LIFE IN THE CAMPS

Surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards, internees rebuilt their communities in the prison-like conditions over the next three years. Families lived in cramped, military barracks and shared dining and bathroom facilities.

Internees were offered employment at very low wages. They filled many positions, from farming to health care, to keep the camps running. Children were required to attend school. Internees taught classes and tried to maintain education standards with few resources.

As time went on, people became politically active, electing representatives to fight for better conditions in the camps.

They also organized activities to maintain a semblance of ordinary life. Clubs and church groups formed. Sports were a very popular pastime. Internee-run newspapers even included the scores of camp baseball games while chronicling daily life.

Sources: Library of Congress, National Archives, Digital Public Library of America, National Park Service, Japanese American National Museum, the442.org