Lt. Frances Rich, WAVE and daughter of famed actress Irene Rich, visited Tacoma on April 6, 1943. She is photographed with some Navy men as well as fellow WAVES Lt. Jane Horsfall and Ensign Carol Citron in front of the Navy Recruiting office at the City Hall Annex. Lt. Rich was one of the first 120 women to enter officer's training school at Smith College. She was currently attached to the Postal Commission of the Naval Dept. and touring the country on behalf of V-Mail. While in Tacoma, she was scheduled to attend a Kiwanis meeting, a Junior League meeting and interview prospective WAVES. Born in Spokane, Lt. Rich moved to Hollywood with her mom and was a sculptress before joining the service. (T. Times 4/5/1943, pg. 6)

Rich, Frances; World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma;

Three couples smile for the camera on February 23, 1943 at the social event following the installation of new officers at the Rudder Club, 1131 Commerce St.

Rudder Club, Inc. (Tacoma);

On May 1, 1943, Salishan, a new 2,000 unit housing development for defense workers, was finally ready for occupancy. Ten families moved in the first day, with 25-30 more scheduled for move-ins daily until the units were fully occupied. The Yorges family, originally from Palouse, Wa., was pictured on moving day. From left to right are 10 year old Janice with the family dog, Mrs. Yorges and Ralph Jr., and Ralph Senior carrying a chair. (T. Times 5/3/1943, pg. 1)

Salishan (Tacoma); City & town life--Tacoma--1940-1950; Housing developments--Tacoma--1940-1950; Yorges, Ralph; Yorges, Janice;

Standing tall and proud, the 1943 City Grade School Baseball Champions pose on the steps of their school along with their principal, Jack Arnold. The boys attended Edison Elementary School, then located in the city's southend at 3110 So. 58th St. Several of the team have gloves and bats in hand. (l to r, front row) Ronald Peterson, centerfield; Don Jones, utility; Eddie Darnell, utility; Jack Murphy, third base; Dave Ketter, left field; Bill Uren, shortstop; Neil Thornhill, utility, and Robert Roller, short field. (l to r, back row) Ronald Billings, pitcher/manager; Paul Harris, second base; Jack Butterfield, catcher; Glen Huffman, first base/captain; Principal and Coach Jack Arnold; Joe Devereaux, catcher; Tom Lucas, utility; Kenneth Patterson, right field, and Jack Hibb, utility. (T.Times, 6/2/43, p.12)

School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Edison Elementary School (Tacoma);

Miss Arlene Wilson of Stewart Jr. High School was declared the school's third annual "posture queen" at a school assembly on Friday May 7, 1943. Demonstrating the posture that made her the winner, Miss Wilson holds the recognition plaque that she received from Principal George Burlingame as she stands in front of her court of "posture duchesses". The twelve girls represented the twelve physical education classes taught by Miss Elsie Morris. Seated behind Miss Wilson are: (l to r) Phyllis Swanson, Katherine Redal, Cynthia Harris, Pat Peterson, Lois McDonald, June McFarland, Dolores Panter, Jacqueline Jones, Jean Marshall, Nan Hartley and Carolyn Shield. (T.Times 5/10/1943,pg. 1)

School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stewart Junior High School (Tacoma); Pageants--Tacoma; Wilson, Arlene;

Sea-Tac Shipyard Swing Shift bowlers. Several bowlers have name tags on their jackets including "Rich" (2nd row far left), "Roy" (2nd row far right), and "Harry" (kneeling at right). [Also dated 03-27-1943]

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma)--People; Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Initiation of SeattleTacoma Shipbuilding Corporation employees at Elk's Club. Ten men on stage with ship's wheel. [Also dated 03-29-1943]

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Elks Club (Tacoma);

The new Board of the Spinster Club. Officers are, left to right, Virginia Austin, Ann Baillargeon, Katherine Foss and Mary Marush. Members of the Club will be hosting a dance honoring the Officers of the Army Air Corps at McChord Field. The dance will be held Friday in the Junior ballroom of the Hotel Winthrop. Music will be supplied by the Brad Bannon Orchestra. The decorating theme will be silver bombers against a sky of blue. (T. Times 3/13/1943, pg. 4)

Spinster Club (Tacoma); Austin, Virginia; Baillargeon, Ann; Foss, Katherine; Marush, Mary;

