In the spring of 1942, four months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, more than 100,000 residents of Japanese ancestry were forcibly evicted from their homes in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona and Alaska and sent to temporary assembly centers, from there to be sent to internment camps in remote inland areas to sit out the war. The Puyallup Assembly Center, hastily erected by the Army in less than 3 weeks and known as "Camp Harmony," was utilized from April 28- September 12, 1942. On May 16, 1942, two year old Beverly Higashida and Lillian Fujihara were getting acquainted with Mrs. M. Kaniko and her seven month old son Wayne. The pictured group was all from Seattle. By the end of May, more than 7,000 people were crowded into the camp. The stoic Japanese made the best of a bad situation, forming their own government, schools and entertainments. The worst aspect of the camp was boredom in the confined quarters. A call went out for recreational materials, such as young Wayne's tricycle. (T. Times 4/30/1942, pg. 9)

Camp Harmony (Puyallup); Relocation camps--Puyallup; World War, 1939-1945--Relocation camps; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945; Children riding bicycles & tricycles; Fujihara, Lillian; Higashida, Beverly; Kaniko, Wayne;

Mrs. Mito Kashiwagi and her mother-in-law, Mrs. Y. Kashiwagi, decorate a window in the barracks at "Camp Harmony" with sheer curtains in this photograph from May, 1942. In the Spring of 1942, more than 100,000 residents of Japanese ancestry from WA., OR., CA. , AZ. and AK. were forcibly rounded up and sent to internment camps. The hastily erected "Camp Harmony" in Puyallup served as a temporary assembly center, where 7,000 residents from the Seattle and Tacoma area waited while more permanent detention centers were erected. They lived in makeshift barracks, where each family was assigned one room, approximately 18 x 20, with a heating stove, bare light bulb and one window. The barracks had no running water. They shared communal showers, one for each 250 detainees, and toilets. The interns set about making these green wood boxes a home. Wood was scrounged to make furniture, curtains were sewn and hung at the windows, and drawings and pictures from calendars were tacked to the walls. (T. Times 4/30/1942, pg. 9)

Camp Harmony (Puyallup); Relocation camps--Puyallup; World War, 1939-1945--Relocation camps; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945; Kashiwagi, Mito--Family;

Renton housing project showing use of "Cheney Studding". Ordered by Cheney Lumber Company. [Also dated 06-09-1942]

Cheney Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Housing developments--Renton;

Renton housing project showing use of "Cheney Studding". Ordered by Cheney Lumber Company. [Also dated 06-09-1942]

Cheney Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Housing developments--Renton;

Renton housing project showing use of "Cheney Studding". Ordered by Cheney Lumber Company. [Also dated 06-09-1942]

Cheney Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Housing developments--Renton;

Home portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence P. (Alabama) Christenson, taken to announce their 62nd wedding anniversary on December 25, 1941. The couple was married December 25, 1879 in Shelby County, Iowa. Prior to their arrival in Tacoma 41 years ago, they had lived in Iowa and South Dakota. Mr. Christenson was a maker of wire cyclone fences prior to his retirement. (T.Times 12/25/1941, pg. 22- alt. photograph)

Christenson, Lawrence P.; Christenson, Alabama; Christenson, Lawrence P.--Homes & haunts; Anniversaries--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Home portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence P. Christenson, preparing to celebrate their 62nd wedding anniversary on December 25, 1941. The couple was married December 25, 1879 in Iowa. Mr. Christenson was born in 1857 in Wisconsin. Mrs. Alabama Christenson was born in 1861 in Illinois, the daughter of a former Union soldier. Their union was celebrated at a party at the Bonneville Hotel. The couple resided at 3802 So. L St. They had lived in Tacoma for 41 years. (T.Times 12/25/1941 p.22)

Christenson, Lawrence P.; Christenson, Alabama; Christenson, Lawrence P.--Homes & haunts; Christmas trees--Tacoma; Anniversaries--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Clover Park High School picture taken for 1942 annual, "Klahowya," (not used.) Four young women and three young men, two in letterman sweaters, congregate around a table. The senior students are tentatively identified as, front row, left to right, Mary Rough, Faith Idso (Honor Students), and Pauline Enger (Valedictorian.) Back row: Marilyn Mockbee (Salutatorian), Carl Tipton, Robert Smith McClenaghan (Student Body President) and James Ladd (Senior Class President.) This group of students would all be speaking at the graduation ceremonies. (1942 Klahowya)

Clover Park High School (Lakewood);

The 1941 College of Puget Sound Alumni Homecoming Committee. This group would be directing the homecoming festivities including the Alumni Banquet, Ball and the laying of the cornerstone for the new Student Union building. Pictured, left to right, are Richard D. Smith, Mrs. William LeVeque, Frances (Mrs. Franklin) Johnson, Miss Grace Johnson, Lillian (Mrs. Donald) Shotwell, Mrs. J.H. Baker, Mary (Mrs. Charles) Curran and Donald Wellman. (T. Times 11/12/1941, pg. 3)

