Herbert Hoover, then Secretary of Commerce, signed the Indian "Pledge to the Mountain" to honor Mt. Rainier on the rooftop of the Hotel Winthrop on August 21, 1926. An unidentified Indian maiden helps to unroll the scroll. Mr. Hoover, who would later become the 31st President of the United States, was given the name Chief Coolee-Chuck ("Running Water"). The pledge was administered entirely in the Chinook language. In it, Mr. Hoover swore and promised by the Great Spirit of the Mountain to journey whenever possible to the "Mountain that was God" in order to breathe in the pure air, drink the sparkling waters, and gaze upon its wondrous beauties. He promised to acquaint himself with the lore of the red men and learn about the legends of the mountain's origins and sacredness. Should he violate this solemn obligation, he could foresee his wickiup burning, racehorses dying and coyotes devouring all his rabbits. Secretary Hoover was in Tacoma as a guest of the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce and addressed a large group of about 300 businessmen at the Hotel Winthrop on the "Future of Foreign Trade." This photograph was modified by the photographer: a clearer view of Mount Rainier was added, and the Brotherhood Bank's signage reversed and building itself extended upward. TPL-5447; G68.1-028 (TNT 8-21-26, p. 1)

Hoover, Herbert; Indians of North America--Tacoma--1920-1930; Document signings--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Rudy Henry walks down the aisle.

Rudy Henry and John McCluskey kiss.

Rudy Henry and John McCluskey kiss.

Rudy Henry and John McCluskey walk down the aisle.

Undated photograph of an elderly Native American with tribal markings. Tepees and other Native Americans in background. Boland Studios made a copy of this photograph on September 11, 1925.

Tipis; Indigenous peoples;

ca. 1886. Several long boats (Indian canoes) rest on the beach at about Fifth and Pacific in Tacoma in this photograph from the mid 1880s. Long boats could transport a whole family with supplies for a season of fishing. This group of boats is probably preparing to head upstream on the Puyallup River where members of the Puyallup tribe worked in the hop fields of the Puyallup Valley. The Puyallups are part of the Puget Sound Salish original peoples. They were hunters, gatherers and fishermen, although they inhabited permanent houses along the riverbanks and along the Sound. Salmon was their main food and figured strongly in their culture. Under the Treaty of Medicine Creek, the tribe ceded much of their territories but retained fishing rights. Rutter Collection TPL-564

Longboats--Tacoma--1890-1900; Indians of North America--Tacoma--1890-1900;

Native Americans, listed in Richards records as Margie, Abraham, Charlie and others, gather under a tree at the annual tribal gathering in the Puyallup Valley at hop picking time. The Native Americans will pick the hops during the day and gather at night to socialize and play ancient games with other tribe members from Washington and British Columbia. (T. Times 8/30/1934, pg. 1+)

Indians of North America; Migrant agricultural laborers--Puyallup--1930-1940; Migrant laborers--1930-1940; Hops;

In 1934, Hisasha & Ruby Kumasaka received $10,000 each in the will of 80-year-old logger Sweny Smith. Ruby, 7, and Hisasha, 5, were the children of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Kumasaka of 1706 Broadway. For eight years, the family had taken Smith into their home and taken care of him. Despite his Norwegian heritage, Smith observed the Japanese holidays, attended the Buddhist church and followed the family's customs. He spoke of the two children as his grandchildren. On his deathbed in St. Joseph's Hospital, he told the children that he was going to the Great Beyond to watch over them and their growth, and directed them to a safety deposit box in the Washington Building that contained his will leaving everything to them for their kindness. The Kumasaka family, unaware that the frugal logger had any wealth, expected only a meagre amount, but found that the will left $10,000 to each of the children. (T. Times 10/31/1934, pg. 6)

Japanese Americans--Tacoma; Children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Kumasaka, Ruby; Kumasaka, Hisasha;

Group portrait of eighteen young women, and a child, who are members of the Puyallup Valley Japanese-American Citizens League dance group. They will be performing a ceremonial dance in traditional Japanese dress during "Japan Night," a Japanese bazaar, to be held at Fife High School on November 12, 1938. Over 1,000 people attended the event that offered a glimpse into the island empire's ancient culture. In the afternoon, girls in kimonos served Japanese noodles, rice curry and "osushmis" as well as American salads, pies and hot dogs. In the evening, a program of the dances of old Japan was performed before a background of cherry blossoms and red, white and blue hangings. (T. Times, 11/10/1938, p. 20; 11/14/1938, pg. 3).

