Eleanor Roosevelt, Assistant Director of the Office of Civilian Defense, makes an impromptu address over Radio Station KMO from the Mayor Harry Cain's office at City Hall on December 13, 1941. Mrs. Roosevelt answered questions over the air as presented by civilian defense council members. She was reportedly very affable and willing to be photographed and interviewed. She urged all Americans to assist in civil defense, stating that "defense is not a question of one individual or one organization." She repeatedly stressed the importance of volunteer groups and the invaluable assistance they could render. (TNT 12-13-41, p. 1) cropped version of D12299 image 4

Presidents' spouses; Roosevelt, Anna Eleanor, 1884-1962; Visits of state--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Radio broadcasting--Tacoma; KMO Radio Station (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Communications;

Successful candidates. Mayor-Elect Harry P. Cain, wife Marjorie and son Harry II (Buzzy) at home the morning after Mr. Cain's 1800+ vote-victory over former mayor Melvin G. Tennent. Mr. Cain's name was ordered placed on the ballot replacing the recently deceased Bert Kerstetter who had defeated Mr. Cain in the primary. Defeated candidate Tennent vowed to appeal; Mr. Cain indicated he would ignore the attack on his eligibility and take an automobile tour to California and the south and planned to study municipal government along the way. (T. Times, 3-13-40, p. 1). ALBUM 12.

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Cain, Marjorie Dils, 1908-1994; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979--Family; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Harry P. Cain, in evening clothes, chats with two military officers in formal uniforms and two ladies in gowns during the November 18, 1939, Reserve Officers' Ball at the Winthrop Hotel. Mr. Cain, a Reservist since 1925, was a candidate for mayor at the time. He would be elected mayor in March, 1940. After war was declared, Mayor Cain would be on active duty from 1943-1945 in Europe. ALBUM 12.

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Uniforms;

Mayor and Council preview hats and costumes for the 1940 Narrows Bridge - McChord Field Celebrations. Front row: Tom Swayze, Mayor Harry P. Cain, C. Val Fawcett, Celebration chair Ted Brown. Back row: Holmes Eastwood, R.D. "Bob" O'Neil, Abner Bergersen and Hat Committeeman Walter Arnold, Jr. Both the (first) Tacoma Narrows Bridge and McChord Flying Field would be opening within days of each other in July, 1940. City and civic officials had worked together to host exciting events for local residents, including a water carnival, massive parade and pageant. The Jubilee hats that were so fantastically popular for the 1939 Jubilee were back, with the addition of new hat bands for the grand openings. (T.Times 6-19-40, p. 11; 6/20/1940, pg. 24) ALBUM 12.

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hats--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Eastwood, Holmes; Swayze, Tom; O'Neil, Robert D.; Bergersen, Abner R.; Brown, Ted; Arnold, Walter; Municipal officials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Perhaps discussing the merits of certain hats, Tacoma's mayor, Harry P. Cain, and members of the city council may be pondering an executive decision in this June 19, 1940, photograph. The hats and costumes are to be used for the Narrows Bridge - McChord Field Celebrations, to be held the 1st to 4th of July. Each hat would have on an official souvenir hat band; the hat bands would be sold at all dry goods, variety and men's furnishing stores in Tacoma. 20,000 yards of material would make up the bands on which pictures of the bridge and announcement of the celebration dates would be imprinted. All Tacomans would be asked to wear hats during the one-week celebration. L-R are Tom Swayze, R.D. "Bob" O'Neil, Abner Bergersen, C. Val Fawcett, Mayor Harry P. Cain, Celebration chairman Ted Brown, Holmes Eastwood and Hat Committeeman Walter Arnold, Jr. (T.Times 6-19-40, p. 11, p. 24) ALBUM 12.

