William F. Barker, left, is the first to register in Tacoma for unemployment insurance benefits, the first contributory phase of Social Security. With 4900 eligible unemployed in Pierce County, Washington Employment Office staff anticipated a stampede. The office opened at 8 a.m. and handled 200 claims in the first hour and 1,067 in the first two days. By the end of two weeks, they had received 3,000 applications and never experienced the expected rush. Registering Mr. Barker is Tom Rathbone, manager of the Tacoma district State Unemployment Service. Mr. Barker was a gardener by profession and lived at 5006 So. Oakes St. (T.Times, 1/3/1939, p. 1; 1/16/1939, pg. 12)

Unemployed--Tacoma--1930-1940; Depressions--1929; Washington State Employment Security Dept. (Tacoma); Offices--Tacoma--1930-1940; Barker, William F.;

Tom Rathbone, manager of the Tacoma district State Employment Service, registers William F. Barker, left, the first to sign-up in Tacoma for the state's new unemployment insurance program. Barker, a gardener by profession, has been unemployed since last September. Under the terms of the new program, the maximum payment during unemployment would be $15 a week for 16 weeks. Employers have been contributing for the past two years into the program. (T.Times, 1/3/1939, p. 1)

Unemployed--Tacoma--1930-1940; Depressions--1929; Washington State Employment Security Dept. (Tacoma); Offices--Tacoma--1930-1940; Barker, William F.; Rathbone, Tom;