On May 25, 1938, Mayor George A. Smitley, in his office at (old) City Hall, bought a "Buddy Poppy" from Mary Lee Burrows (L) and Elizabeth Armstrong, the youngest members of the American Legion Rhodes Post Auxiliary. Buddy Poppies were assembled by disabled and/or needy veterans and proceeds used for veterans welfare. (T.Times).

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Patriotic societies--Tacoma; American Legion Edward B. Rhodes Post No. 2 (Tacoma); Burrows, Mary Lee; Armstrong, Elizabeth;

Mrs. Jess Dannen of the American Legion Auxiliary, Rhodes post, pins a "Buddy Poppy" on Tacoma Mayor J.J. Kaufman at (Old) City Hall on May 23, 1939. Mayor Kaufman was the first to buy a poppy during Tacoma's Poppy Days. These paper poppies were made by disabled veterans in a Walla Walla hospital and sold to raise funds for veterans relief. ALBUM 11, ALBUM 16. (T.Times 5-25-39, p. 4)

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Kaufman, Joseph J.; American Legion Auxiliary (Tacoma); Fund raising--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Four Girl Scouts selling Mayor J. J. Kaufman a copy of the Golden Jubilee Program at his office in (Old) City Hall on July 18, 1939. Mayor Kaufman is perusing the "Fifty Years of Progress Washington Golden Jubilee Celebration" book as the young girls look on. Tacoma was awarded the official statehood jubilee celebration; over 100,000 residents enjoyed a 14-mile parade and rain failed to dampen outdoor dances and pageants. ALBUM 11.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Kaufman, Joseph J.; Girl Scouts (Tacoma);

ca. 1893. Tacoma Public Library on 5th floor of Old City Hall. The three statues in the large room were purchased by City Librarian William Curtis Taylor and donated to the library. Mr. Taylor had decorated the library with several busts and frames paid for by himself. The library had previously been located in the Ball Block, 919-21 Broadway, before its move to Old City Hall, 625 Commerce St., in 1893. Mr. Taylor had been the librarian since 1892 and was appointed by Mayor Huson as City Librarian in 1894 when the library came under the control of the City of Tacoma. (Tacoma Daily Ledger, 4-22-1896-article)

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1890-1900; Old City Hall (Tacoma); Statues--Tacoma--1890-1900;

City Refuse Department office in Tacoma's Old City Hall. Three women and three men are working in the office. Flowers decorate the office desks, and a calander from the Tacoma Savings & Loan Association hangs on the back wall. The "Spanish steps", next to the Elks Building, can be seen through the window.

City Refuse Department (Tacoma); Refuse disposal--Tacoma--1930-1940

Members of the Delphinium Garden Club examine the hands of the old clock at (Old) City Hall on May 26, 1962. Mrs. Sigrid Holmberg, Mrs. Claude Purvis, and Mrs. Lee C. Garrison are assisted by Joe Mertz and E.F. Farrens, master clock expert from Portland. Mr. Farrens is donating weekends to repair the clock along with his assistant, Mr. Mertz. The chimes and tower clock had stopped for three years and recently were re-started. The clock was reportedly "keeping beautiful time," although it may have been hard for a layman to detect since the hands were removed. A new set of hands would be made by the city's woodworking shop. The Delphinium Garden Club was financing restoration of the timepiece. View of Old City Hall with bell tower that rises five stories above main floors. Government offices had been moved three years before to the new County-City Building on Tacoma Avenue South. Photograph ordered by Delphinium Garden Club. (TNT 5-22-62, p. 1, 5-27-62, p. 1)

Delphinium Garden Club (Tacoma); Clock towers--Tacoma; Old City Hall (Tacoma); Mertz, Joe; Holmberg, Sigrid; Farrens, E.F.;

On Saturday, December 19, 1936, boys from the Order of De Molay took over Tacoma's city government for the day. This annual event was intended to teach the organization's members about the inner workings of government. The young government officials were, left to right, George Helmer-Safety Commissioner, Harry Mitchell- finance, Les Miller- City Controller, Sid Castle- Mayor, Bob Metz-Works Commissioner and Glen Wallace- Utilities Chief. The Order of DeMolay was sponsored by the Freemasons. (T.Times 12/19/1936, pg. 1)

Teenagers--1930-1940; Order of DeMolay (Tacoma); Municipal government--Tacoma--1930-1940; Helmer, George; Mitchell, Harry; Miller, Les; Castle, Sid; Metz, Bob; Wallace, Glen;

City Credit Union, City Hall, Tacoma. Directors, group of ten men. (filed with Argentum)

City Credit Union (Tacoma);

