Manzanar Relocation Center: From the Perspective of the WRA Photos
Licensing |
The Manzanar Relocation Center was one of the ten American concentration camps for Japanese Americans during World War II. The center was located in the Owens Valley 220 miles north of Los Angeles, California. It was opened in June 1, 1942 by the command of U.S. Army General John DeWitt. Sixty two percent of the inmates were American Citizens.
The following photos were downloaded from the National Archives. The photos were taken by War Relocation Authority (WRA) photographers who were constrained by WRA rules. The photos could not be sad or too happy. A sad photo would make the camp image suffer. A too happy photo would make the administrators look like coddlers.
An example of images being too sad are photos taken by Dorothea Lange which were impounded by the Army. Lange was subsequently fired from her job. Ref. Dinitia Smith, NY Times, Nov. 2006, Photographs of an Episode That Lives in Infamy Retrieved March 17, 2011.
View more photos here: (the photos are sorted by date, click on photos to enlarge.)
Manzanar Relocation Center Photo Album 1 >>
Manzanar Relocation Center Photo Album 2 >>
Manzanar Relocation Center Photo Album 3 >>
For those who would like more details about these images, go to the National Archives website at http://arcweb.archives.gov/arc/action/BasicSearchForm. Hit "Digital Copies" and set limit to 1000. Type in "Manzanar Relocation Center" and hit search.
Slides in this album |
|
Home Towns |
The inmates arrived by train.On March 2,1942, the first 82 Japanese Americans arrived at the camp. And by July 1942, Manzanar's population was nearly 10,000. The full caption for this photograph by the WRA reads: Lone Pine, California. Evacuees of Japanese ancestry arrive here by train and await buses for Manzanar, now a War …
Lone Pine, California. Evacuees of Japanese ancestry arrive here by train and await buses for Manzanar, now a War Relocation Authority center. Yoshisaburo Kitada and his dog Miki being assisted off of the train. |
Camp Sites were under guard.Barbed wire surrounded the camp site. Though the camp was supposed to be for the protection of the inmates, an inmate was shot by the fence. A total of 11 inmates shot at the camp. Eight watchtowers guarded the inmates as well. The caption for this photograph by the WRA …
Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Army military police go on duty to guard the boundaries of this War Relocation Authority center for evacuees of Japanese ancestry. |
Inmates lived in BarracksEach of 36 evacuee residential blocks consisted of 14 - 20X100 foot barracks Original caption: Manzanar, California. Dust storm at this War Relocation Authority center where evacuees of Japanese ancestry are spending the duration.
Manzanar, California. Dust storm at this War Relocation Authority center where evacuees of Japanese ancestry are spending the duration. |
Construction began in March 1942The camp was built by Griffith and Company, and most of the construction was completed within six weeks. The caption for this photograph by the WRA reads: Construction begins at Manzanar, now a War Relocation Authority center for evacuees of Japanese ancestry.
Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Construction begins at Manzanar, now a War Relocation Authority center for evacuees of Japanese ancestry. |
Inmates Came from Los Angeles90 percent of the evacuees came from the greater Los Angeles area. While others came from Stockton, California and Bainbridge Island, Washington. The full caption for this photograph by the WRA reads: Los Angeles, California. Evacuees of Japanese ancestry entraining for Manzanar, California, 250 miles away, where they are now …
Los Angeles, California. Evacuees of Japanese ancestry entraining for Manzanar, California, 250 miles away, where they are now housed in a War Relocation Authority center. |
Orphans in the CampsAll orphans with 1/16 or more Japanese blood in California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska, and even babies living in Caucasian foster homes, were sent to Manzanar. The caption for this photograph by the WRA reads: Evacuee orphans from an institution in San Francisco who are now established for the duration …
Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Evacuee orphans from an institution in San Francisco who are now established for the duration in the Childrens' Village at this War Relocation Authority center for evacuees of Japanese ancestry. Mrs. Harry |
Summers are hot (110 deg. F. high) and winters are cold (-9 deg. F. low)The caption for this photograph by the WRA reads: Evacuee children enjoying a hot summer afternoon in the mountain creek which flows through the desert on the border of this War Relocation Authority center.
Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Evacuee children enjoying a hot summer afternoon in the mountain creek which flows through the desert on the border of this War Relocation Authority center. |
Mens and Ladies Latrines; Laundry RoomThe full caption for this photograph reads: Looking west from Hall Number 1. The small square buildings in the center between rows of barracks are the laundry and sanitary units. Evacuees of Japanese ancestry are spending the duration in War Relocation Authority centers.
Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Looking west from Hall Number 1. The small square buildings in the center between rows of barracks are the laundry and sanitary units. Evacuees of Japanese ancestry are spending the duration in War Relocat |
Farms were built and harvested by the inmates.The caption for this photograph by the WRA reads: Field laborers hoeing corn on the farm project at this War Relocation Authority center for evacuees of Japanese ancestry.
Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Field laborers hoeing corn on the farm project at this War Relocation Authority center for evacuees of Japanese ancestry. |
Staff buildings for the WRA were built and run by the inmates as well.The full caption for this photograph reads: Office and other workers are given opportunities to follow their callings at War Relocation Authority centers for evacuees of Japanese ancestry. Trudes Osajima, (above), switchboard operator in the Administration Building.
Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Office and other workers are given opportunities to follow their callings at War Relocation Authority centers for evacuees of Japanese ancestry. Trudes Osajima, (above), switchboard operator in the Adminis |
The Post OfficeThe caption for this photograph by the WRA reads: Evacuees of Japanese ancestry receiving mail at Manzanar Post Office - a branch of the Los Angeles Post Office, more than 250 miles away. A two-cent stamp will send a letter by first-class mail from Manzanar to Los Angeles.
Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Evacuees of Japanese ancestry receiving mail at Manzanar Post Office - a branch of the Los Angeles Post Office, more than 250 miles away. A two-cent stamp will send a letter by first-class mail from Manzan |
Canteens of the FieldsThe caption for this photograph by the WRA reads: Masaro Takahashi, 19, evacuee farmer from Malibu Beach, takes a drink from a portable Army canteen on the farm at the relocation center.
Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Masaro Takahashi, 19, evacuee farmer from Malibu Beach, takes a drink from a portable Army canteen on the farm at the relocation center. |
The DentistThe caption for this photograph by the WRA reads: Evacuee dentists in the temporary dental clinic, at this War Relocation Authority Center, which cares for an average of 100 persons daily.
Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Evacuee dentists in the temporary dental clinic, at this War Relocation Authority Center, which cares for an average of 100 persons daily. |
Schools in the CampThe caption for this photograph by the WRA reads: A pupil of the third grade is taught to read and enjoy children's books, like any other young American boy. This picture was taken in a student training center, where student teachers are given college credit for their work here. All …
Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. A pupil of the third grade is taught to read and enjoy children's books, like any other young American boy. This picture was taken in a student training center, where student teachers are given college cre |
DoctorsThe caption for this photograph by the WRA reads: Doctor James Goto, Medical Director of Japanese ancestry is in charge of all medical work at this War Relocation Authority center. He has had six years of experience as House Surgeon in the Los Angeles General Hospital, prior to evacuation.
Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Doctor James Goto, Medical Director of Japanese ancestry is in charge of all medical work at this War Relocation Authority center. He has had six years of experience as House Surgeon in the Los Angeles Gen |
HospitalsThe caption for this photograph by the WRA reads: Emergency hospital housed in temporary quarters at this War Relocation Authority center for evacuees of Japanese ancesrty. The modern new hospital is almost ready for occupancy as shown in Photo C-851.
Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Emergency hospital housed in temporary quarters at this War Relocation Authority center for evacuees of Japanese ancesrty. The modern new hospital is almost ready for occupancy as shown in Photo C-851. |
Camouflage net factoryThe caption for this photograph by the WRA reads: Making camouflage nets for the War Department. This is one of several War and Navy Department projects carried on by persons of Japanese ancestry in relocation centers.
Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Making camouflage nets for the War Department. This is one of several War and Navy Department projects carried on by persons of Japanese ancestry in relocation centers. |
174 internees were inducted into the armed forces.The caption for this photograph by the WRA reads: Lt. Eugene Bogard explaining the purpose of registration to Japanese and Japanese Americans. Similar meetings were held at all centers for the purpose of registering all evacuees between the ages of 18 and 38.
Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Lt. Eugene Bogard explaining the purpose of registration to Japanese and Japanese Americans. Similar meetings were held at all centers for the purpose of registering all evacuees between the ages of 18 and |
Over 135 people died at Manzanar. 28 were buried in the cemetery. After the camp closed, six remained at the Manzanar cemetery.The caption for this photograph by the WRA reads: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. The first grave at the Manzanar Center's cemetery. It is that of Matsunosuke Murakami, 62, who died of heart disease on May 16. He had been ill ever since he arrived here with the first contingent …
Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. The first grave at the Manzanar Center's cemetery. It is that of Matsunosuke Murakami, 62, who died of heart disease on May 16. He had been ill ever since he arrived here with the first contingent and had |
Manzanar TodayOn November 21,1945, Manzanar closed. Manzanar is a National Historic Site administered by the National Park Service. |