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hats--1940-1950; Swayze, Tom; O'Neil, Robert D.; Bergersen, Abner R.; Brown, Ted; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Eastwood, Holmes; Arnold, Walter; Municipal officials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Mayor J.J. Kaufman feeding grain to a flock of chickens inside the hen house at his chicken farm in Edgewood, in northeast Pierce County. A picture from this series ran in the Tacoma Times admonishing readers to eat more eggs and pork, due to a surplus of these items. (T. Times 2/5/1940, pg. 2)

Kaufman, Joseph J.; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Chickens--Washington; Eggs;

On December 20, 1939, Mayor J. J. Kaufman (left) greeted Bob and Louise Lynd (center) upon their return by train from their publicized six month trip by Willits canoe from Fort Benton, Montana, to New Orleans, at the mouth of the Mississippi. Harry P. Cain (far right), chairman of the Golden Jubilee celebration that sponsored the trip, was also on hand at Union Station to greet the couple. The 3,500 mile journey in part retraced the path of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The Lynds, "Goodwill ambassadors from Tacoma," travelled in a tiny canoe supplied by Henry Foss and built by Earl & Floyd Willits. The Lynds also wrote a series of articles, exclusive to the Tacoma Times, relating their experiences in publicizing Washington's Jubilee celebration to the states bordering the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. The Willits Brothers handcrafted their wooden canoes in Tacoma, later Day Island, from 1908-1967. ALBUM 11. (T.Times 12-20-39, p. 1, 12-21-39, p. 1)

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Kaufman, Joseph J.; Lynd, Robert C.; Lynd, Louise D.; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Willits Brothers Canoes (Tacoma);

In June of 1940, the Old Guard at City Hall posed prior to the installation of new officers. Pictured left to right: Holmes Eastwood, Public Safety Commissioner; Val Fawcett, Finance Commissioner; outgoing appointed Mayor J.J. Kaufman; Abner Bergersen, Public Works; and Ira Davisson, defeated outgoing Utilities Commissioner. Ira S. Davisson had served continuously since November of 1918 as Commissioner of Utilities. He was defeated in the last election by Bob O'Neil. Joseph J. Kaufman had been appointed Mayor a year earlier to fill out the unexpired term of the late Dr. John Siegle. Harry Cain was elected in 1940 to fill the remaining two years, defeating former Mayor Melvin G. Tennent.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Kaufman, Joseph J.; Municipal government--Tacoma; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Eastwood, Holmes; Bergersen, Abner R.; Davisson, Ira;

City officials contributing to Drama League on January 24, 1940, at (Old) City Hall. Left to right are members of the city council: C. Val Fawcett - Finance Commissioner, Mayor J. J. Kaufman, Mrs. Hugh J. Rosellini, Controller Tom Swayze, Public Safety Commissioner Holmes Eastwood, Public Works Commissioner Abner Bergersen and Public Utilities Commissioner Ira Davisson. All dug deep in their pockets for funding for the proposed Tacoma Little Theater to be built on No. "I" St. Mrs. Rosellini was one of the sixteen members of the Drama league who participated in the fund raising. She indicated that the new Little Theater would have a revolving stage, only the second in the West following Seattle's Showboat. (T.Times 1-27-40, p. 3) ALBUM 11.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Kaufman, Joseph J.; Municipal government--Tacoma; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Swayze, Tom; Eastwood, Holmes; Bergersen, Abner R.; Davisson, Ira; Tacoma Drama League (Tacoma); Fund raising--Tacoma--1930-1940;

City officials donating to Drama League on January 24, 1940, at (Old) City Hall. Left to right: Public Safety Commissioner Holmes Eastwood, Public Utilities Commissioner Ira Davisson, Finance Commissioner C. Val Fawcett, unidentified woman representing Tacoma Drama League, Mayor J.J. Kaufman, Public Works Commissioner Abner Bergersen and City Controller Tom Swayze. Mayor Kaufman appears to be examining the blueprints for the proposed Tacoma Little Theater to be constructed at No. 2nd and "I" Streets. The (Tacoma) Drama League sent out eight teams comprised of two members each to solicit donations for the new endeavor. (T. Times 1-27-40, p. 3) ALBUM 11.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Kaufman, Joseph J.; Municipal government--Tacoma; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Swayze, Tom; Eastwood, Holmes; Bergersen, Abner R.; Davisson, Ira; Tacoma Drama League (Tacoma); Fund raising--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Four Stewart Junior High School students "published" the school newspaper "The Evening Star" in a display window of Rhodes Department Store on November 10, 1939 during National Education Week. Mayor J.J. Kaufman watched as (l to r) Clair Cook, Elmore Brolin, Helen Cox and Joan Weber used a mimeograph machine to copy off the pages of the student written paper. Ordinarily, "The Evening Star" was published on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the school year. The papers staff was composed of 8th and 9th graders who circulated 1,300 copies free to the student body. The newspaper was first published in 1925. (T. Times, 11-10-39, p. 18) ALBUM 11. TPL-5120.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Kaufman, Joseph J.; Newspapers--Tacoma; Journalism--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Cook, Clair; Brolin, Elmore; Cox, Helen; Weber, Joan; Copying machines;

