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)

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

1524 items

img Photograph of Lillian and Harry Matsumoto with an infant at the Children's Village park in Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-160)

Photograph of Lillian and Harry Matsumoto, superintendents of the Children's Village at Manzanar incarceration camp, and a baby sitting in the park near the Children's Village. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0277

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-160/

img Photograph of four people, including L. Josephine Hawes, posing near a lantern at Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-243)

Photograph of four people, including L. Josephine Hawes, posing near a lantern at Manzanar incarceration camp. Trees can be seen in the background. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0388

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-243/

img Photograph of Lillian and Harry Matsumoto from the waist up (ddr-csujad-47-159)

Photograph of Lillian and Harry Matsumoto, superintendents of the Children's Village, from the waist up at Manzanar incarceration camp. Signed, "To Miss Hawes- Lillian and Harry Matsumoto" See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0276

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-159/

img Photograph of produce packing at Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-60)

Photograph of two men working to pack produce crates near a field at Manzanar incarceration camp. Two men are supervising from the right side. A stack of crates is ready to be distributed in the foreground. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0095

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-60/

Memorandum from Howard Marumoto, Fair Practice Chairman, Fair Practice Committee, to members of the administrative staff, November 3, 1942 (ddr-csujad-48-134)

doc Memorandum from Howard Marumoto, Fair Practice Chairman, Fair Practice Committee, to members of the administrative staff, November 3, 1942 (ddr-csujad-48-134)

A memorandum from Howard Marumoto, chairman of the Fair Practice Committee at the Manzanar incarceration camp, outlining the purpose of the committee and more broadly of the Manzanar Work Corps. Transcription is found in item: ecm_wells_9943. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_wells_0943

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-48-134/

doc Dealing with Japanese-Americans by John F. Embree, Documents Section, Office of Reports (ddr-csujad-48-131)

Short report from WRA Documents Section leader John F. Embree on recommended attitudes, suggestions, and practices while interacting with incarcerated Japanese Americans. According to Embree, race is hereditary while culture is acquired, and Caucasians should refrain from making stereotypical images of "Japanese types." Embree describes the differences in culture and attitudes including questions of loyalty between …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-48-131/

doc Project Director's bulletin, no. 37 (November 27, 1942) (ddr-csujad-48-133)

A bullentin from the project director, Ralph Merritt, addressing procedures for functional activities in the personnel section. The subject headings are: personnel needs, recruiting of personnel, appointments, oaths administered, war savings bonds, annual leave, sick leave, leave without pay, applications for leave, daily attendance report of absentees, change of status requested, and resignations. Attached are two …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-48-133/

doc Lists of names of staff members at Manzanar incarceration camp written by Harry Bentley Wells (ddr-csujad-48-142)

Two lists of names of staff members at Manzanar Incarceration Camp written by Harry Bentley Wells. Transcription is found in item: ecm_wells_9952. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_wells_0952

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-48-142/

doc Manzanar from the inside (ddr-csujad-48-62)

Text of address by Roy Nash, Director of the Manzanar War Relocation Project, given to the Commonwealth Club of California, San Francisco, on July 31, 1942 for the purpose of "interpret[ing] the actuality of a War Relocation Center housing 10,000 evacuees" in view of perceptions of mistreatment of incarcerees in California. Sections of the speech include …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-48-62/

Memorandum from Elmer Rowalt, Acting Director, War Relocation Authority, to all employees of the War Relocation Authority, January 16, 1943 (ddr-csujad-48-126)

doc Memorandum from Elmer Rowalt, Acting Director, War Relocation Authority, to all employees of the War Relocation Authority, January 16, 1943 (ddr-csujad-48-126)

Memorandum to all employees of the War Relocation Authority highlighting the War Bond savings program and the push to have 90% of employees pledge 10% of their salary and reminding employees that their salaries have been increased by the overtime bill passed by Congress. (6-4069-BU-COS-WP). Transcription is found in item: ecm_wells_9935. See this object in the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-48-126/

doc Project Director's bulletin, no. 39 (January 15, 1943) (ddr-csujad-48-108)

