Nine little "sailors" and one "Gallant Lady" are at hand on November 7, 1937. The "Gallant Lady" was a Sea Scouts vessel. The little children, dressed in sailor suits, are listening to a man who is explaining charts to them. According to photographer Boland's notes, these children were dancers. G23.1-115

Boats--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Pacific Avenue is crammed with people on September 23, 1940, all eager to catch a glimpse of Republican Presidential candidate Wendell Willkie on his brief stopover. The candidate's open car can barely squeeze through the waiting throngs as police and others attempt to make room. Mr. Willkie has his arms extended wide in an exuberant greeting to his many supporters.

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Political campaigns; Presidential elections; Crowds--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Republican nominee for President, Wendell Willkie, spent a brief hour in Tacoma during his 1940 whistle-stop tour. He is pictured acknowledging the crowds at the Northern Pacific Railroad shops in South Tacoma on September 23, 1940.

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Political campaigns; Presidential elections;

Presidential candidate Wendell Willkie stands in his open car while waving to the crowds gathered at the Northern Pacific Railroad shops in South Tacoma. Mr. Willkie, the Republican nominee, was challenging Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the 1940 elections. Although he was swamped in the Electoral College vote, Mr. Willkie's total of 22 million popular votes was only five million less than Mr. Roosevelt's.

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Political campaigns; Presidential elections;

Former Presidential nominee Wendell Willkie (near right at rear in dark suit) delivered two speeches in Tacoma on February 11, 1944, to the Republican faithful and to the American Legion. Dr. Hinton D. Jonez is the man in pin stripes (foreground.) Dr. Jonez, a well-known physician, was a past commander of the American Legion for the State of Washington as well as headed the local Edward B. Rhodes Post No. 2.

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Guests--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jonez, Hinton D.;

Wendell Willkie, 1940 Republican Presidential nominee, looks up at an unidentified past national commander of the American Legion, while in Tacoma on February 11, 1944. Seated on the right in photograph is Washington Governor Arthur B. Langlie. Mr. Willkie was in town to speak at the Pierce County Republican Club's Lincoln Day dinner and at the Rhodes American Legion Post.

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Guests--Tacoma--1940-1950; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Governors; Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Wendell Willkie, the 1940 Republican nominee for President, paid a brief visit to Tacoma in February of 1944 to deliver speeches at the Pierce County Republican Club's Lincoln Day dinner and at the Edward B. Rhodes Post #2, American Legion. Mr. Willkie is pictured seated (center) next to Republican Governor Arthur B. Langlie. Also listening to the conversation are Frank Callender (standing) and an unidentified past national commander. Mr. Willkie had lost the 1940 election to Franklin Delano Roosevelt by five million votes and although had sought to become the 1944 Republican nominee, was not chosen by his party. Wendell Willkie would pass away on October 8, 1944, just eight months after his Tacoma visit.

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Guests--Tacoma--1940-1950; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Governors; Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Callender, Frank T.;

Wendell Willkie at podium, delivering speech to the American Legion Edward B. Rhodes Post No. 2 in Tacoma on February 11, 1944. The former Republican nominee for President was in town for the Pierce County Republican Club's Lincoln Day dinner where he was the principal speaker and also visited the American Legion post.

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Guests--Tacoma--1940-1950; Public speaking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1940-1950; American Legion Edward B. Rhodes Post No. 2 (Tacoma);

ca. 1950. Val Fawcett, Tacoma mayor from 1946-50 and acting mayor during Harry P. Cain's military service in the mid-forties, is pictured with friends circa 1950. They may be at a sporting event, possibly a baseball game. Mr. Fawcett is seated second from the left; next to him is believed to be Howard R. Smith who was the Tacoma Athletic Commission president for several years. Frank Gillihan, school board member and active Tacoma Athletic Commission member, is seated at the far right. ALBUM 16

Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gillihan, Frank J.;

Race car driver Roscoe Sarles. This photograph was possibly taken in 1920 when Roscoe Sarles brought his #5 Monroe to the Tacoma Speedway for the 225-mile race on July 5th. This was the first appearance in Tacoma for Mr. Sarles. He ended up fifth in a star-filled field that year, earning $1200. Roscoe Sarles returned to the Speedway in 1921 and 1922, finishing second in 1921. His ride was a Duesenberg for both events. Mr. Sarles died in September of 1922 in a collision at the Kansas City Speedway. He was 30 years old.