In November of 1940, Pierce County Prosecutor Thor Tollefson, at far left, supervised the opening and counting of the absentee voters' ballots from the general election. A record number of absentee ballots, somewhere in the neighborhood of 2000, arrived from nearly every state in the union and Washington D.C. The ballots had to be sorted by precincts and districts and each ballot's signature on the outside had to be compared with applications on file. The 1940 election was especially tense because of the close gubernatorial race between Seattle Mayor Arthur Langlie and Democrat C.C. Dill of Spokane. Absentee ballots cemented Langlie's lead, although Dill refused to concede for several days. From L to R are: Thor Tollefson, County Republican Chairman John F. Buchanan, Frank Perry, personal representative of Arthur Langlie, Auditor S. Clifford Davis, L. G. Higgins, official counter for the Democrats and Vic Johnson, watching for C.C. Dill. (T. Times, 11-12-40, p. 1) ALBUM 4.

Ballots; Political elections--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tollefson, Thor C., 1901-1982; Buchanan, John F.; Berry, Frank; Davis, S. Clifford; Higgins, L.G.; Johnson, Vic;

Mayor Harry P. Cain was photographed at 7 a.m. on October 16, 1940 moments after he registered for the draft, fulfilling his pledge to be first in line. He studies what appears to be his draft card. Richard A. York, a smelter employee, is partly in photo at top left. Mrs. Sydney MacLean and Berghild Larson assist Cain and York respectively. All Pierce County men between the ages of 21 and 35 inclusive were called to register at their precincts on October 16, 1940 for the reinstatement of the draft. Mayor Cain, at 34, was eligible to serve in the military and vowed to be first in line. He arrived at 6 a.m. to keep his promise. Mayor Cain was sworn into U.S. Army service on May 5, 1943; he entered the Army as a major. He took a leave of absence from his mayoral duties to serve in the European theater. (T. Times 10/16/1940, pg. 1)

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Draft; World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma;

Reserve Officer's Dance at the Fort Lewis Officer's Club, first military social of the year. Mayor Harry P. Cain, in evening clothes, shakes hands with Major General Kenyon A. Joyce, Commander IX Corps on January 18, 1941, while Lt. Gilbert Waite, president of the Tacoma Reserve Officers, looks on. Mayor Cain had been a reservist since 1925 and would eventually fight in the European campaign. (T.Times 1-25-41, p. 4) ALBUM 12. TPL-10322

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Joyce, Kenyon A.; Waite, Gilbert; Shaking hands--Fort Lewis;

Governor Arthur B. Langlie kisses his mother, Mrs. Carrie Langlie, during his Inaugural Ball in Olympia. He is clasping her hand at the same time. The governor's mother was one of more than 2000 guests at the 14th Inaugural Ball held on January 15, 1941. The ball, given by the citizens of Olympia, also honored members of the Supreme Court, state officials and members of the 27th legislature. Governor Langlie, 40 at that time, was the state's youngest governor. (T. Times 1-16-41, p. 1) ALBUM 10.

Governors; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Langlie, Carrie; Kissing;

Crowd waits to shake the hand of Washington's newest governor, Arthur B. Langlie, during the 14th annual Inaugural Ball on January 15, 1941. Mr. Langlie, in formal tailcoat, is presently greeting Tacoma Mayor Harry P. Cain and his wife, Marjorie. Standing next to Governor Langlie is his wife, Evelyn, in white gown with large orchid corsage. ALBUM 10, ALBUM 12. .

