Drum majorettes Phylis Scott (left) and Marilyn Nelson sold Mayor Harry P. Cain a "forget-me-not" or "Buddy Poppy," for the benefit of Disabled American Veterans, at his office in (Old) City Hall in early September of 1941. The annual fund raiser was directed by chairman Floyd Brassfield of the Tacoma Chapter No. 1, Disabled American Veterans. The proceeds from the sale were used to support various veterans' relief programs; the VFW made no profit from the sale. (T.Times 9-4-41, p. 2) ALBUM 12.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; Disabled American Veterans, Tacoma Post No. 1 (Tacoma); Scott, Phylis; Nelson, Marilyn; Drum majorettes--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On September 23, 1940, Wendell Willkie shook hands with another Republican candidate for office while on the rear platform of the "Willkie Special" train. The man to the right is believed to be Paul Preus, Congressional candidate. Mr. Preus was running to represent the people in Pierce and King counties, outside of Seattle. He was from Parkland and a financial agent for Pacific Lutheran College. Mr. Willkie was joined by Mr. Preus and several other notables including Arthur B. Langlie on his brief stopover in Tacoma. (T. Times, Election Guide 8-31-40, p. 7, T.Times, 9-23-40, p. 1, T.Times, 9-24-40, p. 1)

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Political campaigns; Presidential elections--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shaking hands--Tacoma;

Wendell Willkie, the Republican candidate for President in 1940, stands at a microphone at the back of a Northern Pacific train car. The "Willkie Special" arrived in Tacoma on September 23, 1940, from Portland on a campaign swing through the west coast states. Although he only stayed in Tacoma for roughly an hour, Mr. Willkie made several stops including one at the Northern Pacific Shops in South Tacoma and a second at the Wheeler-Osgood plant on the tideflats. Wendell Willkie challenged Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the 1940 elections. Although he lost handily in the electoral voting, his popular vote was only slightly less than Mr. Roosevelt's. ALBUM 2. (T. Times, 9-23-40, p.1, T.Times, 9-24-40, p. 1)

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Presidential elections--Tacoma--1940-1950; Public speaking--Tacoma;

On Monday afternoon, September 23, 1940, Republican Presidential candidate Wendell Willkie addressed a crowd of 200 to 300 Tacomans from an open automobile in front of Lincoln High School. Mr. Willkie and his entourage on the train the "Willkie Special" had pulled into the Northern Pacific Railroad shops a short time before during a planned one-hour visit to Tacoma. Lincoln High School was one of just four planned stops Mr. Willkie made while in Tacoma; the tubas and horns of the Lincoln band greeted him as well as the Pacific Lutheran College chorus. South "G" Street is packed with supporters of Mr. Willkie and curious on-lookers. He was the first Republican candidate for President to visit Washington state in 24 years. ALBUM 2. (T. Times, 9-23-40, p. 1, T.Times, 9-24-40, p. 1))

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Presidential elections--Tacoma--1940-1950; Public speaking--Tacoma; Crowds--Tacoma; Lincoln High School (Tacoma);

Army officers, city officials, and Mayor Harry P. Cain planning bomb show at Stadium Bowl. Mayor Cain is standing third from right. Stadium High School is in the background. City officials joined Army personnel on August 4, 1942, in planning a practical demonstration of how civilians might protect themselves against incendiary bombs if dropped in enemy air raids. Temporary buildings, including seven "homes" and a three-story "hotel," would be constructed in Stadium Bowl on which bombs would be deliberately set off. Techniques to put out bombs would include stream and spray methods, "dunking in bathtubs," and what to do when the bombs burn themselves out. The demonstration would draw some 10,000 spectators on the evening of August 19th. On Stadium's field are: Elmer Bashey of Public Works, Lt. Jack Barrows, City health director Dr. Lee (Leland E.) Powers, local CD coordinator Frank Evans, Public utilities first aid expert Theodore O. Powers, Mayor Cain, Chief air warden Fred Sandstrom and Capt. Charles Eisenbacher of the Tacoma Fire Department. (T.Times 8-5-42, p. 2; TNT 8-19-42, p. 1, TNT 8-20-42, p. 1-articles on bomb demonstration)

