A labor convention was held in Olympia in mid-July of 1924. This unidentified man from Tacoma was a delegate representing the state Culinary Workers. He is wearing several badges/ribbons pinned to his three-piece suit. G38.1-002

Meetings--Olympia--1920-1930; Labor unions;

Five unidentified Boy Scouts help with the Tacoma Federation of Social Agencies' first Community Chest Drive for the needy in March of 1922; the slogan--"Tacoma Cares. Do Your Share." The boys would be distributing stacks of reminders in the way of red and white placards to be placed on windshields of every car they spotted downtown. $271,478.68 was set as the goal for the fundraising drive that would help 28 relief and social agencies. U.S. District Court Judge Edward Cushman was named chairman of the drive. United Good Neighbor Fund replaced the Community Chest in 1952, and in 1972 the name was changed to United Way of Pierce County. G23.1-056; TPL-5994 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 1-29-22, p. 1-article; TNT 2-7-22, p. 1-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 3-19-22, 8-E)

Boy Scouts (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fund raising--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Members of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine posed for a group portrait on April 30, 1922. Better known as the Shriners from Afifi Temple, they were dressed in traditional uniform. A total of 139 uniformed nobles would be journeying to San Francisco by special train in June for the 48th annual imperial council session. That was expected to be one of the largest delegations in attendance. The Afifi Shriners were led by Frank D. Oakley, Tacoma attorney, who was elected in December of 1921 as the temple's leader or potentate. G23.1-081 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-4-22, 8-E)

Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Four members of the Afifi Shrine, wearing traditional costume and fezzes, posed outdoors on April 30, 1922. The group may have included attorney Frank D. Oakley of Tacoma, who was Afifi Shrine's potentate. G23.1-079

Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The Afifi Temple Band, with instruments, posed in front of the Masonic Temple, 47 Saint Helens Ave., on April 22, 1928. They are uniformly dressed complete with fezzes. G23.1-078

Afifi Temple Band (Tacoma); Afifi Temple (Tacoma); Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Masonic Temple (Tacoma);

In June of 1936, members of the Lumber and Sawmill Workers Union collected food for their striking brothers in Omak, Wa. The first load of food was being loaded into a truck and shipped from the District Council's headquarters at 748 Market St. It would be followed by two more truck loads dispatched on June 27th. The local union had emerged from their own bitter and extended battle in 1935 victorious. The workers in Omak had been on strike since early May. The strike was dangerous with the plant heavily guarded and guards and strike breakers armed. The plant had the support of Omak area merchants and the strikers were suffering greatly. TPL-2452 (Tacoma Labor Advocate 6/12/1936, pg 4; 6/26/1936, pg. 1- picture & pg. 2 story)

Labor unions--Tacoma; Lumber & Sawmill Workers Local 2633 (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The Knights Templar drill team stood at attention on April 20, 1930, outside the Masonic Temple, 47 Saint Helens Ave. They are wearing their stately uniforms including plumed hats. G23.1-077

Knights Templar (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940; Drill teams; Masonic Temple (Tacoma);

The Daughters of the Nile, Zora Temple held their winter ceremonial in the Gothic Room of the Masonic Temple on December 9, 1931. The women were members of an international fraternal order of women either married to or related to Shriners. 300 women were in attendance at the ceremonial that honored the Supreme Queen, Mrs. Lulu Ramage Phelps of Seattle. The Supreme Queen is the national head of the organization. Mrs. Glen Darling presided over the ceremonies. (TNT 12-10-31, p. 12-article)

Daughters of the Nile Zora Temple No. 5 (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Women--Tacoma--1930-1940;

In October of 1936, members of the Scandinavian-American Democratic Club rallied for their party's candidates in the upcoming local and national elections. Portraits and signs for Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Clarence Martin line the walls. Both men were seeking re-election, Roosevelt for the presidency and Martin for Washington State governor. The rally was held at Valhalla Hall on October 14, 1936, with the general public invited. Initiatives and amendments on the general election ballot were discussed. G42.1-069 (T.Times 10-13-36, p. 10-article)

Scandinavian- American Democratic Club (Tacoma); Political participation--Tacoma; Political campaigns; Political elections--Tacoma--1930-1940;

American Legion members joined in a flagpole raising in Yelm on Armistice Day, November 11, 1923. The American Legion was chartered by the U.S. Congress on September 16, 1919, as a patriotic war-time veterans organization. The Yelm community, Yelm Legioneers, neighboring posts and volunteer workers from Olympia's building trades unions all came together to erect a $15,000 home for the Yelm post in one single day. It appears that the raising of the flagpole was the first business of the day. This would be the permanent home of the Joseph Redberg Post No. 164, American Legion, Yelm. G23.1-043A (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 11-11-23, 8-E-article; TDL 11-12-23, p. 1-article)

