The Pacific Coast Fire Chiefs Convention was held in late July of 1940. The roof of the Winthrop Hotel was a favorite spot for photographing large groups as the downtown skyline made a memorable view. Men on roof of Winthrop Hotel, city and port in background.

Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Cityscapes;

Over 100 firemen posed for a formal group photograph on the roof of the Hotel Winthrop in late July of 1940. From July 31 through August 3rd the 47th annual convention of the Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs was held in Tacoma. Emory N. Whitacker, Tacoma Fire Chief, was convention host to chiefs from Washington, Oregon, California, Montana, Idaho and other western states. With wives, guests, and concessionaires, the convention was expected to bring some 1,500 visitors to Tacoma. The Murray Morgan Bridge (11th St. Bridge), the City Waterway (now the Foss Waterway), and several of the prominent buildings on A Street including the Tacoma Building and the Perkins Building can be seen in the background.

Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Cityscapes; 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma); City Waterway (Tacoma); Tacoma Building (Tacoma); Perkins Building (Tacoma);

The 47th annual convention of the Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs would be held in Tacoma for the first times on July 31 through August 3rd, 1940. Emory N. Whitacker, Tacoma Fire Chief, would play convention host to 500-700 chiefs from Washington, Oregon, California, Montana, Idaho and other western states. With wives and guests, the conventioneers would total over 1500. Pictured seated center is Chief Baker of Louistown, Mt., president of the Pacific Coast Fire Chiefs. Standing back left is Jay W. Stevens of San Francisco, Secretary of the Fire Chiefs. (T. Times 7/23/1940, pg. 2)

Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stevens, Jay W.;

Tacoma Sculpturing Club exhibit in window at Rhodes Department Store. The plaque in the center reads that the exhibit is by the Tacoma Sculptors Club and the Bryant Creative Arts Studio; a school centered community recreation program and a WPA cooperative program offering free instruction. The project originated four years previously. The larger pieces on display are wood etchings, a cabinet, scenic carvings and a chest. New ideas in carving include covers for photo, guest and scrap books. Also represented are finely carved cameos in hand carved frames. (T. Times 8/19/1940, pg. 7)

Tacoma Sculpting Club (Tacoma); Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Wood carvings; Woodwork;

A couple dressed in the style of the Gay Nineties poses at the Pi Beta Phi style show, held at the Masonic Temple roof garden on September 6, 1940. The style show and tea was hosted by the sororities' alumnae organization. (T. Times 9/5/1940, pg. 10)

Pi Beta Phi (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fashion shows--Tacoma--1940-1950;

A bathing beauty of times past steps lightly from the family album, blowing up a pair of water wings. She is a model in the Pi Beta Phi style show and tea, held at the Masonic Temple roof garden on September 6, 1940. (T. Times 9/5/1940, pg. 10)

Pi Beta Phi (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fashion shows--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bathing suits--1910-1920;

Posing with their bicycles outside the Lakewood Community Center in September of 1940 were seven Lakewood-area music lovers: (in no particular order) Mrs. R.W. McMahon, Mrs. Bert Sweeting, Mrs. William Panman, Mrs. George Hellyer, Mrs. Brian Shera, Mrs. W.W. Williver and (believed to be) Anne Baker. These ladies were part of a volunteer committee involved in the Tacoma Philharmonic Association membership drive. Several of them were also part of a local music appreciation study group and they used their bicycles to travel to each other's homes for meetings. (T.Times 9-14-40, p. 5)

Tacoma Philharmonic Association (Tacoma); Membership campaigns--Lakewood; Bicycles & tricycles--Lakewood;

Seven Lakewood-area ladies chose this way to promote the Tacoma Philharmonic Association's membership drive in September of 1940. Pausing in front of the Lakewood Community Center, 6100 Motor Ave. S.W. with their bicycles are (not in order): Mrs. R.W. McMahon, Mrs. Bert Sweeting, captain of the team Mrs. William Panman, Mrs. George Hellyer, Mrs. Brian Shera, Mrs. W.W. Williver, and (believed to be) Miss Anne Baker. A curious spotted dog has also joined the group.

