One of the highlights of the 4th annual Water Carnival, held on June 15th, 1941 at Point Defiance and sponsored by the Young Men's Business Club, was a swimsuit parade and crowning of the Queen of the Carnival. The judges, reflecting the military theme of the '41 Carnival, were five Army and Navy officers. Pictured left to right in the front row are unidentified man, Charlotte Stipanich (crowned Princess of Bremerton Navy Yard), unidentified officer, Marguery Roscoe (crowned Princess of McChord Field), unidentified officer, Charleen Anderson (crowned Princess of Fort Lewis), Major Lilburn Stevens and Janet Wolters (crowned Queen of the Carnival.) (T. Times 6/16/1941, pg. 1)

Young Men's Business Club (Tacoma); Bathing beauties; Bathing suits--1940-1950; Beauty contests--Tacoma; Military officers--Tacoma--1940-1950;Festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Wolters, Janet;

Nine of the seventeen contestants vying for election as Queen of the 4th Annual Water Carnival posed with a member of the sponsoring Young Men's Business Club on June 12th, 1941. The carnival was held Sunday June 15th at Point Defiance. Janet Wolters (top row, far right in black and white bathing suit) was crowned Queen of the Water Carnival. The contestants are, seated left to right, Frances Davey, Doris Davey, unidentified YMBC member, Carol Lind and Dolores Van Arnam. Top row, left to right, Phyllis Kennedy, Betty Williams, Margery Roscoe, Florence Anderson and Janet Wolters. Each girl was sponsored by her employer. 1941 was the first year that a water carnival queen was selected. (T. Times 6/13/1941, pg. 3-alternate photograph; T.Times 6-14-41, p. 2-article on contestants)

Young Men's Business Club (Tacoma); Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Celebrations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Wolters, Janet; Bathing suits--1940-1950; Bathing beauties;

Young Men's Business Club trip to Clemmons Tree Farm. An unidentified club member joyfully waves his hat as he climbs a power pole during the YMBC's visit to the Clemmons Tree Farm on August 1, 1941.

Young Mens Business Club (Tacoma); Men--Clubs--Tacoma; Hats--1940-1950;

Mrs. H. V. Davies (far left), in her Red Cross uniform, directed the activities of the volunteers at the new Red Cross production department on Commerce Street in April of 1942. The woman third from the right, in the pattern dress, is Mrs. J. L. Giseburt, chairman of the volunteers. The theme of the annual meeting of the Pierce County Red Cross, held on April 14th, was volunteer service. Tribute was paid to the over 15,000 persons in Pierce County who contributed their time and effort to the Red Cross. (T. Times 4/13/1942 p.8)

American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Community Service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Committee of women from the Orthopedic Guild at Mrs. Franklin's home. (T. Times)

Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Organizations--Tacoma; Tacoma Orthopedic Association (Tacoma); Franklin, Alice S.--Homes & haunts;

Loyal Order of Railroad Conductors Women's Auxiliary. 30 members of the women's auxiliary posed for a group portrait on September 25, 1940.

Loyal Order of Railroad Conductors Women's Auxiliary;

A bathing beauty of times past steps lightly from the family album, blowing up a pair of water wings. She is a model in the Pi Beta Phi style show and tea, held at the Masonic Temple roof garden on September 6, 1940. (T. Times 9/5/1940, pg. 10)

Pi Beta Phi (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fashion shows--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bathing suits--1910-1920;

It was the tradition of the old University Club (newly reformed in 1939 as the University-Union Club) to entertain the Justices of the State Supreme Court at an annual dinner and entertainment. The 33rd annual event was held November 20, 1940 at the club with Mayor Harry P. Cain as toastmaster. The "entertainment" portion was turned over to the Tacoma Drama League. They are pictured portraying the Justices in rapt interest over the finer points of a divorce case. The "judges" are, left to right, J. Walley Showman (reading the Police Gazette), William L. Brown, E.E. "Bud" Bare Jr., J.K. "Jock" Gordon and Irving W. Thomas. (T. Times 11/20/1940, pg. 3)

University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma); Tacoma Drama League (Tacoma); Impersonation;

