Federal Old Line Life Insurance dinner at the Armory. People seated at three long tables. (filed with Argentum)

Federal Old Line Life Insurance Co. (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma);

Stadium High School Class of 1940 graduation at the Armory. 649 students (318 boys and 331 girls) received their diplomas on June 6, 1940 as the third largest Stadium High School graduating class. It was the school's 57th graduation exercises. Graduates marched in to the tune of "Pomp and Circumstance" while proud family members and friends cheered and applauded. Shirley Nyman was the school's valedictorian and Mills College scholarship winner and four students shared the honor of being salutatorians: Dorothy Selden, David Glenn, Jr., Ruthi Crain and Patricia Russell. (TNT 6-7-1940, p. 1, p. 15-article & photographs of winners)

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1940-1950; State Armory (Tacoma); Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Lincoln High School Class of 1938 graduation at the Armory. A girl is standing at the microphone in front of graduates delivering a speech. (filed with Argentum)

Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1930-1940; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma);

On June 8, 1938, Lincoln High School graduated a record class of 709 at the Armory. The building was filled to capacity, with only parents and relatives of graduates allowed to attend. 1938 was the school's 24th annual graduation. After the graduation exercise, the Armory floor was cleared of chairs to provide room for dancing. (T. Times 6/8/1938, pg. 5; 6/9/1938, pg. 2)

Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1930-1940; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma);

Lincoln High School Class of 1933 Graduation at the Armory. (filed with Argentum)

Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1930-1940; State Armory (Tacoma);

Stadium High School Class of 1934 Graduation at the Armory. Instead of the now traditional cap and gown, the boys wear suits and ties and the girls wear floor length formal dresses and large corsages. The orchestra sits in folding chairs directly in front of the stage with parents and family members beyond. Stadium opened its doors as a high school in 1906; it is still in use today. The gothic spires of the French chateau look-alike at 111 No. "E" have become a Tacoma landmark.

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1930-1940; State Armory (Tacoma); Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Photograph taken October 3, 1939 of the interior of the new addition to the National Guard Armory, 715 So. 11th St., showing soldiers in formation with a small band on the right. The new addition was constructed in August of 1939 with funds supplied by the state and the PWA. It was 100 by 200 sq. feet with a 30 foot ceiling. Its curved roof replaced the former pillars, providing an unobstructed view. After the extensive remodel, the size of the space had increased by 1/3, with vast improvements also in lighting, ventilation and acoustics. (T. Times 10/7/1939, pg. 1) (filed with Argentum)

State Armory (Tacoma); Washington National Guard (Tacoma); Military personnel--Tacoma--1930-1940; Uniforms--Washington National Guard--1930-1940;

Outside view of National Guard Armory; old Pierce County Courthouse in the background. (filed with Argentum)

State Armory (Tacoma); Washington National Guard (Tacoma);

Miss Eilene Kezele lights the cigaret of Tommie Attleson, 146th FA National Guard, at the enlisted men's dance on November 13, 1940. The call had gone out for 25,000 young Tacoma girls to serve as dance partners. All enlisted men from McChord, Fort Lewis and Camp Murray were invited to attend. This was the second in a series of dances held at the Armory. (T. Times 11/14/1940, pg. 1 +, 11/8/1940, pg. 17)

Dance parties; Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; State Armory (Tacoma); Kezele, Eilene; Attleson, Tommie;

Miss Helen Johnson and Pvt. 1st Class Warren Daley jitterbug at the Tacoma Armory on Wednesday night, November 13, 1940 while a second unidentified couple watch. All men in uniform from McChord Field, Fort Lewis and Camp Murray were invited to the second in a series of enlisted men's dances. The 148th Field Artillery Orchestra provided the music. A plea was published in the November 8th Tacoma Times for 25,000 girls to serve as dance partners. (T. Times)

Dancers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dance parties; Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; State Armory (Tacoma); Johnson, Helen; Daley, Warren;

Rita Hermsen, a 1947 graduate of Lincoln High School, at the Tacoma Armory with her family. Rita Hermsen was one of the honored students that year. She was the winner of the Janet Hufford memorial award. (T. Times, 6/13/1947, p.1)

Hermsen, Rita--Family; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Colonel Wesley B. Hamilton pins a service medal onto the dress uniform of Captain Harold F. Broomell in a decorations ceremony held at the State Armory on January 13, 1947. Medals were presented to 137 local guardsmen for the duties they performed during World War II. Assisting Col. Hamilton are Col. A. W. McMorris and (far right) Lt.-Col. John H. Potter. The guardsmen receiving recognition are (l tor) Capt. Lloyd Sell Jr., Captain Harold F. Broomell, Captain William H. Dennis, Lt. Samuel Cusato, Lt. Oliver A. Keene, and Lt. H. R. Swartz. (T. Times, 1/14/47, p. 3).

Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Medals; Awards; Washington State Guard (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma);

Senator Albert D. Rosellini and a panel of seven other legislators opened a vice probe at the Tacoma Armory November 26, 1951. Over 40 witnesses were scheduled to testify before the legislative committee investigating crime and vice in Tacoma. Testimony covered gambling, pinball, prostitution, narcotics activities and marijuana purchases. One woman stated that her husband committed suicide following accumulating heavy gambling losses. She had received threats to her and her children if she did not pay. One city official contended that Army authorities had asked him to keep "certain establishments open" to provide "relaxation" for troops. Two television cameras broadcast the hearing live. Murray Morgan is seated to the left of the man with headphones behind the KTBI broadcast equipment. (TNT, 11/27/1951, p.1; 11/28/1951, p.1) TPL-6489

State Armory (Tacoma); Governmental investigations--Tacoma; Morgan, Murray, 1916-2000;

Jing Ho Ling (at left) was Stadium High School Class of 1943's co-valedictorian and was among the 541 graduates honored at ceremonies held at the State Armory on June 2, 1943. Miss Ling, of Chinese descent, posed that night with her parents and eight brothers and sisters. The children are probably standing in order of age; from left Shun Chih, Jing Noe, Shun Hung; Shun Chow, Jing Chuan, Jing Chu, Shun Mei, Ling Yet Sze (mother), Shun Lein and Ling Yunan (father). Miss Ling also received the College of Puget Sound scholarship of $50 per semester and plans a nursing career. (T.Times 6-3-43, p. 1-alt. photograph)

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ling, Jing Ho; Ling Yet Sze; Ling Yunan; Families--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chinese American families--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chinese Americans--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Stadium High School Class of 1943 graduation at Armory. (T. Times)

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1940-1950; State Armory (Tacoma); Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Stadium High School Class of 1943 graduation at Armory. (T. Times)

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1940-1950; State Armory (Tacoma); Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1943. Unit of soldiers marching in street past the National Guard Armory in this photograph taken sometime in 1943. Large shade trees line the parking strip in front of the Armory.

Marching--Tacoma--1940-1950; Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; State Armory (Tacoma);

Group of uniformed men sitting and standing in front of armory

There is no doubt who is running on the Republican ticket for president in 1948. Large emblem-style portraits of Thomas Dewey and Earl Warren decorated the stage of Tacoma's State Armory on the occasion of California Governor Warren's brief visit on October 14, 1948. Governor Warren was photographed standing behind the decorated podium with his wife and children seated on an elevated portion of the stage directly behind him. An enthusiastic crowd of over 5,000 warmly greeted Governor Warren, including hundreds of women who passed through a reception line earlier honoring the vice-presidential candidate and his family. Governor Warren's address touched principally on America's need for a merchant marine able to "make an honorable bid for its share of the world's commerce." (TNT 10-15-48, p. 1) ALBUM 2.

Warren, Earl, 1891-1974; Warren, Earl--Family; Public speaking--Tacoma; Political elections--Tacoma--1940-1950;

California Governor Earl Warren, Republican Vice-Presidential candidate and future Supreme Court Chief Justice, and wife smile at each other while on the platform during rally at Tacoma Armory. Governor Warren was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of 5000 plus. Mrs. Warren was the former Nina Palmquist. Born in Sweden, she grew up in Oakland, California. Mother of six children, she outlived her husband Earl by nineteen years, dying at the age of 100 in 1993. She and Mr. Warren are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Sepia photograph taken on October 14, 1948. ALBUM 2.

Warren, Earl, 1891-1974; Warren, Nina; Governors; Political elections--Tacoma--1940-1950;

As an added attraction at the 1931 Home Products Show, a public wedding was held on May 22, 1931. Grace McCollum and Noel Carreau were the first couple to volunteer to wed in front of a large attentive audience at the State Armory. The Independent Merchants Association, sponsors of the exhibition, paid for the wedding expenses including the marriage license, wedding clothing, flowers, and gifts. C.F. Mason, president of the association, even gave the bride away. The new Mrs. Carreau was dressed in an early summer gown of white chiffon and white hat and was attended by Mrs. Flora Niccoli. Cecilia Coleman was the flower girl with Albert Morris as best man. The marriage was solemnized by Justice Blanche Funk Miller. G32.1-014 (TDL 5-23-31, p. 12-article)

Weddings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Brides--1930-1940; Grooms (Weddings); McCollum, Grace; Carreau, Noel; Niccoli, Flora; Coleman, Cecilia; Morris, Albert; Wedding attendants--Tacoma; Wedding clothing & dress--1930-1940; State Armory (Tacoma);