Service mothers in Defense plants. War-time workers, mothers of service men, are honored for the second Mother's Day since the United States entered the World War. Mrs. Esther Baker is shown welding in May of 1943. She has a son, Rawlin Charles Baker, who is now training for service in the Navy at Farragut, Idaho. He was a welder at Sea-Tac before entering the service five weeks prior. (T. Times 5/8/43 p.1,4 & 5)

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Mothers; Baker, Esther;

Service mothers in Defense Plants. Lunch served at many tables outdoors at Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company on May 8, 1943, to honor the war-time workers on Mother's Day who are mothers of service men. (Penn Salt) (T. Times)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Luncheons--Tacoma;

Service mothers in Defense plants. During the Second World War many women took on non-traditional jobs to support the war effort. Mrs. E.L. Clevinger was a burner's helper in a defense plant. She and other women involved in defense work were honored at a special ceremony on Mother's Day in 1943. Her son, Corp. George Clevinger, had just left Tacoma after a furlough with his family. He was stationed at Camp Claiborne, La. (T. Times, 5/8/43 p.1, 4 & 5) TPL-8035

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Mothers; Clevinger, E.L.--Family;

Tacoma honored its war-worker mothers of service men for Mother's Day, May of 1943. Mrs. Marietta Fleck was a welder at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Company. Her son James Albert Nickerson had been an instructor of trainees in the infantry at Salina, Kansas, but his present location was unknown. He had been in the service six years and had two brothers in the Marines. (T. Times, 5/8/43, p. 1, 4 & 5) TPL-1972

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Mothers; Fleck, Marietta; Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma)--People;

Mrs. Clyde Best was one of several defense worker mothers who was honored by the Tacoma Times on the nation's second wartime Mothers Day in May of 1943. Mrs. Best had a husband serving in the Army who was stationed in Africa and an eighteen year old son, James Gibson, who had been in the Army three months. (T. Times 5/8/1943 p.4)

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Mothers; Best, Clyde--Family;

The Lincoln High School a-capella Choir (pictured) presented a special program for Mothers Day, May 9, 1943, at the USO Club #2. Since the Army was still segregated in World War II, this Club was intended for African American servicemen. (T. Times 5/8/1943, pg. 7)

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Choirs (Music); African Americans--Social life--1940-1950;

In 1943, although they fought side by side, the Army was still segregated. African American servicemen has their own USO Club in Tacoma, the U.S.O. #2 at 713-15 Commerce St. For Mothers Day in 1943, the black community of Tacoma tried to make the men feel at home by inviting them to a special church service. In honor of the holiday, the Lincoln High School a-capella choir (in robes) also presented a special program. (T. Times 5/8/1943,pg.7)

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; African Americans--Social life--1940-1950;

On May 11, 1943, over 300 guests witnessed the Bellarmine Junior ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps) unit inspection & review. Bellarmine, an all male Catholic school, was the only high school on the Northwest coast with a ROTC unit. Military drill and classes were compulsory for sophomores and juniors. The cadets demonstrated close order drill, battalion parade and extended order formation. (T. Times 5/11/1943, pg. 11)

World War, 1939-1945--Students--Tacoma; Church Schools--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Reserve Officers Training Corps (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Military art & science--Tacoma--1940-1950;

May 11, 1943 review of ROTC at Bellarmine High School, honoring cadets and their mothers. Shown are ROTC members, with their mothers, who received awards for outstanding achievements. Pictured are, left to right, Mrs. A.A. Huston and son Jack, Mrs.M.McCaffrey & Bob, Mrs. Walter Erickson & Bob, Mike Jayko, Mrs. A.B.Comfort, Mrs.P. Brown & Phil, Mrs. J.Mijich & Joe and Mrs. F.M. Holt & Jim. Over 300 guests observed the inspection and review. (T.Times, 5/12/43, p.3)

