Pioneer Association meeting at Steilacoom Town Hall; Federal Revival style building by Emanuel J. Bresemann, Architect, built in 1930. On October 11, 1939, the Pierce County Pioneer and Historical Society held their fall meeting in Steilacoom at the Town Hall. The members dressed in their ancestor's period clothing for the event. Between 1850-1858, Steilacoom was home to the first territorial court and the first Protestant Church north of the Columbia river. It was the first area north of the Columbia River to incorporate as a town and had the first public library. (T. Times 10/12/1939, pg. 12) (filed with Argentum)

Pioneer Association (Steilacoom); Steilacoom Town Hall (Steilacoom); Historical societies--Steilacoom;

On October 11, 1939, the fall meeting of the Pierce County Pioneer and Historical Society was held at the Steilacoom Town Hall. Members are dressed in period costumes, ca. 1880, saved in trunks from their ancestors. Steilacoom is historically important to Pierce County, being the first shipping port on the upper Puget Sound, the location of the first territorial court, the first Protestant Church north of the Columbia River, first area north of the Columbia to incorporate as a town and the home to the first public library. (T. Times 10/12/1939, pg. 12)

Pioneer Association (Steilacoom); Steilacoom Town Hall (Steilacoom); Historical societies--Steilacoom;

Group portrait taken at the Sportsmen's Club of Tacoma for the Tacoma Times, circa April of 1939. The club was located in the Wright Building at 902-04 Pacific Ave. The Sportsmen's Association purchased the entire building in 1942. (filed with Argentum)

Sportsmens Club of Tacoma (Tacoma);

Group portrait taken at the Sportsmen's Club of Tacoma for the Tacoma Times, circa April of 1939. The club was located in the Wright Building at 902-04 Pacific Ave. The Sportsmen's Association purchased the entire building in 1942. (filed with Argentum)

Sportsmens Club of Tacoma (Tacoma);

Dinner honoring Nancy Hewitt at University Union Club on June 26, 1939. Party was probably in honor of her upcoming marriage on June 28, 1939. (filed with Argentum)

University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma); Hewitt, Nancy;

Harold D. Hayward, in the center of the front row, holds the autographed bottle of 1917 Hennessey Five Star cognac that will go to the survivor of the Last Man Club. The members of the Club were World War I veterans and past Commanders of the American Legion, Edward B. Rhodes Post No.2, since its organization in 1919. The second annual meeting, pictured, was held Dec. 4th, 1939 and following meetings scheduled for the first Monday of December each successive year. The flag draped chairs represent deceased members of the Last Man Club. Dr. John C. Siegle, Mayor of Tacoma, was the first to pass on after the club was formed in December of 1938 and the other flag was for Dr. E. A. Rich, who died before the club's inception. Present at the meeting are, back row, left to right: Earl Clifford, A.C. Bjornstad, George A. Allen, Dr. Henry Minton, Charles F. Davidson and Howard Carothers. Middle row: Robert Goldberg, Lee Carter, Robert B. Abel, Leo Barton and Herbert Ward. Seated: Dr. Hinton D. Jonez, Frank T. Callender, Hayward, L.E. Wilkeson and Albert R. Whitman. Capt. Chester Chastek (not pictured) became the sole survivor on Feb. 16, 1992 after the death of Tacoma resident Paul O. Brown. He was 92. He later died Feb. 23, 1997 at the age of 97. He retrieved the bottle from its safe deposit box at Puget Sound Bank, but abstained from the farewell toast. He was a teetotaler. (T. Times 12/5/1939, pg. 10; TNT 2/18/1992, pg. 1)

American Legion Club (Tacoma); Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1930-1940; Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Flags--United States; Jonez, Hinton D.; Last Man Club (Tacoma);

In May of 1940, Ruth Babbit was photographed swinging into the spring golfing season at the Tacoma Country and Golf Club. Every Tuesday was Ladies' Day at the Club, and over 50 female members took the opportunity to practice their follow through on the links. Ruth Kennedy Babbit was the wife of Alexander Babbit, then assistant manager of the Bank of California National Association. Mrs. Babbit also excelled in figure skating, later becoming an international skating judge, and was a well known water color artist. She passed away on August 31, 1992, at the age of 89. (T. Times 5/18/1940, pg. 5; TNT 9-2-92, B-4-obituary)

Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950; Golfers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Babbit, Ruth Kennedy; Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma); Country clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Every Tuesday in May of 1940 was Ladies' Day at the Tacoma Country & Golf Club. Teeing up on the practice green in front of the Clubhouse are, left to right, Mrs. Thomas Curran, Mrs. Harry Andrews, Mrs. O.A. Tucker, Mrs. Lowell T. Murray, Mrs. Fred Davis, Mrs. Charles Peterson and Mrs. Henry Foss. ( T. Times 5/18/1940, pg. 5- photograph reversed in paper)

Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950; Golfers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma); Country clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Co-Ed Club barn dance at Dash Point Community House. (T. Times).