Governors; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Langlie, Evelyn; Receiving lines--Olympia; Shaking hands--Olympia; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Cain, Marjorie Dils, 1908-1994;

Annual Judges Banquet at University-Union Club. Seated are Govenor-elect Arthur B. Langlie (center), Mayor Harry P. Cain (perched on arm of chair) and U.S. District Court Judge Lloyd T. Black. Others in the November 21, 1940, photograph include State Supreme Court justices William J. Steinert, C.G. Jeffers, Samuel R. Driver, George B. Simpson, John T. Robinson and retired justice William D. Askew. The 33rd annual dinner for state supreme court judges was held on Thanksgiving Eve, November 20, 1940, with 271 men in attendance. Mayor Cain acted as Toastmaster. Mr. Langlie had been involved in a very close gubernatorial race with Spokane Democrat and former U.S. Senator C.C. Dill who refused to concede weeks after the election. Mr. Langlie would be the only GOP candidate to win a major office in Washington State in 1940. TPL-4586. (T.Times, 11-21-40, p. 9, 11-22-40, p. 18) ALBUM 10, ALBUM 12.

Governors; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Judges; University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma);

In October of 1940, Arthur B. Langlie, the mayor of Seattle and Republican candidate for Governor, campaigned for votes at the Wheeler-Osgood Company sash and door mill on the Tacoma tideflats. Langlie was running for the state's highest office against Democrat, and former Senator, Clarence C. Dill. Langlie won by a margin of fewer than 6,000 votes, becoming at 40 the youngest Governor of Washington until then. Governor Langlie was defeated in 1944 by Democrat Mon Wallgren, but he came back strong in 1948 and reclaimed the Governor's office. He served two more terms and become the first Washington Governor to serve a total of three terms.

Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Wheeler, Osgood Co. (Tacoma); Political campaigns;

In April of 1941 the Camp Fire Girls of Tacoma raised money for a week long summer outing at Camp Sealth on Vashon Island by selling doughnuts.From left to right, Margaret Turner, Billie Mellis, Ruthella Raver and Joan Thrasher met with Mayor Harry Cain at his office in (Old) City Hall at 625 Commerce St. (T. Times, 4/7/1941)

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Camp Fire Girls (Tacoma); Girls--Tacoma--1940-1950;

His vehicle engulfed by employees of the Wheeler-Osgood Company, Republican candidate for President Wendell Willkie addresses the teeming crowd on September 23, 1940. These working men have climbed on car tops, roofs, and stacks of lumber to view Mr. Willkie. He stands beside the open automobile with a microphone; Mrs. Willkie is in the back seat. Because his time was extremely limited in Tacoma, Mr. Willkie's only stop in the industrial area was the Wheeler-Osgood plant where he inspected the plant for ten minutes and spoke to 200 employees. Selected to run against incumbent President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1940, Wendell Willkie was a lawyer and utilities executive as well as a former Democrat. He campaigned against Roosevelt's New Deal and the country's lack of military readiness. Although he was buried by Roosevelt in total electoral votes, he only lost the popular vote by 5 million. He went on to become a close ally of President Roosevelt and was appointed his personal representative in 1941 and 1942 to Britain, the Middle East, USSR and China. ALBUM 2. (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; Public speaking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Crowds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Willkie, Edith;

Wendell Willkie at microphone on rear platform of Special train. Mrs. Willkie and Arthur Langlie, Republican candidate for Governor, are to Willkie's left. Although Mr. Willkie's presidential run was unsuccessful, Arthur Langlie did win the gubernatorial race succeeding Democrat Clarence Martin. (T. Times)

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Willkie, Edith; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Political campaigns; Presidential elections;

Wendell Willkie waves hat to crowd from back of open automobile at Northern Pacific Railroad shops in South Tacoma. Mrs. Willkie, beside him, is hidden by flowers. It was the first time in 24 years that a Republican presidential candidate had visited Washington state. (T. Times)

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Willkie, Edith; Political campaigns; Presidential elections;

Harry P. Cain, Mayor of Tacoma and future US Senator (left in photo) shakes hands with a member of the Water Carnival Committee, possibly Ted Brown, during the 1940 Narrows Bridge/ McChord Field Celebration. Each year the Young Men's Business Club (YMBC) sponsored a water carnival at Point Defiance. In 1940, the water carnival was set the day before the grand opening of the (first) Tacoma Narrows Bridge. McChord Flying Field would also open the first week of July, 1940. ALBUM 12.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Festivals--Tacoma--1940-1950; Young Men's Business Club (Tacoma); Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Shaking hands--Tacoma;