Public Safety Commissioner Holmes Eastwood, Finance Commissioner Val Fawcett, Mayor John C. Siegle, Public Works Commissioner Abner R. Bergersen and Utilities Commissioner Ira S. Davisson following swearing in ceremony at (Old) City Hall on June 6, 1938. Flowers offering congratulations fill the tables to the rear of the city council. ALBUM 11. (T.Times 6-6-38, p. 14)

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Municipal government--Tacoma; Eastwood, Holmes; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Bergersen, Abner R.; Davisson, Ira; Siegle, John C., 1885-1939;

Posting big grins, Mayor John C. Siegle (center) and two associates pose next to an impressive array of flowers sent to congratulate the newly sworn-in mayor. Standing next to the new mayor are William J. Ganz and C. Amos Booth, Dr. Siegle's nominees for Secretary to the Mayor and Superintendent, Refuse Collection Division. Both nominees would be approved by the new council. Mr. Ganz, age 32, was active in Dr. Siegle's campaign. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1925. Mr. Booth, age 31, graduated from both Lincoln High School and the College of Puget Sound. He was a past president of the city civil service commission. John Charles Siegle, a dentist by profession, was Tacoma's first native-born mayor. Illness cut short his only term of office; he died in April 12, 1939, ten months after his installation date. (T.Times 6-6-38, p. 14) ALBUM 11.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Siegle, John C., 1885-1939; Ganz, William J.; Booth, C. Amos; Flower arrangements;

Mayor George A. Smitley hands J. Lee Kress a letter at his office in (Old) City Hall congratulating the businessman on the opening of his new Malt Shop in the Bostwick Building. Mayor Smitley is a personal friend of Mr. Kress; the letter welcomed him back to Tacoma and thanked him for the improvements to the area. He wished Mr. Kress a successful career. This is the third Kress Malted Milk Shop in the Puget Sound area with two others in Olympia. (T. Times 7-2-37, page 4.) ALBUM 11.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Kress, J. Lee;

Mayor George A. Smitley and businessman J. Lee Kress in a July 1, 1937, photograph taken at (Old) City Hall. Mr. Kress, a personal friend of the mayor's, was opening a new Malt Shop in the Bostwick Building. The men are holding a letter from the mayor that welcomes Mr. Kress back to the Tacoma area. He also owned two other Malt Shops in the Olympia area. (T.Times 7-2-37, p. 4)

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Kress, J. Lee;

Tacoma City Council at (Old) City Hall. Interested observers listen intently to council proceedings in April of 1937. (T. Times)

Municipal officials--Tacoma--1930-1940; Meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Old City Hall (Tacoma);

Tacoma City Council at (Old) City Hall. Men in conference at table. (T. Times)

Municipal officials--Tacoma--1930-1940; Meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Old City Hall (Tacoma);

Tacoma City Council at (Old) City Hall. As the seating arrangement indicates, officials did not face the audience as they met. This photograph was part of a series taken in April of 1937 for the Tacoma Times newspaper but apparently not run. (T. Times)

Municipal officials--Tacoma--1930-1940; Meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Old City Hall (Tacoma);

Mayor Melvin G. Tennent, right, shakes hands with "Banjo King" Eddie Peabody at (Old) City Hall. Edwin Ellsworth "Eddie" Peabody, 1902-1970, was a well known vaudeville star. The 24 year old performer was appearing in person for the first time in Tacoma, from 12/2- 12/29/1927, at the Broadway Theater. The diminutive blue eyed, blonde haired young man was an expert on all stringed instruments, playing with proficiency the banjo, violin, mandolin, guitar, harp and others. While in town, he also made guest appearances to autograph his records at Sherman Clay Co., Hopper Kelly and Rhodes Bro. (TDL 12/2/1927, pg. 7- info only) (Argentum) (listed in Richards notes as A2438)

Peabody, Eddie; Banjos; Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tennent, Melvin Green;

On August 19, 1941, Tacoma Mayor Harry P. Cain prepared to cut the 40 lb. cake decorated with the city seal presented to him in his office in (Old) City Hall. Pictured, L to R were Mayor Cain, city health officer Dr. Leland E. Powers, Corporation counsel Howard Carothers, Public Utilities Commissioner R.D. ("Bob") O'Neil, chef John Carrion of C&H Sugar, Robert Abel of the C of C, Edgar Densmore of Johnson-Leiber Co. Chef John Carrion, chef training instructor of the bakery service department of the California & Hawaiian Sugar Refining Corporation, created an exact replica in sugar of the city's official seal. While in town, he conducted demonstrations for bakers at the Federal Baking Co. ALBUM 12. (T.Times 8-21-41, p. 12)