Sarles, Roscoe; Automobile racing drivers;

This unidentified smiling driver is seated in a black race car at the Tacoma Speedway. He is believed to have been photographed sometime in the early 1920s, prior to 1923. Instead of the uniforms modern racers wear, this driver is nattily dressed in a striped shirt with rolled up sleeves and dark tie with stickpin. Many of the drivers photographed at the Tacoma Speedway from 1912-22 wore dress shirts and pants while on the track.

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood; Grandstands--Lakewood; Racing automobiles; Automobile racing drivers;

Undated photograph of the Port of Tacoma. Notes labelled "Colby Steel and Engineering Co." Lumber lays on the dock, waiting to be loaded on ships. Photograph is labelled Boland #7.

Port of Tacoma (Tacoma); Piers & wharves--Tacoma; Lumber--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery;

Undated photograph of a ship docked at the Port of Tacoma.

Port of Tacoma (Tacoma);

Copy of sketch of proposed hotel at the site of the Tacoma Theater Building, 9th & Broadway, by architect Roland E. Borhek; copy made 4-15-1925. Mr. Borhek was a well known Tacoma architect with offices in the Puget Sound National Bank building. He had been the associate architect for the Winthrop Hotel design and was responsible for many Tacoma buildings including the Titus Motor Co. structure (built originally for the Pacific Car Co.) at 616-24 Broadway, Jason Lee Intermediate School (6th & Sprague), Stewart Intermediate School (5010 Pacific Ave.), Hickey Apartment Hotel (Walker Apartments) at 405 Sixth Ave., the Auditorium Building (1308-10 Fawcett) and the Hiroshimaya Hotel (15th & Market). Mr. Borhek was to also be architect in charge of the 1930's Fort Nisqually reconstruction at Point Defiance.

Architectural drawings;

Undated photograph, copied by Boland Studios on March 7, 1927, of Matthaei Baking Co.'s first bakery, probably in Kansas City. Two men, one in baker's garb, casually pose in the doorway of the Bakery & Confectionery store. A third man with a derby is on the far left. None of the men were identified. The bakery's windows have breads, cakes and pies on display. Potted flowers and plants rest on a ledge above the store's marquee. G33.1-014

Bakeries; Merchandise displays;

View of the Steilacoom-Longbranch ferry. Copy of photograph made on May 23, 1927, per the request from the Washington Navigation Co. Date of original print is unknown. Ferry is clearly labeled "City of Steilacoom" in several places aboard ship. G66.1-088

Ferries;

Unnumbered race car with unidentified driver and "mechanician" photographed on the Tacoma Speedway post-1913. 1913 was the last year of the track's dirt surface. From 1914 to 1922 cars ran on a board track, pictured here. The dapper driver is wearing a bow tie, striped white shirt and vest. His protective goggles are propped over his cloth/leather headgear. G52.1-007

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood; Automobile racing--Lakewood; Racing automobiles; Automobile racing drivers;

This is a copy of the January 6, 1866, issue of Harper's Weekly, pgs. 8-9, that was photographed by Marvin Boland on February 7, 1932. The article and drawings are of the "Mercer Girls," a sample of the 400 women recruited by Asa Mercer, then president of the Washington Territory University, to emigrate to the Northwest. Washington Territory was sorely lacking females so Mr. Mercer chartered the steamer "Continental" to bring intelligent women from New England and the Midwest so they could be teachers and seamstresses. He had tried this experiment on a smaller scale a few years prior but found that his new teachers quickly married and replacements were not available in the area.

