Will Poelle, a Stewart Jr. High art student, and Bernice Pratt, an art student at Lincoln H.S., were the two 1st place winners in the American Legion poppy poster contest held in May of 1941. Sponsored by two Legion auxiliaries, Rhodes Unit No. 2 and Tacoma Unit No. 138, the poster contest preceded the annual Legion poppy sale held May 23rd and 24th. Money collected through the sale of poppies went to aid disabled veterans and needy children of deceased and disabled veterans. From left to right are: Mrs. Haze Coy, poppy poster chairwoman, Tacoma Unit No. 138; Will Poelle; Bernice Pratt; and Mrs. H.J.C. Berg, chairwoman from Rhodes Unit No. 2. (TNT 5/17/1941 p.6)

Patriotic societies--Tacoma; Clubs--Tacoma; American Legion Edward B. Rhodes Post No. 2 (Tacoma);

Members of the planning committee for the Spinster Club's 3rd annual Dixie Ball pose on the front steps on #95, possibly 95 East Rd. The women are, left to right, Virginia Austin, Dixie Thompson, Anne Louise Greiwe and Elinor Erickson. They are wearing floor length ballgowns, reminiscent of the antebellum time period. The dance would be held May 10th, 1941 at the Winthrop Hotel's Crystal Ballroom.

Spinster Club (Tacoma); Erickson, Elinor; Thompson, Dixie; Greiwe, Anne Louise; Austin, Virginia;

Four members of the Spinster Club donned summery formal gowns to help publicize the third annual Dixie Ball which was scheduled to be held on May 10, 1941 in the Crystal Ballroom at the Winthrop Hotel. Posed left to right, Elinor Erickson, Dixie Thompson, Anne Louise Greiwe and Virginia Austin were photographed just below the veranda of the August Von Boecklin home at 74 East Road. Miss Erickson was in charge of decorations for the dance and Miss Austin was secretary of the club. (T. Times 4/26/1941, pg. 5)

Spinster Club (Tacoma); Erickson, Elinor; Thompson, Dixie; Greiwe, Anne Louise; Austin, Virginia; Von Boecklin, August--Homes & haunts;

The third annual "I Am an American" Day observance, sponsored by the Tacoma Americanization Council, was held in May of 1941 at Jason Lee Middle School. Invitations were sent by the Americanization Council to over 600 newly naturalized and first generation American citizens. There were about 35 different nationalities represented at the impressive and patriotic ceremonies. Governor Arthur B. Langlie, Tacoma Mayor Harry P. Cain and Superior Court Judge Ernest B. Card delivered addresses of welcome. Many other dignitaries were in attendance including Federal Judge Lloyd L. Black, jurist whose court in Tacoma saw nearly 600 persons attain American citizenship during the past year and who received a silent standing tribute by the assembled new citizens before his brief speech. (T.Times 5-8-41, p. 8-article; T.Times, 5-16-41, p. 3-article)

Tacoma Americanization Council (Tacoma); Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Immigrants; Naturalization; Citizenship;

The committee planning the next Wauna Club dance, scheduled for April 19th, 1941 at the Winthrop roof garden, visits the Central Travel Bureau to get the scoop on Hawaii. The theme for the dance is "Aloha Oe." Pictured, left to right, are Anna (Mrs. Harold R.) Johnson, Evelyn (Mrs. Erling) Johnson, Edith (Mrs. J.W.) Gourley, Mrs.Tim Kimball and Eva (Mrs. Thor) Tollefson. (T. Times 4/12/1941, pg. 5)

Wauna Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Central Travel Bureau (Tacoma); Johnson, Anna; Johnson, Evelyn; Gourley, Edith; Tollefson, Eva;