A bulletin from Ralph Merrit, Project Director, regarding hours of work for all federal employees, including civil service employees at Manzanar Incarceration Camp. Procedures for submitting time sheets are addressed as well as the means to request leave. Transcription is found in item: ecm_wells_9917. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-48-108/

img Nisei men with saws and hammers working on platform outside barrack (ddr-csujad-44-49)

A photograph of six Nisei men doing construction while incarcerated at Tule Lake, California. They are kneeling and crouching on a raised wooden deck outside a barrack. Two of them are using hand saws to cut boards. Two are holding hammers. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: csumb_ms15_0049

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-44-49/

img Nisei woman carrying a beam (ddr-csujad-44-50)

A photograph of a Nisei woman walking while carrying a beam at Tule Lake, California. Two other people are walking behind her, each carrying a chair. Another person behind her is carrying an American flag. A barrack is in the background. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: csumb_ms15_0050

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-44-50/

img Nisei men grouped around the back of truck (ddr-csujad-44-48)

A photograph of seven Nisei men, incarcerated at Tule Lake, California, grouped around the back of a large truck. The truck is loaded with furniture and boxes. Three men are in the truck bed. Four men are on the ground bending over a crate. A barrack is visible behind them. See this object in the California …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-44-48/

img Photograph of Dr. Morse Little and family getting ready to depart (ddr-csujad-47-315)

Photograph of Dr. Morse and Christine Little with their two sons and the family dog as they are getting ready to depart Manzanar incarceration camp. Behind them is a car, utility pole, several buildings and the Inyo mountains. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0470

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-315/

img Photograph of Edna Anderson at a Manzanar hospital staff picnic (ddr-csujad-47-285)

Photograph of Edna Anderson sitting on a picnic blanket near Manzanar incarceration camp at a hospital staff picnic. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0434

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-285/

img Photograph of L. Josephine Hawes, Edna Anderson, and Eleanor Thomas at a picnic table (ddr-csujad-47-306)

Photograph of L. Josephine Hawes, Edna Anderson, Eleanor Thomas and a woman, sitting at a picnic table near the Manzanar incarceration camp at a hospital staff picnic. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0455

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-306/

img Photograph of man standing in a farm field at Manzanar with Sierra Nevada in the background (ddr-csujad-47-58)

Photograph of a man standing in the middle of a farm field near Manzanar incarceration camp. The crop looks fully grown, and there is a tractor in the middle left of the photograph. The Sierra Nevada can be seen in the background. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0093

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-58/

img Photograph of hospital nurses in the Manzanar hospital park (ddr-csujad-47-266)

Photograph of three hospital nurses posed in the hospital garden at the Manzanar incarceration camp. They are all wearing nurses uniforms. The hospital is visible in the background. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0414

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-266/

img Photograph of Irene Gavigan holding an infant at Manzanar (ddr-csujad-47-226)

Photograph of Irene Gavigan holding an infant while sitting on a blanket in front of a building at Manzanar incarceration camp. The building is possibly the hospital. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0370

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-226/

img Photograph of the hospital staff aides in front of the Manzanar hospital (ddr-csujad-47-194)

Photograph of the hospital staff aides in front of the Manzanar hospital at the Manzanar incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0330

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-194/

img Photograph of Dr. Morse Little and his two sons getting ready to depart (ddr-csujad-47-349)

Photograph of Dr. Morse Little and his two sons as they are getting ready to depart Manzanar incarceration camp. Behind them is a car, utility pole, several buildings and the Inyo mountains. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_1470

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-349/

img Photograph of Yone Akite and Lucille Carney standing in front of the Sierra Nevada (ddr-csujad-47-271)

Photograph of Yone Akite and Lucille Carney with two other women standing in front of a building at Manzanar incarceration camp. In the background a utility pole, building and the Sierra Nevada are visible. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0420

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-271/

img Photograph of L. Josephine Hawes, Mrs. Chamberlain and an army guard in Death Valley (ddr-csujad-47-97)

Photograph of L. Josephine Hawes, Theo Chamberlain and an army guard in Death Valley. The shadow of the photographer can be seen in the lower right corner. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0180

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-97/

img Photograph of eight hospital staff aides standing in front of the Manzanar hospital (ddr-csujad-47-196)

Photograph of eight hospital staff aides standing in front of the Manzanar hospital at the Manzanar incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0332

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-196/