History Vault: Japanese American Incarceration; Records of the War Relocation Authority (1942-1946)

Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the U.S. entry into World War II in December 1941, the Roosevelt administration decided that for reasons of “military necessity,” the government would incarcerate all persons of Japanese heritage from the West Coast states. The Records of the War Relocation Authority document the day-today running of the 10 concentration camps from 1942-1946. The collection is organized by relocation center. Records include reports and correspondence on issues such as security, education, health, vocational training, agriculture, food, and family welfare.