Rudy Henry and John McCluskey hold hands.

On January 18, 1928, two unidentified Native American women were photographed weaving baskets while seated outside a wood-framed building. They have their heads down as they concentrate on their work. TPL-1546; G4.1-048

Indigenous peoples; Basket making;

Japanese American children from Fife line up on the steps of the First Presbyterian Church on February 8, 1928, dressed in traditional kimonos and with open fans. The tall young lady in the center of the photograph is their teacher, Miss Jones, who wears a kimono with thick obi. The positioning of the young girls on the steps resembles a gently opened fan. That afternoon the First Presbyterian Church sponsored a "Tea of Nations" which attracted 400 guests. Many countries in which the church had missionary programs were featured in a pageant of nations; these young girls may have been invited as representatives of Japan. They would be led in song by Miss Jones. G39.1-188A (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-5-28, D-1-article on Tea of Nations)

Japanese Americans--Tacoma; Children--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1920-1930; Kimonos; Fans (Accessories);

Tacoma Buddhist Shoso-kwai. The Shoso-kwai, which may have translated to "youth meeting," poses outdoors, sans coats, on February 19, 1928. The young girls belonged to the Tacoma Buddhist Church which met at the site of the Columbus Hotel on Market St. Two years later in 1930, the church would move to its present location on Fawcett Avenue. G39.1-189; TPL-2840.

Japanese Americans--Tacoma; Clubs--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Back of Photo:
Bill Smitherman

Three young Japanese women enjoy refreshments and sodas at a Japanese bazaar held in the Fife High School gymnasium. One girl holds what appears to be a sugar coated doughnut. (T. Times).

Japanese Americans--Fife--1930-1940; Bazaars--Fife--1930-1940; Ethnic groups--Fife--1930-1940;

Two photographers with a large format box camera photograph a group of people attending a Japanese bazaar held in the Fife High School gymnasium. A banner on the window denotes "Bingo, 5 (cents)". (T. Times).

Japanese Americans--Fife--1930-1940; Bazaars--Fife--1930-1940; Ethnic groups--Fife--1930-1940; Photography--1930-1940;

Japanese P.T. A. women at McCarver Intermediate School. The five women each wear kimonos and traditional footware. The ladies were playing hostess at the annual tea sponsored by the Japanese members of the organization. Typical Japanese delicacies were served at the tea including crisp rice cakes, flat cookies, rice candy and "semby," folded cakes with a printed fortune card enclosed. (T. Times 4/15/1936, pg. 11)

Japanese Americans--Tacoma; Parent-Teacher Association (Tacoma);McCarver Junior High School (Tacoma); Kimonos;

In 1933, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians urged the federal government to purchase the outdated Tacoma Indian Hospital complex and build a new facility. The Puyallup Tribal Council met with newly elected U.S. Representative Wesley Lloyd in February 1933 to seek his support. After numerous delays, the new hospital was completed in 1943. Standing, left to right: Silas Meeker (Tribal Secretary), Frank Wrolson, Representative Lloyd. Seated, left to right: Benjamin Wright, William Davis, Silas Cross (Tribal Chairman), Dorothy Kellogg (assistant to Representative Lloyd). Frank Wrolson's last name was misspelled on the photograph.

Indians of North America, Puyallup Tribe; Cushman Indian Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Meeker, Silas; Wrolson, Frank; Lloyd, Wesley; Wright, Benjamin; Davis, William; Cross, Silas; Kellogg, Dorothy;

Overhead shot of Yoshihara-Ikejiri wedding with bride and groom walking down the aisle and large floral arrangement in the background.

Bride and child at Yoshioka-Mizutani wedding holding floral arrangements. Display of bananas, apples and oranges can be seen in background.

Yoshioka-Mizutani wedding photo with bride and attendee wearing formal dress.

