Anna Danforth prepares to celebrate her 101st birthday on January 4th, 1939 at the nursing home of Mr. and Mrs. Alf Rodahl at 1624 So. 9th St. Ms. Danforth, Tacoma's oldest woman, wears an apron and shawl and sits next to a Zenith floor model radio. She was born in Kentington Michigan on Jan. 4th, 1838. She married 20 years later in Grand Rapids. Her husband, who operated a sawmill, died 21 years ago in Chehalis. The mother of five sons, she is active and the possessor of a rollicking, albeit dry, sense of humor. (T. Times, 1/4/1939, p. 3)

Danforth, Anna; Centenarians; Aged persons--1930-1940; Radios--1930-1940;

William F. Barker, left, is the first to register in Tacoma for unemployment insurance benefits, the first contributory phase of Social Security. With 4900 eligible unemployed in Pierce County, Washington Employment Office staff anticipated a stampede. The office opened at 8 a.m. and handled 200 claims in the first hour and 1,067 in the first two days. By the end of two weeks, they had received 3,000 applications and never experienced the expected rush. Registering Mr. Barker is Tom Rathbone, manager of the Tacoma district State Unemployment Service. Mr. Barker was a gardener by profession and lived at 5006 So. Oakes St. (T.Times, 1/3/1939, p. 1; 1/16/1939, pg. 12)

Unemployed--Tacoma--1930-1940; Depressions--1929; Washington State Employment Security Dept. (Tacoma); Offices--Tacoma--1930-1940; Barker, William F.;

Tom Rathbone, manager of the Tacoma district State Employment Service, registers William F. Barker, left, the first to sign-up in Tacoma for the state's new unemployment insurance program. Barker, a gardener by profession, has been unemployed since last September. Under the terms of the new program, the maximum payment during unemployment would be $15 a week for 16 weeks. Employers have been contributing for the past two years into the program. (T.Times, 1/3/1939, p. 1)

Unemployed--Tacoma--1930-1940; Depressions--1929; Washington State Employment Security Dept. (Tacoma); Offices--Tacoma--1930-1940; Barker, William F.; Rathbone, Tom;

Unidentified Brown & Haley salesmen, January 3, 1939. (filed with Argentum)

Brown & Haley (Tacoma)--People;

Unidentified Brown & Haley salesmen, January 3, 1939. (filed with Argentum)

Brown & Haley (Tacoma)--People;

Margaret and Michael Orr, children of Dwight and Margaret Orr, seated at small, carved table playing Chinese checkers; Dwight Jr. and large Christmas tree behind them in this photograph dated January 4, 1939.

Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Families--Tacoma--1930-1940; Christmas decorations; Christmas trees--Tacoma; Orr, Dwight--Family; Orr, Michael; Orr, Margaret; Orr, Dwright; Children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Checkers;

Margaret (Mrs. Dwight) Orr with her children, Junior, Michael and Margaret, in front of Christmas tree in curved alcove of home. Mr. Orr, not pictured, was an executive with the Weyerhaeuser Timber Co.

Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Families--Tacoma--1930-1940; Orr, Margaret; Orr, Dwight--Family; Orr, Dwight--Homes & haunts; Christmas trees--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Ladies' Musical Club concert at First Baptist Church. Guest artist Jussi Bjoerling, Swedish tenor of the Metropolitan Opera, autographs a portrait for Hilma Lynn, left, Ethel McFarland Siefert and Margrete Anderson, right (T. Times, 1/7/1939, p. 5).

Bjoerling, Jussi; Singers; Autographing--Tacoma; Lynn, Hilma; Siefert, Ethel McFarland; Anderson, Margrete; First Baptist Church (Tacoma);

Group portrait of the one hundred voice men's choir and their accompanist, the one lone woman in the seated row, of the Independent Bible Church, 5 So. G St., in January of 1939. The choir was the largest men's choir on the Pacific Coast and one of the largest in the West. It was composed of members of the "Centurions," a Bible study class. The Independent Bible Church had purchased the building at 5 So. G St., formerly the Scottish Rite Cathedral, from the Masonic organization in early 1937. Photograph ordered by Mr. Short at the Tacoma Times. (filed with Argentum) (T. Times 2/10/1939, pg. 18- names in caption)

Independent Bible Church (Tacoma); Choirs (Music)--1930-1940;

Autograph seekers gather around Swedish tenor Jussi Bjoerling of the Metropolitan Opera who had just concluded a performance at the First Baptist Church on January 5, 1939. Margrete Anderson, second from right, watches as Mr. Bjoerling affixes his signature to a memento.