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Cakes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cooks; Powers, Leland E.; Carothers, Howard; O'Neil, Robert D.; Carrion, John; Abel, Robert B.; Densmore, Edgar M.;

On June 1, 1942, L.W. (Roy) Craig went right to work in his new position as City Controller. Mr. Craig had formerly been the County Clerk. His new position brought a new office on the third floor of the City Hall, across from the Council Chambers. (T. Times 6/1/1942, pg. 1)

Craig, L.W.; Municipal government--Tacoma;

Eleanor Roosevelt thanks a delegation of young Japanese-Americans for their support as "loyal Americans" following a meeting of local civil defense officials at Mayor Harry Cain's office. Although the Japanese-Americans were not present during the actual informative meeting, Mrs. Roosevelt asked that "every consideration" should be given to American born Japanese and even long-time Japanese nationals. Mayor Cain was later one of the very few opposed to the internment of Japanese-Americans on the west coast. (TNT 12-13-41, p. 1) ALBUM 1. TPL-9780,

Presidents' spouses; Roosevelt, Anna Eleanor, 1884-1962; Japanese Americans--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Tamaki, Shigeko; Wakamatsu, Shigeo; Oyanagi, Waichi; Nakamura, Ted;

Six days after Pearl Harbor was attacked in December of 1941, Eleanor (Mrs. Franklin D.) Roosevelt visited Tacoma in her role as the Assistant Director of the Office of Civilian Defense. In the Mayor's office at City Hall she spoke to Tacoma Mayor Harry P. Cain and local Civilian Defense leaders about wartime issues. She repeatedly emphasized the importance and necessity for all citizens to register for volunteer work. Her boss, Director Fiorello LaGuardia, the Mayor of New York City, had visited Tacoma just prior to Mrs. Roosevelt's arrival. After her stop in Tacoma, she went on to another conference in Seattle . (Tacoma Times, 12-13-41, p. 1-article) ALBUM 1

Presidents' spouses; Roosevelt, Anna Eleanor, 1884-1962; Visits of state--Tacoma; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma;

Eleanor Roosevelt, Assistant Director of the Office of Civilian Defense, makes an impromptu address over Radio Station KMO from the Mayor Harry Cain's office at City Hall on December 13, 1941. Mrs. Roosevelt answered questions over the air as presented by civilian defense council members. She was reportedly very affable and willing to be photographed and interviewed. She urged all Americans to assist in civil defense, stating that "defense is not a question of one individual or one organization." She repeatedly stressed the importance of volunteer groups and the invaluable assistance they could render. (TNT 12-13-41, p. 1) cropped version of D12299 image 4

Presidents' spouses; Roosevelt, Anna Eleanor, 1884-1962; Visits of state--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Radio broadcasting--Tacoma; KMO Radio Station (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Communications;

Actress Lana Turner with Mayor Harry P. Cain at his office in (Old) City Hall where she is appearing for a press interview on Friday June 12, 1942. She had just arrived from Portland in the company of Leon Titus, local chairman of war bond sales. She stopped in the Mayor's office for an official greeting and to speak with reporters. Her grace and charm earned the Tacoma Times reporter's respect and the observation that she was unspoiled and undemanding. (T. Times 6/13/1942, pg.1)

Turner, Lana, 1920-1995; Actresses; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Mayor Harry P. Cain shows Actress Lana Turner a list of facts about Tacoma during her visit on June 12, 1942 to the Mayor's office in (Old) City Hall for a press interview. Miss Turner, also known as the "Sweater Girl" for her curvy good looks, was in Tacoma on a War Bonds Sale junket. While in Pierce County for her 24 hour stay, she would visit Fort Lewis, the Seattle-Tacoma Shipyard, dedicate Tacoma's new war bond selling center ("Liberty Center") and dispense kisses and autographs to those who bought bonds. (T. Times 6/12/1942, pg. 1)

Turner, Lana, 1920-1995; Actresses; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma;

On June 12, 1942, the first meeting of War Chest admissions committee was held at (Old) City Hall to decide which groups the fund raising drive would benefit. L to R: Leona (Mrs. Edwin C.) Yoder, Fern (Mrs. Clay C.) Pratt, Freeman Cochran, Mayor Harry P. Cain, George Firth, Walter West, Guy T. Thompson, Hazel (Mrs. J.P.) Simpson. Mayor Cain headed the drive as chairman while Guy T. Thompson served as War Chest secretary. The group would examine appeals for war relief funds. The request from the USO had already being approved. (TNT 6-15-42, p. 7) ALBUM 13.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950;