Riders enjoy a traditional "Hunt Breakfast" while seated on the steps of the Woodbrook Hunt Club clubhouse, balancing plates on their knees. The hunt breakfast actually follows the hunt, making it more of an afternoon meal. The members of Woodbrook were the hosts for a joint hunt with the Columbia Hunt Club from Portland. Pictured, front row, Mrs. Jack Loehr, Miss Jen Eckelsen, Errol Ostrum and Clark Fay, all of Portland. Back row, Dorothy Faber of Portland, Fred Kenworthy, Richard Hall, Mrs. Helen Keho Woods, Miss Ethel Hacker, unidentified young girl. (T. Times 3/19/1941, pg. 10; 3/29/1941, pg. 5; picture in T. Times 4/5/1941, pg. 5)

Woodbrook Hunt Club (Lakewood);

Members of the Woodbrook Hunt Club, wearing traditional hunt clothing, were photographed in the Spring of 1941 riding across the prairie with their hounds. The "Huntsman" was the gentleman in the top hat. Woodbrook still practices the tradition of riding to the hounds and is one of 170 member hunts of the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America. They keep a group of pedigree American Foxhounds in their kennels. (www.woodbrookhunt.com)

Woodbrook Hunt Club (Lakewood); Horses--Tacoma;

Members of the Woodbrook Hunt Club were photographed on March 29, 1941 against a background of prairie and (faintly) Mount Rainier. The Club had played host to two other groups of riders, from other cities, twice during the Spring. The group was captured by the Richards photographer while setting out on a hunt. (T. Times 4/5/1941, pg. 5)

Woodbrook Hunt Club (Lakewood); Horses--Tacoma;

The Epsilon Sigma Alpha business sorority held initiation ceremonies on November 11 and November 13, 1941. The young ladies are all wearing lovely floor-length evening gowns for the ceremonies. (T.times 11-18-41, p. 8-article only)

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

Sitting room inside Tacoma Club (filed with Argentum)

Tacoma Club (Tacoma);

ca. 1940. Dormitory, chapel, combination dining room and kitchen at Tacoma Rescue Mission - group of people in chairs, speaker at podium. Photograph is circa 1940. TPL-9084

Tacoma Rescue Mission (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Public speaking--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In January of 1940, nine men were photographed while looking over the dormitory in the new Tacoma Rescue Mission at 1510-12 Pacific Avenue. The Tacoma Rescue Mission provided clean beds in a wholesome, Christian surrounding to transient and homeless men, most referred by the Pierce County hospital, the welfare office or the Police Department. The Mission's "new" building had previously been a tavern and small two story hotel. The Courtyard by Marriott Hotel was built on the site where the Rescue Mission used to stand. (T. Times 2/27/1941, pg. 13) TPL-9085

Tacoma Rescue Mission (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma;

Three young women enjoy the camaraderie at the Spinster Club's annual tea held at the University-Union Club on October 19, 1941. The tea was to honor prospective members. Among the decorations on the table is a large "S" made out of flowers. The color scheme was blue and silver. Lea Mills, Club president, and Virginia Austin, secretary, were acting as hostesses. (T.Times, 10-25-41, p. 3)

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

From November 17-23, 1941, communities across America celebrated the second annual National Art Week. The Tacoma Art Association observed the celebration by sponsoring an exhibit of local artists at the former location of the Helen Davis dress shop in the Hotel Winthrop. An unidentified clubwoman was photographed opening the door to the exhibit, which featured a variety of art including water colors, oils, charcoal, pastels, wood carvings, photography and handicrafts. Local artists were able to enter their works free of charge, and the public was invited to view the show for free and purchase the works of the artists. (T. Times 11/14/1941, pg. 19; 11/18/41, pg. 8; 11/19/41, pg. 18- all story only)

Tacoma Art Association (Tacoma); Art exhibitions--Tacoma;

Members of the Wauna Club planning committee admire a scroll with artful drawings of bamboo during a meeting at the home of the Arthur Reynolds. The committee is planning the club's first dance of the year, a Chinese extravaganza themed "Through the Moon Gate." It will be held Saturday, November 8th, 1941 at the Roof Garden of the Winthrop Hotel. Pictured are, left to right, Stella (Mrs. Arthur) Reynolds, Helen (Mrs. Otto) Siburg, Ethel (Mrs. George) Weller and Elva (Mrs. C.J.) Weller. (T. Times 11/1/1941, pg. 4)