American Legion (Yelm); Patriotic societies--Yelm; Veterans organizations--Yelm; Flagpoles--Yelm;

The 6th Engineers band from Camp Lewis plays as the American flag flies on the new American Legion flagpole successfully raised in Yelm on November 11, 1923. Legion members and members of the community had worked together to raise and anchor the flagpole and build a new home for the Yelm Legioneers. The Yelm post did not have a permanent home until the one-day erection of their American Legion building on Armistice Day in 1923. The small group, numbering only 27 active members, was supplemented with help from other local American Legion posts, members of the Yelm community, and 150 members of the building trades union from Olympia in constructing their new home. The building was worth approximately $15,000 but just about all costs were covered with the donation of land from McKenna Mill Co. and architectural design by Tacoma architects Shaw & Shaw. Labor was also donated and supervised by skilled workmen from the Hurley-Mason Co. of Tacoma. Elmer Fristo was the commander of the Joseph Redberg Post No. 164, American Legion, Yelm. G23.1-043B (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 11-11-23, 8-E-article; TDL 11-12-23, p. 1-article)

American Legion (Yelm); Patriotic societies--Yelm; Veterans organizations--Yelm; Flagpoles--Yelm; Flags--United States; Military bands--United States;

Ivanhoe Commandery, Knights Templar, band and marching unit in full regalia pauses on the bricked roadway of South 7th at Market St. looking west on April 12, 1925. Small groups of children have secured good viewing spots in order to watch the men parade by. April 12th was Easter Sunday and the members had attended special services that afternoon at the Masonic Temple downtown. Twice a year, on Christmas and Easter, the commandery would attend service as a group. G23.1-097 (TDL 4-13-25, p. 2)

Knights Templar (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Marching bands--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Seven soldier members of the Salt Lake No. 85 Elks Lodge pose in front of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 on August 16, 1918. They are wearing military uniforms with most carrying flags. A large sign is held by two Elks "warning" others to "Watch Your Girls We're From Salt Lake No. 85." The soldiers represented their lodge during the 14th annual Washington State Elks convention held in Tacoma during August of 1918. They would march in the massive downtown parade along with Elks from lodges across the state and including several Montana Elks stationed at Camp Lewis. G68.1-109 (TDL 8-17-18, p. 7-article)

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Elks Temple (Tacoma); Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Salt Lake Lodge No. 85; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1910-1920; Signs (Notices); Guests--Tacoma--1910-1920;

The Castle Hall at the Knights of Pythias, Commencement Lodge #7. Members of the fraternal organization are posed wearing Romanesque regalia. The robes illustrate the story of Damon and Pythias, on which the beliefs of the order are based. The order was founded on the principles of friendship, charity and benevolence. Built in 1906-1907 and carefully preserved, the Pythian Lodge is one of the most beautiful in the nation. The Lodge is currently on the city and national historical registry. TPL-1682, BU-12215, Boland #B3765

Knights of Pythias, Commencement Lodge #7 (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Mill workers, accompanied by Washington National Guardsmen, stand at the side of the road preparing to cross the Eleventh Street Bridge into the Tideflats to report to work. A second group of men appears to be standing just ahead, possibly strikers gathering to heckle the workers. In June of 1935, workers attempting to return to work at the reopening mills were subjected to extreme violence and threats. Governor Clarence Martin ordered the second battalion of the Washington National Guard 161st Infantry to Tacoma on June 23, 1935 to protect the returning workers and the mills. The guardsmen were armed with smoke, tear and nausea gas bombs, rifles, bayonets and ammunition. (TNT 6/24/1935, pg. 1 & 2)

Members of the Washington National Guard are loaded up in trucks and preparing to return to downtown Tacoma from the industrial Tideflats across the Eleventh Street Bridge. The second battalion of the Guards' 161st Infantry was mobilized to Tacoma by Governor Clarence Martin when workers attempting to return to work during the Lumber workers' strike met with violence. Their job was to protect the workers and the mills. They were stationed at the Armory and patrolled the Tideflats and all bridges and roads into the area. The Eleventh Street bridge has roadblocks on all but one lane, so that vehicles could be searched. (TNT 6/24/1935, pg. 1 & 2)

This is one way to open a tourist attraction, with bathing beauties catching some rays on the rooftop. In 1934, the Young Mens Business Club of Tacoma succeeded in reaching a goal they had for many years. They moved Fort Nisqually from DuPont, restored it at a new location at Point Defiance and opened it as a tourist attraction. The dedication for the restored historical fort was September 3, 1934. Here Frankie Cowan, on the ladder, and another unidentified young lady pose on the roof on one of the structures at the Fort.