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Stadium High School (Tacoma); Bashey, Elmer; Barrows, Jack; Powers, Leland E.; Evans, Frank; Powers, Theodore O.; Sandstrom, Fred; Eisenbacher, Charles J.;

Thor and Eva Tollefson getting handy in an informal "Home Portrait". They may have been placing decals on the wooden table. Mrs. Tollefson holds a decal of a dashing matador as her next selection. There is a hammer under Mr. Tollefson's hand; he seems to have been prepared for heavy-duty work. Carpentry was a Tollefson hobby; he had made the small round table pictured here and done most of the work on the basement rumpus room. Thor Tollefson had just been re-elected as Pierce County Prosecutor by a wide margin in 1942, an office he held for another four years before making a successful bid for a Congressional seat. (T. Times, 11-4-42, p. 1) ALBUM 4.

Tollefson, Thor C., 1901-1982; Tollefson, Eva; Decals;

On June 15, 1942, scrap rubber collected by Boy Scouts is stacked between a brick building and the railroad tracks at Standard Oil Company on Tideflats. Mayor Harry P. Cain and a woman stand by Scouts on track. The Scouts brought in about 16 tons (32,000 lbs.) on the first day of the rubber drive. President Franklin D. Roosevelt had ordered a nationwide scrap rubber collection campaign between 6/15 12:01 a.m. and 6/30 12 midnight. Tacoma's quota was 2,000,000 lbs (1,000 tons.) The scrap rubber would be sold to the Rubber Recovery Corporation, a new government unit. Recycling was neccessary as the Japanese had cut off 92 % of the U.S.'s normal sources of crude rubber. (T. Times)

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boy Scouts (Tacoma)--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Scrap drives; Scrap drives--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tires;

Mayor Harry P. Cain makes a broadcast appeal over station KMO for the Tacoma Community Chest from the Mayor's Office in (Old) City Hall. The Community Chest preceded the United Way. ALBUM 13. TPL-10183

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Radio broadcasting--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Mayor Harry P. Cain greets men gathered at a June 10, 1942, meeting of the South Tacoma Kiwanis Club in honor of Glenn Reeves. Mr. Reeves, also in the receiving line, was the vice-president of North Pacific Bank. He was retiring in June of 1942 and planned to move to Seattle to assume the presidency and active management of Seattle Radio Supply. 150 friends attended the farewell meeting which was held at the South Tacoma Masonic Temple. (TNT 6-11-42, p. 8) ALBUM 13.

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Reeves, Glenn A.; South Tacoma Kiwanis Club (Tacoma);

Tacoma's brand new mayor, Val Fawcett, (center) with two unidentified men while attending the Electrical Products Banquet at the University - Union Club on June 3, 1946. Mayor Fawcett had been sworn into office that morning. He had served four terms as finance commissioner and also served as acting mayor during Harry P. Cain's absence. Mayor Fawcett's father, Angelo, was also Tacoma's mayor for several terms. ALBUM 14.

Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Mayor Val Fawcett, son of the celebrated Mayor A.V. Fawcett, at (Old) City Hall for his swearing in ceremony on June 3, 1946. Members of the city council flank the mayor. They are: (l-r) L.W. "Roy" Craig, Abner R. Bergersen, Robert S. Temme and C.A. "Clif" Erdahl. (T.Times 6-3-46, p. 1)

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Craig, L.W.; Bergersen, Abner R.; Temme, Robert S.; Erdahl, C.A.; Municipal officials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Newly sworn in mayor Val Fawcett posed proudly with his immediate family on June 3, 1946. This is a cropped version of D22427, image 6, with the portrait of Mayor A.V. Fawcett nearly removed. Mayor Val Fawcett is holding his granddaughter Linda Knecht, and is flanked by wife Linda (with orchid corsage) and mother Margaret, widow of A.V. Next to Margaret Fawcett is Val's daughter, also named Margaret and her husband, Norbert Knecht. ALBUM 14.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965--Family;

