On July 22, 1940, W.J. Cameron, associate of Henry Ford and commentator for the Ford Sunday Evening Hour, spoke to a capacity crowd in the Crystal Ballroom of the Winthrop Hotel on the role of industry in the preservation of democracy in this country. Pictured left to right are Leon Titus, Governor Clarence D. Martin, W.J. Cameron, Tommy Mallon, Nelson Bowe (assistant manager Ford Motor Co., Seattle branch) and W.B. Patterson, Ford's Northwest manager. Tacoma was not on Mr. Cameron's original lecture circuit, but with the combined efforts of Tacoma's Ford dealers Mallon and Titus, Mr. Cameron was entreated to fit Tacoma in between Seattle and Portland. (T. Times 7/23/1940, pg. 5) (note: photograph is misnumbered but filed under D889 image 1)

Governors; Martin, Clarence D., 1887-1955; Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Titus, Leon E.; Mallon, Thomas; Bowe, Nelson; Patterson, W.B.; Cameron, W.J.; Ford Motor Co.;

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);

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);

Banquet held during the Washington State Medical Association Convention held at the Hotel Winthrop. The convention began on 8/25/1940 and ran for four days, filled with business and social events. The 51st convention was expected to draw 400-600 medical men, spouses and auxiliary members. (T. Times 8/24/1940, pg. 1)

Washington State Medical Association (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Presentation of ship models by N.C. Garrison at Mayor's reception for "Tugboat Annie Sails Again" premiere on October 18, 1940, at the Winthrop. Left to right: Mayor Harry P. Cain, Donald Crisp, N.C. Garrison, unidentified woman, Hedda Hopper, and Marjorie Rambeau. Mr. Garrison, a well-known model shipbuilder, is holding one of his creations, a square rigger, which he would eventually present to Hedda Hopper. He had earlier presented a model of the "Narcissis" tugboat to Miss Rambeau. ALBUM 6. (T.Times, 10-21-40, p. 6)

Motion picture premieres--Tacoma--1940-1950; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Rambeau, Marjorie; Crisp, Donald; Hopper, Hedda; Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Garrison, N.C.; Model ships;

Mayor's reception for "Tugboat Annie Sails Again" premiere on October 18, 1940, at the Winthrop. Hollywood stars Alan Hale, Sr., Marjorie Rambeau, Ronald Reagan, Mayor Harry P. Cain and columnist Hedda Hopper beam for the camera; Donald Crisp glances downward instead. The film premiered simultaneously at three Tacoma theaters that evening. ALBUM 6.

Motion picture premieres--Tacoma--1940-1950; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Reagan, Ronald Wilson, 1911-; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Hale, Alan; Rambeau, Marjorie; Crisp, Donald; Hopper, Hedda; Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Mayor's reception at Hotel Winthrop for "Tugboat Annie Sails Again" premiere on October 18, 1940. Marjorie and Harry P. Cain seated below Life Ring, center. Henry and Wedell Foss flank the glass case holding tugboat model to the right of the Cains. Five hundred local residents capped off an exciting day of Hollywood stars, promotional events, and the premiere of "Tugboat Annie Sails Again" with a celebratory dinner held at the Winthrop. Bagpipes, singing, and reminiscences by Cpt. Oscar V. Brown, former lighthouse keeper at Browns Point were among the evening's highlights. ALBUM 6. (TNT 10-19-40, p. 1)

Motion picture premieres--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Cain, Marjorie Dils, 1908-1994; Foss, Henry O., 1891-1986; Foss, Wedell; Model ships; Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Mayor's reception for "Tugboat Annie Sails Again" premiere held at Hotel Winthrop on October 18, 1940. Donald Crisp, Alan Hale, Sr., Marjorie Rambeau, Mayor Harry P. Cain, Marjorie Rambeau and Hedda Hopper pose at center in front of glass encased model ship. Mayor's wife, Marjorie Cain to the left, by flag; Ronald Reagan in shadows, right. The banquet was open to the general public and approximately 500 involved in the fishing and tugboat industry attended. ALBUM 6.

