Interior of new addition to National Guard Armory showing soldiers in formation with twelve wheeled artillery guns. The new addition was constructed in August of 1939 with funds supplied by the state and the PWA. It was 100 by 200 sq. feet with a 30 foot ceiling. Its curved roof replaced the former pillars, providing an unobstructed view. After the extensive remodel, the size of the space had increased by 1/3, with vast improvements also in lighting, ventilation and acoustics. (T. Times 10/7/1939, pg. 1) (filed with Argentum)

State Armory (Tacoma); Washington National Guard (Tacoma); Military personnel--Tacoma--1930-1940; Uniforms--Washington National Guard--1930-1940; Artillery (Weaponry);

Photograph taken October 3, 1939 of the interior of the new addition to the National Guard Armory, 715 So. 11th St., showing soldiers in formation with a small band on the right. The new addition was constructed in August of 1939 with funds supplied by the state and the PWA. It was 100 by 200 sq. feet with a 30 foot ceiling. Its curved roof replaced the former pillars, providing an unobstructed view. After the extensive remodel, the size of the space had increased by 1/3, with vast improvements also in lighting, ventilation and acoustics. (T. Times 10/7/1939, pg. 1) (filed with Argentum)

State Armory (Tacoma); Washington National Guard (Tacoma); Military personnel--Tacoma--1930-1940; Uniforms--Washington National Guard--1930-1940;

Federal Old Line Life Insurance dinner at the Armory. People seated at three long tables. (filed with Argentum)

Federal Old Line Life Insurance Co. (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma);

Exterior view of Washington National Guard Armory. (filed w/Argentum)

State Armory (Tacoma); Washington National Guard (Tacoma);

Outside view of National Guard Armory; old Pierce County Courthouse in the background. (filed with Argentum)

State Armory (Tacoma); Washington National Guard (Tacoma);

Award winners at Lincoln High School 1940 Graduation at the Armory. Four men and three girls with flowers. There were 666 graduates in the Class of '40 who received diplomas on June 5, 1940. Several were honored with scholarships and medals including (in no particular order) John Krutilla, Reed College scholarship winner and valedictorian; Bonnie Busch, American Association of University Women honorary award; Norma Johnson, Marylhurst College scholarship winner; Jack Godfrey, Richard Graff honorary award; Rose M. Pesacreta, College of Puget Sound scholarship award; and Carl Dial, Rotary Club winner. (T. Times, 6-4-1940, p. 3-article; T. Times 6-6-1940, p. 20, photographs of four winners; TNT 6-6-1940, p. 1, p. 11-photographs of winners)

Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma); Awards; Busch, Bonnie; Godfrey, Jack; Pesacreta, Rose M.; Dial, Carl; Krutilla, John; Johnson, Norma;

Stadium High School Class of 1940 graduation at the Armory. 649 students (318 boys and 331 girls) received their diplomas on June 6, 1940 as the third largest Stadium High School graduating class. It was the school's 57th graduation exercises. Graduates marched in to the tune of "Pomp and Circumstance" while proud family members and friends cheered and applauded. Shirley Nyman was the school's valedictorian and Mills College scholarship winner and four students shared the honor of being salutatorians: Dorothy Selden, David Glenn, Jr., Ruthi Crain and Patricia Russell. (TNT 6-7-1940, p. 1, p. 15-article & photographs of winners)

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

Lincoln High School Class of 1940 graduation at armory.

