ca. 1946. One of the purposes of the USO was to make the holidays more festive for servicemen stationed away from home and their families. This picture of a local pair, left, and four servicemen was taken around Christmas at the USO Club #2. All of the people in the picture are unidentified. The Club was reserved for servicemen of color; at this time, the military was still segregated. (Photograph by F.L. Powell, YMCA, Tacoma).

ca. 1946. A group of at a refreshment table at the USO #2, 713-15 Commerce St., around 1946. The border in the background is formed of a line of thumbtacked photographs of the USO Club. (photograph by F.L. Powell of Tacoma)

Volunteers of USO No. 2 shown in this undated World War II era photograph include community activist Helen Stafford, second from right. USO No. 2 opened at 713 Commerce Street in September 1942 to serve Tacoma's African American servicemen and closed in March 1947. This location also served servicemen during World War I as the Army-Navy Club. TPL-5977

ca. 1946. One of the functions of the United Service Organizations (USO) was to create a welcoming atmosphere for servicemen and women away from home, especially during the holidays. From the look of the guests' hats and leis, the social event in this undated photograph was held during the holidays in the main hall of the USO #2, 713-15 Commerce St. The military was still segregated during World War II, so USO #2 was provided for the entertainment of African American soldiers.

Back of Photo:
Seattle Mayor-elect Norm Rice, foreground left, and Tacoma Mayor-elect Karen Vialle, foreground right, answer questions and thank the black collective for the support the group has given both Rice and Vialle. The two Mayor-elects met with the Black Collective Saturday morning at 2316 S. Yakima. (12-2-89 photo by David Brandt)
Pierce & S. King County

Back of Photo:
News/ National Night Out/ Hilltop Celebration and Prayer service.
Members of Safe Streets, and Hilltop neighbors joined their hands in prayer on the corner of S. 16th and L streets, where two Tacoma residents where shot and killed July 16th of 1990. The men, Scott Higley, and Chris Sherrod were remembered during a Hilltop celebration of National Night Out, with the theme "Sweep, Walk and Talk" for our neighborhood, or "SWAT." Two members of the gathered held hands and then placed a flower on the spot of the drug related shootings. Left to right in main pic are Randy Herrid, Sister Laura Neal, organizer of celebration, Father Bill Bichsel, and Theda Cherry.

In February of 1969 Edward Taylor (far left) showed a new electric hair clippers to an unidentified customer in his newly remodeled barber shop. Mr. Taylor opened the Ed Taylor Barber & Beauty Salon at 2151 South K Street (now Martin Luther King, Jr. Way) in Tacoma's Hilltop area in 1965. With "lots of hard work" and help from the Small Business Administration he was able to develop a salon that could accommodate all types and textures of hair. In a News Tribune article published in February of 1972 he was shown working on the hair of Mel Jackson, at that time administrative assistant to Tacoma's city manager.

Barbershops--Tacoma--1960-1970; Beauty shops--Tacoma--1960-1970; Shaving equipment; Ed Taylor Barber & Beauty Salon (Tacoma); Taylor, Edward;

Back of Photo:
Bill Smitherman

Back of Photo:
Tom Dixon, president of the Tacoma Urban League speaks to the media. The Rev. J.A. Boles sits beyond. These men delivered a statement to the press after conferring with other Black community leaders at St. John Baptist Church. The subject is police procedures and the shooting of a Black purse snatching suspect.
Staff photo by Peter Haley

Interview with David Boyd filmed in 2022 for the documentary project "The Evolution of Collective Wisdom."

Interview with Victoria Woodards filmed in 2022 for the documentary project "The Evolution of Collective Wisdom."

Interview with Korbett Mosesly filmed in 2022 for the documentary project "The Evolution of Collective Wisdom."

Interview with Tony Montgomery filmed in 2022 for the documentary project "The Evolution of Collective Wisdom."

Interview with Regina Glenn, Dr. John Vassall, Henry Yates, and Winfield Ezell, Jr, filmed in 2022 for the documentary project "The Evolution of Collective Wisdom."

TACOMA., Washington -- A WINNER -- Bill Smitherman, left, won his race for a seat in the Washington House of Representatives, to become the only Black in that legislative body. His father, Willy Joel Smitherman, right, also ran for a House seat, but lost.
Associated Press Photo

Back of Photo:
The Rev. George Stallings conducts services at the Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church/ Stallings has broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and has founded his own Imani Temple in Washington D.C.
NEWS/MAYNARD; Staff Photo by Bill Hunter

A group of African Americans look on for the cutting of a cake at an unidentified social event at the USO #2, 713-715 Commerce St., circa 1946. The cake has four candles, possibly indicating that it was in honor of the Club's fourth anniversary in September of 1946. In the group were Helen B. Stafford (second from left), Arthur Hayes (fifth from left), Maude Leonard (seventh from left) and Louise Beck (back of center, in hat.) (photograph by F.L. Powell of Tacoma)

From September of 1942 until the end of March, 1947, 713-15 Commerce housed USO #2, a club reserved for the entertainment of servicemen and women of color. One of the unique activities in the club took place each year during "Be Kind to Animals" week. Servicemen assisted in the planning and production of a dog show with the pets of local children. Ribbons were presented to the best in each catagory. In this photograph dated September 16, 1945, unidentified children and servicemen pose with a variety of dogs at the club. (photograph by F.L. Powell of Tacoma)

Back of Photo:
The Rev. Jerry Sanders rejoiced in his God given freedom from heroin and cocaine as he witnessed at an anti drug service at New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ, on the Hilltop, in Tacoma.
News/Maynard
Bruce Larson Photo

Back of Photo:
Action Upward at Hilltop with story.
Photograph by Richards Studio

Three young children stand on either side on a man holding a basketball.

Interview with Lyle Quasim filmed in 2022 for the documentary project "The Evolution of Collective Wisdom."

Interview with Wayne Williams filmed in 2022 for the documentary project "The Evolution of Collective Wisdom."

Interview with Pastor Gregory Christopher filmed in 2022 for the documentary project "The Evolution of Collective Wisdom."

Interview with Dr. / Attorney Gerald G. Burke filmed in 2022 for the documentary project "The Evolution of Collective Wisdom."

Interview with Aaron Pointer filmed in 2022 for the documentary project "The Evolution of

Interview with Alyce McNeil filmed in 2022 for the documentary project "The Evolution of Collective Wisdom."

Video recording of a presentation to the Black Collective by poet and author Noni Ervin for the 2022 Kwanzaa Celebration. Ervin is the author of "Verbatim: Living, Loving, Surviving" and a member of the Seattle-based African American Writers' Alliance. She is the Founder and Creator of Kinara Park Kids and the Founder of the Kwanzaa Awards.[1]