Tacoma Philharmonic Association (Tacoma); Bicycles & tricycles--Lakewood; Membership campaigns--Lakewood;

Loyal Order of Railroad Conductors Women's Auxiliary. 30 members of the women's auxiliary posed for a group portrait on September 25, 1940.

Loyal Order of Railroad Conductors Women's Auxiliary;

Members of original Thrift Shop committee at the Junior League Thrift Shop. (T. Times)

Junior League (Tacoma); Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950; Thrift shops--Tacoma; Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Junior League Thrift Shop (Tacoma);

It was the tradition of the old University Club (newly reformed in 1939 as the University-Union Club) to entertain the Justices of the State Supreme Court at an annual dinner and entertainment. The 33rd annual event was held November 20, 1940 at the club with Mayor Harry P. Cain as toastmaster. The "entertainment" portion was turned over to the Tacoma Drama League. They are pictured portraying the Justices in rapt interest over the finer points of a divorce case. The "judges" are, left to right, J. Walley Showman (reading the Police Gazette), William L. Brown, E.E. "Bud" Bare Jr., J.K. "Jock" Gordon and Irving W. Thomas. (T. Times 11/20/1940, pg. 3)

University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma); Tacoma Drama League (Tacoma); Impersonation;

In January of 1941 the Tacoma Spinster Club sponsored a roller skating party at Berg's Roller Bowl at 8006 South Tacoma Way in Lakewood. Four Spinster Club members, wearing saddle shoes and steel roller skates fastened with keys, were photographed at the skating party with two of their guests. Pictured left to right are Mary Katherine Hager, Ruth Taylor, Charles D. Mellinger, Wyona Diemer, Catherine Foss and Bill Zeh. The Spinster Club was a social group of prominent young women. (T. Times 1/25/1941, pg. 4)

Spinster Club (Tacoma); Skating rinks--Lakewood; Berg's Roller Bowl (Lakewood); Skaters; Roller skating--Lakewood; Diemer, Wyona; Hager, Mary Katherine; Taylor, Ruth; Foss, Catherine; Mellinger, Charles D.; Zeh, Bill;

Woodbrook Hunt Club. Five young women, four holding hunting dogs, posed for portrait in front of fireplace. They are the officers of the newly formed junior organization of the Woodbrook Hunt Club. The girls are, left to right, Diane Corse, Jean Strong, Wendy Wagner, Nancy Griggs and Ann Stickney. (T.Times 1/25/1941, pg. 5)

Woodbrook Hunt Club (Lakewood); Hunting dogs; Clubs--Lakewood--1940-1950; Corse, Diane; Strong, Jean; Wagner, Wendy; Griggs, Nancy; Stickney, Ann;

Opera group at Y.W.C.A. (T. Times)

Young Womens Christian Association (Tacoma);

The new officers for the Spinster Club pose on the roof of the Winthrop Hotel. The Medical Arts Building can be seen in the background. The Spinster Club was a social club composed of prominent young Tacoma girls. The officers for the coming year were, left to right, Lea Mills (president), Ann Baillargeon (vice pres.), Virginia Austin (secretary) and Valdene Hazelton (treasurer.) (T. Times 3/15/1941, pg. 5)

Spinster Club (Tacoma); Mills, Lea; Baillargeon, Ann; Austin, Virginia; Hazelton, Valdene;

Tacoma Drama League committee members planning the gala opening night of "Call It A Day" meet in the garden of the home of Mrs. Abner Bergersen. The play by Dodie Smith would be produced at the Tacoma Little Theater March 27-29 and April 3-5, 1941. It would be directed by Marjorie (Mrs. Harry) Cain. Pictured left to right are Mrs. Salem Nourse, Margaret (Mrs. J.W.) Matheson, Mabel (Mrs. Abner) Bergersen and Marion Seymour. (T. Times 3/22/1941, pg. 5)

Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Drama League (Tacoma); Bergersen, Abner R.--Homes & haunts; Matheson, Margaret; Bergersen, Mabel; Seymour, Marion;

The room is swaying to the swinging sounds of Stan Miskoski and his orchestra at the University Union Club's Sadie Hawkins dance on March 15, 1941. The orchestra is attired in keeping with the Dogpatch theme of the Club's first costume ball in two years. Sadie Hawkins Day was an American Folk event started by Al Capp in his Li'l Abner comic strip. Decades before women's liberation, it was the day when emboldened females could ask out the man of their choice.