Manuel Acuna Roxas, President-elect of the Philippines, and U.S. High Commissioner Paul McNutt breakfast with Col. A.S. Strickland, commander of McChord Field, during a fuel stopover on a flight from Manila to Washington, DC. The party of twelve spent an hour at the McChord Field Officers Club. The Philippines President-elect read from a prepared speech after the conclusion of his meal. He gratefully acknowledged America's help in the fight against the Japanese and highly praised General Douglas MacArthur. The purpose of his long journey to Washington D.C. was to confer with President Truman regarding a Philippines pledge of military bases and support for their American allies. (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;

Mayor Val Fawcett, holding granddaughter Linda Knecht, makes a presentation to the crew of a Western Air Lines airplane bearing an appeal for Christmas Seals on its side. Ordered by the Tuberculosis League. ALBUM 14.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Grandparents; Knecht, Linda; Christmas seals; Tuberculosis League of Pierce County (Tacoma); Western Airlines; Air pilots;

Visitors to the 1947 Western Washington Fair in Puyallup were treated to displays of beautiful flowers entered in various categories. Tacoma Mayor Val Fawcett, holding a small trophy, crouches behind a vase of huge dahlias. His granddaughter, Linda Knecht (at left in photograph) stands next to a large basket of gladioli. Mary Claire Petrich is at the photograph's right. (T.Times 9-18-47, p. 1-article) ALBUM 14.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Grandparents; Knecht, Linda; Petrich, Mary Claire; Flowers--Puyallup--1940-1950; Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Awards;

Senator Robert A. Taft of Ohio holds out his bandaged left hand as he explains how it was injured. A tumultuous reception in Seattle the day before resulted in an accidental door slamming on his hand. It took six stitches to close the wound. Looking on are longtime friends Frank E. Gannett and S.A. "Sam" Perkins. Both Gannett and Perkins were newspaper publishers; Frank Gannett had just flown in from his Rochester, N.Y., home via his twin-engine Lockheed to visit Perkins. Gannett was the publisher of a 27-newspaper chain back East, and was once a candidate for the Presidency. Senator Taft was in town to address the World Affairs Council on his views regarding foreign policy. (TNT 9-25-47, p. 1, T. Times 9-24-47, p. 1) ALBUM 2.

Taft, Robert A., 1889-1953; Perkins, S.A.; Gannett, Frank E.; Wounds & injuries;

All eyes are on Senator Robert A. Taft, Republican from Ohio, who was in town to speak at the World Affairs Council. Next to Mrs. Taft are S. Albert "Sam" Perkins, newspaperman and former secretary to Mark Hanna, and newspaper publisher Frank E. Gannett (in polka-dotted bow tie) of New York. Senator Taft's hand is bandaged due to a car door slamming on it while in Seattle; it required six stitches to close the wound. Senator Taft was the son of former President William Howard Taft and sought the Republican nomination for the presidency three times. His descendants continued in public service: his son, Robert, Jr., was also a U.S. senator from Ohio and his grandson, Bob, is a two-term governor of Ohio. (T. Times, 9-24-47, p. 1, T. Times 9-25-47, p. 1) ALBUM 2.

Taft, Robert A., 1889-1953; Taft, Martha; Perkins, S.A.; Gannett, Frank E.;

Col. Harry P. Cain and wife Marjorie were guests at a Halloween party in 1945. Cain had interrupted his mayoral duties to enlist in the US Army and fight in the European theater. The uniformed Col. Cain is pictured seated in the center of the photograph; Marjorie Cain, draped in fur, is seated second from left. Col. Cain would resume his duties as mayor shortly after. ALBUM 13

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Cain, Marjorie Dils, 1908-1994; Banquets;

Colonel Harry P. Cain attends a Halloween Party. He has recently returned from his tour of duty in Europe in the fall of 1945. He is wearing his uniform and combat boots. His wife, Marjorie Cain, is seated second from the left.

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Cain, Marjorie Dils, 1908-1994; Group portraits; Banquets;