148th Field Artillery Band with instruments. Group will play at Military Ball on May 20. Under director, Warrant Officer Louis G. Werson, the band won the state championship at Camp Murray encampment in 1938. The 148th F.A. was headquartered in Tacoma. (T. Times 5/12/1939, p. 20).

Washington National Guard, 148th F.A. Band (Tacoma); Camp Murray (Wash.); Military uniforms; Military personnel; Military bands;

On board the U.S.S. Lexington, aircraft carrier known as the "Queen of the Flattops,"in mid-December, 1929, were those instrumental in bringing emergency power to Tacoma. L-R, Chief Engineer Lt. Cdr. H.L. White, General Electric (maker and owner of the generators) representative Robert E. Lee, Utilities Commissioner Ira S. Davisson, City Light Supt. Llewellyn Evans, Tacoma Mayor James G. Newbegin (appointed in March of 1929 to replace the resigning Melvin G. Tennent), and ship commander, Frank D. Berrien. Tacoma experienced a severe shortage of electricity due to drought conditions; the Lexington, with its enormous generators, would deliver over 4 million kilowatts or about 25% of the city's power. TPL-1775. ALBUM 16.

U.S.S. Lexington (United States Navy); Aircraft carriers--United States; White, H.L.; Lee, Robert E.; Davisson, Ira; Evans, Llewellyn; Newbegin, James G.; Berrien, Frank D.; Power shortages--Tacoma; Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1929. U.S.S. Lexington, aircraft carrier, who came to the aid of the City of Tacoma and provided electricity from mid-December, 1929, to mid-January, 1930. The ship was berthed at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton with Capt. Frank D. Berrien in command. The fourth Navy ship to bear that name, she had been built by the Fore River Shipbuilding Corporation of Quincy, Mass. Her overall length was 888 feet and she had four turbo-generators. TPL-1937

U.S.S. Lexington (United States Navy); Aircraft carriers--United States;

On February 5, 1921, soldiers at Camp Lewis enjoy reading at the Liberty Library located near the camp's Hostess House. Books, magazines and newspapers were supplied without charge. The Liberty Library opened in November of 1917 with 6000 donated books. The collection had grown to roughly 50,000 volumes a mere six months later. Books were supplied through the auspices of the American Library Association. Camp librarian Arthur Beardsley later indicated that the library had circulated 62,682 volumes in a camp with approximate population of 7094 in 1921. An 40-foot square addition to the original one-story library was made about 1918 as the library needed more space for materials and for patron usage. This addition was a periodical reading room, perhaps shown above, which was attached to the center of the original building. Racks for 150 periodicals and about 50 newspapers were provided and good chairs and tables furnished by the Army and its friends. (www.historylink.org; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 1-29-22, 10E) TPL-10309

Soldiers' libraries--Camp Lewis; Libraries--Camp Lewis;

Close-up view of recessed entryway of newly constructed building located at Camp Murray in January of 1928. See B17968 for general view of concrete building. G77.1-004

Camp Murray (Wash).; Doors & doorways--Camp Murray;

Once Camp Lewis became officially designated as a Fort in September of 1927, money was appropriated to build permanent structures including new barracks. The exteriors of these new living quarters look nearly complete although landscaping is non-existent.

Barracks--Fort Lewis; Building construction--Fort Lewis--1920-1930;

U.S.S. Lexington tied up at old Baker Dock below Stadium Bowl, December, 1929. Power cables are attached to her side. Tacoma received an early Christmas present as the large aircraft carrier was used as an auxiliary power plant to lend a helping hand to the City suffering from severe drought conditions. During its one month stay, it provided over four million kilowatt hours of electricity to a city whose residents had been utilizing candles, kerosene lamps, and living with dim streetlights and smaller night shifts. The Lexington made its last power deliveries to Tacoma on January 16, 1930, and departed for San Francisco the following day. TPL-1936; G71.1-117.