World War, 1939-1945--Students--Tacoma; Church schools--Tacoma; Private schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Reserve Officers Training Corps (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Mothers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Families--Tacoma--1940-1950;

May 11, 1943 review of Junior ROTC at Bellarmine High School. Portrait of dignitaries including priests, instructors, military officials and a woman. Over 300 guests witnessed the inspection and review. The event held soon after Mother's Day honored the mothers of the cadets and started with a military field mass and breakfast. This was followed by the military review on the school campus. (T.Times, 5/11/1943, pg. 11)

World War, 1939-1945--Students--Tacoma; Church schools--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Reserve Officers Training Corps (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

The Bellarmine ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps) Color Guard was photographed during the May 11,1943 ROTC unit inspection and review. Left to right: Robert L. Erickson, John M. Carey, Douglas Johnson, and James Buchanan. At the all male Catholic high school, military drill was compulsory for sophomores and juniors. Bellarmine was the only high school on the Northwest coast with a ROTC unit. (T.Times, 5/12/43, p. 3-picture, 5/11/1943,pg.11)

World War, 1939-1945--Students--Tacoma; Church schools--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Reserve Officers Training Corps (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Military art & science--Tacoma--1940-1950;

A worker is photographed at his job at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. in May of 1943. The company produced chemicals, some of which were necessary for the war effort.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Two men are photographed working on a piece of machinery at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing plant in May of 1943.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Workers at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. were pictured in May of 1943 with a machine that appears to be filling drums with chemicals. "PennSalt" manufactured chemicals for many industries, including the defense industries.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

One of the gardeners poses proudly with his irises in May of 1943 outside one of the factory buildings at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. During World War II, the factory manufactured chemicals necessary for the war effort.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

An unidentified couple poses in May of 1943 at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Interior view of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company with man in overalls and cap reading gauges and dials on Boiler No. 2 Control Panel. Also shown are paper readouts, other gauges, a clock and pipes with turn-off valves.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma);

In May of 1943, workers at Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. move barrels of chemicals on dollies. Many of these barrels will be shipped to the ammunitions industry.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Worker in leather gloves was photographed working on a piece of machinery in May of 1943 at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Exterior of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company with one of the plant's gardeners in overalls and cap admiring the iris bed. Penn Salt was located on the Tacoma tideflats, along the Hylebos Waterway. TPL-8556

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gardens--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma);

A group of workmen posed in May of 1943 at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Two workers at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. are photographed loading a freight railroad car with barrels of chemicals for shipment. During World War II, the company manufactured chemicals vital to the war industry.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Worker with oil can at Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company plant. After the war Penn Salt would return to manufacturing household and industrial goods: chlorine, hydrogen gas, caustic soda, sodium arsenate, sodium and potassium chlorate, and sodium hypochlorite. (T.Times, 2/23/43)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--1940-1950;

A male and a female worker were photographed during their regular daily tasks in May of 1943 at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In 1943 the United States celebrated the second wartime Mother's Day of WWII. Hundreds of local mothers took jobs in Tacoma's industrial plants to help the war effort. Women employees like these photographed at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. helped the company that year achieve the coveted "E" pennant for efficiency in production. During the war, much of the American work force was composed of women who had replaced the thousands of men serving in the Armed Forces. (T.Times 5-8-43, p. 1-article)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Two men wheel barrels of chemicals on dollies, preparing to load them for shipment at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. "PennSalt," during World War II, manufactured chemicals for use in the ammunitions industry.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Three security officers were photographed in May of 1943 outside of the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Worker at Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company inspecting pressure gauge in May of 1943. During World War II Penn Salt produced chemicals important in manufacturing ammunitions products. (T.Times, 2/23/44)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

One of the business offices was photographed in May of 1943 at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. "Penn Salt" manufactured chemicals used by other industries. During World War II, they increased production to included chemicals needed by the ammunitions industry.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Two employees are pictured in May of 1943 with drums of chemicals manufactured by Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. The man is jotting down notes on a clipboard.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;