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 Battleship model with parts (ddr-densho-37-1353)

Included annotation: T-303, Close up showing the parts.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1353/

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 Group works on model ships (ddr-densho-37-1208)

Included annotation: O-206, Ship Model Shop, Work shop.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1208/

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 Strawberry plants (ddr-densho-37-1400)

Included annotation: G-504, strawberry plants.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1400/

img Layout division at a ship model shop (ddr-densho-37-1348)

Included annotation: S-303, Ship Model Shop, Layout Division.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1348/

img Front view of a battleship model (ddr-densho-37-1350)

Included annotation: S-306, Full view front.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1350/

img Workers in a flower field (ddr-densho-37-1057)

Included annotation: H-407, stocks, Canal Nursery.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1057/

img Battleship model and working crew (ddr-densho-37-1351)

Included annotation: T-301, Battleship and working crews.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1351/

img Japanese American blacksmith (ddr-densho-37-176)

Original WRA caption: Evacuee blacksmiths do all the blacksmith work necessary in the garage, at this relocation center.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-176/

img Incarcerees planting celery (ddr-densho-37-47)

Original WRA caption: Planting celery.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-47/

img Carpenters at work (ddr-densho-37-1000)

Included annotation: B-204, Carpenters at work.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1000/

img Shoe repair shop (ddr-densho-37-152)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-152/

img Japanese American cooking (ddr-densho-37-593)

Original WRA caption: Gila River Relocation Center, Rivers, Arizona. Student Mary Sakai, former resident of Stockton, California, is shown putting sliced carrots in a double boiler in preparation for the drying process.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-593/

img Hog farm (ddr-densho-37-42)

Original WRA caption: A view of the project hog farm.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-42/

img Model battle ship in a desert scene (ddr-densho-37-1241)

Included annotation: V-203, V-204.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1241/

img Kelly Ishimoto watering bell pepper plants (ddr-densho-37-2165)

More information included on back of photograph.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-2165/

img Japanese Americans harvesting peas (ddr-densho-37-712)

Original WRA caption: Harvesting peas on the project farm adjacent to the center.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-712/

img Medical examination (ddr-densho-37-627)

Original WRA caption: Jerome Relocation Center, Denson, Arkansas. A former Californian, Doctor Fugikawa, examining a patient, S. Ego, in the center hospital fluroscope.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-627/

img Cotton pickers ready to leave (ddr-densho-37-949)

Included annotation: R-8, cotton pickers are ready to leave Ad. Bldg. parking.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-949/

img Japanese American working on camp newspaper (ddr-densho-37-460)

Original WRA caption: Heart Mountain Relocation Center, Heart Mountain Wyoming. In the press room of the Cody Enterprise, Bill Hosokawa, Editor of the Sentinel, Heart Mountain Relocation Center newspaper, sets type for the final makeup of the weekly edition. Bill, a former foreign correspondent and Washington U. graduate, sets type, pulls proofs, operates the linotype, locks …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-460/

img Camp beauty shop workers (ddr-densho-37-686)

Original WRA caption: High school girls working part time in beauty shop, which is operated by the Minidoka Consumers Cooperative.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-686/

img Japanese Americans unloading coal (ddr-densho-37-385)

Original WRA caption: Tule Lake Relocation Center, Newell, California. Evacuee workers unload coal at Staley Junction, which is the rail head for this center. This coal is used by the residents during the extremely cold winters which northern California offers.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-385/

img Gardeners tend to sweet pea plants (ddr-densho-37-1058)

Included annotation: H-408, Sweet peas, Canal Nursery.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1058/