ca. 1943. O.W.I. (probably the Office of War Information), Publicity. Three women wearing slacks and bandanas work on a wooden truck bed at Northwest Chair. The Office of War Information was formed in 1942 as a propaganda agency. They photographed the early mobilization of World War II, including women entering the industrial workforce. During WWII, Northwest Chair built the wooden bodies for Army trucks. (T. Times). TPL-206

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Northwest Chair Co. (Tacoma);

Four fraternal organizations at "Scrap Iron Acres." Men and women from four fraternal organization pose at "Scrap Iron Acres" where they have been searching for scrap metal that can be reused for the war effort.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Group portraits--1940-1950; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Salishan - Interiors and Exteriors. Hogan's will open another grocery store at the government housing project at Salishan on the corner of South 38th and Yakima Avenue. The ground is newly graded and a few automobiles are parked outside the new grocery store.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Housing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Salishan Housing Project (Tacoma); Hogan's Fine Foods (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1943. War Housing, Lincoln Heights. Development of new one-story houses. The area is newly graded with paved streets. Format: 7x11". TPL-6416

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Housing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lincoln Heights Housing Project (Tacoma);

ca. 1943. A large welcome party was hosted at the 713-15 Commerce St. U.S.O. around 1943 for Pearl Harbor hero Doris "Dorie" Miller. On December 7, 1941, Mr. Miller was stationed on the USS West Virginia. After the bombing, he carried wounded sailors to safety and manned an anti-aircraft gun. This was remarkable of itself, but even more so since he was stationed on the ship as a cook. He received the Navy Cross for his bravery, the first African American sailor to receive this honor.

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; African Americans--Tacoma--1940-1950; Heroes--Tacoma;

ca. 1943. In this photograph taken around 1943, war hero Doris "Dorie" Miller held out his cup to receive some punch at the welcome party held in his honor at the USO #2, 713-15 Commerce. To the left of Mr. Miller was his escort for the evening, volunteer USO hostess Druetta McCabe. Mr. Miller had been awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery during the bombing at Pearl Harbor. On December 7, 1941, he had been stationed aboard the USS West Virginia in Pearl Harbor as a Mess Attendant, a cook. After his ship was hit, he carried several wounded sailors to safety, including the mortally wounded captain. He then manned an anti-aircraft gun, bringing down several Japanese aircraft. In 1942, he was recruited to travel around the country and sell war bonds.

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; African Americans--Tacoma--1940-1950; Heroes--Tacoma;

ca. 1943. In this photograph taken in 1943, war hero Doris "Dorie" Miller (in dark uniform) posed with a group of African American musicians at the USO #2, 713-25 Commerce St. USO #2 was provided for entertaining servicemen and women of color. Mr. Miller had been awarded the Navy Cross for his valor during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. After his ship, the USS West Virginia, was hit, he carried wounded sailors to safety and manned an anti-aircraft gun, shooting down Japanese planes. This was especially remarkable, since he was stationed on the ship as a cook, with no combat training. He was killed in action in November of 1943.

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; African Americans--Tacoma--1940-1950; Heroes--Tacoma; Miller, Doris;

ca. 1943. O.W.I. Publicity (Office of War Information). Women assembling canvas tarp over bed of truck for troop transport at Northwest Chair Co. During World War II, Northwest Chair set aside their furniture line to make the wooden portion of Army trucks. The Office of War Information was formed in 1942 to photograph the early mobilization of industries for war. (T. Times). TPL-1950

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Northwest Chair Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1943. W.A.A.C. (Women's Army Auxiliary Corps) enrollees on way to school in Iowa. Three women standing beside Liberty Center building circa 1943. One woman is dressed in military uniform.