Manuel Acuna Roxas ( L) , President-elect of the Philippines, and U.S. High Commissioner Paul McNutt (R) conclude their breakfast with Col. A.S. Strickland, commander of McChord Field, with very little privacy, during a fuel stopover on a flight from Manila to Washington, D.C. The press are ready with their cameras, newsreel equipment and high intensity lights as Mr. Roxas would be reading from a prepared speech shortly thereafter. This was Mr. Roxas' first trip to the United States since 1939. He would be conferring with President Truman regarding his country's offer to allow military bases on the Islands. Manuel Acuna Roxas would be the independent Republic of the Philippines first president. He would die in office in 1948, suffering a heart attack during a speech at Clark AFB. (TNT 5-9-46, p. 1) ALBUM 3.

Visits of state--Tacoma; Roxas, Manuel Acuna, 1892-1948; McNutt, Paul V.; Strickland, A.S.; Eating & drinking--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Manuel Acuna Roxas, Philippines President-elect, and U.S. High Commissioner Paul McNutt chat with Col. A.S. Strickland, commander of McChord Field, where the C-54 Army transport airplane from Manila to Washington, D.C., had stopped to fuel. Tacoma was the midway point of a trip that had originated in Manila, continued on to Tokyo, and then the Aleutians before arriving at McChord Field. The Philippines President-elect was en route to confer with President Truman regarding an offer of military bases and support in the newly independent country. Mr. Roxas and Mr. McNutt spent an hour at the McChord Field Officers Club enjoying coffee with their Air Force hosts before departing at approximately 9:30 a.m. (TNT 5-9-46, p. 1) ALBUM 3. TPL-10373

Visits of state--Tacoma; Roxas, Manuel Acuna, 1892-1948; McNutt, Paul V.; Strickland, A.S.; Transport planes--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Acting Mayor Val Fawcett, far right in photo, greets veterans returning on the transport USS Admiral Coontz on October 10, 1945. L to R: Sgts. Robert Kusek, Ole Leland and Robert Breen, Lt. John Watkins, Capt. Kenneth Peterson. The five were part of the 4,609 troops arriving from Okinawa and debarking at the Port of Tacoma. Army convoys would whisk the veterans to Northeast Fort Lewis for processing and freedom. (T. Times 10-10-45, p. 1) ALBUM 14. TPL-10385

Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Kusek, Robert; Leland, Ole; Breen, Robert; Watkins, John; Peterson, Kenneth; Shaking hands--Tacoma;

In December of 1945 Mayor Harry P. Cain returned to Tacoma to once again take up his mayoral duties. In 1943 he had taken a leave of absence from his elected office to enter the Army as a major. He left the city in the capable hands of C. Val Fawcett, who had previously served as Commissioner of Finance. By the end of the war Mayor Cain had risen in rank to Lieutenant Colonel. Once back in office he served as mayor of Tacoma until June 15, 1946, when he chose to run for the U.S. Senate. Album 13.

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Military uniforms--United States;

Mayor Harry P. Cain takes delivery of his all new 1946 Pontiac in early February, 1946, from Tacoma Auto Sales, who ordered this for publicity. Tacoma Auto Sales, located on Commerce St., provided sales and service for Pontiacs and Cadillacs. ALBUM 13.

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Auto Sales Co. (Tacoma); Pontiac automobile;

Senator-elect Harry P. Cain receives a token of appreciation from his Interlaaken neighbors during a banquet in honor of Cain and wife Marjorie at Clover Park High School. Ray W. Thompson makes the presentation to Harry Cain. ALBUM 13.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Thompson, Ray W.; Banquets;

