Voices from within the camps

Climate and exposure

Many of the camps had been positioned in the middle of nowhere, many even in deserts. The lack of infrastructure allowed for great exposure of the changing conditions as can be seen in the photograph on the left.[1] There were mountains and arid landscape, not fit for living.

Dust storms occurred across many of the camps as well as extreme fluctuating temperatures. In certain places, like in Tule Lake, it had reached lows wells below 0°F.[2] Functioning can become difficult in these climates making basic tasks such as eating, breathing and showering more troublesome than necessary. 

 

 

 

 

How youth changed experiences

Children during this time relied heavily on the parental figures to keep them entertained and sheltered from the reality of the internment camps. The need for games was a necessity in the beginning of the camps as many of the schools within the camps were yet to be established.[3] Lack of education meant children had very little to do with their time and any forms of entertainment was necessary. Anne Chieko Moore was one of the lucky children with a prepared mother, buying nice items to bring along with them to the camps as well as finding a way for her children to bring jacks and balls. [4]

 

Jobs across the camps

One thing that people had to pass the time was to find a job available. Near the beginning there was a struggle to find jobs as the community had not been fully established. However some of the jobs that eventually become available were:

  • Police officers

  • Teachers and volunteer TAs

  • Cooks

  • Cleaners

  • Builders

  • Coal collectors

  • Shop owners

All of these options were within the camps, and there were even more available depending on what camp you examine.

Interview recommendations 

To engage further with the personal experience of the internment camps, it is best to listen to interviews conducted with the internees

Anne Chieko Moore

Harry Ueno

Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga

References

[1] Ansel Adams, View SW over Manzanar, dust storm, Manzanar Relocation Center [photograph] Densho 1943

[2] ‘For a very merry Christmas’, Manzanar Free Press, 30 November 1942 <https://downloads.densho.org/ddr-densho-125/ddr-densho-125-15-mezzanine-71a470f7fa.pdf?_gl=1*1b3uxf9*_gcl_au*MTMyMzI1Mzc3Ni4xNzc0OTcyMDE0> 

[3] Densho, First miserable summer in Poston- Chizuko Omori, 2019 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5--RWA82Lc&t=24s> 

[4] Anne Chieko Moore, interview by Ralph Kumano, Fresno, California, 1 July 2005, CSUDH Gerth Archives & Special Collections.