University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma); Dance parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Miskoski, Stan;

Two couples pose at the University Union Club Sadie Hawkins Dance on March 15, 1941. The men are dressed in formal attire, but the women are definitely attired Dogpatch style. The pairs are seated on a hay bale and tin cups and cans have taken the places of drink glasses for the evening. Sadie Hawkins Day, usually celebrated in November, was the invention of Al Capp in his Li'l Abner comic strip. It was the day, decades before women's liberation, when women could ask out the man of their dreams. By the 1930's, it was sweeping the nation. The schedule for the evening included dancing from 9:30- 1, followed by a supper.

University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma); Dance parties--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Co-Ed Daffodil Dance at Hotel Winthrop on March 22, 1941. The Co-Ed Club annually hosted the opening ball of the Daffodil Festival, held immediately following the coronation. Pictured, left to right, are Mack Koon and his fiance Dorothy LaGasa, Amy Lou Murray and Dean MacDonald. The couple to the right are unidentified. The Koon-LaGasa wedding was scheduled for June. (T. Times 3/29/1941, pg. 5)

Co-Ed Club (Tacoma); Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1941 : Tacoma); Koon, James Mack; La Gasa, Dorothy; Murray, Amy Lou; MacDonald, Dean;

Riders enjoy a traditional "Hunt Breakfast" while seated on the steps of the Woodbrook Hunt Club clubhouse, balancing plates on their knees. The hunt breakfast actually follows the hunt, making it more of an afternoon meal. The members of Woodbrook were the hosts for a joint hunt with the Columbia Hunt Club from Portland. Pictured, front row, Mrs. Jack Loehr, Miss Jen Eckelsen, Errol Ostrum and Clark Fay, all of Portland. Back row, Dorothy Faber of Portland, Fred Kenworthy, Richard Hall, Mrs. Helen Keho Woods, Miss Ethel Hacker, unidentified young girl. (T. Times 3/19/1941, pg. 10; 3/29/1941, pg. 5; picture in T. Times 4/5/1941, pg. 5)

Woodbrook Hunt Club (Lakewood);

Members of the Woodbrook Hunt Club, wearing traditional hunt clothing, were photographed in the Spring of 1941 riding across the prairie with their hounds. The "Huntsman" was the gentleman in the top hat. Woodbrook still practices the tradition of riding to the hounds and is one of 170 member hunts of the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America. They keep a group of pedigree American Foxhounds in their kennels. (www.woodbrookhunt.com)

Woodbrook Hunt Club (Lakewood); Horses--Tacoma;

Members of the Woodbrook Hunt Club were photographed on March 29, 1941 against a background of prairie and (faintly) Mount Rainier. The Club had played host to two other groups of riders, from other cities, twice during the Spring. The group was captured by the Richards photographer while setting out on a hunt. (T. Times 4/5/1941, pg. 5)

Woodbrook Hunt Club (Lakewood); Horses--Tacoma;

On March 29-30, 1941, the Woodbrook Hunt Club hosted a joint spring hunt with the Columbia Hunt Club from Portland. Thirty five riders and their mounts journeyed to the Lakewood Club to participate. Riders, horses and hunting dogs loiter, waiting for the hunt to begin. (T. Times 3/19/1941, pg. 10)

Woodbrook Hunt Club (Lakewood); Horses--Tacoma;

