Miss Eilene Kezele lights the cigaret of Tommie Attleson, 146th FA National Guard, at the enlisted men's dance on November 13, 1940. The call had gone out for 25,000 young Tacoma girls to serve as dance partners. All enlisted men from McChord, Fort Lewis and Camp Murray were invited to attend. This was the second in a series of dances held at the Armory. (T. Times 11/14/1940, pg. 1 +, 11/8/1940, pg. 17)

Dance parties; Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; State Armory (Tacoma); Kezele, Eilene; Attleson, Tommie;

Miss Helen Johnson and Pvt. 1st Class Warren Daley jitterbug at the Tacoma Armory on Wednesday night, November 13, 1940 while a second unidentified couple watch. All men in uniform from McChord Field, Fort Lewis and Camp Murray were invited to the second in a series of enlisted men's dances. The 148th Field Artillery Orchestra provided the music. A plea was published in the November 8th Tacoma Times for 25,000 girls to serve as dance partners. (T. Times)

Dancers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dance parties; Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; State Armory (Tacoma); Johnson, Helen; Daley, Warren;

Rita Hermsen, a 1947 graduate of Lincoln High School, at the Tacoma Armory with her family. Rita Hermsen was one of the honored students that year. She was the winner of the Janet Hufford memorial award. (T. Times, 6/13/1947, p.1)

Hermsen, Rita--Family; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Colonel Wesley B. Hamilton pins a service medal onto the dress uniform of Captain Harold F. Broomell in a decorations ceremony held at the State Armory on January 13, 1947. Medals were presented to 137 local guardsmen for the duties they performed during World War II. Assisting Col. Hamilton are Col. A. W. McMorris and (far right) Lt.-Col. John H. Potter. The guardsmen receiving recognition are (l tor) Capt. Lloyd Sell Jr., Captain Harold F. Broomell, Captain William H. Dennis, Lt. Samuel Cusato, Lt. Oliver A. Keene, and Lt. H. R. Swartz. (T. Times, 1/14/47, p. 3).

Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Medals; Awards; Washington State Guard (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma);

Senator Albert D. Rosellini and a panel of seven other legislators opened a vice probe at the Tacoma Armory November 26, 1951. Over 40 witnesses were scheduled to testify before the legislative committee investigating crime and vice in Tacoma. Testimony covered gambling, pinball, prostitution, narcotics activities and marijuana purchases. One woman stated that her husband committed suicide following accumulating heavy gambling losses. She had received threats to her and her children if she did not pay. One city official contended that Army authorities had asked him to keep "certain establishments open" to provide "relaxation" for troops. Two television cameras broadcast the hearing live. Murray Morgan is seated to the left of the man with headphones behind the KTBI broadcast equipment. (TNT, 11/27/1951, p.1; 11/28/1951, p.1) TPL-6489

State Armory (Tacoma); Governmental investigations--Tacoma; Morgan, Murray, 1916-2000;

Jing Ho Ling (at left) was Stadium High School Class of 1943's co-valedictorian and was among the 541 graduates honored at ceremonies held at the State Armory on June 2, 1943. Miss Ling, of Chinese descent, posed that night with her parents and eight brothers and sisters. The children are probably standing in order of age; from left Shun Chih, Jing Noe, Shun Hung; Shun Chow, Jing Chuan, Jing Chu, Shun Mei, Ling Yet Sze (mother), Shun Lein and Ling Yunan (father). Miss Ling also received the College of Puget Sound scholarship of $50 per semester and plans a nursing career. (T.Times 6-3-43, p. 1-alt. photograph)

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ling, Jing Ho; Ling Yet Sze; Ling Yunan; Families--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chinese American families--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chinese Americans--Tacoma--1940-1950;

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;

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; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1943. Unit of soldiers marching in street past the National Guard Armory in this photograph taken sometime in 1943. Large shade trees line the parking strip in front of the Armory.

Marching--Tacoma--1940-1950; Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; State Armory (Tacoma);

Group of uniformed men sitting and standing in front of armory

There is no doubt who is running on the Republican ticket for president in 1948. Large emblem-style portraits of Thomas Dewey and Earl Warren decorated the stage of Tacoma's State Armory on the occasion of California Governor Warren's brief visit on October 14, 1948. Governor Warren was photographed standing behind the decorated podium with his wife and children seated on an elevated portion of the stage directly behind him. An enthusiastic crowd of over 5,000 warmly greeted Governor Warren, including hundreds of women who passed through a reception line earlier honoring the vice-presidential candidate and his family. Governor Warren's address touched principally on America's need for a merchant marine able to "make an honorable bid for its share of the world's commerce." (TNT 10-15-48, p. 1) ALBUM 2.