In August of 1941, a group of officers from the Puyallup Valley Japanese American Citizens League met with Raymond West of the National Bank of Washington to invest in defense savings bonds. The valley chapter of the league started in 1930 with 25 young American citizens of Japanese parentage. By 1941, the group had grown to 182 members. Seated are Satoru Sasaki, chapter president, and Lillian Mizukami. Standing are (l to r) Tad Yoshida, Tadako Tamura and Betty Sato. The young man standing behind Lillian Mizukami has been identified as Daizo (Dyke) Itami. (T. Times 08-07-1941 p.10)

Organizations--Japanese American--Puyallup--1940-1950; Puyallup Valley Japanese American Citizens League (Puyallup); War bonds & funds; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma)

Edward B. Rhodes Post Auxiliary. Group of women and two men pose for portrait in front of a Coast Lines, double-deck bus.

Patriotic societies--Tacoma; Clubs--Tacoma; American Legion Edward B. Rhodes Post No. 2 (Tacoma); Double-decker buses--Tacoma; Bus terminals--Tacoma; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Junior League provisionals at Kathryn King's residence. Provisional members were the new members, or applicants. Pictured inside the King home are Miss Audsley Fraser, left, and Leona (Mrs. Joseph Jr.) Long. (T. Times 9/10/1941, pg. 10- no picture)

Junior League (Tacoma); Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fraser, Audsley; Long, Leona;

Dining room w/many tables set, believed to be in the Tacoma Club. (filed with Argentum)

Tacoma Club (Tacoma);

Card room w/card tables and piano in corner, believed to be inside the Tacoma Club. (filed with Argentum)

Tacoma Club (Tacoma);

June of 1942 saw the grand opening of the Labor Temple Recreation Club. The Tacoma Central Labor Council, representing over 60 A.F.of L. unions, had purchased the old Baker Hotel property on Market Street in 1941 and made it their new home. A guest of the Labor Temple reaches for a piece of cake from a waitress during opening day ceremonies while four others in the booth look on. The notice on the wall near the group indicates that only beer and wine could be served during specific hours; no hard liquor was allowed. The Club rooms were located on the Mezzanine floor and served as recreation rooms and as a restaurant.

Labor Temple Recreation Club (Tacoma); Cakes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Waitresses--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Ten members of the Co-Ed Club were responsible for planning a social evening at the USO Club at 13th and Fawcett on July 21, 1942. Five members of the planning committee are pictured, left to right, Rosemary Stewart, Mimi Howell, Mrs. Mack Coon (Dorothy LaGasa), Sabine Phelps and Grace (Mrs. C. Nathan) Lynn. (T. Times)

USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Co-Ed Club (Tacoma); Stewart, Rosemary; Howell, Mimi; LaGasa, Dorothy; Phelps, Sabine; Lynn, Grace;

This group of newly minted mermaids was photographed in the Y.W.C.A. pool, 405 Broadway, on August 27, 1942. For the first time, the pool remained open for the whole summer that year to expand the recreation facilities available to the children who spent their vacation at home. The youngsters pictured could not swim at all at the beginning of the season, but by the end of August they were all "at home in the water" according to Mrs. John McConnell, swimming instructor. Pictured clockwise, starting at the top center with the girl in the dark cap, are: Joyce Sheets, Jeanne Arkin, Patilou Babbitt, Margaret Ward, Laura Sheppard, Onnalee Dungan, Pat Sternberg, Ella Mae Goddell, mary Jean Harvel, Barbara Ann Combs, Carole Jenks, Virginia Gundstrom, Nancy Ann Wilhelmi and Mary Ann Norton. (TNT 8/31/1942 p.9)

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

Modelling her latest formal creation on July 27, 1942, while standing on a stack of books at the YWCA, was USO Junior Hostess Dorothy Blanchfield. Lending a hand with the construction, left to right, were Carolyn Moore, (Miss Blanchfield,) Anna Mae Willman, Marian Allen and Myrl Van Den Heuvel. A USO Junior Hostess, in order to keep her permanent card and be a member in good standing, was required to attend one social function a week. The most popular functions were the dances. In order to have a wide variety of formal dresses and to keep costs down, some of the girls met weekly at the YWCA, with volunteer stylists from the department stores, to sew their own formals. Publicity for Community Chest. (TNT 8/2/1942 p.A-7)