Co-Ed Club (Tacoma)

Co-Ed Club barn dance at Dash Point Community House. (T. Times).

Co-Ed Club (Tacoma);

Co-Ed Club barn dance at Dash Point Community House. (T. Times).

Co-Ed Club (Tacoma);

Co-Ed Club barn dance at Dash Point Community House. Three "farmers" patiently watch as a fourth milks a "cow" made from straw and a sawhorse with a jack-o-lantern for a head. The milker looks doubtful about the results.

Co-Ed Club (Tacoma);

Co-Ed Club barn dance at Dash Point Community House. Pictured in rustic surroundings are, left to right, Edward Kinnebrew, Chairman of the party Barbara Rothermel, Hunter Johnson and Club president Betty Liby. (T. Times 11/7/1939)

Co-Ed Club (Tacoma); Kinnebrew, Edward; Rothermel, Barbara; Johnson, Hunter; Liby, Betty;

On January 9, 1940 the Tacoma Elks handball team took on the men from the Washington Athletic Club of Seattle in the first Puget Sound Handball League match of the season. Tacoma's team had already been proclaimed the "greatest Tacoma has ever known." The team was comprised of (kneeling, left to right) Bill Boudwin, manager; Orville Stewart and Art Ziegler. Standing are (left to right) Harry Westbrook, Al Howe, Bob Holder and Fred Osmers. The popularity of handball among the Elks had increased with the addition of two courts at the Elks Club. The courts proved popular as a way to keep fit. They were 44 feet long by 22 feet wide and 22 feet high, with a gallery that could seat 100; they were said to have the best lighting of any courts on the Pacific coast. (T. Times 1/9/1940, pg. 10)

Elks Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Handball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sports & recreation facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sport clothes; Athletes--Tacoma;

Tacoma Elks handball team. Most men are wearing white Tshirts with the Elk logo and the Lodge number, 174 along with shorts, court shoes and special gloves in this January 5, 1940 photograph. There were apparently more than one handball team among the Elks members. In June of 1940, the News Tribune in a special Elks insert, paid tribute to a Tacoma Elks handball team who had gone undefeated in Class B Puget Sound league that season. Although not the team pictured above, the victorious Elks proved the popularity of the sport. (TNT 6-13-1940, p. 8-special insert)

Elks Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Handball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sports & recreation facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sport clothes; Athletes--Tacoma;

Each troop of Tacoma's Girl Scouts had chosen a project for Christmas 1939, in order to make it a happier time for children and underprivileged adults. These three Girl Scouts, all from different troops, display the dolls they have dressed. From left to right are: Barbara Ann Brotherson, Fern Hill Troop 15; Patsy Kelly, Washington Troop 13 and JoAnn Fitch, Jason Lee Troop 11. (T.Times 12-23-39, p. 4-alt. photograph)

Girl Scouts (Tacoma); Community service--Tacoma--1930-1940; Dolls; Christmas presents; Gifts; Christmas trees--1930-1940; Brotherson, Barbara Ann; Kelly, Patsy; Fitch, JoAnn;

National Conference of Junior League Women at Mount Rainier. Three women standing by a waterfall. At center is Mrs. Camille J. Pessemier and Mrs. Joseph Dingess of Huntington, West Virginia is at far right. They were part of a group of conference attendees who lunched at Paradise Inn in May of 1940. (T. Times 5-25-1940, p. 5-various photographs) [See also D9698-1 and D9698-4)

Junior League (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Dingess, Joseph--Family; Pessemier, Camille--Family;

May, 1940, National Conference of Junior League Women at Mount Rainier. Six women standing in front of tourist telescope on the Paradise Inn's observation porch looking over rail fence. Included in the group were Lucy Danforth of Buffalo, N.Y., Mrs. C.R. Collins, Jr., Mrs. Ralph Appleton of Columbus, Ohio, Mary Lacy Porter of St. Joseph, MO, Mrs. W. Grant Hellar and Mrs. L. Donald Fisher. Miss Connie Rie (Cornelia Marie) Cardin, president of the Tacoma Junior League, had taken a party of delegates to lunch at the rustic Paradise Inn. [See also D9698-1 and D9698-4]

