Tyac dance and council. The Tyac Club, a recreational club, hosted their first anniversary dance. Club members consist of high school student council members, they have self governed themselves since the club began. In honor of the first anniversary dance, floor show numbers would be put on by the different high schools. Sixteen unidentified Tyac Club members smile as they get ready to celebrate their first anniversary (T. Times, 6/16/44, p. 6).

Student organizations--Tacoma; Youth organizations--Tacoma; Tyac Club (Tacoma);

This fetching quintet of Clover Park High School upcoming seniors dressed as hula dancers and performed at the Tyac Club anniversary dance held in the Tacoma Armory at 715 South 11th Street on Saturday June 17, 1944. Two of the girls have been identified: farthest right is Joyce Woodward (Toso); second to right is Phyllis Lofgren. The Tyac Club was started in 1943 to give the students in Tacoma's high schools the opportunity to organize and run their own cooperative recreational program. To celebrate their success as an organization they sponsored the first anniversary dance, complete with a top dance band, floor show numbers provided by each of the high schools, and a birthday cake and punch for refreshments. (T. Times, 6/16/44, p. 6). (Additional information provided by a reader)

Hula dancing--Tacoma; Tyac Club (Tacoma); Women--Dancers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Woodward, Joyce; Toso, Joyce Woodward; Lofgren, Phyllis; Youth organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950;

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;

Governor Bricker's party coverage. Governor Bricker was in Tacoma to attend the Pierce County Republican Convention being held at the State Armory. Left to right view of Ohio State Governor John W. Bricker, Mrs. Bricker, Mrs. Langlie and Washington State Governor Arthur B. Langlie (T. Times 4/12/44, p. 1).

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

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.;

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);

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;

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; Students--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;

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;

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);

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);

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;

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.;

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;

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);

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);

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;

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 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);