Tacoma was overflowing with Elks for three days in June, 1926, as the Washington State Elks Association held its annual convention. Clemens "C.W" Van Rooy (l) and George Moore (r), exalted leaders of the Tacoma and Puyallup lodges respectively, were official hosts of the convention. 8000 Elks were expected from 22 lodges statewide. The convention was returning to Tacoma for the third time in 22 years, after an eight year absence. Delegates to the convention were greeted by Tacoma mayor, and fellow Elk, Melvin G. Tennent, and urged to enjoy themselves during their stay. (TNT 6-24-26, p. 1)

Riding aboard the Aberdeen Elks stage were its "Pajama Saxophonists" on top and fellow Elks inside the vehicle, all in tune for the 1926 state Elks convention held in Tacoma during late June. The small band was lauded by the Daily Ledger for playing with enthusiasm and winning a "big hand all the way." The bus was an actual working stage which made normal stops in Hoquiam, Aberdeen, Centralia and Portland. (TDL 6-26-26, p. 3-article & alternate photograph of band)

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Aberdeen Lodge No. 593 (Aberdeen); Buses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Initiating officers of the Knights of Pythias posed at Cushman Dam on August 8, 1926. From L-R: Ben Lunan, Charles Rohrs, Ed Beamer, George Ball, R. Ray, Arthur Rowen and Ralph Towne. They had brought several candidates including Tacoma mayor M.G. Tennent and Winthrop Hotel manager Ray Clark to the new dam. The Knights of Pythias had established a custom of initiating candidates in unusual places, including on a high peak adjacent to Mount Tacoma (Rainier). The initiating officers are standing next to Mr. Ball's Chrysler and by a bronze marker which lists the name of the project, chief engineers and contractors, and also proclaims "Built by the Light Department City of Tacoma 1925." Cushman Dam was officially opened on Monday, May 24, 1926 when President Calvin Coolidge pressed a telegraph key manufactured by Lincoln High School and brought to Washington D.C. by high school baseball star James Mosolf. G24.1-150 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 8-15-26, 14-G-article & alternate photograph)

Knights of Pythias; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Chrysler automobile; Cushman Dam #1 (Lake Cushman); Dams--Lake Cushman; Historical markers;

International Rally of I.O.O.F. (Independent Order of Odd Fellows), Tacoma, Washington, September 4-6, 1926.The biggest event was a parade through downtown Tacoma with over 2,000 participants on September 4, 1926. The South Tacoma Lodge No. 89 float is bearing signs, "The God of Nations is the Father of All Men" and "All Men Are Brothers". Lefebvre Auto Laundry in background. (filed with Argentum)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Clubs--Tacoma; Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 89 (Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) held their seventh annual International Rally in Tacoma on September 4-6, 1926. The largest event of the rally was a parade with over 2,000 participants through the downtown business district that concluded at the Odd Fellows temple at Sixth & Fawcett. The Fern Hill Rebekah Lodge created a float for the parade on the back of a John Dower Lumber Company flatbed truck. The float was photographed in front of the Gansen Electric Company and C.A. Beil, General Contractors, offices at 709-13 Commerce St. The Rebekahs were the affiliated fraternal order of the Odd Fellows as well as a service organization. (TDL 9/4/26, pg. 3-article; 9/5/26, pg. 4-A-article) (filed in Argentum.)

Independent Order of Odd Fellows (Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fern Hill Rebekah Lodge (Tacoma);

International Rally of I.O.O.F. (Independent Order of Odd Fellows), Tacoma, Washington, September 4-6, 1926. Representatives from 300 lodges in Washington and British Columbia gathered in Tacoma for the 7th annual gathering of encampments. The kick off was a parade on Sept. 4, 1926 with over 2,000 participants. The parade formed at 7th & Commerce. Pictured is a parade float with a banner reading "Both Old And Young Are Protected By The I.O.O.F. Home in Walla Walla, WA." in front of the Colonial Hotel at South 7th and Commerce. The Washington Odd Fellow home was established in 1897 in Walla Walla. It provided care for the widows and orphans of members of the fraternal organization. (TDL 9/4/1926, pg. 3; 9/5/26, pg. 4-A) (filed under Argentum)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Clubs--Tacoma; Independent Order of Odd Fellows (Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1920-1930;