Senator-elect Harry P. Cain speaks to his Interlaaken neighbors during a banquet in his honor at Clover Park High School on November 15, 1946. A solemn looking Cain has the full attention of the group, including his wife, Marjorie, seated at the head table. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Cain was a graduate of the University of the South and worked in the newspaper and banking fields before becoming mayor of Tacoma in 1940. He would serve one term as U.S. Senator and after his unsuccessful re-election bid, became a member of the Subversive Activities Control Board in Washington D.C. from 1953-1956. Harry P. Cain would move to Florida in 1957 where he resumed banking business and civic work. He died there on March 3, 1979. (Biographical Directory of the United States Congress) ALBUM 13.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Banquets;

Henry A. Wallace with supporters during a Democratic campaign visit to Tacoma. He appears to be making his point clear as everyone is smiling broadly. Mr. Wallace grew up in a Republican household where his father was Secretary of Agriculture from 1921-1924. Mr. Wallace, himself, became a Democrat and helped to bring his native Iowa into the Roosevelt camp in 1932. Although he was asked to resign from his Secretary of Commerce post by President Truman, Mr. Wallace still considered himself a Democrat and asked Democrats to continue to support progressive representatives in the upcoming election. He warned against complacency and urged party members to get to the polls and settle any differences within the party later. Mr. Wallace was the US Vice-President from 1941-45 and later was the (Third) Progressive Party's candidate for the 1948 presidential elections. This sepia photograph was taken on October 28, 1946. (T. Times, 10-29-46, p. 1) ALBUM 2.

Wallace, Henry A., 1888-1965; Political elections--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Stumping for his fellow Democrats, Henry A. Wallace tells a crowd of 3000 and a radio audience that a Communist "is a Democrat with a job a Republican wants" at a campaign rally held at the Armory on October 28, 1946. Wallace, Vice President 1941-45, went on to become the Progressive Party's candidate for President in 1948. He was a plant geneticist, agricultural leader, editor, cabinet member, as well as serving as Roosevelt's vice-president in his third term as president. He was asked to resign as Secretary of Commerce by President Truman due to his public criticism of the administration's hard-line policy toward the Soviet Union. Mr. Wallace was to make a run for the presidency in 1948 as the Progressive Party nominee, representing a newly organized third party with a pro-Soviet stance. He received only 2.4% of the vote and left the party in 1950 after disagreeing with its non-support of the Korean War. He withdrew from politics and resumed activity in the agricultural field. (T. Times, 10-29-46, p. 1) ALBUM 2.

Wallace, Henry A., 1888-1965; Political elections--Tacoma--1940-1950; Public speaking--Tacoma;

Mayor Val Fawcett, seated center, and city Public Utilities Commissioner C.A. "Clif" Erdahl (seated foreground) listen patiently to delegations from church groups and others, who have just delivered petitions calling for the outlawing of pinball machines. A city Legal Department memo, dated 12/29/1946, is on the table in foreground. Despite two hours of fervent protest by council visitors, the mayor and council would go on to pass an emergency ordinance on December 30, 1946, amending pinball regulations in the city. Pinball machines would not be outlawed but instead have a 5% tax on these "payoff" machines. ALBUM 14. (T.Times 12-30-46, p. 1, 14-article; TNT 12-30-46, p. 1-article)

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Petitions--Tacoma;

Farewell party on Christmas Eve for Senator-elect Harry P. Cain (fifth from right in photo) and wife Marjorie (third from right) at the University - Union Club, prior to their departure for Washington, DC. Congressman Thor Tollefson is second from right with wife Eva. Cain was a former mayor of Tacoma. ALBUM 13.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Legislators--Washington--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Cain, Marjorie Dils, 1908-1994; Tollefson, Thor C., 1901-1982; Tollefson, Eva;

Pierce County Prosecutor Thor Tollefson, on left in photo, shakes hands with Eric A. Johnston of Spokane, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, during a Republican banquet in Tacoma. 1500 Republicans attended the gigantic banquet at the Masonic Temple Fellowship Hall which opened the 1944 campaign for Pierce County Republicans. Prosecuting Attorney Tollefson had the honor of introducing Mr. Johnston who gave a rousing speech. Mr. Tollefson would run for a Congressional seat in 1946, defeating incumbent Democrat John Coffee, and hold that seat for the following eight Congresses. Mr. Johnston would serve four terms as head of the C & C and later hold the office of president of the Motion Picture Association of America for 18 years. (TNT 11-13-43, p. 1) ALBUM 4.

