Flat cars for advertising use for Pennsylvania Salt. Man explaining pipe adjustment on equipment to workman at chemical plant. Industrial safety mask close by. Photograph was taken on May 17, 1940.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Gas masks;

Three executives at Perfex Company, liquid bleach manufacturers, examine bottling assembly line and stacked cases of the product on February 29, 1940. Perfex had started operations in the old Union Oil building at 1530 Center St. and these were the first bottles of the bleach fresh from the labeling machine. Several thousand cases of bleach were produced daily. From left to right are the three co-founders of the firm: A.F. Caillouette, W.W. Hughes and J. Arthur Thompson. Mr. Caillouette was the head of production, Mr. Hughes was the sales manager and Mr. Thompson was the business manager. Mr. Caillouette and Mr. Hughes were from the Los Angeles area and Mr. Thompson was already a well-known Tacoma businessman. (T.Times 3-5-1940, p. 14-alt. photo)

Perfex Co. (Tacoma); Caillouette, A.F.; Hughes, W.W.; Thompson, J. Arthur; Cleaning--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Executives and work crew at Perfex Company, liquid bleach manufacturers, checking bottling assembly line of the new product. Several thousand cases of bleach were produced daily at the plant location, 1530 Center St., site of the old Union Oil. On display were freshly labeled bottles of Perfex, some already encased. The firm was headed by its three co-founders: A.F. Caillouette and W.W. Hughes, formerly of the Los Angeles area, and Tacoma businessman J. Arthur Thompson. Caillouette and Hughes had been involved in the bleach industry in California. The trio selected Tacoma to start their new plant because of the proximity of chemical plants nearby. (T.Times 3-5-1940, p. 14-article & alt. photo)

Perfex Co. (Tacoma); Cleaning--Tacoma--1940-1950;

It seems to be bedtime for this young boy dressed in a long night shirt with his dog dressed in a night cap, bib, "pajamas" and mismatched socks. But the pair are actually competing in the "Mutt Parade" held on Commerce Street on May 18, 1940. The dogs were to be judged in 24 categories, including most comic dress, and more than 70 prizes awarded. It is unknown whether this pair captured one of the top prizes. The parade of dogs accompanied by their kid handlers was an annual event sponsored by the Commerce Street Business Men's Club. Large throngs of spectators lined Commerce Street from South 15th to South 7th to watch and cheer on the participants. (T.Times 5-18-40, p. 1-list of winners)

Pets; Dogs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boys--Tacoma--1940-1950; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950;

American Type Founders Printing Press at the Winthrop Hotel. A salesman explains the features of the new printing press to several men in this March 20, 1940 photograph. Ordered by Steve Watts.

Printing presses--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Franklin B. Gault Intermediate School, Hill and Mock, Architects; 1925. General view of building. (T.Times, Spring Edition)

Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gault Junior High School (Tacoma);

Two unidentified girls are making an elaborate decoration of fabric and paper for the Jason Lee's annual music festival. Jason Lee Junior High school (now Middle School) presented its annual musical festival on May 14, 1940. It was entitled "Say It With Music" and involved several hundred students. Boys and girls glee clubs, band, orchestra, and students from general music classes participated. The event included "Gypsy," Spanish and Mexican scenes. (T. Times 5-10-40, p. 20-article only)

Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Music festivals--Tacoma--1940-1950;Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma);

Over one hundred dancers and musicians performed on May 14, 1940 at Jason Lee Junior High in the schools spring music festival. A series of Gypsy, Spanish and Mexican musical scenes were combined by Miss Kathryn Bruner, the Jason Lee music instructor, into a program titled "Say It with Music". There is unfortunately no record of the names of these barefooted dancers.(T. Times, 5/14/1940, p. 5)

Public schools--Tacoma; Music festivals--Tacoma--1940-1950;Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Dancers--Tacoma; Costumes;

Waterfront scenes. Artistic view of bay with Mount Rainier in background. Photograph from December of 1939. Ordered by Frank Ross.

Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Bays (Bodies of water);

Mrs. Joyce Syford holds a package of Dewkist fresh frozen baby lima beans which she is ready to place in the freezer compartment of her Hotpoint refrigerator in this photograph from November 1939. Her refrigerator is filled with neatly wrapped packages, and bowls with bowl covers. Note the small bottle of Olympic Dairy cream on the top shelf.

Refrigerators; Vegetables; Syford, Joyce; Syford, Herbert--Family; Beans;

Gig Harbor - Bremerton celebration for Narrows Bridge opening. Rooster Races. Two young women dressed in costumes with rooster hats hold two roosters as they chat with a man in a Mercury Eight convertible automobile.

