentified, Kimi Komoto, Kimi Uchida, Tomi Ichida, Chiyo Sakane, Asano Marutama, Toshiko Tsuyuki, Ruth Murakami, Hatsuye Shimizu, Unidentified

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-363-22/

img Barrack fire (ddr-densho-363-37)

Heart Mountain Fire Department fight a barrack fire. The caption on the bottom of the photograph reads "Heart Mt. Wyoming 1944".

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-363-37/

img National Fire Protection Association Certificate (ddr-densho-363-29)

The certificate declares that the Heart Mountain Fire Department placed first in the state of Wyoming during Fire Prevention Week in October 1943.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-363-29/

img Heart Mountain Mess crew 21-27 (ddr-densho-363-52)

Mes Crew 21-27 pose outside the building. Back row: Mrs. Imori, Nishimoto, Kondo, Mr. Okamoto; Front row: Mrs. Wada, Nabata, Ushijima, Ruth Murakami, Nagazawa, Kimi Kuwahara

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-363-52/

img Mess Hall picnic (ddr-densho-363-39)

The caption at the bottom of the photograph reads "21-27 Mess hall Picnic to Shoshone River 1944". First row (left to right): Unidentified, Toshiko Tsuyuki, Unidentified, Unidentified, Joanne Kuwahara, Nabata, Hatsuye Shimizu, Nancy Oyama, Saito, ... Mr. Nakamura (3rd from right) Second row: Tomi Ichida (4th from right), Kimi Kuwahara (3rd from right), Asano Maruyama (2nd …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-363-39/

img Mess Hall picnic (ddr-densho-363-44)

Mess hall workers pose next to the Shoshone River during workers' picnic. Front row: Joanne Kuwahara, Mr. Nakamura, Asano Maruyama, Kimi Kuwahara, Tomic Ichida; Back row: Unidentified, Nancy Oyama

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-363-44/

img Mess Hall picnic (ddr-densho-363-42)

Nancy Oyama and Kimi Kuwahara at a mess hall workers' picnic along the Shoshone River. The caption on the bottom of the photograph reads "Mess picnic" and the caption on the back of the photograph reads "May 13, 1944 Shoshone River".

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-363-42/