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

An unidentified couple sip bottles of soda on the sidelines of the enlisted men's dance on November 13, 1940 at the Armory. The dance was the second in a series of dances. Soldiers from McChord, Ft. Lewis and Camp Murray were invited. They came from the local area and from across the country. Young ladies from Tacoma were asked to attend and serve as dance partners for the men, some of whom were far from home. (T. Times 11/14/1940, pg. 1)

Dancers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dance parties; Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; State Armory (Tacoma);

On November 13, 1940, David Larson (left) and George Tucker, two saxophone players from the 146th Field Artillery Band, tried to blow away the unidentified listeners attending the Enlisted Men's Dance at the Tacoma Armory. All three saxophone players in the band, including Dean Curtiss who was not pictured, were former members of leading dance bands. The 146th FA Band was supplying the music for the dance, the second in a series of dances. All men in uniform from McChord Field, Fort Lewis and Camp Murray were invited for the evening's entertainment; all area young women were invited to act as dance partners. TPL-1755 (T. Times 11/14/1940, pg. 13)

Dance parties; Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; State Armory (Tacoma); Saxophones; Tucker, George; Larson, David;

An unidentified couple shares a quick drink of water from the fountain at the enlisted men's dance held November 13, 1940 at the Armory. All of the military men from McChord, Ft. Lewis and Camp Murray were invited to attend and a hurried call went out for 25,000 of Tacoma's fairest to serve as dance partners. (T. Times 11/14/1940, pg. 1+)

Dancers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dance parties; Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; State Armory (Tacoma);

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;

Dr. S.F. Herrman, left, admired the May Wettern rose held by C.M. Murphy during the 30th annual Rose Show, held June 14-15th, 1941 at the Armory. However, judges from the Tacoma Rose Society, sponsor of the show, found the Angelus Mateu raised, and held, by Dr. Herrman to be the Best Rose exhibited. Mr. Murphy's rose was a close second. The pair are standing in front of the display fountain erected by Metro Parks and Tacoma Lights. (T.Times 6/26/2941, pg. 14)

Herrman, S.F.; Murphy, C.M.; Tacoma Rose Society (Tacoma); Roses;

Two young men, small in stature, reported to the Tacoma draft board offices in the State Armory on September 4, 1941. Harold C. Kirkendall, 23, responds to Mrs. W.B. Dickinson, Jr., while Kayo M. Erickson, 22, awaits his turn. It was all in good fun, however, as part of a prank played by the Tacoma Times newspaper. The two were actually entertainers appearing in the Rubin & Cherry Exposition, a traveling sideshow. (T.Times 9-5-41, p. 1)

Kirkendall, Harold C.; Erickson, Kayo M.; Dwarfs--Tacoma; Draft--United States; Dickinson, W.B.--Family; State Armory (Tacoma);

Harold C. Kirkendall (far left) raises his hand and swears to Mrs. W. B. Dickinson, Jr. that the information he has provided on his draft questionnaire is true and complete. On September 4, 1941, as a practical joke, the Tacoma Times sent Mr. Kirkendall and Kayo M. Erickson (center) to the Tacoma draft board offices in the Armory to file their draft questionnaires. Mr. Kirkendall and Mr. Erickson were in Tacoma as performers in the Rubin & Cherry Exposition, a traveling sideshow that featured dancers, midgets, glamorous girls and "20 rides." Kayo Erickson is believed to be the same Carl "Kayo" M. Erickson that appeared in the motion picture, "The Wizard of Oz." (T. Times 09-05-1941 p.1)

Kirkendall, Harold C.; Erickson, Kayo M.; Dwarfs--Tacoma; Draft--United States; Dickinson, W.B.--Family; State Armory (Tacoma);

On September 25, 1941, three of the four commissioned officers of Tacoma's units of the Washington State Guard posed for this portrait. They are, left to right, Lt. Lloyd Sell Jr. (Company D), Capt. W. B. Hamilton (Co. C), and Lt. Charles T. Sweet (Co. C.) Tacoma's units were heavily recruiting for 100 men to replace those now serving in active duty. For the most part, recruits were those ineligible for active army service. They currently had 80 volunteers. Capt. Hamilton was a local insurance agent, married and had two sons who were privates in Company C. He had served as a private in the first World War. He enlisted in the Guard as a private and rose to the rank of Captain. (T. Times 9/26/1941, pg. 1)

State Armory (Tacoma); Washington State Guard (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma; Military uniforms--Washington National Guard; Sell, Lloyd; Hamilton, W.B.; Sweet, Charles;