A generous donation from Tacoma businessman William W. Seymour in 1907 made possible the opening of the Tacoma YMCA's Camp Seymour at Glen Cove. By 1931, when this group of boys attended summer camp, many improvements had been added. Nestled along Puget Sound, Camp Seymour is still operated today by the YMCA. Its benefactor also donated funds for Seymour Conservatory in Wright Park and served as mayor of Tacoma. TPL-6263

In February of 1931, elderly Richard Henry "Jimmy" Davis demonstrated how he and the neighborhood boys played marbles outside the frame home of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Ill. The future President, depending on his mood, would either join the boys in the game or shoo them away, saying that they were making too much noise. Mr. Davis, who in 1931 was well past 80, lived in the Lutheran Compass Mission. He couldn't remember much about how he came to live there. He worked in the mines from the age of 11 and three cave-ins have robbed him of much of his memory. As a young man, he was active in the labor movement and for two years travelled and worked with Mary Harris "Mother" Jones, the "Miners Angel." The pair helped with organizing what would become the United Mine Workers. (TNT 2/11/1931, pg. 1) BGN-284 TPL-9934

Two cooks at Camp Seymour are prepared to serve hordes of hungry boys at the YMCA camp in August of 1931. It looks like oyster stew is on the menu for the day accompanied by small salted oyster crackers. Thanks to the generosity of former Tacoma mayor and businessman William W. Seymour, a YMCA summer camp at Glen Cove (then called Balch's Cove) was established in 1907 on Mr. Seymour's rural property. Mr. Seymour would eventually deed 150 acres to the Tacoma YMCA for the sole purpose of summer camping for boys. The camp would be officially named Camp Seymour in 1926 as a recognition of Mr. Seymour's generosity. (campseymour.org-article on camp)

YMCA boys at Camp Seymour. Enjoying the sun on an August day in 1931 were several teenage boys and staff at the YMCA camp on Glen Cove. Thanks to benefactor William W. Seymour, a Tacoma businessman, youngsters had been coming to the camp since 1907. There they would be partaking in lots of fresh air, nourishing meals and sports including rowing and swimming.

A crowd of over 300 Elks members and their guests gathered for the dedication of the new Elks Temple at 1965 South Union Avenue on September 3, 1965. Built on a 20.5 acre site on the west side of Cedar close to So. 19th St. at a cost of approximately $2,000,000, the temple was designed by Tacoma architects E.L. Mills & Associates and erected by Strom Construction. It took 1 1/2 years to complete the project. Constructed of reinforced concrete and structural steel, the new Elks Temple's 76,000 square feet contained a theater-style lodge room seating 1,000, administrative offices, handball courts and other athletic facilities, and dining facilities, including a cocktail lounge. During dedication ceremonies, a copper box was sealed behind the cornerstone; among items contained in the box was a copy of the Tacoma Elks Charter. (See C145725-1 for view of the charter.) (TNT 4-25-65, p. 2, TNT 9-3-65, p. 1, TNT 9-4-65, p. 1) TPL-9357

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1960-1970; Building dedications--Tacoma--1960-1970; Spectators--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Tacoma Country & Golf Club. Built using Weyerhaeuser's new engineered dry lumber, the new Tacoma Country & Golf Club stands serenely on the shores of American Lake in August, 1965. Its two-level, 26,000 square foot structure is surrounded by old and new growth landscaping. Fire destroyed its predecessor in 1961 as it did the original clubhouse in 1909. Photograph ordered by Weyerhaeuser Co.

Clubhouses--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma)--Buildings;

Posing with a small artificial Christmas tree, eight girl scouts from Troop 37, St. Francis Cabrini School, displayed both their homemade cakes and the toys they were donating to Tacoma-Pierce County Opportunity & Development, Inc., 1138 Commerce Street, on December 13, 1968. The cake and toys were collected for the O.D.I.'s annual Christmas party for underprivileged children to be held on December 21st. Between 50-100 Girl Scouts wrapped and labeled more than 6,000 gifts to be placed under the 18-foot Christmas tree at the party. The Girl Scouts pictured above are: (front row, l to r) Dianne Kalenius, Christine Cloquet, Annett Marcais and Molly Strehlan. Rear row: (l to r) Sue Pilkey, Kathy Horjes, Molly Naubert, and Patty Johnston. (Photograph ordered by the Tacoma-Pierce County Opportunity & Development, Inc.) (TNT 12-1-68, B-9, TNT 12-18-68, A-12) TPL-8734