Riders enjoy a traditional "Hunt Breakfast" while seated on the steps of the Woodbrook Hunt Club clubhouse, balancing plates on their knees. The hunt breakfast actually follows the hunt, making it more of an afternoon meal. The members of Woodbrook were the hosts for a joint hunt with the Columbia Hunt Club from Portland. Pictured, front row, two unidentified men, Mrs. Jack Loehr, Miss Jen Eckelsen, Errol Ostrum and Clark Fay, all of Portland. Back row, two unidentified men, Dorothy Faber of Portland, Fred Kenworthy, Richard Hall, Mrs. Helen Keho Woods, Miss Ethel Hacker, two unidentified children. The four unidentified men from Woodbrook on the left are believed to be, top row, John Muddlesworth and Don Cameron and, front row, Burwood Kennedy and Arthur Hannum. These four men were not identified in the Tacoma Times. (T. Times 3/19/1941, pg. 10; 3/29/1941, pg. 5; picture in T. Times 4/5/1941, pg. 5)

Woodbrook Hunt Club (Lakewood);

Members of the Woodbrook Hunt Club, wearing English riding habits, set out in spring of 1941 on a hunt. The Club had hosted two fellow clubs from neighboring cities to a joint hunt during the spring. This image was captured by the Richards Studio photographer during one of those hunts. Their hunting grounds, located on the current Fort Lewis grounds, were highly prized.

Woodbrook Hunt Club (Lakewood); Horses--Tacoma;

The committee planning the next Wauna Club dance, scheduled for April 19th, 1941 at the Winthrop roof garden, visits the Central Travel Bureau to get the scoop on Hawaii. The theme for the dance is "Aloha Oe." Pictured, left to right, are Anna (Mrs. Harold R.) Johnson, Evelyn (Mrs. Erling) Johnson, Edith (Mrs. J.W.) Gourley, Mrs.Tim Kimball and Eva (Mrs. Thor) Tollefson. (T. Times 4/12/1941, pg. 5)

Wauna Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Central Travel Bureau (Tacoma); Johnson, Anna; Johnson, Evelyn; Gourley, Edith; Tollefson, Eva;

Members of the planning committee for the Spinster Club's 3rd annual Dixie Ball pose on the front steps on #95, possibly 95 East Rd. The women are, left to right, Virginia Austin, Dixie Thompson, Anne Louise Greiwe and Elinor Erickson. They are wearing floor length ballgowns, reminiscent of the antebellum time period. The dance would be held May 10th, 1941 at the Winthrop Hotel's Crystal Ballroom.

Spinster Club (Tacoma); Erickson, Elinor; Thompson, Dixie; Greiwe, Anne Louise; Austin, Virginia;

Four members of the Spinster Club donned summery formal gowns to help publicize the third annual Dixie Ball which was scheduled to be held on May 10, 1941 in the Crystal Ballroom at the Winthrop Hotel. Posed left to right, Elinor Erickson, Dixie Thompson, Anne Louise Greiwe and Virginia Austin were photographed just below the veranda of the August Von Boecklin home at 74 East Road. Miss Erickson was in charge of decorations for the dance and Miss Austin was secretary of the club. (T. Times 4/26/1941, pg. 5)

Spinster Club (Tacoma); Erickson, Elinor; Thompson, Dixie; Greiwe, Anne Louise; Austin, Virginia; Von Boecklin, August--Homes & haunts;

Young Men's Business Club Auxiliary committee meeting at home of Mrs. Marvin (Miriam) Lynn. [Also dated 04-18-1941] (T. Times)

Organizations - Tacoma - Young Men's Business Club - Auxiliary

Girl Reserves 60th Anniversary celebration publicity. Mrs. Edward Lewis serves cake to Peggy Clancy, Barbara Noble and Arlene Sagen. All three are dressed in Girl Reserve uniforms. The Girl Reserves was an organization for girls sponsored by the Young Women's Christian Association. Room decorated with international flags, including China, France, the Soviet Union and Great Britain. (T.Times 5/1/1941 p.11)

Girl Reserves (Tacoma); Anniversaries--Tacoma; Young Women's Christian Association (Tacoma); Clancy, Peggy; Noble, Barbara; Sagen, Arlene;