International Rally of the I.O.O.F. (Independent Order of Odd Fellows), Tacoma, September 4-6, 1926. The rally was a convention for the 300 Odd Fellow & Rebekah lodges in Washington and British Columbia. The East Tacoma Rebekah Lodge float was photographed on the 700 block of Commerce Street. Corner of Colonial Hotel, Tacoma Electrotype Company, Washington Florists truck, Gansen Electric Company, C.A. Beil office. (filed with Argentum)

Independent Order of Odd Fellows (Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1920-1930; East Tacoma Rebekah Lodge (Tacoma);

Pythian Sisters Bellingham Degree Staff at Grand Lodge, October sixth, 1926. (Argentum)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Knights of Pythias (Bellingham); Pythian Sisters (Bellingham);

Knights of Pythias Drill Team from Vancouver, Troop A. Photograph taken in Tacoma in October of 1926. (Argentum)

Fraternal organizations--Vancouver--1920-1930; Knights of Pythias (Vancouver); Drill teams;

ca. 1926. A full house is gathered at the Scottish Rite Cathedral to hear Harland McCoy, diet lecturer.

Scottish Rite Cathedral (Tacoma); Audiences; Crowds; Spectators;

ca. 1926. East Tacoma, IOOF (Independent Order of Odd Fellows) #89. "Degree Staff," lodge members in regalia, some holding shields. (filed with Argentum)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Clubs--Tacoma--1920-1930; Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 89 (Tacoma);

ca. 1926. Lesson in Friendship by Tacoma Knights of Pythias at the Crystal Ballroom of the Winthrop Hotel. The fraternal order was founded in 1864 by Justus H. Rathbone on the principles of friendship, charity and benevolence, or "FCB" the letters inscribed on the triangles that make up the group's emblem. One of the main themes in the group's ceremonies is the fast friendship of Damon and Pythias. (filed with Argentum)

Knights of Pythias, Commencement Lodge #7 (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

30 members of the Young Business Women's Club and accompanying Tacoma businessmen pose with Governor Roland H. Hartley (front row, dark suit with no overcoat) and Secretary of State J. Grant Hinkle on their visit to the new Legislative Building in Olympia in March of 1927. The young businesswomen were given a tour of the new state capitol building which was not quite completed at this time. Copy of this photograph was made on April 9, 1927. TPL-5014; G72.1-028 (TNT 3-21-27, p. 4)

Young Business Women's Club (Tacoma); Governors; Hartley, Roland H.; Legislative Building (Olympia); Hinkle, J. Grant;

In May of 1927, the leaders in the Y.W.C.A. building campaign posed around a poster advertising the fund raising drive that would kick off on May 23rd. The women are, front row (l to r); Daisy (Mrs. A.R.) Warren, Mabelle (Mrs. F.A.) Leach, and Mrs. George G. Wagner. Back row (l to r); Nora (Mrs. J.G.) Parkhurst, Mrs. E.A. White, and Mabel (Mrs. Edgar F.) Dodds. In its 21 years of existence, the Y.W.C.A. had moved six times to progressively larger quarters. In 1927, a building campaign was proposed to raise $300,000 to build a new, larger structure and to pay off the mortgage on its current home, the Blackwell mansion at 401 Broadway. The mansion had been purchased by the organization in 1923 and would be connected with the new structure, which would house the first pool and gymnasium for girls in Tacoma. The new structure was built at 405 Broadway and dedicated in December of 1928. It still houses the YWCA. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger 5/22/1927, pg A-7) G68.1-160

Young Women's Christian Association (Tacoma); Fund raising--Tacoma--1920-1930; Warren, Daisy; Leach, Mabelle; Parkhurst, Nora; Dodds, Mabel; Wagner, George G.--Family; White, E.A.--Family; Posters; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1927. Americanization class at Tacoma Rescue Mission ca. 1927. Man reads to five Japanese children. Pulpit with embroidered cloth marked "Jesus" in background. (filed with Argentum)

Tacoma Rescue Mission (Tacoma); Japanese Americans--Tacoma; Reading--Tacoma;

Danish Brotherhood Play. Three men and two women on a small stage containing a living room set furnished with two spinning wheels. (Argentum)