Tollefson, Thor C., 1901-1982; Johnston, Eric A.;

Wendell Willkie, 1940 Republican Presidential nominee and titular head of the party, listens to Governor Arthur Langlie speak at Pierce County Republican Club 1944 Lincoln Day dinner at the Masonic Temple, where Mr. Willkie gave the main address. Governor Langlie had campaigned together with Mr. Willkie during the Indiana attorney's presidential run as he had sought the gubernatorial post. Mr. Willkie's speech was carried nationally over CBS. To accommodate the overwhelming demand for banquet tickets, extra tables were placed behind the head table. The Tacoma Times noted that Republicans were surprised at the large number of Democrats who attended the function. (T. Times, 2-12-44, p. 1) ALBUM 2.

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Governors; Public speaking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Guests--Tacoma--1940-1950;

1940 Republican Presidential candidate Wendell Willkie shakes hands with Tacoma Times publisher Frank W. Power at the Times office. Mr. Willkie was in Tacoma to address the Pierce County Republican Club's Lincoln Day dinner at the Masonic Temple. Mr. Power also took the time to introduce Mr. Willkie to his staff, including longtime editor, E.T. Short. (T. Times, 2-12-44, p. 1)

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Power, Frank W.; Tacoma Times Publishing Co. (Tacoma); Guests--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shaking hands--Tacoma;

1940 Republican Presidential candidate Wendell Willkie addressing a crowd in the Roof Garden of the Masonic Temple, including members of Stadium and Lincoln High School Bands, during the Pierce County Republican Club's 1944 Lincoln Day dinner. His main address took place in the Temple's Fellowship Hall; however, he made time to have informal conversations with these young people. (T.Times, 2-12-44, p. 1)

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Public speaking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Guests--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In February of 1944, Wendell Willkie (far right) while visiting the Tacoma Times at their plant at 919 Market Street was photographed shaking hands with editor E.T.Short. Standing in the background center was Times publisher Frank W. Power; the other man far left is not identified. Mr. Willkie, the defeated 1940 Republican Presidential candidate, was planning another run at the nomination in 1944 and was in town to address a Lincoln Day gathering at the Masonic Temple. Veteran newsman E.T. Short was known to be critical of Mr. Willkie's political stands. Wendell Willkie did not receive the support he expected in the 1944 Republican race and withdrew early; he died suddenly of heart problems a few months later in October of 1944. (T. Times, 2-12-44, p. 1) ALBUM 2.

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Short, Edgar T.; Power, Frank W.;

1940 Republican Presidential candidate Wendell Willkie and Tacoma Times staff members in front of the Times office while Mr. Willkie was in Tacoma to address Pierce County Republican Club's Lincoln Day dinner at the Masonic Temple. Mr. Willkie, in glasses, is apparently examining a bound volume of the newspaper. It was not his first time in Tacoma as he had made a brief stop in 1940 while campaigning. (T. Times. 2-12-44, p. 1)

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Tacoma Times Publishing Co. (Tacoma);

Wendell Willkie, 1940 Republican Presidential candidate and titular party head, and Mrs. Willkie in an open automobile after the Pierce County Republican Club's 1944 Lincoln Day dinner at the Masonic Temple where Mr. Willkie gave the main address. Curious onlookers of all ages surround the vehicle. This was not Mr. Willkie's first time in Tacoma; in 1940 during his presidential campaign, he traveled on the "Willkie Special" train throughout Oregon and Washington and made a brief one-hour stop. During his short stay in Tacoma, he was able to speak to throngs at Lincoln High School and the depot, tour the Osgood-Wheeler plant, and stop at his downtown campaign office. (T.Times, 2-12-44, p. 1) ALBUM 2.

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Willkie, Edith;