Ruby Gray and Leonard Butler display two rare celebrity items that were to be auctioned on Saturday, March 15, 1969, to benefit the Tri-Mart Youth Center. One is a pen used by President Lyndon Baines Johnson to sign a bill. The other, a beautiful scarf, once belonged to Princess Grace of Monaco. Among the other items to be auctioned was one of Bing Crosby's wallets. The Tri-Mart Youth Center was sponsored by the Tri-Mart Multi-Service Center, a unit of the Tacoma-Pierce County Opportunity & Development, Inc. Photograph ordered by the O.D.I. (TNT 3-14-69, A-6)

Gray, Ruby; Butler, Leonard; Auctions--Tacoma--1960-1970; Pens; Scarves; African Americans--Tacoma--1960-1970;

On November 14, 1968, a group of young children and teenagers aged 6-20 formed a picket line in front of the Tri-Mart Youth Center at 4515 So. M Street. They were attempting to stir up interest in the youth center where more adults were needed to help out. An open house for adults was scheduled for that day; however, only five adults turned out for the meeting. Leonard Butler, the new Tri-Mart youth director, believed that neighborhood adult participation was necessary for the growth of the center. The small turnout by adults, though disappointing, did not deter youth center members who planned to bring their pickets to the state capitol steps the following week. The Tri-Mart Youth Center was sponsored by the Tri-Mart Multi-Service Center, a unit of the Tacoma-Pierce County Opportunity & Development, Inc. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma-Pierce County Opportunity & Development, Inc. (TNT 11-13-68, C-14, TNT 11-17-68, A-12) TPL-9147

Pickets--Tacoma--1960-1970; Youth organizations--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tri-Mart Youth Center (Tacoma);