Danish Brotherhood (Tacoma); Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1927. Americanization class at Tacoma Rescue Mission ca. 1927. Woman at organ leads Japanese children in song. The singing children wave flags and wear paper caps. Man at rear behind pulpit with embroidered cloth marked "Jesus" was pictured in A1956-1 reading to the children. (filed with Argentum)

Tacoma Rescue Mission (Tacoma); Japanese Americans--Tacoma; Singing--Tacoma; Children singing--Tacoma;

This motley collection of characters was the entertainment at the Elks Club on March 28, 1928. "High Society, " "cooks," "hoboes" and "cops" all mixed easily together that evening. Tacoma's Elks Lodge presented seasonal "entertainment" where Elks polished their acting and musical skills for the benefit of fellow members.

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Entertainers--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The Afifi Temple Band, with instruments, posed in front of the Masonic Temple, 47 Saint Helens Ave., on April 22, 1928. They are uniformly dressed complete with fezzes. G23.1-078

Afifi Temple Band (Tacoma); Afifi Temple (Tacoma); Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Masonic Temple (Tacoma);

Rotary Club Scotsmen at the Union Club. James Gifford Newbegin, who would be appointed mayor in 1929 upon the resignation of Melvin G. Tennent, is at extreme right in this April 26, 1928, photograph. With the exception of one properly dressed Scotsman third to the right, the other Rotary Club members have patched together costumes consisting of tablecloth "kilts," wisk brooms in place of sporrans, and vacuum cleaner hoses and bags in lieu of bagpipes. G23.1-157

Rotary Club of Tacoma (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1920-1930; Union Club (Tacoma); Newbegin, James G.;

Two pages helping out at the United Daughters of the Confederacy's annual convention posed together on October 10, 1928. Their names were not listed. The convention was held at the Tacoma Hotel with Tacoma's Dixie Chapter as host. Members were joined by the Robert E. Lee Chapter of Seattle and the Mildred Lee Chapter of Spokane. G24.1-002 (TNT 10-9-28, p. 16-article on convention)

United Daughters of the Confederacy; Meetings--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Children enjoying the Y.W.C.A. pool. On April 6, 1929, three young girls prepared to dive, under the watchful supervision of instructors, into the Young Women's Christian Association pool located at 405 Broadway. They have attracted a small group of curious bystanders in the walkway above the pool. Other small children are already enjoying the soothing waters. The pool, named after Mrs. Harriet Strong, was among the amenities included in the newly opened Y.W.C.A. concrete-and-brick Georgian structure which was dedicated in mid-December of 1928. This is believed to be the children's swim class, open to all girls 8-14, held each Saturday morning. (TDL 4-9-29, p. 12-article on the YWCA)

Young Womens Christian Association (Tacoma); Swimming pools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Diving--Tacoma--1920-1930; Swimmers--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Members of the Tacoma Sangerbund (Saengerbund) pose with their group banner on June 2, 1929, in front of an imposing stone building. A sangerbund was a German singing society. The Tacoma Sangerbund was organized in 1890 and would celebrate its 40th anniversary in March of 1930. There were only two original members alive then and both, Erick Siburg of Tacoma and Hans Fraehmke of Auburn, were invited to the celebration. In 1930 there were 44 active and 125 associate members. The organization was headed by Henry Kloepper. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 3-16-30, A-11-article on association)

Tacoma Sangerbund (Tacoma); Singers; Banners;

The Knights Templar drill team stood at attention on April 20, 1930, outside the Masonic Temple, 47 Saint Helens Ave. They are wearing their stately uniforms including plumed hats. G23.1-077

Knights Templar (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940; Drill teams; Masonic Temple (Tacoma);

In February of 1931, elderly Richard Henry "Jimmy" Davis demonstrated how he and the neighborhood boys played marbles outside the frame home of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Ill. The future President, depending on his mood, would either join the boys in the game or shoo them away, saying that they were making too much noise. Mr. Davis, who in 1931 was well past 80, lived in the Lutheran Compass Mission. He couldn't remember much about how he came to live there. He worked in the mines from the age of 11 and three cave-ins have robbed him of much of his memory. As a young man, he was active in the labor movement and for two years travelled and worked with Mary Harris "Mother" Jones, the "Miners Angel." The pair helped with organizing what would become the United Mine Workers. (TNT 2/11/1931, pg. 1) BGN-284 TPL-9934

