Pictorial Travel Diary - Day 2 - New Arrivals

Pictorial Travel Diary - Day 2 - New Arrivals
Originally uploaded by Nana S

"Manzanar’s wood and tarpaper barracks were no match for Owens Valley’s wind, dust, and extreme temperatures. Congressman Leland Ford, visiting Manzanar in 1943, remarked, ‘On dusty days one might as well be outside.’ In addition to dealing with crowded conditions and a lack of privacy, internees also had to make do with the few belongings they brought with them. As Yuri Tateishi recalled, ‘What hurt most I think was seeing those hay mattresses… It was depressing, such a primitive feeling. We were given army blankets and army cots. Our family was large enough that we didn’t have to share our barrack with another family, but all seven of us were in one room.’”