Roosters; Racing; Celebrations--Gig Harbor--1940-1950; Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Gig Harbor)--Events; Mercury automobile; Convertible automobiles--1940-1950; Costumes;

Royal Birds Banquet and initiation at Hotel Winthrop. Members of the organization, made up of Cleaners and Laundry owners, enjoy the performance of a dancer. She has one member by the neck with her lei. The national officers of the Royal Birds were in Tacoma March 16-17, 1940 to present a charter to the new local chapter of Birds. (T. Times 3/18/1940, pg. 3)

Royal Birds (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Royal Birds Banquet and initiation at Hotel Winthrop. Members of the organization, made up of Cleaners and Laundry owners, with sign reading "Cage No. 2 - Royal Birds - Tacoma." The national officers of the Royal Birds, leaders in the laundry industry of America, had convened in Tacoma March 16-17,1940 to honor our city and present a charter to the new local chapter of Royal Birds. In 1939, Tacoma had won first place among American cities for providing the finest in laundry and dry cleaning services. (T. Times 3/18/1940, pg. 3)

Royal Birds (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

This group of second grade students from Whitman school were literally put on display for National Education Week during November of 1939. Their library class was held in a display window of the Rhodes department store at 950 Broadway. The students being watched by proud parents and curious shoppers are (l to r): George Mills; Dorothy Powell; Dolores Duncan, writing her name on the blackboard; Ann Truitt, with her back to the camera; Richard McCulloch; and Allyn Hultman with back to camera. (T. Times, 11-10-1939, p.18)

School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children reading & writing--Tacoma; Duncan, Dolores; Mills, George; Powell, Dorothy; McCulloch, Richard; Truitt, Ann; Hultman, Allyn;

National Education Week. Whitman School, 2B, holding library class in display window of Rhodes Department Store on November 9, 1939. The proud parents of these seven-year-olds peek from the outside. Glady J. Christie was the classroom instructor. Students were : Dolores Duncan writing her name on the blackboard, (seated) George Mills, Dorothy Powell, Richard McCulloch, and Ann Truitt and Allyn Hultman with backs to camera. (T. Times, 11-10-1939, p.18)

School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children reading & writing--Tacoma; Duncan, Dolores; Mills, George; Powell, Dorothy; McCulloch, Richard; Truitt, Ann; Hultman, Allyn;

In April of 1940, these patients of the Rust Memorial Ward and the Tacoma Orthopedic Clinic were able to learn their 3 R's despite being at the Tacoma General Hospital, thanks to a compact school room furnished by the Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The newly decorated room held regular classes five days a week for children with physical disabilities. Some of the children, under the supervision of the Orthopedic Clinic, were transported from their homes daily for school sessions. The schoolwork was done under the direction of Mrs. Meredith Duguay, whose services were provided by the Tacoma School District. The woman in front of the bookcase at the back of the room may be Mrs. Duguay. (T. Times, 4-19-40, p. 3-alternate picture )

School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); People with disabilities--Tacoma;

Laying of first keel at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation. Seattle Mayor Arthur Langlie, center (later Governor), kneels down to help with equipment. Governor Clarence Martin is standing above him and Tacoma Mayor J. J. Kaufman, with hardhat on left, are among those in the forefront of this March 5, 1940 photograph. (T. Times)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Mayors--Seattle; Martin, Clarence D., 1887-1955; Governors; Kaufman, Joseph J.; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Unloading scenes at Commercial Dock. Three workmen using forklift to load metal alloys onto wooden pallets. Matthewson Shipping Company. The shipment, originally bound for Russia, had been unloaded from the American Steamship Co. freighter "Wildwood." The vessel had turned around in the mid Pacific and returned to Tacoma, fearing an Allied blockade. The cargo consisted of copper, brass and machinery. (T. Times 4/8/1940, pg. 1)

Shipping--Tacoma--1940-1950; Warehouses--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Ed Short's sister's cottage at Cromwell. Mr. Short, in background, sits and watches a man and two women working on table saw in house; one of the women, dressed in a dark, afternoon-type dress, is holding a hand drill.

Short, Edgar T.; Short, Edgar T.--Family; Do-it-yourself work;

New outside bulletin board at University Place School as pictured on February 12, 1940. Large group of adults and children gather around walk-through sign board for posted school events. Board reads: "Built by co-operation." School building in background. The University Place Improvement Club was responsible for the handsome new board. Donated materials included sheet metal provided by the Carl Anderson Sheet Metal works, lumber from the Hampton Lumber Co. and lettering from the Cliff Sign Co. (T.Times 2-12-1940, p. 5-article & other photograph)

Signs (Notices); University Place School (University Place);

Pets of all kinds were on display at the annual Spanaway School pet show held on Wednesday May 15, 1940. The unidentified little girl at the far left, standing next to a very young Uncle Sam, is holding a dog dressed in a shirt with a frilly collar and overalls. The girl at the right holds a bicycle decorated with crepe paper streamers. Spanaway Elementary School was built in 1927 at 15600 East B Street. It was torn down shortly after the Chester H. Thompson Elementary School opened in 1969. (T. Times 5/17/1940 p.8)

Spanaway Elementary School (Spanaway); School children--Spanaway; Pets; Animal shows--Spanaway; Bicycles & tricycles--Spanaway; Costumes;

Group shot of most of the winners in all catagories at the Pet Show and Parade at Spanaway Elementary School on May 15, 1940. Costumed pets and owners predominate with decorated bicycles as another competitor. Several boys stand on structures in the background to get in on the picture.