Young Womens Christian Association (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Sewing; Seamstresses; Sewing machines; Blanchfield, Dorothy; Moore, Carolyn; Willman, Anna Mae; Allen, Marian; Van Den Heuvel, Myrl;

Interior of new Tacoma Labor Temple, 1355 Market St. View of meeting room taken from podium. American Federation of Labor (AFofL) symbol on back wall. $75,000 in remodeling was needed to turn the Baker Hotel, at 1355 Market St., into the Labor Temple, home of over 60 labor unions. Included were nine meeting rooms, such as this one, seating variously 50- 600 folks.

Labor unions--Tacoma; Labor Temple (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Central Labor Council obtained the Baker Hotel in 1941 for use as their new headquarters. They abandoned their cramped offices at the City Hall annex, where they had been for 17 years, and moved into the new 4 1/2 story cream colored brick structure. They then spent $75,000 remodeling the building to suit their purposes. This remodel included the construction of members-only recreation rooms and restaurant. (TNT 1/7/1943, pg. 1)

Labor unions--Tacoma; Labor Temple (Tacoma);

Mrs. Eleanor Dockeray, Mrs. James C. Ferguson, and Mrs. Dorothy Bottcher (l to r) of the Tacoma Junior Women's Club, examine one of the posters created by the club's art committee for the "Rice Bowl Party" that was scheduled to be held on December 12, 1941 at the First Baptist Church. The party and show, which was to include vaudeville numbers by prominent Chinese entertainers from Tacoma, Seattle and Portland, was part of the Tacoma - Pierce County campaign to raise money for China relief. The event was part of a national United China Relief Campaign to raise 5 million dollars; Pierce County had already raised $10,000, half of the County's goal. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the event was postponed. (TNT 12/7/1941 p.A-4)

Junior Womens Club (Tacoma); Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; Posters; Dockeray, Eleanor; Ferguson, James C.--Family; Bottcher, Dorothy;

The busy hands and needles of Red Cross volunteers prepare material in September of 1942 for servicemen in battlefields all across the world. The women in the cutting department are, left to right, Eva (Mrs. W.F.) Kerr, Cora (Mrs. George) Wing, Bessie (Mrs. W.C.) Wise, Hazel (Mrs. J.P.) Neville, Beatrice (Mrs. A.D.) Wise and Mrs. M.W. Blackiston. (TNT 9/4/1942, pg. 20)

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

Members of the Edward B. Rhodes Post of the American Legion bid farewell on September 29, 1942 to the cannon that had graced their grounds for many years. The cannon was being donated by the group to the Army for scrap metal. The cannon was a 1906 Krupp-Essen German made field gun. It was given to the Post by Hugh Wallace, then ambassador to France.The cannon was being removed by the Army from the Post building at 407 So. "G" St. and taken to Fort Lewis where it was cut up 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;

Several women are pictured taking classes in September of 1942, most probably the ones required to become a Red Cross Nurses' Aide. They complete 80 hours of preliminary training and give 150 hours of service assisting graduate nurses in the wards of local hospitals, after which certificates will be issued. The aides can assist in hospitals or provide in-home nursing care.

American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Health care--Tacoma--1940-1950; Nursing--Tacoma;

Every year the Co-Ed Club held a party to honor those members going away or returning to college, and the war years were no exception. A "Back to School" dance was planned for August 22, 1942 at the Fircrest Golf Club. In deference to world affairs, the party would have a patriotic theme and a war bond would be given as the door prize. Pictured, left to right, are Noreen Inveen (going to Stephens in Columbia, Missouri), Marian Willard, Mercedes Russell, Mary Thomas (all leaving for the University of Washington in Seattle) and Carolyn Scharf (heading out for Scripps in Claremont, CA.) Photograph was taken at the Scharf home. (T. Times 8/15/1942 p.5)