Kimonos; Japanese-American Citizen's League (Tacoma); Japanese Americans--Fife--1930-1940; Ceremonial dancers; Japanese Americans--Dance;

Three Japanese men spin a bicycle wheel at one of the games of chance offered at a Japanese bazaar held in the Fife High School Gymnasium. (T. Times).

Japanese Americans--Fife--1930-1940; Bazaars--Fife--1930-1940; Ethnic groups--Fife--1930-1940; Games--1930-1940;

Copy of customer print. Native Americans camping in hops field. Huddled together between three tents is a crowd of Native American families. They may have been employed at Ezra Meeker's hop fields prior to 1900. Photograph ordered by Washington State Historical Society.

Indians of North America; Hops;

Members of Company B, 163rd Infantry pose at attention. Company B was composed almost entirely of Native Americans, mostly Sioux from the Fort Peck Indian Agency in Northeast Montana. They served in the Montana National Guard until they were inducted into national service in September of 1940. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, they were some of the first to be sent overseas, where they fought the Japanese on New Guinea and in the Philippines. Native Americans served in the Armed Forces at a disproportionately high rate in World War II. More than 44,000 served, out of a total population of less than 350,000, most of them as volunteers. Native Americans have the highest record of military service per capita when compared to other ethnic groups. (T.Times 12/11/1940 p.1)

Indians of North America--Sioux tribe; Montana National Guard, 163rd Infantry, Company B--Camp Murray; Ethnic groups--Indians of North America;

Members of the Montana National Guard, Company B, 163rd Infantry, 41st Division pose at attention for inspection. The company is composed primarily of Sioux from the Fort Peck Indian Agency. The company was inducted into federal service in September 1940 and sent to the Pacific. They were part of the most decorated army division in the Pacific Arena. (T.Times 12/11/1940 p.1) TPL-10595

Indians of North America--Sioux tribe; Montana National Guard, 163rd Infantry, Company B--Camp Murray; Ethnic groups--Indians of North America;

Nine Native American members of Company B 163rd Infantry, a Montana National Guard regiment composed primarily of Sioux Indians, stand for inspection at Camp Murray in December of 1940. This unit reformed in 1922, the original Company B had also been comprised of Native Americans and served in World War I. Partially because of the outstanding volunteer effort of Native Americans during World War I, in 1924 Congress granted U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans. One result of this action was that native men between the age of 21 and 35 became eligible for the draft under the Selective Training and Service Act of September 16, 1940. However, most Native Americans served on a volunteer basis. More than 44,000 of them, out of a total population of less than 350,000, served with distinction between 1941 and 1945. (T. Times 12/11/1940, pg. 1)

Indians of North America--Sioux tribe; Montana National Guard, 163rd Infantry, Company B--Camp Murray; Ethnic groups--Indians of North America;

A diminutive drill sergeant adjusts the helmet chin strap on one of the soldiers from Company B, 163rd Infantry during inspection. Company B was part of the Montana National Guard and was composed almost exclusively of Sioux Indians from the Fort Peck reservation. They were inducted into federal service in September of 1940 and were based out of Fort Lewis. After Pearl Harbor, they were among the first troops sent to the Pacific, where they served bravely for the duration of World War II. TPL-1955 (T. Times 12/11/1940, pg. 1)

Indians of North America--Sioux tribe; Montana National Guard, 163rd Infantry, Company B--Camp Murray; Ethnic groups--Indians of North America;