Girl Scouts (Tacoma); Cakes--Tacoma--1960-1970; Gifts; Christmas trees--Tacoma--1960-1970; Kalenius, Dianne; Cloquet, Christine; Marcais, Annett; Strehlan, Molly; Pilkey, Sue; Horjes, Kathy; Naubert, Molly; Johnston, Patty;

Members of Girl Scout Troup 407 and Ron Blake, retired truck mechanic, help to wrap gifts for the upcoming Tacoma-Pierce County Opportunity & Development, Inc., second annual Christmas party for underprivileged children to be held on December 21, 1968. L-R are Jeri Vaughan, Mary Merritt, Sally Weiss, April Seick and Ron Blake. Mr. Blake had coordinated the collection and repair of toys and games for Senior Centers, Inc., where seniors had been collecting toys for the past three months. The four Girl Scouts pictured above on November 26, 1968, were part of the 50-100 Girl Scouts who would wrap the approximately 6000 donated items. The O.D.I. had anticipated 3000 children attending the gala festivities, double from the previous year's group, but more than 5000 children would actually come to the turkey dinner and party at McCarver Elementary School, including an honored group of children from Rainier School in Buckley. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma-Pierce County Opportunity & Development, Inc. (TNT 12-1-68, B-9) TPL-10579

Girl Scouts (Tacoma); Toys; Gifts; Vaughan, Jeri; Merritt, Mary; Weiss, Sally; Seick, April; Blake, Ron;

Seven women model the latest in outerwear from sensible raincoats to swing coats with wide sleeves and rolled-up cuffs in a style show that was a fund raiser for the Orthopedic Guild and the Tacoma Day Nursery. A stage and runway was built at the College of Puget Sound Fieldhouse for the event that drew nearly 4000 people.

Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Orthopedic Association (Tacoma); Tacoma Day Nursery (Tacoma); Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fashion shows--Tacoma--1950-1960; Coats; Fund raising--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A group of eighteen women model formals in a style show that was a joint fund raiser for the Orthopedic Guild and the Tacoma Day Nursery presented by one of the local department stores. A stage and runway has been built at the College of Puget Sound Fieldhouse for the event. This year's style show departed from the custom of previous years when they were conducted over three succeeding days following luncheons. This show took place in the evening with professional models wearing the latest in men's and women's styles. (TNT, 9/6/1952, p.20)

Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Women--Organizations--Tacoma; Tacoma Orthopedic Association (Tacoma); Tacoma Day Nursery (Tacoma); Evening gowns--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fashion shows--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fund raising--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A large group of teenagers pose in front of a small stage as they prepare for a Co-Ed youth dance in January, 1953. Letters spelling out "Co-Eds" are dangling in back of the group. The theme of the January 31, 1953, dance would be the "Bums' Rush", when Co-Ed Junior Federated Club members and invited guests would dress as hobos in rags and casual clothing. Photograph ordered by Mrs. Pat Browne. (TNT 1-31--53, p. 5)

Co-Ed Junior Federated Club (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Group portraits--1950-1960;

Master of Foxhounds Earl Craig addresses the mounted members of the Woodbrook Hunt Club on the New Year's Day hunt held in 1953. The hunt club's pack of foxhounds surround Craig. Woodbrook is one of the few clubs in the country that maintains their own pack of hounds. The Woodbrook Hunt Club is still active, and they remain associated with the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America. They also still enjoy the sport of riding to hounds, but they do not hunt a live fox. They "drag hunt". The dogs follow a trail created by dragging a scent impregnated gunny sack along the ground. They use synthetic scent; the dogs follow a synthetic fox.

Woodbrook Hunt Club (Lakewood); Horses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Horseback riding--Lakewood--1950-1960; Clothing & dress--Lakewood--1950-1960; Dogs--Lakewood; Craig, Earl;

Corinthian Room at the Masonic Temple, 47 St. Helens. Fifteen women in the Tacoma Order, Social Order of the Beauceant. The Social Order of Beauceant is composed of the wives and widows of Sir Knights, of Ivanhoe Commandery (Knights Templar). The national order was founded in 1890 in Denver with the purpose of aiding the Knights Templar. In 1959, it had a national membership of 22, 000. Their main project was the Eye Foundation, although the local order also supported the Rainier School and Remann Hall. The women are dressed in white robes adorned with large black crosses. (TNT 11/8/1959)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Masonic buildings--Tacoma; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma;