Mrs. H.A. Anderson (left) and Mrs. J.L. M'Keenan posed at the home of Mrs. Espeland for a publicity picture for the Navy Wives Club. Mrs. Espeland is probably Elvira Espeland whose husband Berger was in the United States Navy. The two ladies pictured are co-chairmen of a card party to be given by the Club on June 30th at the Elks Club. The public was invited. (T. Times 6/27/1942, pg. 4)

Navy Wives Club (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma;

The Spinster Club held their annual tea at the University - Union Club on October 19, 1941. A young unidentified woman is pictured here with a floral piece in shape of an "S." Despite its name, the club was not restricted to unmarried women. It served as a social club for Tacoma girls, many from prominent local families. (T. Times, 10-25-41, p. 3) [Also dated 10-18-1941]

Spinster Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flowers--Tacoma--1940-1950; University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma);

Members of the planning committee for the University Union's Club pre-Christmas tea, scheduled for December 2, 1941, pose for this publicity shot at the Club. Standing, left to right, are Katherine (Mrs. John) Mueller, Mrs. Harry A.D. Smith, Kathryn (Mrs. H.R.) Pirret and Antoinette (Mrs. Harold K.) Nichols. Seated, L to R, Dorothy (Mrs. Jess) Read, Jane (Mrs. Edwin) Warren, Esther (Mrs. C.M.) Langhorne, and Marian (Mrs. J. Corning) Todd. (T.Times 11/29/1941, pg. 5)

University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma); Mueller, Katherine; Pirret, Kathryn; Nichols, Antoinette; Read, Dorothy; Warren, Jane; Langhorne, Esther; Todd, Marian;

Publicity for Young Men's Business Club (Y.M.B.C.) sponsored wrestling matches at Armory. The matches were scheduled for October 24, 1941. The money raised would go to the athletic fund of the 103rd Anti Tank Unit at Fort Lewis. The poster promises All Star Army - Civilian matches in both boxing and wrestling. The officer seated at right has been identified as William M. Adams. He joined the National Guard in 1931 and stayed 44 years, retiring as a full colonel. (Identification provided by a reader)

Young Men's Business Club (Tacoma); Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; Adams, William M.;

October 15-30, 1942 was the fund raising campaign for Tacoma's War Chest. The War Chest was a branch of the Community Chest that specifically funded wartime charities, such as the USO and refugee relief groups. Part of the publicity for the upcoming drive was a play that emphasized that volunteers would be going to homes and businesses to collect donations and pledges for the drive.The campaign was very successful, it went over the top of the goal at $369,822, two days before the end of the drive.

Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Publicity for Community Chest, photograph taken at the Tacoma Community Chest office, Room 409, Provident Building. A new committee of educators had recently been formed to introduce Tacoma public school students to the War Chest and its aims. Frank Gorow, director of the Department of Visual Education in Tacoma Public Schools, displays one of the War Chest posters at a committee meeting on August 12, 1942. Pictured, left to right, are Gorow, Miss Mary T. Pakenham, Mrs. Myrtle MacLennan, Miss Lola E. Friars and Mrs. M.D. (Blanche) Wilkinson. (T.Times 8/13/1942 p.4)

Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Teachers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gorow, Frank; Pakenham, Mary; MacLennan, Myrtle; Friars, Lola; Wilkinson, Blanche;

Posing with their bicycles outside the Lakewood Community Center in September of 1940 were seven Lakewood-area music lovers: (in no particular order) Mrs. R.W. McMahon, Mrs. Bert Sweeting, Mrs. William Panman, Mrs. George Hellyer, Mrs. Brian Shera, Mrs. W.W. Williver and (believed to be) Anne Baker. These ladies were part of a volunteer committee involved in the Tacoma Philharmonic Association membership drive. Several of them were also part of a local music appreciation study group and they used their bicycles to travel to each other's homes for meetings. (T.Times 9-14-40, p. 5)

Tacoma Philharmonic Association (Tacoma); Membership campaigns--Lakewood; Bicycles & tricycles--Lakewood;

The room is swaying to the swinging sounds of Stan Miskoski and his orchestra at the University Union Club's Sadie Hawkins dance on March 15, 1941. The orchestra is attired in keeping with the Dogpatch theme of the Club's first costume ball in two years. Sadie Hawkins Day was an American Folk event started by Al Capp in his Li'l Abner comic strip. Decades before women's liberation, it was the day when emboldened females could ask out the man of their choice.

University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma); Dance parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Miskoski, Stan;

Opera group at Y.W.C.A. (T. Times)

Young Womens Christian Association (Tacoma);

Pacific Coast Fire Chiefs Convention. Men with flag on roof of Winthrop Hotel, Washington Building in background. Photograph taken on July 23, 1940.

Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs (Tacoma); Flags--United States; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Washington State Pharmaceutical Association State Convention - Tacoma - July 14-17, 1940. Large group of men seated on roof top. Some 400 druggists were expected to attend the Tacoma convention held at the Winthrop Hotel including P.H. Brady, chairman of the Washington State Board of Pharmacy. Election of new officers chosen for the upcoming year saw a Tacoman, Everett Riser, selected as president of the association. (T.Times 7-11-1940, p. 12-article on convention; T.Times 7/17/1940 p.11-story )

Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pharmacists--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Chief Baker, left, of Louistown, Mt., president of the Pacific Coast Fire Chiefs Association, greets his fellow members at the 47th annual convention, held for the first time in Tacoma. Tacoma would play host July 31st - August 3rd, 1940 to 1500 fire chiefs, wives and guests from the western states. Standing second to the right is Jay W. Stevens of San Francisco, secretary of the organization. (T. Times 7/23/1940, pg. 2)

Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stevens, Jay W.;

Tacoma Sculpturing Club exhibit in window at Rhodes Department Store. The plaque in the center reads that the exhibit is by the Tacoma Sculptors Club and the Bryant Creative Arts Studio; a school centered community recreation program and a WPA cooperative program offering free instruction. The project originated four years previously. The larger pieces on display are wood etchings, a cabinet, scenic carvings and a chest. New ideas in carving include covers for photo, guest and scrap books. Also represented are finely carved cameos in hand carved frames. (T. Times 8/19/1940, pg. 7)

Tacoma Sculpting Club (Tacoma); Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Wood carvings; Woodwork;

Girl Reserves 60th Anniversary celebration publicity. Mrs. Edward Lewis serves cake to Peggy Clancy, Barbara Noble and Arlene Sagen. All three are dressed in Girl Reserve uniforms. The Girl Reserves was an organization for girls sponsored by the Young Women's Christian Association. Room decorated with international flags, including China, France, the Soviet Union and Great Britain. (T.Times 5/1/1941 p.11)

Girl Reserves (Tacoma); Anniversaries--Tacoma; Young Women's Christian Association (Tacoma); Clancy, Peggy; Noble, Barbara; Sagen, Arlene;

Girl Reserves 60th Anniversary celebration publicity. Three teenage girls having a picnic in Wright Park. [Also dated 04-26-1941and 05-02-1941]

Girl Reserves (Tacoma); Wright Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Picnics--Tacoma; Young Women's Christian Association (Tacoma);

Junior League provisionals at Kathryn King's residence. Mrs. Robert Pfeiffer and Mrs. Henry Walker pose on the street outside the home. (T. Times 10/4/1941, pg. 5)

Junior League (Tacoma); Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Junior League provisionals at Kathryn King's residence. Seated on a sofa are Mrs. James Will (the former Muriel McDonald), Mrs. Thomas H. Monroe (the former Marion Roseann Burns) and Martha (Mrs. Douglas) Gonyea. (T. Times 10/4/1941, pg. 5)

Junior League (Tacoma); Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950; Will, Muriel; Monroe, Marion; Gonyea, Martha;

Mayor Harry P. Cain, center right, shakes hands with Lee Croft, Tacoma delegate to the Eagles National Convention in Chicago, in front of Eagles Hall before his departure. Aerie Pres. Joseph Karpack, left. Aux. Sec. Isabelle Severson and Sec. Fred Race, right. Lee Croft, past president of the Tacoma Eagles, would leave by plane on August 12, 1942 for Chicago where he would represent the local aerie at the National Convention, August 13-16. Only past presidents were able to be representatives to the convention and Mr. Croft had filled all stations at the Aerie. He joined the Eagles in Aberdeen in 1900. In deference to the war, the convention would be very streamlined, no parades, pageants or outdoor gatherings. (TNT 8/13/1942 p.9)

Fraternal Order of Eagles (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Croft, Lee; Karpack, Joseph; Severson, Isabelle; Race, Fred;

Guests enjoy the opening of the Labor Temple Recreation Club in June of 1942. Developed for the use of A.F.of L. union members only, the club had the most modern design in the city. Located in the Labor Temple on Market Street, the site of the former Baker Hotel properties, club members used the side entrance on S. 15th. Harry "Red Carnation" Switzer was the Recreation Club manager. (TNT 6/25/1942, pg.8)

Labor Temple Recreation Club (Tacoma);

Grand opening of the Labor Temple Recreation Club was held in the summer of 1942. The club was run for the benefit of A.F.of L. union members only. Harry "Red Carnation" Switzer was the club manager; he is seated holding a clock. Mr. Switzer was celebrating his 54th anniversary which coincided with the grand opening. He had long been associated with the movie business in Tacoma, having managed the Colonial, Rialto, Broadway and Cameo theaters.

Labor Temple Recreation Club (Tacoma); Switzer, Harry; Clocks & watches;

A man and three women, one in uniform, pose by a sedan. They were attending the grand opening of the Labor Temple Recreation Club in June of 1942. The club, located on Market Street with side entrance at 15th, was part of the Labor Temple purchased by the unions in 1941. Entrance to the club was limited to A.F. of L. members only. (TNT 6-25-42, p. 8)

Labor Temple Recreation Club (Tacoma); Uniforms;

On December 17, 1942, the Tacoma Lions Club held its annual Christmas party at the new Tacoma Boys Club, 711 So. 25th Street. Welcoming the Lions to the Club is Vincent Russell, center, managing director of the Boys Club. Pictured left to right are Paul Newman, Harry J. Lynch, Russell, Maj. Earl Williams of the Salvation Army and A. T. Norman. Forty underprivileged boys were the guests of the Lions at the banquet and received gifts as well. The Lions also dedicated the locker room at the Club that they had equipped and furnished. (TNT 12/18/1942, pg. 9; 12/16/1942, pg. 13)

Lions Club (Tacoma); Salvation Army (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Holidays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boys Club (Tacoma);

New officers of the Tacoma Club pose after their election October 19, 1942 in their clubrooms located in the Washington Building. Seated, left to right, are Lyle Abrahamson, vice president, and Fred Walker, president. Standing are James E. Fowler, treasurer, E.N. Eisenhower, trustee, and L.R. Bonneville, secretary. (T. Times 10/20/1942, pg. 3)

Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Abrahamson, Lyle; Walker, Fred; Fowler, James E.; Eisenhower, Edgar;

ca. 1943. Publicity for St. Patrick's Stag Night at University-Union Club. (work order dated 1/13/1943) Picture possibly from March of 1943.

University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma); Men--Clubs--Tacoma;

There was keen competition to be selected as Queen of the 4th Annual Water Carnival in 1941. This publicity photograph, taken on June 12th, shows the 15 competitors for the title posing with three members of the Young Men's Business Club, the sponsors of the carnival. The carnival was held Sunday June 15th at Point Defiance beach. Pictured front row, left to right, are Janet Wolters, YMBC member, Carol Lind, YMBC member, Delores Van Arnam, YMBC member, Florence Anderson and two unidentified contestants. Back row, left to right, unidentified, Frances Davey, Doris Davey, Marguery Roscoe, Betty Williams and four unidentified contestants. Janet Wolters, front row left, was crowned Queen of the Carnival. (T.Times 6/13/1941, pg. 3)

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

The fourth annual meeting of the American Legion's Last Man Club was held at the Winthrop Hotel in December, 1941. Sixteen men pose with three flag draped chairs. The draped chairs are in honor of the Club members who have died, past Commanders E.A. Rich, Dr. J.C. Siegle (first to die on 4/13/39) and George A. Allen. The Club was organized on 12/5/38 by WWl veterans who had also served as Commanders of the Edward B. Rhodes Post of the American Legion. As each Commander stepped down from office, he was invited to join if he was a WWI veteran. A bottle of cognac, autographed by all members, was set aside for the last surviving member to drink a toast to his comrades. The Last Man was Capt. Chester Chastek. He became the sole survivor on February 16, 1992 after the death of Paul O. Brown. He retrieved the bottle of cognac after its 54 years of repose in a Puget Sound Bank safe deposit box but did not drink it. He had never had a drink in his long life and refused to break his record. (T.Times 12-2-41-article)

American Legion Club (Tacoma); Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flags--United States; Last Man Club (Tacoma);

Some of the local Red Cross roll call leaders posed in the organization's office on 12th and Pacific on May 14, 1942. They were, left to right, Mrs. A.D. Fay- vice chairman of roll call, Hazel (Mrs. James E.) MacPherson, Lunella (Mrs. Elmore) McMaster and Katherine (Mrs. Charles F.) Grover. The roll call was the Red Cross's annual campaign for membership. It started on June 18th and involved thousands of volunteers. The goal for 1942 was 30,000. More volunteers were needed to support the organization's wartime activities. (TNT 5/18/42, pg. 1- picture;T Times 5/18/1942, pg. 12 (similar picture); 5/13/42, pg. 2; 5/15/42, pg. 1)

American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Community Service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; MacPherson, Hazel; McMaster, Lunella; Grover, Katherine;

Group photo of Epsilon Sigma Alpha business sorority at initiation. The Alpha Zeta chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha held an informal initiation on November 11, 1941 in Sumner and a formal initiation on November 13th in Tacoma. Traditional sorority pillows were given to the new pledges. (T.Times 11-18-41, p. 8-article only)

Epsilon Sigma Alpha (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Members of the Red Cross Motor Corps load materials into their vehicle for transportation to Ft. Lewis. Pictured left to right are Mrs. Lyle Abrahamson, Mrs. Hazel Rushmore, Mrs. D. M. Woods and Mrs. Clinton Reynolds.

American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma; War bonds & funds; Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Central Labor Council donation to Pierce County Foundation. [Also dated 02-17-1943]

Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gifts; Central Labor Council (Tacoma); Pierce County Foundation (Tacoma);