Junior League (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Paradise Inn (Wash.); Telescopes;

Junior League Executive Board at home of Mrs. Stanley Staatz in May, 1940. Portrait of group of women in the Staatz' Sumner Heights garden. Those present included Mrs. Charles B. Hurley, past president, Mrs. Charles Fogg, Mrs. John Wood, Jr., Mrs. Elbert Hall Baker, II, Mrs. Gershom Rowland and Mrs. C.R. Collins, Jr. Other names are listed in the Tacoma Times' May 8, 1940, edition. (T. Times, 5-8-40, p. 11) [See also D9770-4 and D9770-10]

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

Junior League Executive Board meeting on May 7, 1940, at the Sumner Heights home of Mrs. Stanley Staatz. Portrait of Connie Rie (Cornelia Marie) Cardin, President, in the Staatz' gardens. Miss Cardin presided over her first meeting since her election as president. She presented an outline of plans for the upcoming American Junior League Association national conference in Seattle. (T. Times, 5-8-40, p. 11) [See also D9770-4 and D9770-10]

Junior League (Tacoma); Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950; Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cardin, Cornelia Marie;

Junior Women's Club Hobby Show at the Winthrop Hotel. Club members inspected the merchandise on display which included neckties, vases, woven fabrics and a basket. They were there to attend the annual dinner and hobby show of the club which was held in the hotel's Crystal Ballroom on April 12, 1940. From left to right are: Sally Sicade, Mrs. William Bottcher, Mrs. Philip Farmer, Mrs. Plummer York, Mrs. H.E. Craven and Mrs. Marion Edwards. (T.Times 4-20-40, p. 4)

Junior Women's Club (Tacoma); Women--Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hobbyists--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sicade, Sally; Bottcher, William--Family; Farmer, Philip--Family; York, Plummer--Family; Craven, Helen; Edwards, Marion--Family

New officers of the Maccabee Lodge. Group of men wearing suits with boutonnieres and women wearing long gowns with corsages posed in front of an elaborately decorated stage on January 24, 1940. The new tent and hive officers of the Knights and Ladies of Maccabees were installed that evening in public rites. Roy Devish and Ethel Koch are the respective leaders. Names are listed in the News Tribune article of January 28, 1940. (TNT 1-28-1940, 3-A)

Order of Maccabees;

Drill team of the Maccabee Lodge. Group of women dressed in jumper dresses with satin blouses and wearing berets. Three other women and two men in portrait. Group standing in front of elaborately decorated stage on January 24, 1940. Later that evening new tent and hive officers of the Knights and Ladies of Maccabees were installed in public ceremonies. Ethel Koch and Roy Devish are the new leaders. (TNT 1-28-1940, 3-A-photo of officers)

Order of Maccabees; Drill teams--1940-1950;

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;

Formally attired young folk at a dinner-dance held at the Tacoma Club on March 9, 1940. This was the first of Tacoma Club's formal dinner dances during the 1940 season. The event was held in the club rooms at the top of the Washington Building. President of the Tacoma Club was H.A. Christofferson. (T.Times 3-16-1940, p. 4-different photo, same series)

Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Teenagers--1940-1950; Evening gowns--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tuxedoes;

University-Union Club formal dance. Group of four society couples gathered for informal portrait in front of large, American flag. The four people in the center of the photo are tentatively identified as Augusta (Mrs. Bartlett) Rummel, Barbara Ball Hewitt, Bill Brown and Henry Hewitt.

University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma);

University-Union Club formal dance. Party-goers in overcoats standing by long, striped canvas awning at entrance. Several women are wearing fur coats, one has her hands tucked inside a matching fur muff.

University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma);

University Union Club waiters. Seven African-American men dressed in waiters' uniforms posed for a group portrait in November of 1939.

University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma); Waiters--Tacoma--1930-1940; African Americans--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Wauna Club dance at Winthrop Hotel. Enjoying the "Hia-Wauna" party on January 27, 1940 were Mr. and Mrs. Harold Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. Herman Brandes. The couples are dressed in formal attire for this special evening. (T.Times 2-3-1940, p. 4)

Wauna Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Johnson, Harold; Johnson, Harold--Family; Brandes, Herman; Brandes, Herman--Family;