College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Alumni & alumnae--Tacoma; Smith, Richard D.; Johnson, Frances; Johnson, Grace; Shotwell, Lillian; Curran, Mary; Wellmen, Donald;

On June 6, 1942, after the commencement exercises at the College of Puget Sound, a complimentary luncheon was held in the main dining room of the Student Union Building. Guests included the Board of Trustees, faculty, graduating class and special friends of the college. The luncheon was used to honor Dr. Edward H. Todd, who was retiring as president of the college after 29 years of service in that position. (T. Times 6/6/1942, pg. 1)

College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Universities & colleges--Tacoma; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Banquets;

Portrait taken in June of 1942 of Brig. Gen. Walter J. DeLong, State Adjutant General. Gen. DeLong was the commander of the Fourth and Fifth Washington Volunteer Infantry Brigade. This picture ran in the Tacoma Times with a call for more volunteers for the Washington State Guard. Gen. DeLong pointed out that five of the six companies of the 2nd Battalion Fourth Regiment were stationed right here in Tacoma. There were three rifle companies, the Battalion Headquarters Co. and the Regimental Service and Headquarters Co., which included the band, medical, supply, transportation and communication groups. (T. Times 6/8/1942, pg. 1)

Delong, Walter J.; Washington State Guard (Tacoma);

ca. 1942. An unidentified man sitting at his desk has turned to glance at the photographer in this circa 1942 picture. Pen in hand, he is going over some paperwork. A freestanding lamp would provide adequate light.

Desks; Lamps;

Old wooden residence in downtown Tacoma, built by George Unger in 1905. Second floor cantilevered over front porch, wooden sidewalk. (T. Times.)

Dwellings - Houses - Tacoma

The Epsilon Sigma Alpha business sorority held initiation ceremonies on November 11 and November 13, 1941. The young ladies are all wearing lovely floor-length evening gowns for the ceremonies. (T.times 11-18-41, p. 8-article only)

Epsilon Sigma Alpha (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950;

New fence around Air Reduction Company and old Peterman Manufacturing Company fence. In May of 1942, construction was begun on the Air Reduction Company, an oxygen manufacturing company, located at 702 Alexander Ave. Peterman Manufacturing had been located at 600 Alexander Ave. but in June of 1942 they moved to Garibaldi, Oregon. Their location had been taken over by the government for expansion of the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., 100 Alexander Ave. The expansion was needed due to the increase of wartime contracts during World War II. Oxygen gas was used in large quantities for cutting steel plates in ship building and was also used in welding. The Air Reduction plant was able to support the war effort by producing the chemical necessary for building government vessels, and making it available locally.

Factories--Tacoma; Air Reduction Sales Co. (Tacoma); Peterman Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

Holt family group. Three generations portrait taken in Fireman's Park near a pond in downtown Tacoma on April 9, 1942. There are six children, including an infant, their mother and an older couple. No first names were provided for this photograph.

Families--Tacoma--1940-1950; Infants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Grandparents; Fireman's Park (Tacoma);

On May 21, 1942, a crowd gathered at the corner of 9th and Pacific to watch Capt. William E. Farrar, on ladder, corral a swarm of bees clustered on a downtown traffic signal. When the obscured traffic signal became a police matter, Capt. "Bill" Farrar, captain of detectives and a bee expert, and Ray Garetson, at bottom of ladder, were sent to remedy the situation. Armed with a soapbox, whisk broom, ladder and a net to protect his face, Farrar removed the Queen bee to the box and the remainder followed. Problem solved. Incidentally, Farrar carried all the needed equipment in his car at this time of year in case of emergencies. (T. Times 5/21/1942, pg. 3; TNT 5/21/1942, pg. 1)

Farrar, William E.; Garetson, Ray; Bees; Pest control;

Home portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. (Arleen) Emery and family. [Also dated 01-14-1943]

Emery, Arthur J.--Family;

This family of four enjoyed themselves on a sunny day at the Island Lake Park in Kitsap County. Employees of the Bremerton Sun newspaper had been invited to a company sponsored picnic on September 26, 1942.

Families--1940-1950; Picnics; Bremerton Sun (Bremerton)--Employees;

Mr. Beck and son. [Also dated 01-12-1943) The young man is carrying a small suitcase. According to the street sign, father and son are standing at 8th St.