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (Tacoma);

The students of Oakland grade school, 3702 South Wright Avenue, gathered in front of their school in December of 1943 for a group picture. Buried under all those children, with their hands held high forming a "V" for Victory, is an army jeep from Fort Lewis. The students had taken on a special project at the beginning of the school year. They set a goal for themselves to buy enough war bonds and war stamps to buy a jeep for the U.S. Army. By December they had bought over $1,369 in stamps and bonds, more then enough to buy a jeep. If you look very carefully, you can find the head of a soldier near the center of the photo. He is sitting behind the steering wheel of the jeep. (T.Times, 12/9/1943, p.20)

World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; War bonds & funds; School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Oakland Grade School (Tacoma);

Winthrop Christmas Party. Two young men make a toast over beers in 1943. Man at right is wearing laced up boots and is possibly in the military.

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Alcoholic beverages;

Tel, Christmas Party, Mr. Pavey. Two enlisted women pour coffee for a sailor at the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. Christmas Party. Apples, peanuts, doughnuts and candy are also available.

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma);

Tel, Christmas Party, Mr. Pavey. An enlisted woman pours coffee for one of the telephone operators while two sailors, the telephone manager and another man look on at the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. Christmas Party. Apples, peanuts, doughnuts and candy are also available.

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma);

During WWII, Mrs. William Wiley kept her most treasured mementos of her husbands service in Iran in a leather-bound folder. The clipping from the U.S. Army Dispatch that she received in December of 1943 went right into the folder the day she received it. The clipping showed her husband, Pvt. William Wiley, meeting the Commander in Chief of the American Military Forces, President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Pvt. Wiley had fractured his leg while on duty with the Persian Gulf Service Command. The President visited the hospital in which he was recuperating. (T.Times, 12/22/1943, p.1)

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma;

Mrs. William Wiley kept her most treasured mementos of her husbands service in Iran during WWII in a leather-bound folder. The clipping from the U.S. Army Dispatch that she received in December of 1943 went right into the folder. The clipping showed her husband, Pvt. William Wiley, meeting the Commander in Chief of the American Military Forces, President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Pvt. Wiley had fractured his leg while on duty with the Persian Gulf Service Command; The President the hospital in which he was recuperating. (T.Times, 12/22/1943, p.1)

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma;

Chicago Milwaukee Service Club Christmas Party at USO, 13th and Pacific. Four women members of the Chicago Milwaukee Service Club serve tea, coffee and cookies to servicemen near a Christmas tree in this photograph dated December 16, 1943. The table is decorated for the holiday season as well.

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Chicago Milwaukee Service Club (Tacoma); USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Christmas trees;

Illegal whiskey. The newspaper reported that six were arrested in Tacoma in raids for liquor operators of downtown bootlegging establishments. No whiskey had been distilled since October 8, 1942, because the distilling facilities were being used to produce alcohol for war purposes: smokeless powder, chemical warfare materials, synthetic rubber and medical supplies. Each distiller has been rationing their stock of wiskey for almost a year. (T.Times 12/7/1943, p.3, p.4)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma;

U.S.O. Costume Dance. Taken from slightly above, the dance floor is filled with couples, some close and some swing style. Crepe paper streamers are strung across the ceiling.

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

On November 10, 1943, the U.S. Navy was the guest of honor at a formal dance held at the USO Center at 13th & Fawcett. The Lady Lions hosted the event as a belated Navy Day celebration. Table decorations were supplied by Walt Sutter and they represented a miniature Guadalcanal, complete with boats, sand and water. In this photograph, an unidentified sailor pointed out places of interest on the "replica of a Solomon Island Coral Reef Naval repair station," while other unidentified military men and junior hostesses looked on. The location of the repair station was a "Military Secret." The Solomon Island Campaign took place from January of 1942 to August of 1945, with much of the fighting taking place on Guadalcanal and surrounding islands. (T.Times 11/8/1943, pg. 8- info. only)

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

Private telephones in Salishan homes in 1943 were a luxury and lines for the public telephone booths in the new war-time housing project were long. Florence Hargen couldn't wait for the phone booth so she is wig-wagging her message to a friend a few blocks away. (T.Times, 11/10/1943, p.1). TPL-1995.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Housing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Salishan Housing Project (Tacoma); Telephones; Hargen, Florence;

U.S.O. Costume Dance. A sailor and young woman play checkers. Another young woman and a soldier holding a fur and an apple watch on.