Bjoerling, Jussi; Singers; Autographing--Tacoma; Anderson, Margrete; First Baptist Church (Tacoma);

Men put the final touches on diorama promoting the Washington Fruit Growers. The animated oil painting illustrates a large orchard in Eastern Washington. Smyser Display Service prepared the World's Fair exhibits. (T. Times, 1/6/1939, p. 11).

Smyser Display Service (Tacoma); Dioramas; Exhibitions--1930-1940; Shipping;

Dioramas at Bert Smyser's, Smyser Display Service, four of eight animated dioramas for the 1939 World's Fairs in San Francisco (February) and New York (April). Work crews crate and pack the large dioramas for shipping. They must be completed, installed and in operation 10 days prior to the Feb. 18th, 1939 opening in San Francisco. (T. Times, 1/6/1939, p. 11).

Smyser Display Service (Tacoma); Dioramas; Exhibitions--1930-1940; Shipping;

Bert Smyser's Smyser Display Service, constructed eight animated dioramas for the 1939 World's Fairs in San Francisco (February) and New York (April). The largest of the Washington State exhibits is a 28-foot- long animated diorama of Mount Tacoma (Mount Rainier). Allen Smyser, right, points out an item of interest in the photograph on which the exhibit was based to Phillip Michel. The diorama features automobiles moving along the highway, waterfall in action, sunrises and sunsets. (T. Times, p. 11).

Smyser Display Service (Tacoma); Dioramas; Exhibitions--1930-1940; Shipping;

The Smyser Display Service at 2016 South Tacoma Way, owned by Bert Smyser, constructed eight animated dioramas for the 1939 World's Fairs held in San Francisco (February) and New York (April). Allen Smyser, left, points out an item in the photograph of Mount Tacoma (Rainier) on which the exhibit was modeled to Phillip Michel. An unidentified worker to the right adds more "snow" to the exhibit. The photographic work was done in the Colman Building studio of the Asahel Curtis Photo Company. Asahel Curtis was also the vice-president of Smyser. The exhibits were constructed at Smyser's shop and studio and extolled the wonders of Washington state. The largest of the exhibits was a 16 foot high and 28 foot long animated diorama of Mount Rainier. It features automobiles moving along the highway, waterfall in action, sunrises and sunsets. (T. Times 1/6/1939, p. 11; 2/1/39, pg. 14).

Smyser Display Service (Tacoma); Dioramas; Exhibitions--1930-1940; Shipping; Smyser, Allen; Michel, Phillip;

Publicity portrait of new Pierce County Prosecutor Thor Tollefson making a point, appearently from the City Directory! Mr. Tollefson served as county prosecutor from 1938-1946, at which time he made a successful bid for a Congressional seat. He was to remain as the 6th District representative for nine terms, until finally defeated for re-election in the 1964 elections. (T. Times, 1-9-39, p. 1) ALBUM 4.

Tollefson, Thor C., 1901-1982; Lawyers--Tacoma--1930-1940;

New Pierce County Prosecutor Thor Tollefson and his wife Eva. Mr. Tollefson was the county's prosecuting attorney from 1938-1946 when he then ran for election to the U.S. House of Representatives. He defeated incumbent Democrat John Coffee and won re-election during the eight succeeding Congresses. Born in Minnesota and a Tacoma resident since 1912, Mr. Tollefson graduated from Lincoln High School and the University of Washington Law School. (T. Times 1-09-39, p. 1) ALBUM 4.

Tollefson, Thor C., 1901-1982; Tollefson, Eva; Lawyers--Tacoma--1930-1940;

In January of 1935, a Pierce County grand jury was convened to crack down on vice, gambling, and money slot machines in Tacoma. All Tacomans were called on to step foreward and testify so that "vice, graft and corruption" could be driven from the city. In this picture, taken for the Tacoma Times, Police Sergeant Sherman Lyons and Officer Clarence Rolfson, with slot machines, watch as a jail trustee splinters a pinball machine with a sled hammer. (T. Times, 1/9/1935, p. 5)

Pinball machines--Tacoma; Slot machines--Tacoma; Police--Tacoma; Grand juries; Gambling--Tacoma--1930-1940; Police raids--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Exterior of 4011 6th Ave., the home of Frank Muehlenbruch, showing the exterior of the home and Christmas decorations. (filed with Argentum)

Muehlenbruch, Frank--Homes & haunts; Christmas decorations--Tacoma;

New Pierce County Prosecutor Thor Tollefson relaxes with a pipe at his desk. Mr. Tollefson served as the prosecuting attorney from 1938-1946; he then was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating longtime congressman John Coffee. Mr. Tollefson, a Republican, represented the 6th District for nine terms until his defeat in November, 1964. His younger brother, Harold, was also in public office: he twice served as Tacoma's mayor. ALBUM 4. (T.Times 1/9/1939, pg. 1)

Tollefson, Thor C., 1901-1982; Lawyers--Tacoma--1930-1940;

First annual banquet honoring retired Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad employees. Banquet held at the Walker Apts. January 7, 1939.