Motion picture premieres--Tacoma--1940-1950; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Reagan, Ronald Wilson, 1911-; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Hale, Alan; Rambeau, Marjorie; Crisp, Donald; Hopper, Hedda; Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Ship modeler N.C. Garrison presents his model of tug "Narcissus" to Marjorie Rambeau at Mayor Cain's reception at the Hotel Winthrop for the "Tugboat Annie Sails Again" premiere on October 18, 1940. Henry Foss is at far left, brother Wedell Foss at far right. Mr. Garrison, 6414 Pacific Avenue, had 28 of his models on display throughout the city during the week. "Narcissus" was the screen name chosen for the Foss tugboat (later called the "Arthur Foss") used for the first "Tugboat Annie" film in 1933. ALBUM 6. (T.Times, 10-21-40, p. 6)

Motion picture premieres--Tacoma--1940-1950; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rambeau, Marjorie; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Garrison, N.C.; Model ships; Foss, Henry O., 1891-1986; Foss, Wedell; Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Ship modeler N.C. Garrison presents model of the tug "Narcissus" to actress Marjorie Rambeau at the "Tugboat Annie" dinner held at the Winthrop Hotel on October 18, 1940. Miss Rambeau played the title character in the sequel to the 1933 box-office success. Mr. Garrison also presented an intricate model of a square-rigger to actress-writer Hedda Hopper who attended the event. Seated at the speakers' table on the right, behind a glass-encased model of a typical ocean-going tugboat, are two real-life tugboat captains, Anna Grimison and Dolly Lewis. Among those standing in the background are Mayor Harry P. Cain (partially hidden) and Wedel Foss. Four hundred and fifty people attended the dinner which was part of the activities scheduled during the "Tugboat Annie Sails Again" premiere held in Tacoma. (T. Times, 10-21-40, p. 6) ALBUM 6. TPL-8712

Motion picture premieres--Tacoma--1940-1950; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rambeau, Marjorie; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Garrison, N.C.; Model ships; Foss, Henry O., 1891-1986; Foss, Wedell; Grimison, Anna; Lewis, Dolly;

Several members of the Women's Auxiliary of the Young Men's Business Club (Y.M.B.C.) met in the Winthrop Hotel's presidential suite in October of 1940 to plan the decorations for the upcoming annual autumn party. That year a "Harvest Hop" cabaret dance would take place in the Crystal Ballroom of the Winthrop Hotel on November 9th with proceeds benefiting the Jessie Dyslin Boys Ranch, a favorite project of both the women's auxiliary and the Young Men's Business Club. For the last ten years both spring and fall benefits went toward support of the Dyslin Ranch. From left to right were: Mrs. Jerry Geehan, Jr., Mrs. Amos Booth, Mrs. Thor C. Tollefson, Mrs. Samuel L. Crippen and committee chair Mrs. Richard Feix. They discussed decorations comprised of autumn leaves, golden pumpkins and berried pyracantha. Jerry Geehan, Jr., president of the Y.M.B.C., would serve as the evening's master of ceremonies. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger 10-27-1940, 2-B-alt. photo)

Committees--Tacoma--1940-1950; Young Men's Business Club, Women's Auxiliary (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Geehan, Jerry--Family; Booth, Amos--Family; Tollefson, Thor C., 1901-1982--Family; Crippen, S.L.--Family; Feix, Richard--Family;

Ethel (Mrs. Ben) Cheney is being measured for a uniform at an informational meeting at the Winthrop Hotel, organizing Tacoma's unit of the National Service League for Women. Col. Harriet Virginia, right, National Commander of the National Service League Motor Corps for Women, jots down the measurements. Over 150 women turned out for the meeting. The group offered instruction to women in motor mechanics and driving, first aid, short wave radio, semaphoring (flag signalling) and Morse Code. They trained the women to offer aid in a national or local emergency, becoming part of the Home Defense movement. Pictured left to right are Mrs. Aileen Schoonover, Mrs. Melville Grange (measuring), Mrs. Cheney and Col. Virginia. In February of 1941, the National Service League was declared a hoax by Walter West of the Better Business Bureau. "Colonel" Virginia and her husband James Fulton were using the bogus organization to sell substandard uniforms at inflated prices. "Colonel" Virginia was charged in Tacoma with Grand Larceny. The Tacoma Chapter split with the national organization and with its 40 surviving members continued on its own as the Women's Emergency Motor Corps, part of the Tacoma Home Defense Movement. ( T. Times 11/4/1940, pg.5; Hoax: T. Times 2/17/1941, pg. 1 plus succeeding days)