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

Community Chest Travelers Aid at Union Depot. Women are cleaning the location for the new men's lounge. The women's lounge will contain a nursery where mothers can care for their children's needs. (T.Times, 11/10/1943, p10)

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

Community Chest Travelers Aid at Union Depot. The War Chest in conjunction with the U.S.O. will be opening a men's lounge for service men to have a place to rest on the second floor of Union Depot with cots, a library, comfortable chairs, reading lamps, tabels and writing desks. (T.Times, 11/10/1943, p.10)

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

Community Chest Travelers Aid at Union Depot. The War Chest in conjunction with the U.S.O. council will be opening a servicemen's lounge at the Union Depot. Going over the plans on November 1, 1943, are, L-R, Dick Richer, Phoebe Lea, J.T. Kane, Rhoda Reynolds, and Andy Rome. (T.Times, 11/10/1943, p.10)

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Richer, Dick; Lea, Phoebe; Kane, J.T.; Reynolds, Rhoda; Rome, Andy;

On September 9, 1943, the third War Loan Drive for WWII kicked off. Americans were encouraged to "Back the Attack" with their dollars. Pierce County's portion of the nation's 15 Billion dollar goal was 19 million dollars. In this photograph, the soldier was having a difficult time choosing which war bond to buy from the ten young women offering them to him. The women were dressed in similar floor length split-skirt jumpsuits. Photograph ordered by the War Finance Committee.

War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Titus Motor group of four War Finance public picnic. War Bond Loan Drive by the American Red Cross. L-R Josephine Fetty, Marguerite Ammann and son Robert, Nellie White and Geraldine Mojean. (T.Times, 9/29/1943, p.8)

War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma;

Women bus drivers at Tacoma Transit. A man and two women bus drivers were photographed on September 7, 1943, at the transit yard. The man is unnamed. The women are, L-R, Octa L. Girard and Thelma Derrickson. (T.Times, 9/10/1943, p.1; 9/13/1943, p.5) TPL-3205, TPL-1381

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Girard, Octa L.; Derrickson, Thelma; Bus drivers--Tacoma; Tacoma Transit Co. (Tacoma); Buses--Tacoma;

Thelma Derrickson was one of the many women hired by the Tacoma Transit Company to drive the cities busses during WWII. She was hired in September of 1942. The Transit Department was looking for women 21 to 40, preferably with a high school education, some previous driving experience and an aptitude for mechanics. They fully expected that within a short time 3/4 of their drivers would be women. (T.Times, 9/10/1943, p.1; 9/13/1943, p.5) TPL-4559

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Buses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bus drivers--Tacoma;

Labor heads and service men at the U.S.O. Open houses will be held at all four U.S.O. centers in Tacoma. Standing L-R Phillip Robbins, Ralph Chaplin, Frank Horton, next three men unnamed, and Ted Hopkins. Seated L-R H.S. McIlvaigh, Betty Terry (who will be singing in the program), Rudy Davis, Paul Wesdett and an unnamed man. (T.Times, 9/3/1943, p.3) TPL-10199

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

These female employees of the Mount Rainier Ordnance Depot were placing a wooden body built in Tacoma by the Northwest Chair Company onto a U.S. Army truck in September of 1943. The woman on the left was operating a forklift to lift the body onto its place on the Army truck chassis under the direction of the woman at right center. Other women were waiting to set the bolts that completed the assembly of the truck and then send it on its way. These Army trucks were going to war as completely assembled units for the first time. Women made up 50-60% of the work force at the ordnance depot. All women employees were trained as mechanics and became experts in their line. (T. Times, 9/2/1943, p.1) TPL-10353;

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hoisting machinery; Mount Rainier Ordnance Depot (Tacoma);