Banquets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co.--Retirements; Walker Apartments (Tacoma);

Police Sergeant Sherman Lyons and Officer Clarence Rolfson, with slot machines, watch as a city jail trustee splinters a pinball machine with a sled hammer. The two big automatic payout marble boards and several small slot machines were seized by police here over the last few months. On January 6, 1939 operators of all known or suspected speakeasies, gambling and "disorderly" houses in Tacoma voluntarily closed their doors as the police department commenced its program to clean up vice, initiated and headed by Mayor Dr. John Siegle. On Saturday, January 7th, morning all of the gambling devices confiscated in the last few months were smashed to make room in the evidence lockers for more machines. (T. Times 1/6/39, pg. 1; 1/7/39, pg. 1; 1/9/1939, p. 5)

Pinball machines--Tacoma; Slot machines--Tacoma; Police--Tacoma; Grand juries; Gambling--Tacoma--1930-1940; Police raids--Tacoma--1930-1940;

New Pierce County Prosecutor Thor Tollefson was sworn in on January 9, 1939 succeeding Harry H. Johnston, Democrat. His parents had operated a meat market and grocery store on McKinley Hill. After his father's death in 1915, Thor, as eldest son, left school and worked in various lumber mills and shipyards to help support the family. He was finally able to enter high school at the age of 21, holding down a job in the mills at night, and obtained his law degree from the University of Washington in 1930. Mr. Tollefson served as county prosecutor from 1938-1946. A delegate to numerous Republican state conventions, he was elected as a Republican to the 80th Congress in 1946 and to the eight succeeding Congresses. After his last term in office, he was appointed Director of Fisheries for the State of Washington and also the special assistant to the Governor in charge of international fisheries negotiations. Thor Tollefson passed away in Tacoma on December 30, 1982, at the age of 81. (T. Times 1-9-39, p. 1) ALBUM 4.

Tollefson, Thor C., 1901-1982; Lawyers--Tacoma--1930-1940;

37-year-old Pierce County Prosecutor Thor Tollefson at his desk shortly after being sworn into office on January 9, 1939. Many congratulatory bouquets were sent to Mr. Tollefson and his deputies by their admirers. He had defeated Democratic incumbent Harry H. Johnston in the November 8, 1938, elections. After eight years in office, Mr. Tollefson was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1946, and re-elected eight more times. (T. Times, 1-9-39, p. 1). ALBUM 4.

Tollefson, Thor C., 1901-1982; Lawyers--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Exterior of a new building at 3101 South Tacoma Way, constructed for B. Wingard and Sons. In the 1950's the structure became the home of Johnson Paint Co. (filed with Argentum)

B. Wingard and Sons (Tacoma);

In a effort to gain Governor Martin's support to rehabilitate the County Hospital, State Senator Monty Percival showed a corroded metal warming pan used at the hospital to a shocked Governor. (T. Times, 1/18/1939, p. 1)

Percival, Monty; Cooking utensils; Pots & pans; Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Corroded pots and pans, even tin cans, used at County Hospital shocked Governor Clarence Martin who was shown the condition of hospital utensils. State Senator Percival and others were mulling over plans to rehab hospital. (T. Times, 1/18/1939, p. 1)

Cooking utensils; Pots & pans; Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Margery Gallwas, seated on footstool beside fireplace discusses up-coming book talks with Kappa Kappa Gamma alumnae at her home. From left, Rose Hoffman, Jean Sproule, seated, Mrs. G. H. Thomas. (T.Times, 1/21/1939, p. 5)

Organizations - Fraternities and Sororities - Kappa Kappa Gamma - Tacoma ChapterInteriors - Living Rooms

Jason Lee drummers. Rhythmic course developed by music supervisor Louis Wersen has students using snare drum and resilient wooden plaque to learn rhythm, time and value of notes . (T. Times, 1/20/1939, p. 11, names listed).

Education - Schools - Public Schools - Junior High and Middle Schools - Tacoma - Jason Lee Intermediate School - Music Education Musical Instruments - Percussion instruments - Drums

Burr Anderson, promising new skier, skis over crest of hill at Mount Rainier. Mountaintop in distance. (T.Times 1/18/1939, p. 7).

Skiing--Tacoma; Skiers; Anderson, Burr; Rainier, Mount (Wash.);

Lincoln High School Basketball coach Bill Hardie takes on all comers. He is running drills, preparing the team for its game against arch rival Stadium High School Tigers. (T. Times, 1/19/1939, p. 15).

Hardie, Bill; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Basketball players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Basketball--Tacoma; Gymnasiums--Tacoma;