Modelling the latest in "tin hats" and armbands are Civilian Defense officers, left to right, Joseph Lanser, Frank Evans and George Russell. On Friday, April 17, 1942, Tacoma received its first shipment of steel helmets and armbands for their Air Raid Wardens. The shipment included 250 of each. The "tin hats" were made of steel thick enough to protect the wearer from shrapnel splinters. The trio is posing at the Civilian Defense Volunteer office at the City Hall Annex. (T. Times 4/18/1942, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Lanser, Joseph; Evans, Frank; Russell, George; Helmets; Flags--United States;

In March of 1942 the civilian defense workers of precinct 37 in Tacoma gathered for a group photograph at the foot of the new fire watchers' tower that they designed and built themselves. R. J. "Rocky" Carino (at far right, with arm raised), the precinct air raid warden, was an employee of the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company. He talked his employers into donating the lumber for the tower. Idolf A. Youngberg, chief fire watcher for the precinct, designed the tower and superintended its construction. Precinct 37 included the area between So. 14th & So. 19th streets from "L" Street to Sprague Avenue. Standing in the tower (l to r) are Ralph Turco, I. A. Youngberg and Nels Olsen. The tower was situated on a hill, with a commanding view of the surrounding area. (T. Times 4/1/1942, pg. 3)

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Watch towers--Tacoma; Carino, R.J.;

On June 12, 1942, the Admissions Committee for the new Tacoma War Chest met for the first time. It was the Committee's job to recommend to the War Chest Board which war related agencies should benefit from the monies raised by the October campaign. Applications for funds would be reviewed until June 30th. The USO had already been approved and several war relief agencies had applied as well. Pictured in discussion at City Hall were, left to right, Hazel (Mrs. J.P.) Simpson, Fern (Mrs. Clay) Pratt, Guy Thompson, Leona (Mrs. Edward C.) Yoder, Freeman Cochran, Mayor Harry Cain, George Firth and Walter West. (T.Times 6/15/42, pg.7)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On the morning of June 7, 1942, fifteen Tacoma men were sworn into the U. S. Navy during a special "Avenge Pearl Harbor Day" ceremony. The ceremony was held at 9th and Broadway. The members of the Navy Mother's Club were the special guests. Buildings in the photograph include the Bostwick Hotel, right , Roxy (Pantages Theater) and Winthrop Hotel at left. (T. Times 6/6/1942, pg. 1; 6/8/1942, pg. 12)

World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma; Roxy Theatre (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1940-1950;

A group of young Tacoma and Pierce County men were sworn into the U.S. Navy at a special "Avenge Pearl Harbor Day" ceremony held at the corner of 9th and Broadway on Sunday June 7, 1942 in front of the Roxy Theater. The members of the Navy Mother's Club were honored guests. The participants are standing in "V for Victory" formation. (T. Times June 8, 1942 p.12)

World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma; Roxy Theatre (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1940-1950;

A group of young Tacoma and Pierce County men were sworn into the U.S. Navy at a special "Avenge Pearl Harbor Day" ceremony held at the corner of 9th and Broadway on Sunday June 7, 1942 in front of the Roxy Theater. The new Naval recruits smile at someone's young son in a Navy uniform. (T. Times June 8, 1942 p.12)

World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma; Roxy Theatre (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On February 19, 1942 President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066. This action eventually led to the removal of some 110,000 Japanese-Americans to internments camps in remote areas of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming. This little girl was photographed at Tacoma's Union Station as she and her family prepared to board a train to the Pinedale, California assembly center camp. 879 Japanese-Americans from the Tacoma "restricted area" left for Pinedale beginning on May 14, 1942. (T. Times)

World War, 1939-1945--Relocation camps; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945; Union Station (Tacoma);

Army soldiers speak with a couple at Union Station. On May 17-18, 1942, 859 residents of Tacoma of Japanese descent were forced to leave their homes and board trains to the Pinedale "Assembly Center" near Fresno California. They were allowed to take a few approved possessions to their new "homes." This woman, dressed in her Sunday best for the trip, is transporting an irregularly shaped parcel and a First Aid kit, uncertain about the future. One of the soldiers inspects her package. (T. Times 5/18/1942, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Relocation camps; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945; Union Station (Tacoma);

Five year old Toshiyuki Hattori smiles at the camera over his book. At his side is military guard Pvt. Nat Schwartz. On Feb. 19th, 1942 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued an executive order authorizing the military to banish anyone it considered potentially dangerous from any region considered to be at risk. On March 2nd, the plan was revealed to remove anyone with Japanese ancestry from the entire West Coast. Tacoma's turn came May 17 & 18th, 1942, when 859 Japanese Americans were shipped from Union Station to Pinedale Assembly Center near Fresno California. (T. Times 5/18/1942, pg. 1; TNT 5/18/2003, pg. B8+)

