The National Convention of the Order of Runeberg was held in Tacoma from August 10-12, 1922. Some of the officers and delegates, plus a small boy, posed for a group portrait in front of the First Church of the Evangelical Assocation, 1224 Martin Luther King Jr. Way (then "K" St.). There were 750 delegates and visiting members in attendance at the three-day convention. Alex Keoll of Seattle was elected the new president succeeding John Forsman of Duluth. The convention would reconvene in Superior, Wisconsin in 1926. The Order of Runeberg is an organization of Swedish-Finns and is named after Johan Ludvig Runeberg, a noted Finnish poet. His work was based on Swedish culture. (TDL 8-11-22, p. 8-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 8-13-22, A-11)
Order of Runeberg (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1920-1930;
George C. Cabell, Supreme Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, raised the American flag on Alta Vista in Mount Tacoma's Rainier National Park on August 30, 1922. Founded in 1864, the Knights of Pythias was the first fraternal organization to receive a charter from the United States Congress. Col. Cabell, of Norfolk, Virginia, was the national head of the organization. He had been making a tour of the West and was the guest of the Tacoma Pythians on August 29-30th. The Tacoma Lodge held their annual sunrise services on Alta Vista where 25 Pythians plus Col. Cabell were present. Col. Cabell also officiated at the dedication of a permanent steel flagpole and flag raising at that time. (TDL 8-29-22, p. 3-article; TDL 8-30-22, p. 5-article)
Cabell, George C.; Knights of Pythias; Flags--United States; Flagpoles; Rainier, Mount (Wash.);
The First Annual Liberty Party Picnic was held at Spanaway Park in June of 1932. Party members from Tacoma and other communities turned out in full force for the picnic as can be seen in the lower portion of the montage of photographs. The Liberty Party was an American political party in the early 1930's. It was founded on the economic theories of W.H. "Coin" Harvey. Harvey, at the age of 80, was its presidential candidate in 1932 and received 53,000 votes. Harvey was a wealthy, influential businessman and ran on the platform of monetary reform. There were 140 Liberty Party clubs organized in Washington State. Other views included Mount Rainier (called Mount Tacoma by locals), members with the American flag and participants of a Liberty Party float in a parade. G42.1-070
Liberty Party (Tacoma); Political parties--United States; Banners; Picnics--Spanaway--1930-1940; Montages;
Visiting Elks. The Everett Elks Band pose on the famous Spanish Steps next to the Elks Lodge, 565 Broadway, on August 16, 1918. A service flag with "In God We Trust" is lofted up high in the background. There was one gold star included which signified the loss of an Elks member in war. The Everett band was one of several in town for the 14th annual Washington State Elks convention which had opened on August 15th. The highlight of the convention was the massive downtown parade in which the bands and thousands of Elks marched. ( TNT 8-16-18, p. 1-article; TNT 8-17-18, p.2-article)
More than 6,000 Tacoma union men took part in the Labor Day Parade down Pacific Ave. in September of 1919. The parade of Tacoma organized labor through downtown began at the City Hall, 625 Commerce, and proceeded south on Pacific Ave. Charles Richmond, a labor leader, led the parade as marshall mounted on a horse; he was followed by the Railway Brotherhood, policemen and firemen. Next came this float from the Teamsters, an old-time coach mounted on a horse drawn wagon. It was decorated with a banner reading, "Does the man who delivers your goods belong to the Teamsters Chauffeurs Union #313." Union 313 consisted of Tacoma drivers from many industries. Many union members followed the float carrying American flags. One of the goals of the Labor Day celebration was to reach the $30,000 goal set for the Labor Temple building fund. Labor Temple buttons were being sold to raise the funds. (T. Times 9/1/1919, pg. 1) G38.1-018 TPL-10094
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1910-1920; Labor unions; International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 313 (Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1910-1920;