Warren, Earl, 1891-1974; Warren, Earl--Family; Public speaking--Tacoma; Political elections--Tacoma--1940-1950;

California Governor Earl Warren, Republican Vice-Presidential candidate and future Supreme Court Chief Justice, and wife smile at each other while on the platform during rally at Tacoma Armory. Governor Warren was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of 5000 plus. Mrs. Warren was the former Nina Palmquist. Born in Sweden, she grew up in Oakland, California. Mother of six children, she outlived her husband Earl by nineteen years, dying at the age of 100 in 1993. She and Mr. Warren are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Sepia photograph taken on October 14, 1948. ALBUM 2.

Warren, Earl, 1891-1974; Warren, Nina; Governors; Political elections--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Two women holding bouquets of flowers, roses and carnations, at flower show held in the Tacoma Armory building in April of 1937. Name tags on flowers displayed: Talisman, Dictator, Melrose. (T. Times)

Flower shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Flowers; Exhibitions--Tacoma--1930-1940; State Armory (Tacoma);

Lincoln High School 1937 Graduation Ceremonies at the Armory. Straight on view of crowd and stage.

Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1930-1940; State Armory (Tacoma);

Standing outside the Tacoma armory are Comrade David L. Crossen (left) and Commander L.A. Wilcox. Both in their 90s when this picture was taken in 1937, they were officers in the G.A.R. and two of the last civil war veterans living in Tacoma. Mr. Crossen fought with the 11th Pennsylvania volunteers at Bull Run and Antietum. Mr. Wilcox was in Company F of the 4th Wisconsin Infantry. (T. Times, 5/29/1937, p.1)

Civil War, U.S., 1861-1865--Veterans--Tacoma; Veterans' organizations--Tacoma; Grand Army of the Republic (Tacoma); Crossen, David L.; Wilcox, L.A.; Flags--United States;

On June 8, 1938, Lincoln High School bestowed 709 diplomas on its graduating class. The graduates sit on a raised platform; the orchestra sits on the floor. Relatives here to see the ceremony sat on either side.

Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1930-1940; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma);

Eastern Star at the Armory. This session was the Order of Eastern Star's 59th annual session. They expected 2,000 to attend representing 45,000 in the state from 225 chapters. (T.Times, 6/17/1947, p.6)

Order of Eastern Star (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Armory-Lincoln graduation. Lincoln High School had 706 students graduating in 1946, 226 were Veterans from World War II. The Veterans graduating will wear their military uniforms to the graduation ceremony. Ex-Mayor Harry P. Cain will deliver the graduation address. View of Lincoln High School's graduating Veterans at State Armory (T. Times, 6/6/46, p. 3).

Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Military uniforms; Veterans; State Armory (Tacoma);

Bricker, Gov. and party coverage. Washington State Governor Arthur B. Langlie on left with Ohio State Governor John W. Bricker on right. Gov. Bricker is here for the Pierce County Republican Convention being held at the State Armory (T. Times 4/12/44, p. 1).

Political conventions--Tacoma; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Bricker, John W.;

Armory civilian fire trucks. The State Armory also participated in assisting Pierce County reach the Fifth War Loan Drive goal of $22,000,000 by exhibiting Army equipment. View of Army/Civilian Defense fire trucks on display at State Armory.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma; War bonds & funds; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma;

Lt. Commander Jack Dempsey, U.S.C.G, the former heavyweight champion of the world, was referee at the main event of a boxing night held at the Tacoma Armory on June 5, 1945 to raise money for the 7th War Bond drive. Johnny Ballange, U.S.M.C., right, defeated Pedro Montez, U.S. Army, in the bout. Jack Dempsey had also visited Tacoma in 1944 in support of a war bond drive. View of boxers touching gloves as referee Dempsey gives instructions; unidentified representatives of the Army and Marines flank their men. ALBUM 9.

Dempsey, Jack, 1895-1983; Referees; Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ballange, Johnny; Montez, Pedro;

California Governor Earl Warren, Republican Vice-Presidential candidate and future Supreme Court Chief Justice, making a campaign appearance at Tacoma Armory. View of elaborate decorations above the platform. His evening address attracted overflowing crowds of over 5000 which filled the Armory to its rafters. It was the largest indoor crowd to greet Governor Warren on his tour of 31 states except for Chicago. The Dewey-Warren ticket unexpectedly lost in the 1948 elections to Truman-Barkley. Sepia photograph taken on October 14, 1948. (TNT 10-15-48, p. 1) ALBUM 2.