Wauna Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Reynolds, Arthur--Homes & haunts; Weller, Ethel; Weller, Elva; Siburg, Helen; Reynolds, Stella; Committees--Tacoma--1940-1950; Scrolls (Visual works);

The Grand Chapter of the State of Washington, Order of the Eastern Star, opened their "Victory Session" at Fellowship Hall in the Masonic Temple on June 18, 1942. The Grand Officers posed for a group portrait for the 59th annual meeting. Hanging above them are flags from many nations. Since America was at war then the flags shown are from some of their allies, including Great Britain and the USSR. Silhouettes of Presidents Washington and Lincoln flank the officials on stage. 1500 Eastern Star members attended the meeting. Mayme Harmony of Seattle and Irwin Jones were selected as worthy grand matron and worthy grand patron, respectively. (T.Times 6-17-42, p. 8-article; T.Times 6-19-42, p. 9-article)

Order of the Eastern Star (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flags--United States; Flags; Silhouettes; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

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. A group of teachers gathers at a table in the Tacoma Community Chest office, Room 409, Provident Building. This group of educators had recently been appointed to a committee formed to educate Tacoma students about the War Chest and its goals. Pictured, left to right, are Frank Gorow, Miss Lola E. Friars, Miss Mary T. Pakenham, Mrs. Myrtle MacLennan and Mrs. M.D. (Blanche) Wilkinson. (TNT 8/13/1942 p.9)

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

On December 14, 1942, members of the Daughters of the Nile Zora Temple No. 5 completed the last step of their year long service project. They were boxing up gifts at the home of Mrs. Warren Gilman for shipment to the Shriners Hospitals in Spokane and Salt Lake City. Clubwomen are, left to right, Victoria (Mrs. John) Ismay, Mrs. Katherine Neff, Avis (Mrs. Warren) Gilman, Mrs. Alexander White and Lou (Mrs. E.J.) Doherty. All year the women made and collected toys, quilts, dresses, bibs and other gifts to send to the Shriners Hospital for crippled children. (T.Times 12/21/1942, pg. 8)

Daughters of the Nile Zora Temple No. 5 (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ismay, Victoria; Neff, Katherine; Gilman, Avis; Doherty, Lou; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On July 13, 1942, members of the Delta Theta sorority, left to right, Jeanne Johnson, Doris Nelson, Dee Whitham and Kathryn McDonald, have gathered to plan their upcoming dance at the Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club. The dance will have a nautical theme and benefit the Navy Relief fund. (T. Times 7/18/1942, pg. 2)

Delta Theta Sorority (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma; McDonald, Kathryn; Whitham, Dee; Johnson, Jeanne; Nelson, Doris;

In January of 1941 the Tacoma Spinster Club sponsored a roller skating party at Berg's Roller Bowl at 8006 South Tacoma Way in Lakewood. Four Spinster Club members, wearing saddle shoes and steel roller skates fastened with keys, were photographed at the skating party with two of their guests. Pictured left to right are Mary Katherine Hager, Ruth Taylor, Charles D. Mellinger, Wyona Diemer, Catherine Foss and Bill Zeh. The Spinster Club was a social group of prominent young women. (T. Times 1/25/1941, pg. 4)

Spinster Club (Tacoma); Skating rinks--Lakewood; Berg's Roller Bowl (Lakewood); Skaters; Roller skating--Lakewood; Diemer, Wyona; Hager, Mary Katherine; Taylor, Ruth; Foss, Catherine; Mellinger, Charles D.; Zeh, Bill;

Two couples pose at the University Union Club Sadie Hawkins Dance on March 15, 1941. The men are dressed in formal attire, but the women are definitely attired Dogpatch style. The pairs are seated on a hay bale and tin cups and cans have taken the places of drink glasses for the evening. Sadie Hawkins Day, usually celebrated in November, was the invention of Al Capp in his Li'l Abner comic strip. It was the day, decades before women's liberation, when women could ask out the man of their dreams. By the 1930's, it was sweeping the nation. The schedule for the evening included dancing from 9:30- 1, followed by a supper.