Families--Tacoma--1940-1950; Luggage;

Barbara Ethel Farrell and Richard Annis were wed at 8 p.m. on Friday, July 31, 1942 at the First Presbyterian Church in Tacoma. The pair had both attended Lincoln High School. (TNT 8/2/1942, pg. B-6)

Farrell, Barbara Ethel--Marriage; Annis, Richard; Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Brides--1940-1950; Grooms (Weddings)--1940-1950; Wedding clothing & dress--1940-1950; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma);

On October 17, 1942, the congregation of the First Lutheran Church posed in front of the exterior of the church, celebrating the congregation's 60th anniversary. The church had been organized on October 17, 1882 as a small missionary enterprise by the Rev. Peter Carlson and eleven Swedish and five Norwegian families. The Norwegians later left to form their own church. The original church at South 8th and I St. burned to the ground in November of 1924. This Gothic stone structure was completed in 1929 and was built from a design by Heath, Gove & Bell. (TNT 10/17/1942, pg. 11)

First Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma;

Pacific Lutheran College football team. The team and their coach, Baron Barofsky, were pursuing their 4th straight Washington State Intercollegiate (WINKO) title. (T. Times)

Football players--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1940-1950; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1940-1950; Football--Parkland--1940-1950;

Two Stadium High School football players in Stadium Bowl. The player on the left is Bob Gibson, "all around backfield man" and sometimes quarterback. The player on the right has been identified as Jack MacDonald, Class of 1943. Bob Gibson, "Hoot" according to the 1943 yearbook, majored in science, Latin and English. He played baseball and football and was active in band. (T. Times) (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Football--Tacoma--1940-1950; Football players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gibson, Bob; MacDonald, Jack; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In September of 1942, Lincoln High School football coach Eddie Schwarz had a large turn out for the eleven positions on his varsity team. A former grid star himself at Lincoln and the College of Puget Sound, Schwarz had formerly served as coach at Stadium before being transferred to Lincoln in 1935. He retired at the end of the 1940 season but was called back into service at Lincoln in 1942 after his successor Dan Lazare was drafted. The team opened their season at the annual "King's X" game against their perennial rival Stadium High School. The game was held September 18th at the Stadium Bowl where Lincoln battled the Tigers to a scoreless tie and opened their season without a loss for the first time since 1931. They completed the season by winning their first city title since 1933. (T.Times 9/16/1942, pg. 14)

Football--Tacoma; Football players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Athletic fields--Tacoma; Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Schwarz, Ed;

This photograph of a quartet of Stadium Seniors ran in the Tacoma Times the day before Stadium's pivotal Cross State League game on November 11, 1942 against the Everett Seagulls. Left to right are Cecil Stone, Co-captain Joe Boyle, Chuck Fain and Co-captain Paul Jacobsen. Coach Heinrick said only of his team "We're set" and he proved to be a prophet. Stadium defeated the favored Gulls 7-0, handing Everett their first Cross State League play loss since 1938. (T. Times 11/10/1942, pg. 4)

Football--Tacoma; Football players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Athletic fields--Tacoma; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950;

College of Puget Sound 1942 football squad and coach Leo Frank (T. Times)

Football--Tacoma; Football players--Tacoma; Universities & colleges--Tacoma; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

In January of 1943, Gust Lewis Formuzis used the rope tying skills that he had acquired in over 25 years at sea to create handmade bell ropes for the ships built at the Todd Shipyard. Mr. Formuzis, of Greek heritage, had served in both the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy before settling in Tacoma. From 1927 until 1941 he operated a fish market on K Street. He died April 17, 1959. (T. Times, 1/15/1943, p.11)

Formuzis, Gust Lewis; Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Ship equipment & rigging; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--War work--Tacoma;

Mayor Harry P. Cain, left center, shakes hands with Lee Croft, Tacoma delegate to the Eagles National Convention in Chicago in front of Eagles Hall before his departure. Aerie Pres. Joseph Karpack, is on left. Aux. Sec. Isabelle Severson, Sec. Fred Race on right. (TNT 8/13/1942 p.9)

Fraternal Order of Eagles (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Croft, Lee; Karpack, Joseph; Severson, Isabelle; Race, Fred;

On June 23, 1942, a ground breaking ceremony was held for the new addition at the Park Lodge School. Pictured, left to right, are Carol Liebe, Supt. A.G. Hudtloff, FWA Engineer Walter Hedlind, Contractor R.G. Nelson, County School Superintendent Olai Hageness, Architect Charles Rueger, Board Chair Stanley Lytle, Clerk Iva Alice Mann and Board Member Mrs. Harold Liebe. The addition was part of a $700,000 expansion program, prompted by increased population, for the Clover Park School District, half of it financed by the Federal Works Agency. The additions to Park Lodge would cost $92,500 and include seven new classrooms, an office, lunch room, heating plant, storerooms and auxiliaries. (T.Times 6/24/1942 p.2-picture)

Ground breaking ceremonies--Lakewood; Park Lodge School (Lakewood); Liebe, Carol; Hudtloff, A.G.; Hedlind, Walter; Nelson, R.G.; Hageness, Olai; Rueger, Charles; Lytle, Stanley; Mann, Iva Alice; Public schools--Lakewood--1940-1950;