U.S.S. Lexington (United States Navy); Aircraft carriers--United States; Power shortages--Tacoma;

Four soldiers from the 10th Field Artillery rest on the ground in a field at Brown's Farm, Nisqually. Horses and equipment behind them. Photograph taken on August 15, 1932. TPL-7095

Soldiers--1930-1940; Military life--1930-1940;

Soldiers from the 10th Field Artillery in a military encampment at Brown's Farm, Nisqually. TPL-7097

Military camps--1930-1940; Military life--1930-1940; Soldiers--1930-1940;

Soldiers from the 10th Field Artillery lead horses through a gate in a fence at the military camp on Brown's Farm, Nisqually. TPL-7098

Military life--1930-1940; Military camp--1930-1940; Horses;

Group of soldiers fro the 10th Field Artillery sit in a field at Brown's Farm, Nisqually, eating from their mess kits. Tents and wagons in background. TPL-7099

Military life--1930-1940; Soldiers--1930-1940;

These are the non-commissioned officers of the 146th F.A. at Camp Dent, the 1930 encampment of the Washington National Guard held at Camp Murray in June of that year. G69.1-144

Washington National Guard, 148th F.A. (Tacoma); Military personnel; Military uniforms;

Twelve non-commissioned officers from the 146th F.A., E Battery, pose in the grassy fields of Camp Dent, the 1930 Washington National Guard encampment on the grounds of Camp Murray. All are in uniform with several wearing whistles and chains. They were participating in the annual summer maneuvers which occurred in the last two weeks of June. G69.1-146

Washington National Guard, Battery E, 146th F.A. (Tacoma); Military personnel; Uniforms; Camp Murray (Wash.);

In November of 1919, the battle scarred World War I tank Ermentrude was in Tacoma for a recruitment drive. Posing with her in front of the offices of the Tribune Publishing Co. (711-13 St. Helens Ave.) were her travelling corps, left to right, Pvt. James G. Hall, Sergeant Joseph Appleby and Capt. Edgar Dade Gunning. Gunning was in charge of the tank and Hall was the pilot. Appleby had served overseas with the tank, which was a veteran of 18 fierce battles fought in St. Mihiel and Argonne. (TDL 11/20/1919, pg. 10) G70.1-005 TPL-10065

Tanks (Military science)--1910-1920; Armored vehicles--1910-1920; Hall, James G.; Appleby, Joseph; Gunning, Edgar Dade; World War, 1914-1918--Veterans--Tacoma ; World War, 1914-1918--Recruiting & Enlistment; Tribune Publishing Co. (Tacoma);

Marymount Military Academy, Spanaway, Washington in January of 1937. Built by the Dominican Sisters, Marymount was the only military school in the state of Washington. It existed for 54 years, originally as a military academy for boys ages 6-16 and later as a boarding school catering to the wealthy. The school closed in 1976. The buildings then housed the mother house for the sisters and a retirement location for them as well. The school was later sold to Harold LeMay, the owner of a Pierce County trash and recycling business and an avid collector of antique motor vehicles.

ca. 1931. Residence at 2517 So. 13th St., Tacoma. For Mrs. C. H. Glassco. The home of Charles H. and Minnie Glassco, built around 1920. Photo circa 1931 shows two men and one woman sitting on the front steps, an American flag flying above their heads. One of the men is in military uniform.

3 young ladies looking at cannon of U.S.S. Lexington, December, 1929. The Navy did permit some tours of the ship which had come to Tacoma to assist in the production of auxiliary power. These young women appear intrigued at the size of the Navy's firepower. They had persuaded the ship's officers to lower the 8-inch guns so that they could more closely view the muzzles. Ethel Haasarud, Freda Gardner, and Naomi Dykeman were the panel of judges of the "Supreme Beauty Court of Tacoma." These ladies would choose the most handsome, most happy, and best dancer at the big Chamber of Commerce dance for enlisted personnel of the Lexington on December 26th. TPL-005 (T.Times, 12-23-1929, p. 1)

From mid-December, 1929 to mid-January, 1930 the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Lexington used its enormous generators to provide electricity for the city of Tacoma. It took four powerful navy tugboats assisted by three Foss tugs to push the 33,000 ton vessel into position at the Baker Dock. A severe drought had greatly reduced the amount of electricity available to Tacoma from the city's hydro-electric dams. During its month long stay the Lexington generated enough power to furnish 25% of the city's power needs. (T.Times, 12-16-29, p. 1)

Lt. Commander Richard E. Byrd, left, the first man to fly over the North Pole in an airplane, poses with Tacoma capitalist and explorer Gen. James M. Ashton. Comm. Byrd was in Tacoma on February 5, 1927 to speak at the First Baptist Church about his flight on May 9, 1926 over the North Pole. The two men had much in common. Both men had a military background, Byrd was a Naval officer and Ashton founded Washington's calvary (later known as Troop B, Wa. National Guard.) Both were arctic explorers. In 1922, Ashton at the age of 63 embarked on a 7 month trip on the schooner Iskum to areas of Siberia never seen by a white man. Gen. Ashton published his adventures in 1928 in a book called "Ice Bound." The pair drove about the city and paid a visit to Ashton's home, "Ashtonhill," at 403 No. 11th St. (Ledger 2/6/1927, pg. 1)

Three men in military uniforms.