Co-Ed Club (Tacoma); Inveen, Noreen; Willard, Marian; Russell, Mercedes; Thomas, Mary; Scharf, Carolyn; War bonds & funds;

Every year the Co-Ed Club held a party for all of the younger club members who were going away to college. The war years proved to be no different and the annual "Back to School" Dance was planned for August 22, 1942 at the Fircrest Golf Club. Influenced by local and world events, the dance had a patriotic theme and the door prize was a war bond. The five young women pictured are Co-Ed Club members who were going to college for the first time. Back row, left to right, are Noreen Inveen, Carolyn Scharf and Marian Willard. Seated at bottom are, left to right, Mercedes Russell and Mary Thomas. The photograph was taken at the Scharf residence. TPL-982 (T. Times)

Co-Ed Club (Tacoma); Inveen, Noreen; Willard, Marian; Russell, Mercedes; Thomas, Mary; Scharf, Carolyn; War bonds & funds;

Eight hundred Masons from all parts of the state gathered in Tacoma June 16-17th, 1942 for the 85th annual communication of the Grand Lodge of Washington. The newly installed officers are pictured on the steps of the Masonic Temple. They are, left to right, Horace W. Tyler of Tacoma, J.W.J. Stedman of Tacoma- the newly elected Grand Master, John A. Emigh of Walla Walla- retiring Grand Master, Don F. Kizer of Spokane and Ford Q. Elvidge of Seattle. (T. Times 6/18/1942, pg. 7-picture; 6/17/42, pg. 10; 6/13/1942, pg. 1)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Free & Accepted Masons (Tacoma); Tyler, Horace W.; Stedman, J.W.J.; Elvidge, Ford Q.;

On April 7, 1942, the recently elected Junior League board members pose outside the home of Mrs. Charles Ingram, 414 No. 7th St. Pictured left to right are Dorothy (Mrs. James Mack) Koon (maiden name La Gasa), Phoebe (Mrs. Charles Jr.) Lea, Ruth (Mrs Paul) Graff, Edna (Mrs. John Bates) Roberts, Charlotte (Mrs. Walter) Baumann, Mrs. John Wood Jr. and Mrs. Thomas Henderson. (T. Times 4/11/1942, pg. 4)

Junior League (Tacoma); Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Koon, Dorothy La Gasa; Lea, Phoebe; Graff, Ruth; Roberts, Edna; Baumann, Charlotte;

Labor was well represented in the Clean-up Tacoma Campaign in 1948. Twenty members of Painters' Union Local 64 (AFL) gave Tacoma's totem pole at 10th and A Streets a new look April 11 and kicked-off the campaign. The steel scaffolding needed to do the job was donated by Safeway Steel Scaffolding. Max Frolic with 27 of Tacoma's union musicians played during the kick-off ceremonies and painting. Ordered by Burt McMurtrie, Tacoma Times. (T.Times, 4/12/1948, p.1)

Totem poles--Tacoma; Labor unions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Urban beautification--Tacoma--1940-1950; Painting--Tacoma; Scaffolding--Tacoma;

Miss Ackerman, also four Red Cross students, Red Cross Miss T. Four members of the Pierce County Junior Red Cross attended the national Red Cross convention in San Francisco. The Juniors met sequentially with the parent organization. This was the first time in ten years that the Red Cross Convention was held on the Pacific Coast. L-R, Ethel Lloyd of Puyallup, Phillip Phibbs of Sumner and Charlotte LaQua of Fife. The fourth member, Marilyn Strandwold of Clover Park was missing. (T.Times, 6/17/1948, p.4)

American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Teenagers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lloyd, Ethel; Phibbs, Phillip; LaQua, Charlotte;

College of Puget Sound students were helping place nine brass plaques bearing the name of one of the fraternities and sororities, which have been active for the past twenty five years. The plaques are being placed by the Student Union Building. The students and college administrators participated in a special dedication just prior to the cement being poured. Construction materials were donated to College of Puget Sound by the George Scofield Company. View of students helping lay the cement (T.N.T., 5/21/48, p. 4).

Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cement--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Universities & colleges--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950; George Scofield Co., Inc. (Tacoma);