Tacoma's new "C" Company was inducted into the Washington State Guard during public ceremonies held October 20, 1941 at the National Guard Armory at 715 South 11th Street. Mustering officer Lt. Col. George W. McKenzie is seen issuing orders to the new unit. 72 men had been recently recruited to replace Guardsmen assigned to active duty. They would be drilling once a week. (T. Times 10/21/1941, pg. 4; TNT 10-21-41, p. 4-article)

Oaths--Tacoma; Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma; State Armory (Tacoma); Washington State Guard (Tacoma); McKenzie, George W.;

A young soldier, carrying his possessions, happily prepared to board a military transport at the Armory, bound for the Olympic Peninsula. Thirty Washington State Guardsmen and their commander were called into active duty, the first in Washington. They were leaving on June 18, 1942 for their new headquarters at Forks, where they would fan out to man coastal air raid warning posts. They would be working with the Fourth Fighter Command, US Army Air Corps. (T. Times 6/18/1942, pg. 1)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma); Military uniforms--Washington State Guard; World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations;

A group of State Guardsmen are pictured leaving the Armory and loading into motor lorries on June 18, 1942. Thirty men and one officer of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Volunteer Infantry, Washington State Guard had been called into active duty, the first in the state of Washington. They were travelling to the Olympic Peninsula where they would man coastal air raid warning stations. (T. Times 6/18/1942, pg. 1)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma); Military uniforms--Washington State Guard; World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations; Military vehicles;

A photograph is taken on September 5, 1942 of the Buick Eight ambulance, purchased for the American Red Cross with the proceeds of the "Victory Varieties," parked at 11th and Yakima. Three men watch as Marjorie Cain, wife of Mayor Harry Cain, hands key to to Jessie (Mrs. Clinton) Reynolds of the Red Cross Motor Corps. The three men are, left to right, Al Copp, Irving Thomas and Ed Michlitsch. The $1600 vehicle was purchased with only a portion of the Varieties $6,000 in ticket sales. Funds also went to the purchase of blood plasma and blood donation equipment, first aid equipment and the Tacoma Public School immunization program. Armory and Pierce County Courthouse in background. (TNT 9/5/1942, pg. 1- picture, T. Times 9/5/1942, pg. 3)

Ambulances--1940-1950; American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Cain, Marjorie Dils, 1908-1994; Reynolds, Jessie; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The keys to the $1,600 Buick Eight ambulance, purchased for the Red Cross Motor Corps with proceeds of the "Victory Varieties" show, were presented by show director Al Copp to Mrs. Clinton S. (Jessie) Reynolds of the Motor Corps in September of 1942. Mrs Marjorie Cain, the show's producer and wife of the mayor, is looking on. The other men attending the ceremony are business manager Irving Thomas and Ed Michlitsch of the Tacoma Central Labor Council. The "Victory Varieties" was a Red Cross benefit show given several weeks earlier in the Temple Theater. Ticket sales raised over $6,000. The proceeds were also used to purchase blood plasma and equipment, first aid equipment, and assist the Tacoma Public Schools immunization program. The ambulance was to remain permanently in the hands of the local motor corps to be used to transport materials and people for the Red Cross and Civilian Defense work. Armory and Pierce County Courthouse in background. (T. Times 9/5/1942, pg. 3; TNT 9/5/1942, pg. 1)

Ambulances--1940-1950; American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Cain, Marjorie Dils, 1908-1994; Reynolds, Jessie; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; State Armory (Tacoma);

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

Lincoln High School 1943 Graduation at Armory. Orchestra and Chorus performing. (T.Times)

Public Schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Youth orchestras--Tacoma; Choirs (Music); 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;

Lincoln High School 1943 Graduation at Armory. Orchestra and Chorus performing. (T. Times)

Public Schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Youth orchestras--Tacoma; Choirs (Music); 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;

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;