World War, 1939-1945--Relocation camps; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945; Union Station (Tacoma); Hattori, Toshiyuki; Schwartz, Nat;

On April 8, 1942, the first Washington State mobile canteen unit arrived in Tacoma. Some military personnel gratefully accept coffee and doughnuts as the rolling kitchen, one of 10 in the nation donated by Henry Ford, was put immediately into action. It was operated out of Tacoma jointly by the USO and the Salvation Army. The mobile units would serve members of the armed forces in outposts with games, magazines and writing materials. They could even show movies with a projector mounted on the rear of the truck. Major and Mrs. Alva H. Holbrook of the Salvation Army were placed in charge. She is pouring coffee and he is far right in the picture. The Holbrooks had arrived recently from Hawaii, where they had run a canteen after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. (T. Times 4/9/1942, pg. 9; TNT 4/9/1942, pg. 6)

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; United Service Organizations (Tacoma); Canteens (Wartime, emergency, etc.)--Tacoma; Holbrook, Alva;

Barn dance at South Tacoma U.S.O. Members of the 183rd band form a jazz orchestra to supply plenty of swing for the dance. The addition of straw hats to their uniforms gives them a country flair.

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Military bands;

Beginning April 6, 1942, the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) launched special "Keep Fit" classes at its 405 Broadway location. Instruction was being offered in golf, tennis, swimming and Badminton (pictured.) Classes would be held both morning and evenings to accomodate those working in the defense industries. The YWCA operated under the adage learned from war torn England, that adequate exercise was a morale builder. (T. Times 4/10/1942, pg. 3)

Young Womens Christian Association (Tacoma); Badminton;

Ladies Drill Team photographed at the Eagles Hall. Same thirteen women and one man from image #1. The women are now also wearing the white caps with the letters "TAOUW" in black. There is an anchor emblem fastening the collar of their shirts.

Second house (made on speculation) showing sign: "Under New Management" " No girls". (T. Times) [Also dated 05-19-1942]

ca. 1941. Teller windows and Christmas tree in lobby of Puget Sound National Bank for the Christmas season circa 1941. Square columns, open beam ceiling, and what appears to be either granite or marble embellishments.

Banks--Tacoma; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma);

Puget Sound National Bank, vault with open door.

Business Enterprises - Financial Institutions - Banks - Tacoma - Puget Sound National Bank

ca. 1942. Formal portrait of men in business suits, probably Tacoma city officials. Tacoma Mayor Harry Cain is seated in the front row, third from left.

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On June 13, 1942, seventeen members of the Irving E. Hill family gathered at the Hill homestead, 1636 E. 31st St., in honor of Bud Hill. Young Bud would be leaving shortly for preliminary naval flight training in Spokane and the family had gathered to see him off. Pictured in the front row are Mrs. W.D. Cooley (formerly Doris Hill), Tilda (Mrs. Irving E. Sr.) Hill and Mrs. Fred Stedman (formerly Mabel Hill.) Back row, l to r, Carroll Hill, Irving (Bud) Hill Jr., Irving E. Hill Sr., James C. Hill and Loyal W. Hill. Mr. Hill Sr. had achieved fame locally as the "whistling mailman." He had always whistled while delivering mail on his northend route and had performed on many local programs. He carried Route 31 for 31 years before retiring 8 years prior to this picture. Bud was a 1939 graduate of Lincoln High School. (TNT 7/12/1942, PG. A-2)

Hill, Irving E.--Homes & haunts; Hill, Irving E.--Family; Hill, Irving E.; Hill, Tilda A.; Reunions;

Passageway under Court C from Crystal Palace Market to Fisher's Department Store. Ordered by United Pacific Insurance Company.

Markets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Crystal Palace Market (Tacoma); Passageways;

Northern Pacific Railroad coal cars being filled by conveyor in front of corrugated metal building.

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Coal--Tacoma;

Grand Officers of the Eastern Star on stage in June of 1942. Flags of several nations, including the United States, and silhouettes of Presidents Lincoln and Washington serve as decorations. 1500 Eastern Star members attended the organization's 59th annual meeting held at the Masonic Temple. Mayme Harmony was elected worthy grand matron and Irwin Jones, worthy grand patron. (T.Times 6-17-42, p. 8-article; T.Times 6-19-42, p. 9-article)

Order of the Eastern Star (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flags--United States; Flags; Silhouettes; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In October of 1941, the Puget Sound Plywood Inc. plant on the Tideflats was in the early stages of construction. This photograph shows the huge "Bowstring ring connected wood trusses" that will support the roof. The trusses were manufactured by Timber Structures Inc. of Portland. They were supplied to the plant by Northwest Bolt & Nut Co. of Seattle. The new plywood plant was a cooperative, the first in Tacoma. (TNT 7/1/1942, pg. 15)

Progress photographs; Building construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound Plywood, Inc. (Tacoma); Plywood; Cooperatives--Tacoma;

Grant School orchestra and chorus on stage in December of 1941. Large decorated Christmas tree in background.

Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Grant School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stages (Platforms); Music--Tacoma; Christmas trees;

During the war years, busy Red Cross hands proved adept with needles and thread, sending handmade items to servicemen all around the world. Here, in September of 1942, some volunteers prepare cloth for stitching. They are, left to right, Bessie (Mrs. W.C.) Wise, Hazel (Mrs. J.P.) Neville, Beatrice (Mrs. A.D.) Wise; Mrs. M.W. Blackiston, Eva (Mrs. W.F.) Kerr and Cora (Mrs. George) Wing.

+American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Kerr, Eva; Wing, Cora; Wise, Bessie; Neville, Hazel; Wise, Beatrice;

Supported by several members of the Roxy Theater U.S.O. Revue and a full Army band, on Friday July 10, 1942 nineteen year old Linda Darnell helped sell war bonds at Tacoma's Victory Square located on South 10th Street between Pacific Avenue and "A". The young Hollywood star promised an autograph for every bond application and a kiss for the person making the biggest purchase. Standing to the left of Miss Darnell is Pierce County War Bond drive chairman Leon Titus. The 20th Century Fox star was on her second volunteer entertainment tour of army camps and naval stations. (T.Times 7/9/1942 p.3)

Actresses--Tacoma--1940-1950; War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Titus, Leon E.; World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma; Darnell, Linda, 1923-1965;

Four men are photographed on January 2, 1943 by job shack with sign pointing the way to the round breaking ceremony for Seattle-Tacoma Airport at Bow Lake. Holding the sign is Horace P. Chapman, president Seattle Port Commission. Tacoma and Pierce County's total contribution to the Five million dollar airfield was $100,000. (T. Times 1/4/1943, pg. 1)

Airports--SeaTac--1940-1950; Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac); Ground breaking ceremonies--SeaTac--1940-1950;

Mayor Harry P. Cain, (right), is deep in conversation with an unidentified man at the January 2, 1943 ground breaking ceremony for the $5,000,000 Seattle-Tacoma Airport at Bow Lake. Mayor Cain was instrumental in the decision to cooperate on a regional airport rather than building separate fields in both cities. A gilded pick was used at the ceremony, symbolizing the "burying of the hatchet" between the two competitive cities and the ushering in of a new era of cooperation. (T. Times 1/4/1943, pg. 1-article)

Airports--SeaTac--1940-1950; Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac); Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ground breaking ceremonies--SeaTac--1940-1950; ;

On Saturday January 2, 1943 a gilded pick was used to break ground at the dedication ceremony for the new, $5 million Seattle-Tacoma airport to be built at Bow Lake. From left to right are: Roe Shaub, president of the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce; Harvey Scofield, county commissioner; Ray Mattison; Tacoma Mayor Harry P. Cain; George Osgood, Port of Tacoma; Charles Orton, Port of Tacoma; and Fred H. Marvin, president of Tacoma's port commission. The ceremony was heralded as marking the last phase of Seattle and Tacoma "burying the hatchet," and beginning an era of the two great cities of the Puget Sound working together for the mutual good of both. Horace P. Chapman, president of the Seattle Port commission, declared: "On the completion of this airport we will see that it is properly designated with a neon sign reading Seattle-Tacoma Airport, thus showing the unity of purpose and cooperation between us." (T. Times 1/4/43 p.1)

Airports--SeaTac--1940-1950; Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac); Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ground breaking ceremonies--SeaTac--1940-1950; Shaub, Roe; Scofield, Harvey; Mattison, Ray; Osgood, George;

On September 29, 1942, a German made field gun was being removed from the grounds of the Edward B. Rhodes Post of the American Legion by the Army. It was donated by the Legion members to be broken down and used to make weapons to fight its original manufacturers, the Germans. The cannon was a 1906 Krupp-Essen of World War I vintage. It was presented to the Post in the early 1920's by Hugh Wallace, then ambassador to France, who had a home in Tacoma. It had graced the grounds of their post on "G" St. for many years. Despite the good example set by the Legion members and a plea from Mayor Cain, the Park Board decided to keep all of its display cannons for the time being, rather than having them dismantled for scrap. (T. Times 9/29/1942, pg. 2)

American Legion Edward B. Rhodes Post No. 2 (Tacoma); Cannons; Scrap drives--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Scrap drives;

Front of Anderson Building, located at 10th and Pacific. Knapp Business College was located on the second floor.

Anderson Building (Tacoma); Knapp College (Tacoma); Storefronts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Federal Insurance Group (Tacoma);