Minidoka Relocation Center: From the Perspective of the WRA Photos
Licensing |
The Minidoka Relocation Center was one of the ten American concentration camps for Japanese Americans during World War II. The center was located 15 miles north of Twin Falls, Idaho. It was opened in August 10, 1942 by the War Relocation Authority. 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. The photos are sorted by date. Click below and click on photos to enlarge:
Minidoka Relocation Center Photo Album >>
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 "Minidoka Relocation Center" and hit search.
Slides in this album |
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Minidoka Relocation Center 08/18/1942This view taken from the top of the water tower at the east end of the Center, shows partially completed barracks.
Minidoka Relocation Center 08/18/1942 |
Mud from rain and melting snow 12/10/1942
Mud from rain and melting snow 12/10/1942 |
Arriving at Minidoka 08/17/1942
Arriving at Minidoka 08/17/1942 |
06/1943 Dedication of the flag poleDedication of the flag pole at Stafford Elementary School Conducted by the Boy Scouts of the Hunt troop. The Stafford School is one of two elementary schools in the Minidoka Relocation Center.
06/1943 Dedication of the flag pole |
Minidoka Relocation Center
Minidoka Relocation Center |
The Concentration Camp
The Concentration Camp |
Military Service
Military Service |
Facilities Built by the Inmates
Facilities Built by the Inmates |
Conversion of a Military Camp to an Internment Center by the Inmates
Conversion of a Military Camp to an Internment Center by the Inmates |
Minidoka Today
Minidoka Today |