Three members of the Spinster Club are hard at work in May of 1943 on the "Mammy" dolls that will adorn the tables at the 5th annual Dixie Ball, to be held at the Roof Garden of the Hotel Winthrop. The women are, left to right, Mrs. James Hayes, Katherine Foss and Penny (Mrs.H.J.) Croteau.The dolls are made out of cones covered with red gingham fabric. The event in 1943 would also be a benefit for the Army/Navy relief fund. (T.Times 5/5/1943, pg.4; TNT 5/8/1943, pg. 4)

Spinster Club (Tacoma); Dolls; Foss, Katherine; Croteau, Penny;

Stadium High School Class of 1943 graduation at Armory. (T. Times)

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1940-1950; State Armory (Tacoma); Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

As more men joined the ranks of the military in 1943, women flocked to vocational schools to learn trades needed in the production end of the war effort. These "Rosie the Riveters, " pictured above on March 8, 1943, have completed their courses in sheet metal work at the Tacoma Vocational School and will report to work tomorrow at the Seattle Tacoma shipyard. The women attending their final class before graduation are, front row left to right, Adella Sulkoski, Lucile Taylor, Nona Deegan, Julia LaFavor, Lillian Clark and Laura Martinson. Back row- Marjorie Dunn, Sally Harmon, Theola Peterson and Dorothy Ramstad. During the war years, over six million women nationwide were hired in factories to bolster the work force. (T. Times 3/9/1943, pg. 1)

Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vocational education--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Vocational School (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma;

Left to right, Karl M. Richards (Adm. State War Savings staff,) Leon J. Titus (chairman of the War Savings Committee,) Charles Grover (Pres. Central Labor Council) and Carl A. North (Dairy & Creamery Workers Union #951) rode in an Army "Duck" amphibious vehicle on April 29, 1943 for the Second War Loan Drive Parade. The driver is unidentified. From 12 noon to 12:15 p.m. on the 29th, the stores in downtown Tacoma sold nothing but war bonds and war stamps. The Second War Bond drive in Pierce County raised over $10 million. The "duck" in this photograph is parked in front of the Hotel Winthrop, 773 Broadway. (TNT 4/30/1943, pg. 22)

Titus, Leon E.; World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma; War Finance Committee (Tacoma); Amphibious vehicles--1940-1950; Military vehicles--1940-1950; Grover, Charles; Richards, Karl; North, Carl;

Members of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary gathered at the Yacht Club on May 4, 1943 to pose for a publicity shot. They were gathering forces with the US Coast Guard to give instructions for cleaning the waterfront. During the May 7, 1943 fire fighting drill, they met at the Tacoma Yacht Club Harbor to remove fire hazards under the docks. They worked from their boats, armed with grappling hooks, pike poles and other gear. (T. Times 5/8/1943, pg. 3)

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary (Tacoma);

Members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary posed at the Yacht Club on May 4, 1943. They were joining the regular US Coast Guard to direct fleet activities during the waterfront defense clean up drive. Pictured in the front, left to right, are Howard Trefrey, Radnor Pratsch and V.H. Van Horn. Back row: Bertram Bradley, Charles Ogden, Dr. J.E. Lerum and Bartlett Rummell. (T. Times 5/6/1943, pg. 3)

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary (Tacoma);

Mrs. Winnifred Sigafoos (far right) and her three daughters all took a three-week course on airplane construction at Tacoma Vocational School, now known as H.L. Bates Vocational-Technical Institute, in March and April of 1943. Upon graduation they, and other women in the course, hoped to get jobs in the war time aviation industry. Mrs. Sigafoos' daughters are (l to r) Mrs. Hattie Gordon, Beatrice "Peachiee" Mauch and Reggie Sigafoos. The old Pierce County Court House, 1012 So. G St., can be seen in the background. (T. Times 4/2/1943, p.1) TPL-2002

Vocational education--Tacoma; Tacoma Vocational School (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma;

Junior high school students worked four hour shifts as part of World War II all-school-at-war activities to raise money to buy war bonds and stamps. Students at Jason Lee High School purchased a Jeep with funds raised. Two soldiers flank a smiling group of teenagers who have crammed together atop the Jeep with a sign noting their accomplishment, "Whoopee". (T.Times, 4/19/1943, p.14.) TPL-8328

War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jeep automobile;