Portrait of Native American Chief Black Thunder of the Skykomish tribe standing beside a tree. Chief Black Thunder is the leader of the native Americans from Washington and British Columbia that make an annual pilgrimage to pick the hops across the state of Washington. He first journeyed to the valley when he was a boy, at that time his people travelled by canoe from Snohomish County. He is also known as Mr. Bagley. (T. Times 8-30-1934, pg 1+)

Indians of North America--Skykomish tribe; Black Thunder; Migrant agricultural laborers--Puyallup--1930-1940; Migrant laborers--1930-1940; Hops;

In August of 1934, Native Americans from various parts of Washington and British Columbia gathered in Audoma Park, near Alderton, two miles from Puyallup on the Orting Road. They came, as they had for over 40 years, to pick berries and work the local hops fields. In the evening they socialized by holding dances and by taking part in ancient traditions like the "bone game". (T. Times 8/30/1934, pg. 1)

Indians of North America--Social life; Migrant agricultural laborers--Puyallup--1930-1940; Migrant laborers--1930-1940; Hops; Tents; Camping--Puyallup--1930-1940;

In August of 1934, these two unidentified young Native American girls joined other members of their tribes to pick hops in the Puyallup valley. Beginning around 1925 Audoma Park, near Alderton 2 miles from Puyallup on the Orting Road, became an official gathering place for tribes from throughout Washington and British Columbia. Here ancient games were played and the sound of traditional chants mixed with the strains of swing bands as the younger tribe members tried out the newest dance steps. (T. Times 8/30/1934, pg. 1+)

Indians of North America; Migrant agricultural laborers--Puyallup--1930-1940; Migrant laborers--1930-1940; Hops;

In November of 1938, five unidentified young ladies dressed in traditional kimonos rehearsed a ceremonial dance staged among artificial flowering cherry trees. They were members of the 18 person Puyallup Valley Japanese American Citizen's League dance group. The group performed November 12th at "Japan Night," a bazaar hosted at Fife High School. This was the second year that the Citizen's League had sponsored this bazaar, carnival and dance, intended to acquaint Tacoma and Valley people with the group's activities and culture. A mixture of traditional Japanese and American food was served, followed by the evening's entertainment of ceremonial dances performed in front of a background of cherry blossoms and red, white and blue hangings. Over 1,000 people turned out to glimpse the culture of Old Japan. (T. Times 11/10/38, p. 20)

Kimonos; Japanese-American Citizen's League (Tacoma); Japanese Americans--Fife--1930-1940; Ceremonial dancers; Japanese Americans--Dance;

In August of 1944, many servicemen of color turned out for dance night in the main auditorium of the USO #2, 713-15 Commerce St. During World War II, the US military was still segregated and USO #2 was sponsored by the YMCA for the entertainment of African American servicemen and women. The main auditorium was decorated with transparencies by the Washington State Progress Commission. The project was under the supervision of Bert Smyser. The auditorium was a large space that could be adapted for many uses. (photograph by F.L. Powell of Tacoma) (information provided by USO #2 brochure for Recognition Ceremony)

On Sunday February 3, 1946, USOs across the nation celebrated the fifth anniversary of USO (United Service Organization) operation by opening to the public. In Tacoma, all of the USO clubs had open houses but the main event was held at the USO #2, the club reserved for servicemen of color at 713-15 Commerce St. Guests of honor were Tacoma's Mayor Harry Cain (center back table) and Earl Marble, the chairman of the Tacoma USO Council. The anniversary program included performances by the Special Service Band from Fort Lewis, concert pianist Pvt. Glen Michaels and tenor Sgt. Soto Andrews. (TNT 2/3/1946, pg. A-7, 2/4/1946, pg. 1; photograph by F.L. Powell of Tacoma)

ca. 1946. One of the purposes of the USO was to make the holidays more festive for servicemen stationed away from home and their families. This picture of a local pair, left, and four servicemen was taken around Christmas at the USO Club #2. All of the people in the picture are unidentified. The Club was reserved for servicemen of color; at this time, the military was still segregated. (Photograph by F.L. Powell, YMCA, Tacoma).