This was the A.O.U.W. drill team in 1931. The Ancient Order of United Workmen was an order that served both men and women. The man in hat and double breasted suit in the front row is possibly the Master Workman of the Tacoma Lodge. G23.1-029

Ancient Order of United Workmen Tacoma Lodge No. 6 (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Drill teams;

Tacoma Elks motion picture. Man and woman holding a piece of paper and standing in front of Elks casting office. Sign in window "Now Casting Tacoma Elks Own Motion Picture." The Elks had signed the Peptimist Motion Picture Corp. of Hollywood to make a motion picture comedy drama woven around the industrial life and scenic beauties of Tacoma. The script called for a cast of 500 Tacoma men, women and children, with the two lead female roles to be salaried. The cast selection was to be announced on June 27; the picture was to be completed in about two months.(TNT 6/2/1931, pg. 16; TDL 6/14/1931, pg. 10-E; TNT 6/4/1931, pg. 13)

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Motion picture production & direction--Tacoma--1930-1940; Motion picture industry--1930-1940;

An unidentified Tacoma motorcycle patrolman operates the camera while cameraman L.A. Tatom, in white knickers and sweater, selects the best angle. Director L. Jack Sherry crouches by a 1931 Buick eight automobile directing the action, involving three motorcycle patrolmen holding two cuties aloft. In 1931, the Tacoma Elks commissioned a motion picture comedy/drama about Tacoma to be made by the Peptimist Motion Picture Corporation of Hollywood. This staged production photograph was taken in the Stadium Bowl. Patrolmen appearing in the film were officers Bill Cordell, Edwin Janassen, Bob Marshall and George Johnson. The two female stars were Hollywood actresses Helen White and Bebe Lee. (TNT 6/2/1931, PG. 16; TDL 6/14/1931, pg. 10-E; TNT 6/4/1931, pg. 13)

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Motion picture production & direction--Tacoma--1930-1940; Motion picture industry--1930-1940; Motion picture cameras--1930-1940;

Tacoma Elks motion picture crew beside an automobile at Stadium Bowl. The Elks had signed the Peptimist Motion Picture Corporation of Hollywood to create a motion picture comedy drama woven around the industrial life and scenic attractions of Tacoma. The completed picture would be shown a gala frolic June 27, 1931 at the Elks Convention. A casting call went out for 500 men, women and children to be in the picture with the two main female starring roles receiving a salary. Cameraman L. A. Tatom, dressed in bright white knickers and sweater with plaid socks, operates a motion picture camera capturing the scene of motorcycle patrolmen and two women in suits and pumps posed on a 1931 model Buick eight automobile labeled the "official motion picture car" and supplied courtesy of Mueller-Harkins Buick. Posed on the vehicle are director L. Jack Sherry, officers Bill Cordell, Bob Marshall, George Johnson and Edwin Janassen, and actresses Helen White and Bebe Lee. Miss White was an established Hollywood star while Miss Lee was a Tacoma native starting out in the talkies. (TDL 6/14/1931, pg. E-10)

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Motion picture production & direction--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tatom, L.A.; Sherry, L. Jack; Cordell, Bill; Mashall, Bob; Johnson, George; Janassen, Edwin; White, Helen; Lee, Bebe;

Tacoma Elks Motion Picture. Four men in police uniforms with motorcycles at Stadium Bowl, two with women on them. Sign in front "Now Casting Tacoma Elks Own Motion Picture." The Elks were casting a motion picture comedy drama about Tacoma, to be filmed by the Peptimist Motion Picture Corp. and shown at the Elks Convention at the end of June. Officers in the picture are Bill Cordell, Edwin Janassen, Bob Marshall and George Johnson. Actresses are Helen White and Bebe Lee. (TDL 6/14/1931, pg. 10-E; TNT 6/2/1931, pg. 16; TNT 6/4/1931, pg. 13)

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Motion picture production & direction--Tacoma--1930-1940; Motion picture industry--1930-1940; Motorcycles--1930-1940; Police--Tacoma--1930-1940;