Spanaway Elementary School (Spanaway); School children--Spanaway; Pets; Animal shows--Spanaway; Parades & processions--Spanaway; Bicycles & tricycles--Spanaway; Costumes;

Pet Parade at Spanaway School. The winners of most of the events at the annual pet show at Spanaway School on May 15, 1940 are pictured. Pets of all kinds were exhibited at the show. Large group of children dressed in costumes with their dogs and bicycles. One-story school building in background. Active boys are climbing on building and hanging from roof while teachers concentrate on parade group. (T. Times 5/17/1940, pg. 8)

Spanaway Elementary School (Spanaway); School children--Spanaway; Pets; Animal shows--Spanaway; Parades & processions--Spanaway; Bicycles & tricycles--Spanaway; Costumes;

With much excitement and enthusiasm, Spanaway school children held a pet parade and marched down local roads in May of 1940. It was an opportunity to dress in costumes and show-off their favorite pets. Some of the children rode decorated bicycles and toy automobiles; one child (second from the left). whose head-mask is off, dressed as a spotted dog with long ears .

Spanaway Elementary School (Spanaway); School children--Spanaway; Pets; Dogs--Spanaway; Parades & processions--Spanaway; Bicycles & tricycles--Spanaway; Costumes;

Children walk in a school pet parade down a road in Spanaway in May of 1940. Some are holding onto dogs and other pets; others are riding decorated bicycles and a toy automobile. Early Spanaway buildings dot the background-- a false front store and a pioneer log building on the left. Image printed in reverse.

Spanaway Elementary School (Spanaway); School children--Spanaway; Pets; Parades & processions--Spanaway; Bicycles & tricycles--Spanaway; Costumes;

Seven members of the Spinsters Club met on April 23, 1940, to finalize plans for the second annual Dixie Ball to be held in the Crystal Ballroom of the Winthrop Hotel on Saturday, May 11, 1940. The Old South of "Dixie Land" was the ball's theme. Backdrops would include river steamers and cotton fields. The black servant dolls shown above would be used to hold table reservation cards. Seated on the floor were Susan Simpson and Valdene Hazelton (left to right). In the background were from left, general chairman of the ball Jane Allstrom, Nan Weber, Doris Nisonger, Lea Mills and Roberta Walker. (T.Times 4-27-40, p. 4)

Spinster Club (Tacoma); Committees--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Simpson, Susan; Hazelton, Valdene; Allstrom, Jane; Weber, Nan; Nisonger, Doris; Mills, Lea; Walker, Roberta; Dolls;

Spinster Club Dixie Ball committee. Seven young women gathered in living room around poster announcing the Second Annual Dixie Ball occurring on May 11th at the Crystal Ballroom in the Winthrop Hotel. This was an eagerly awaited event for Tacoma's young set in the spring of 1940. From left to right are Valdene Hazelton, general chairman of the dance Jane Allstrom, Lea Mills, Susan Simpson, Doris Nisonger, Roberta Walker and Nan Weber. (T.Times 4-27-40, p. 4-alt. photograph)

Spinsters Club (Tacoma); Women--Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Posters; Hazelton, Valdene; Allstrom, Jane; Mills, Lea; Simpson, Susan; Nisonger, Doris; Walker, Roberta; Weber, Nan;

The concrete bleachers at Stadium Bowl are empty of people but untidy with scattered litter, probably programs or newspapers, after the annual Thanksgiving Day football game between Stadium and Lincoln High School in 1939. The State Historical Museum building is in the background.

Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Bleachers--Tacoma; Refuse--Tacoma; Football--Tacoma--1930-1940; Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma);

1940's Fourth of July show at Stadium. Good, rare view of west side of Stadium showing bleachers, steep lawn, and houses opposite Stadium. (T. Times)

Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Celebrations--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In March of 1940, Stadium High School presented their 28th annual opera "Desert Song." The 200 students in the cast rehearsed three months to perform the light opera March 28-30. The lead was played by Donna Mae Jaden, who later achieved fame as musical and film star Janis Paige. Pictured, left to right, are Michael Gaidosh, Margaret Repetto, David Glenn, Mel Novikoff, Donna Mae Jaden, Fred Gilbertson and Bob Mulligan. (T. Times 3/29/1940, pg. 13)

Stadium High School (Tacoma); Operas & operettas--Tacoma--1940-1950; Actresses; Paige, Janis; Jaden, Donna Mae; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gaidosh, Michael; Repetto, Margaret; Glenn, David; Novikoff, Mel; Gilbertson, Fred; Mulligan, Bob;