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

Woodbrook Hunt Club. Five young women, four holding hunting dogs, posed for portrait in front of fireplace. They are the officers of the newly formed junior organization of the Woodbrook Hunt Club. The girls are, left to right, Diane Corse, Jean Strong, Wendy Wagner, Nancy Griggs and Ann Stickney. (T.Times 1/25/1941, pg. 5)

Woodbrook Hunt Club (Lakewood); Hunting dogs; Clubs--Lakewood--1940-1950; Corse, Diane; Strong, Jean; Wagner, Wendy; Griggs, Nancy; Stickney, Ann;

Pacific Coast Fire Chiefs Convention. Man in driver's seat of fire engine parked by Winthrop Hotel. The Pacific Coast Fire Chiefs Convention was held in Tacoma during late July of 1940 with chiefs visiting from Washington, Oregon, California, Montana, Idaho and other western states. The unidentified gentleman behind the wheel of the fire engine may have been one of the many firemen in attendance.

Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The Pacific Coast Fire Chiefs Convention was held in late July of 1940. The roof of the Winthrop Hotel was a favorite spot for photographing large groups as the downtown skyline made a memorable view. Men on roof of Winthrop Hotel, city and port in background.

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

Over 100 firemen posed for a formal group photograph on the roof of the Hotel Winthrop in late July of 1940. From July 31 through August 3rd the 47th annual convention of the Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs was held in Tacoma. Emory N. Whitacker, Tacoma Fire Chief, was convention host to chiefs from Washington, Oregon, California, Montana, Idaho and other western states. With wives, guests, and concessionaires, the convention was expected to bring some 1,500 visitors to Tacoma. The Murray Morgan Bridge (11th St. Bridge), the City Waterway (now the Foss Waterway), and several of the prominent buildings on A Street including the Tacoma Building and the Perkins Building can be seen in the background.

Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Cityscapes; 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma); City Waterway (Tacoma); Tacoma Building (Tacoma); Perkins Building (Tacoma);

The 47th annual convention of the Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs would be held in Tacoma for the first times on July 31 through August 3rd, 1940. Emory N. Whitacker, Tacoma Fire Chief, would play convention host to 500-700 chiefs from Washington, Oregon, California, Montana, Idaho and other western states. With wives and guests, the conventioneers would total over 1500. Pictured seated center is Chief Baker of Louistown, Mt., president of the Pacific Coast Fire Chiefs. Standing back left is Jay W. Stevens of San Francisco, Secretary of the Fire Chiefs. (T. Times 7/23/1940, pg. 2)

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

On September 3, 1941, the volunteers in the Red Cross Sewing room are busy knitting, crocheting and sewing clothes for the European victims of war. The production room, at 721 Commerce St., is buzzing with activity as thousands of garments are being made by the Pierce County Chapter. Volunteers are putting in hundreds of hours in an attempt to reach their January 1, 1942 quota. A plea went out for more volunteers. Pictured are, back row left to right, Mesdames A.W. Paulson, O.R. Smith, C.M. Gerwells, Z.S. Starks, L.C. Starks, L.C. Aston, A.J. Rosen, W.H. VanHorn, C.M. Fraser, J.L. Geisbert, W.L. Quest and A.D. Fay. Front row Expressman M.C. Hansen, Mrs. Henry Du Four, Mrs. Edward Armstrong and Mrs. M.C. Hansen (at machine). (T. Times 9/8/1941, pg. 3)

Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Organizations' facilities--Tacoma; American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Sewing;

Three unidentified clubwomen enjoy tea on the terrace of "Seamont," the home of Mrs. George (Alice) Franklin. Mrs. Franklin was hosting the annual Orthopedic Association tea at her home. Tea was followed by a musical program in the drawing room. (T. Times 5/5/1941, pg. 9)

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

University - Union Club. General view of clubhouse by Whedden and Lewis, Architects; 1888. (filed with Argentum)

Clubhouses--Tacoma; Fraternal lodges--Tacoma; University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma)--Buildings;