Internal migration;

Undated photograph of tank maneuvers at Fort Lewis. Copy made by photographer Marvin Boland on May 18, 1934. G70.1-010

Tanks (Military science)--Fort Lewis;

A copy was made by photographer Marvin Boland on May 18, 1934, of this picture of a tank running over a man-made wood-and-dirt obstacle during maneuvers at Fort Lewis. Date of original photograph is not known. G70.1-018

Tanks (Military science)--Fort Lewis;

Tacoma Speedway pre-1915. The track seems to still be a dirt track which means this unidentified race occurred before 1915, the first year of the new "lattice" board track. At this frozen moment in time, car #4 leads car #3 by several lengths. The grandstands are packed with spectators during probably the Montamara Festo races which occurred during the 4th of July holiday period at the Tacoma Speedway. People on the other side of the track got a very close view of the race along with crewmen for the various drivers. Note the pile of narrow tires that have already been changed or are awaiting changing. The Tacoma Speedway had a short but action packed history from 1912 to 1922. Many world class racers including Barney Oldfield, Teddy Tetzlaff, Grover Ruckstell, Eddie Pullen and Cliff Durant competed for prize money and trophies.

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Sports spectators--Lakewood; Grandstands--Lakewood;

Undated photograph of Canadian-born but American-raised race car driver, Ira Vail. Mr. Vail raced at Indy multiple times but never won. He was a contemporary of famous racers Louis Chevrolet, Ralph Mulford, Barney Oldfield and Ralph DePalma and competed against them in many events. He was most successful on dirt tracks. Mr. Vail drove Hudsons until the company got out of the racing industry in 1917 and used the Leach in at least one Indy. He was mentioned as a potential driver for the 1921 Tacoma Speedway race but Frank Elliott had already been named as the driver of the Leach Special that Mr. Vail would have driven. Later Mr. Vail became a promoter in the New York/New Jersey area where he was held in high regard. Mr. Vail died in 1979, having outlived many of his racing pals. (info from National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum; TNT 6-30-21, p. 1-article on Tacoma race) (Copy of Hughes photograph by Boland Studios)

Vail, Ira; Automobile racing--1910-1920; Racing automobiles;

Undated informal portrait of auto racer Leon Duray. The square-jawed, mustached driver has his goggles resting on his forehead. Born George Stewart and renamed Leon Duray, he raced at Indy eight times between 1922 and 1931, winning the pole position twice. His best finish was sixth in 1925. He later became a car owner whose car finished second at Indy in 1934. (theoldmotor.com)

Duray, Leon; Automobile racing drivers;

Ernie Olson, ace mechanic, smiles broadly in this undated photograph believed to have been taken at the Tacoma Speedway during the short period of time when the racetrack was in existence, from 1912-1922. He is seated in his car dressed in the race style of the day: goggles, cloth or leather headgear and a jacket/uniform opened to show a dark tie and collared shirt. Mechanics in that era rode along with their drivers. TPL-2432 (Identification provided by a reader)

Olson, Ernie; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma; Men--Clothing & dress;

Auto racer Ralph Mulford. This undated photograph of Mr. Mulford was believed to have been taken at the Tacoma Speedway either in 1919, 1920 or 1922 when Mr. Mulford entered the races at the two-mile oval board track. Usually pictured with a large toothy grin, Ralph Mulford was a two-time National Driving Champion in 1911 and 1918 and a popular entry in auto racing due to his propensity for very fast cars and skillful driving. Mr. Mulford outlived many of his racing colleagues, dying at the age of 89 in 1973. TPL-3176

Mulford, Ralph; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Automobile racing--Lakewood;

Undated photograph of the Port of Tacoma, Pier #2. Lumber waits left to be loaded. Cranes rest on the tracks and steamships are docked right. Photograph marked Boland #1.

Port of Tacoma (Tacoma); Piers & wharves--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Ships--Tacoma;

Undated photograph of the Port of Tacoma, Pier #2.

Port of Tacoma (Tacoma); Piers & wharves--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Shipping--Tacoma; Lumber--Tacoma;

Undated photograph of the Port of Tacoma

Port of Tacoma (Tacoma);