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 (240)
Concentration camps (1640)
Work and jobs (1408)

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1408 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 Pauline Sakahara outside barracks (ddr-densho-316-294)

Pauline Sakahara wearing a nurse’s uniform

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-316-294/