Political elections--Tacoma--1940-1950; Warren, Earl, 1891-1974; Public speaking--Tacoma;

California Governor Earl Warren, Republican Vice-Presidential candidate and future Supreme Court Chief Justice, and his family, with former Governor Arthur Langlie, and his family, and two drum majorettes, on platform during rally at Tacoma Armory. Governor Warren was met by an enthusiastic audience of over 5000 on October 14, 1948. He was introduced by Arthur Langlie, former governor who was running for election. Governor Warren's wife Nina and four of his children accompanied him on this tour of the Pacific Northwest. Sepia photograph was taken on October 14, 1948. (TNT 10-15-48, p. 1) TPL-183 ALBUM 2.

Political elections--Tacoma--1940-1950; Warren, Earl, 1891-1974; Warren, Earl--Family; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966--Family; Drum majorettes--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Henry A. Wallace, center, the candidate for President of the United States in 1948 from the Progressive Party spoke on October 9th, 1948 at the Tacoma Armory. In his speech he attacked the Taft-Hartley Act and the "hot war" being waged against labor unions. While in Tacoma, he met with a group of local Progressive Party candidates including: (l to r) John Green Jr., Vera Keating, Russell H. Fluent, Henry Wallace, Rodney Peterson, Ernest T. Olson, Thomas C. Rabbit. (T.Times, 10/11/1948, p.9)

Wallace, Henry A.; Presidential elections--Tacoma--1940-1950; Political elections--Tacoma--1940-1950; Green, John; Keating, Vera; Fluent, Russell H.; Peterson, Rodney; Olson, Ernest T.; Rabbitt, Thomas C.;

Golden Gloves contest held at the Armory in January of 1949, sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission. Eight of the contestants stand inside the ring wearing satin robes, ready to take on all comers. The big two-day fistic feature was sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission. Seven rugged fighters from Vancouver, B.C., and others from across the Northwest were in attendance. The Tacoma Times reported that more than 70 boxers entered the competition. (T.Times, 1/24/1949, p.11, 1/27/1949 p.14)

State Armory (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Boxing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Renamed Veterans Day in 1953, November 11 was first proclaimed as Armistice Day in 1919 to commemorate the end of World War I. That year, on November 13, John Philip Sousa's band played in the Washington National Guard Armory in Tacoma and President Woodrow Wilson spoke there two months earlier. In 1947, a Military Ball was held on Armistice Day at the Armory, where more than 1,500 people were expected to attend. The presentation of colors to the local reserve units of the Army and Army Air Corps highlighted the evening. Army and Navy dignitaries and prominent civilian guests attended the event. View of ceremonies under way at the Armory (T. Times, 11/12/47, p. 7).

Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Washington National Guard (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma);

The last Sunday of September has officially been declared Gold Star Mother's Day. In 1949 the Tacoma Chapter of Gold Star Mothers held a special meeting at the State Armory. The club installed new officers and held a special ceremony in their honor. Appointed as new officers were Beatrice Johnson as President; Pearl Joy as Vice-President; Jenny Benson as Second Vice-President; and Nell Sanford as Treasurer. The national organization American Gold Star Mothers was founded in 1928 and is open to all mothers of fallen soldiers of all wars as well as those who died a service-related death. (T. Times, 1/17/49, p. 14)..

Awards; Memorial rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Military decorations--Tacoma; Mothers; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; State Armory (Tacoma); Tacoma Chapter of Gold Star Mothers (Tacoma);

President Harry S.Truman with daughter Margaret and Rep. Hugh Mitchell, Democratic candidate for Governor, at the Tacoma Armory. The retiring President was stumping for Adlai Stevenson and other Democratic candidates during the 1952 fall campaign. He spoke to an overflowing crowd of loyal supporters. His appearance was heavily covered by newspaper, radio and television reporters. ALBUM 1.

Presidents; Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972; Visits of state--Tacoma; Truman, Margaret; Mitchell, Hugh;

Harry S. Truman addresses an attentive crowd at the Washington State Armory in early October, 1952, as he hits the campaign trail for Democratic candidates. An enormous flag hung on Armory walls nearly dwarfs the President and local dignitaries. The President's appearance was big news in our area as noted by the presence of many newspaper, radio and television reporters. His daughter Margaret is seated behind him along with gubernatorial candidate, Hugh Mitchell. ALBUM 1.

Presidents; Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972; Visits of state--Tacoma; Truman, Margaret; Mitchell, Hugh; Flags--United States;

Stadium High School's 56th annual graduation exercises, held June 8th at the Armory for the Class of 1939. Students at the back of the photograph, audience in foreground. The graduating class totalled 653 students and the ceremony was estimated to be attended by over 2500 persons. The sign "Education for What?" states the theme of the four student commencement speakers. Betty Binns, Helen Phill, and Robert Elliott tied for valedictory honors, each completing 3 years of study with straight A's. Class president Maynard Miller joined them as a speaker. (T.Times 6/7/1939, pg. 5; 6/9/39, pg. 1; 6/10/39, pg. 1)

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1930-1940; State Armory (Tacoma); Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1930-1940;