Oral history interview with Peter Marsh by Joshua Wright conducted 05/28/2015. From the very beginning, Tacoma was met with illness in the form of typhoid. Disease would continue to wage war against the residents of the City of Destiny until the Fannie C. Paddock Memorial Hospital and St. Joseph Hospital were built in 1882 and 1891, respectively. Both organizations developed meaningful relationships with their community and ignited a behind-the-scenes competition which would benefit both patient and physician. Almost 100 years later, Tacoma was cared for predominantly by primary care physicians. It had just started to see an influx of medical specialists via Madigan Army Medical Center when the city was hit by HIV in 1983. With no effective cure at the time, Tacoma did its best to cope with the disease and its associated complications, and the infectious disease specialists were on the forefront. One of these few physicians was Dr. Peter Marsh. Born in Chicago in 1949, he was inspired to become a doctor as a young boy by the Dr. Kildare film series. Arriving in Tacoma in 1981, he would find himself in the middle of handling the AIDS epidemic, supporting patients as best as he could before they succumbed to the disease; that is, until the introduction of antiretroviral medications. Now able to effectively cure patients, Dr. Marsh found new life in his work and continued to serve his community until retirement in 2015. With the epidemic under control, Tacoma still utilizes what it learned from that chaotic era to stand prepared for anything thrown its way.

2023 report created by Momentum Professional Strategy Partners. This report was part of the Black Collective Economic Development Committee 2023 initiatives and was funded by a grant with the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County. It explores and documents dominant reasons why local Black owned businesses fail and compiles recommendations to inform city and county entities.

Back of photo:
My Dad :)

Backside contains text: Uncle Phil on Rt.

Photo description from Vanna Sing:

When taken: 1980s and 2000s
Where taken: Eastside, Salishan
What memory is contained in these photos? Vanna Sing's childhood in Salishan and Eastside; Growing up in Salishan, spiritual healing. 43 year old survivor from the country of Cambodia. Roots are from SE Asia, Cambodia, Thai, and Laos. Our family escaped the Khmer Rouge in 1978 In July 1979, we entered United States. Our sponsors were from Mineral Wells, Texas. Trying to adapt to the American culture was a struggle. Through the word of mouth, Tacoma, Washington was the place to be. 15 families migrated to Tacoma, WA. We first arrived in Hilltop, Tacoma, around St. Joseph hospital area. We spent a year here. Tacoma Housing Authority supported refugees by providing rental assistance. Department of Social and Healthy Services gave us TANF, food stamp, and medical.

Photo description from Vanna Sing:

When taken: 1980s and 2000s
Where taken: Eastside, Salishan
What memory is contained in these photos? Vanna Sing's childhood in Salishan and Eastside; Growing up in Salishan, spiritual healing. 43 year old survivor from the country of Cambodia. Roots are from SE Asia, Cambodia, Thai, and Laos. Our family escaped the Khmer Rouge in 1978 In July 1979, we entered United States. Our sponsors were from Mineral Wells, Texas. Trying to adapt to the American culture was a struggle. Through the word of mouth, Tacoma, Washington was the place to be. 15 families migrated to Tacoma, WA. We first arrived in Hilltop, Tacoma, around St. Joseph hospital area. We spent a year here. Tacoma Housing Authority supported refugees by providing rental assistance. Department of Social and Healthy Services gave us TANF, food stamp, and medical.

Video recording of T’Wina Franklin, Urban Community Co-founder of Ladies First, Director at University Place School District, from the 2016 WILLO Storytelling Festival.

Oral history interview with current president of the Tacoma Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, Cynthia Tucker. Interviewed by dindria barrow on April 21, 2022 in the Digital Media Lab of the Tacoma Public Library. Cynthia shares her personal story of growing up with strong women who helped her overcome shyness, her life overseas, her family stories and her hopes for the future. Cynthia states, “I am still a Black woman no matter where I go,” so it is important to be proud of who you are. Cynthia believes that you should enjoy what you do for work and build confidence in your life by “seeking yourself first”.

Cynthia Tacye Tucker at age 21 years old, in West Chester, Pennsylvania, August 1971.

Measures 24 inches by 36 inches. The medium is oil on canvas. Dionne Bonner's description of the work is "Your power (Tu Poder) equates to your light, the special and unique part that makes you one of a kind. This source is also what undergirds us in times of trial and victory. This power is present in each one of us and our ability to tap into it, through prayer or meditation, truly is our main mechanism to navigate life".