Military uniforms--United States--1950-1960;

This view of the construction of the new barracks at Fort Lewis shows the reinforcing steel from Bethlehem Steel used in the foundation floor. Ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation.

Fort Lewis (Wash.); Reinforced concrete construction--Fort Lewis; Building construction--Fort Lewis; Barracks--Fort Lewis; Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle);

Posing on June 24, 1969, with an array of medals is Mark Phun. In addition to the medals, his wool jacket has gold epaulets. The young man also sports an impressive handlebar mustache. Photograph ordered by Mrs. John Schall, Puyallup.

Phun, Mark; Medals; Military decorations; Mustaches;

Civilians Military Training Camp, C.M.T.C., at Camp Murray. A long line of young men in civilian clothing standing by a warehouse-type building. These civilian soldiers are most probably waiting to receive the uniforms that they will wear for the duration of the camp. The camp was used to introduce interested young men to military training and also to refresh the training of the state reservists. Such camps were held annually at the larger military installations in the state of Washington. (T. Times 7/9/1936, pg. 14)

Citizens Military Training Camp--Tacoma; Camp Murray (Wash.); Washington National Guard (Tacoma); Military camps--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Citizen's Military Training Camp (C.M.T.C.) at Camp Murray. Two new arrivals are looking through a small book. After World War I, the country could not afford to maintain a large standing army. Nor could it afford the time needed to train hastily summoned volunteers in an emergency. The compromise was the Citizens Training Camps. In these annual camps held in the summer, young men interested in military careers could train as well as reservists needing a refresher course. (T. Times 7/9/1936, pg. 14)

Citizens Military Training Camp--Tacoma; Camp Murray (Wash.); Washington National Guard (Tacoma); Military camps--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Citizens Military Training Camp, C.M.T.C., at Camp Murray. Major Jack Muckey, lower left hand corner, arrives as a group of citizen soldiers line up prior to donning the olive drab that they will wear for the remainder of the camp. Tents, a one-story building with shutters, and automobiles are visible on the camp grounds. Major Muckey, from Tacoma, was the reservist serving as the liaison officer for the camp. The annual summer citizens camp was used both for training young men interested in military careers and as a refresher course for reservists. (T. Times 7/9/1936, pg. 14)

Citizens Military Training Camp--Tacoma; Camp Murray (Wash.); Washington National Guard (Tacoma); Military camps--Tacoma--1930-1940; Muckey, Jack;

ca. 1937. Soldiers on horses pulling covered wagon with "Just Married" banner and carrying wedding couple. (filed with Argentum)

Fort Lewis (Wash.);

C.M.T.C. awards ceremonies. Two groups of young men march in formation at the Civilian Military Training Camp awards program at Fort Lewis. Two hundred fifty youths enrolled in the local program. Its goal was to keep the nation in a state of military readiness without maintaining a large standing army. (T.Times, 8/4/1938, p. 1).

Fort Lewis (Wash.); Citizens Military Training Camp--Fort Lewis;

Army Day at Fort Lewis. A member of the 91st Air Squadron discusses the military apparel worn by pilots during winter flying with a couple and their daughter. The leather pilot's suit hangs on a pole inside a tent where exhibits are displayed .

Fort Lewis (Wash.); Military air pilots--1930-1940; Military uniforms;

The 1,235 passengers aboard the army transport U.S. Grant had to pass through U.S. Customs when they returned to the United States from China. Soldier and Port of Tacoma inspector checking information in baggage area. (T.Times, 3/24/1938, p.1).

Troop movements--1930-1940; Government vessels--1930-1940; Military personnel--1930-1940; Military uniforms--United States --1930-1940; Luggage;

With newsreel cameras rolling, dignitaries on the right, including Washington Governor Clarence D. Martin and Tacoma Mayor George Smitley, prepare to meet the returning members of the US 15th Infantry Division. The group is being relocated from China to Fort Lewis. Known as the "Can Do" Regiment, the group was stationed in China for 26 years, helping the Chinese fight flood and famine.

Troop movements--1930-1940; Government vessels--1930-1940; Warships--1930-1940; Military personnel--1930-1940; Military uniforms--United States --1930-1940;