Gila River Relocation Center, Arizona

A map of the layout of the camp.

Eleanor Roosevelt visiting the camp.

Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, accompanied by Dillon Myer, National Director of the War Relocation Authority, visit the Gila River Relocation Center, where they were greeted by crowds of enthusiastic evacuees.

Representatives of councils greet Mrs. [Eleanor] Roosevelt.

Itaro Nakata, former operator of an experimental nursery in Tracy, California, is shown with some choice specimens of larkspurs grown at the nursery here. Itaro has had 20 years experience in the nursery business and has developed and patented many new types of chrysanthemums.

Part of the farming work involved experimentation.

S. Ishimoto, former resident of El Centro, California, is shown at the dairy farm school, here. He will be the milk barn foreman as soon as it has been completed, but now is helping to train evacuee students. At El Centro, he owned and operated a 200 cow dairy.

Group picture of a class with the instructor at the blackboard, giving a lecture on dehydration.

Where ship models were built for the U.S. military.

Wataru Ichinotsubo, former produce market employee form Los Angeles, California, is shown sandpapering the hull of a model into final shape in the model ship factory here. These ships are carefully constructed for the Navy by the Japanese-American craftsmen.

A collection of ship models made for the Navy in the model ship factory at the Gila Relocation Center. All of these models are replicas of German warships and are used in the identification training program. Oscar Julius, plant manager explains ship characteristics to Mary Iwamura (left), and Errol Ishii, plant foreman.

Kindergarten and Nursery children having a grand time on the see-saw.

Evacuee participants who marched in the Harvest Festival Parade held at this center on Thanksgiving day

Pretty evacuee girls rode in this float in the Harvest Festival Parade which was held at this center on Thanksgiving day.

An evacuee of Japanese ancestry contemplates a move in the age-old game of "Go".

Ration book being issued to the resettlers. On September 15, two weeks before the Canal Camp at Rivers, Arizona, was to close, only 635 people remained and 370 of these had bus or train reservations for the following week (the Canal Camp once had more than 5,000 residents). Most of the people are going out by special Greyhound buses. Their property, crated for freight shipment, is picked up at their homes and stored in project warehouses until it is loaded on the heavy trucking vans. Before the relocators leave the Center they get their special Relocation Grant from the Agent Cashier. Farm machinery, once used in the production of vegetables and melons for Gila and other centers, now is assembled ready to be moved from the Center. All the livestock is gone and buildings and fences are being torn down.

Growing daikon on the farms.

Evacuees returning to their former homes in California by Greyhound bus. On September 15, two weeks before the Canal Camp at Rivers, Arizona, was to close, only 635 people remained and 370 of these had bus or train reservations for the following week (the Canal Camp once had more than 5,000 residents). Most of the people are going out by special Greyhound buses. Their property, crated for freight shipment, is picked up at their homes and stored in project warehouses until it is loaded on the heavy trucking vans. Before the relocators leave the Center they secure their travel vouchers and their ration books from the Leave Office and get their special Relocation Grant from the Agent Cashier. Farm machinery, once used in the production of vegetables and melons for Gila and other centers, now is assembled ready to be moved from the Center. All the livestock is gone and buildings and fences are being torn down.

Students preparing carrots for dehydration. Carrots are peeled, sliced cross-wise, washed, and then steamed before the drying process is started.

A view of cauliflower, which is being grown for its seed. Most cauliflower seed came from Denmark, but since the war that supply has been cut off. A very small amount is grown in California and Colorado, but has never been grown before in Arizona. Indications are that the experiment will be successful. Last year cauliflower seed sold for $45 per pound, and it is expected to sell for $70 or $75 per pound this year. 4/24/43

Participants of Japanese ancestry who participated in the Harvest Festival Parade held at this center on Thanksgiving day. 11/26/42

Two of the evacuees carrying the J.A.C.L. banner in the Harvest Festival Parade held at this center on Thanksgiving day.

A group of V...- girls who participated in the Harvest Festival Parade at the Gila River Center on Thanksgiving day. 11/26/42

Pretty evacuee girls rode in this float in the Harvest Festival Parade which was held at this center on Thanksgiving day. 11/26/42

A float in the Harvest Festival Parade held at this center on Thanksgiving. . 11/26/42

The Buddhist Church at camp two at this relocation center.

A line of evacuees waiting for lunch at one of the mess halls

Sunrise services (Christian) which were held at this center Thanksgiving day. 11/26/42

Sgt . Kazuo Komoto, veteran of Guadalcanal and New Georgia, shows his medal, the Purple Heart, to his younger brother, Susumu, while visiting his parents at the Gila River Relocation Center near Phoenix, Arizona. 10/31/43

Butte Nursery and Kindergarten children's snack hour. 3/24/44

Servicemen's Monument. 4/10/44

Pvt. Joe Watanabe and his family. Pvt. Watanabe left with the first group of inductees for Camp Blanding, Florida.