In January of 1943, Capt. Bernhard Groth of the US Army's Ninth Service command was in Tacoma for an inspection tour of the State Guard units. Pictured left to right are local officers of the State Guard. They are believed to be Capt. Walter Morris, Major George Nelson, Commander of the 2nd Battalion and Tacoma Station, and Major James McGee, Camp Murray regimental personnel officer. (T Times 1/21/1943, pg. 14)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma);

In January of 1943, Capt. Bernhard Groth of the US Army's Ninth Service command came to Tacoma on an inspection tour of the Tacoma State Guard. He said that he was well pleased with the training and appearance of the Tacoma units. Groth was pictured here discussing a firearm with an enlisted man of the Regimental Service Company. Those military men with faces shown are, left to right, Regimental Sgt. Major John Hudson, Capt. Walter Morris, Capt. Groth, Sgt. DeWitt Rowland of Regimental Hdqtr, Maj. George Nelson- commander 2nd Battalion and Tacoma Station and Maj. James McGee. (T.Times 1/21/1943, pg. 14)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma);

During a March 21, 1943 civil defense drill, men from the Army medical unit, wearing white arm bands with the red cross, lay out their field dressings and stretcher prior to entering a "bombed" building to bring out casualties. The drill simulated a bomb attack on Tacoma.

World War, 1939-1945--Ambulances--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma;

Civilian Defense. Portrait of large group of men wearing uniforms with red cross armbands in front of first aid vehicles. Historic Fire Station #1 is in the background. The men are a medical team from Fort Lewis that has been assigned to Tacoma in the case of an attack, such as a bombing. The group portrait was taken during a March 21, 1943 drill that simulated just that occurrence.

World War, 1939-1945--Ambulances--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Group portraits--1940-1950; Fire stations--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Boy Scout "victims" relax in a military ambulance after being rescued by Civil Defense unit members during a March 21, 1943 drill. The drill simulated the bombing of Tacoma by enemy forces. It opened with a squadron of P-38's flying low over the scene for realism.

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma;

Two men in suits stand by their vehicles speaking into field phones, tracking the progress of the March 21, 1943 Civil Defense drill. The drill simulated the bombing of Tacoma, with attendant destruction of buildings and casualties.

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma;

During a March 21, 1943 civil defense drill, members of the Auxiliary Fire Service fought a real blaze that had been purposely set in an industrial area. The purpose was to test out the new pumping equipment of Company 7. Companies 2 and 5 also took part in the drill that simulated bombs being dropped on Tacoma.

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1940-1950;

During the March 21, 1943 civil defense drill, two pumping trucks hooked up to a fire hydrant to fight the real blaze purposely set in an industrial area. Companies 2, 5 and 7 of the Auxiliary Fire Service responded to the call. The drill simulated a bombing raid on Tacoma. Cities on the West Coast were considered vulnerable to attacks.

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1940-1950;

During a March 21, 1943 civil defense drill, members of Tacoma's Auxiliary Fire Service fought a real blaze set in an abandoned building in the industrial district. The experience was intended to give the fire fighters real experience and to test their equipment.

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On March 21, 1943 Tacoma's Civilian Defense units, an Army medical unit from Fort Lewis, and the city's departments of public works and public utilities took part in a civil defense drill to test their ability to respond to an enemy attack on the city. The medical unit was photographed as they carried a "casualty" out of the Florence Apartments at 414-22 Tacoma Avenue South after the building was "demolished" by an enemy bomber. The exercises reportedly went smoothly; Tacoma was well prepared to deal with the aftermath of any attack on the city from the air. (T.Times 3/24/1943, pg. 18)

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Florence Apartments (Tacoma);

During a March 21, 1943 civil defense exercise, two uniformed motorcycle officers discuss the situation with a Civil Defense worker outside the Florence Apartments, 414-22 Tacoma Ave. So. The exercise simulated a strategic bombing of Tacoma and the Florence has been designated a destroyed building with "casualties" needing to be evacuated.

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Florence Apartments (Tacoma);

Exterior of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company with one of the plant's gardeners in overalls and cap admiring the iris bed. Penn Salt was located on the Tacoma tideflats, along the Hylebos Waterway. TPL-8556

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gardens--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma);

Two men are pictured hard at work, the one on the right reading a gauge, in May of 1943 at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Two male and one female employees are pictured in May of 1943, hard at work at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;