Cheney, Ethel; Virginia, Harriet; Schoonover, Aileen; Measuring; World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Women's Emergency Motor Corps (Tacoma);

On December 4th, 1940, white haired veteran Tacoma Times columnist E.T. Short enjoyed a cup of coffee with popular young baritone Donald Dickson, right, and his concert accompanist William Hughes. Mr. Dickson and Mr. Hughes were in their pajamas and dressing gowns enjoying a 9 a.m. breakfast in their rooms at the Winthrop Hotel, after a late night arrival by train from Los Angeles. Mr. Dickson was scheduled to open an "All Star" concert series at the Temple Theater later that evening. Mr. Dickson had achieved his popularity by performing on the radio. His concert included both opera and popular pieces, by his choice sung primarily in English. The concert was a huge success, garnering six curtain calls for the pair. (T. Times 12/4/1940, pg. 13)

Dickson, Donald; Hughes, William; Short, Edgar T.; Singers; Opera singers; Musicians--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The new officers for the Spinster Club pose on the roof of the Winthrop Hotel. The Medical Arts Building can be seen in the background. The Spinster Club was a social club composed of prominent young Tacoma girls. The officers for the coming year were, left to right, Lea Mills (president), Ann Baillargeon (vice pres.), Virginia Austin (secretary) and Valdene Hazelton (treasurer.) (T. Times 3/15/1941, pg. 5)

Spinster Club (Tacoma); Mills, Lea; Baillargeon, Ann; Austin, Virginia; Hazelton, Valdene;

On March 22, 1941, Lew Floystead, left, Grand Royal Chief of the Tacoma Chapter of Royal Birds, received a stuffed bird from Al Frederick, charter member of the Portland Cage #1, during the organization's first annual banquet and initiation at the Hotel Winthrop. The bird was the emblem of the national laundry operators association, the Royal Birds. The Royal Birds were founded in 1921. The organization was national in scope and membership was limited to laundry operators whose plants had reached a high standard of quality and service. (T. Times 3/24/1941, pg. 12)

Royal Birds (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Floystead, Lew; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Group picture from the annual joint convention of the Washington State Hospital Association, Washington State Association of Nurse Anasthetists and Washington State Association of Record Librarians, held April 25-28, 1941 at the Hotel Winthrop. Photograph appears to be taken on the roof of the hotel. (T. Times 4/25/1941, pg. 1)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

It's "thumbs up" at the Canadian Legion Reunion Banquet at the Hotel Winthrop. Canadian and British aviators were the honored guests. Canada entered the war against German in 1939, only a few days after England. The "thumbs up" showed support of the war effort. The Royal Canadian Legion is the largest veterans organization in Canada and maintains branches in the U.S. and Germany. The man in the center of the rear row is reported to be C.A. (Pat) Erskine, Irishman.

Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Canadian Legion (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Blind College of Puget Sound coed, Velma Powers, with seeing-eye dog named Tufa sells a ticket to Hayward Ayres, manager of Hotel Winthrop, during the "Bricks-krieg" to raise funds for Student Union Building. From 1941 C.P.S. annual, Tamanawas.

Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma; Universities & colleges--Tacoma; Powers, Velma; Ayres, Hayward; Guide dogs;

Party given by Al Peterman at Hotel Winthrop on August 1, 1941. A young woman is having her fortune told by a most unique "swami" at the party. The man in the turban is believed to be Al Peterman. Mr. Peterman was the owner of Peterman Manufacturing Co.

Parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Peterman, Al; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

As mayor, Harry P. Cain bought his fair share of tickets to benefits and balls. He is pictured here at the Hotel Winthrop on September 2, 1941, buying a ticket to the Army vs. Air Corps baseball game from Frank Gillihan of the Y.M.B.C., sponsors of the event. Morale Officers Capt. Cal Butterworth of the 41st Division and Capt. R.L. Bell of McChord Field look on. The game was played in the pouring rain at Athletic Park on September 9th. A soaked crowd of 400 watched the 41st Division All-Stars defeat the McChord Bombers 3-2. (TNT 9-5-41, p. 17, 9-10-41, p. 11) ALBUM 12.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Gillihan, Frank J.; Butterworth, Cal; Bell, R.L.;

Publicity for Army-Air Corps baseball game, taken at Winthrop Hotel. Frank Gillihan of the Y.M.B.C., McChord Field Morale Officer Capt. R.L. Bell, Mayor Harry P. Cain and 41st Division Morale Officer Capt. Cal Butterworth hold a friendly conversation on September 2, 1941. Mr. Gillihan had just succeeded in selling Mayor Cain a ticket to the September 9th match between the Army All-Stars and McChord Bombers. The Young Men's Business Club were the sponsors of the event. The Army team would go on to defeat McChord 3-2 in the pouring rain. (TNT 9-5-41, p. 17, 9-10-41, p. 11)

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Gillihan, Frank J.; Butterworth, Cal; Bell, R.L.;

Tacoma Mayor Harry P. Cain, Major Gen. John P. Lucas, commander of the 3rd Division, and ex-Mayor J.J. Kaufman, now president of the Chamber of Commerce, at a chamber dinner for new executives of local businesses. The "welcome" dinner was held on October 27, 1941, at the Winthrop. Mr. Cain succeeded Mr. Kaufman as mayor of Tacoma in 1940. (T.Times, 10-28-41, p. 1) ALBUM 11, ALBUM 12.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Kaufman, Joseph J.; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Lucas, John P.; Generals;

Three Tacoma chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution (the Mary Ball, Virginia Dare and Elizabeth Forey) enjoyed a delicious luncheon in the Hotel Winthrop's Crystal Ballroom when they honored Washington State Regent, Mrs. Starr Sherman of Walla Walla, on October 27, 1941. Seated above were Mrs. C.C. Mellinger, Mary Ball chapter regent, Mrs. Sherman, and Margaret Long, Elizabeth Forey chapter regent with the others in the photograph not identified. Mrs. Sherman was making an official visit to Tacoma and would later pay similar visits to Grays Harbor and Chehalis as well as northern chapters around the Sound. (T.Times 10-28-1941, p. 9-article only; T.Times 10-30-1941, p. 19-alt. photograph)

Daughters of the American Revolution (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Melllinger, C.C.--Family; Sherman, Starr--Family; Long, Margaret;

Group picture at the annual Aquinas Alumnae Ball, held November 21, 1941 at the Roof Garden of the Hotel Winthrop. (T.Times 11/29/1941, pg. 4)

Aquinas Academy (Tacoma)--Alumnae; Dance parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Couples--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (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;

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);

Annual meeting of the American Legion, Edward B. Rhodes Post's Last Man Club, Hotel Winthrop, on December 3, 1941. Three empty chairs are draped with American flags and 19 men sit and stand by them. The draped chairs are in honor of Club members who have died. The Club was organized December 5, 1938 by World War I veterans who were past Commanders of the Post. A bottle of 1917 Hennessey Five Star cognac was set aside for the last surviving member to drink a toast to his comrades. The first to die was Tacoma Mayor Dr. John Siegle on April 13, 1939. The sole survivor was Capt. Chester Chastek. By February of 1992, he had outlived all his fellow club members. He died February 23, 1997 at the age of 97.

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

Ex-Mayor J. J. Kaufman, 1941 President of the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce, receives a framed check and an alarm clock as his term expires during the 57th annual dinner meeting of the Chamber of Commerce on December 29, 1941, held at the Hotel Winthrop. Mayor Harry Cain (not pictured) earlier had presented the alarm clock to Mr. Kaufman because the chamber president had slept through one of chamber manager Thad Stevenson's sales talks in a steamship company's San Francisco office. Harry L. Brown, candy manufacturer, was selected by the chamber's Board of Trustees to succeed Mr. Kaufman as chamber president. (T.Times 12-30-41, p. 1, TNT 12-30-41, p. 1) ALBUM 11.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Kaufman, Joseph J.; Tacoma Chamber of Commerce (Tacoma); Chambers of commerce--Tacoma; Alarm clocks;