On April 17, 1941, the 205th Coast Artillery (anti-aircraft) unit conducted a trial run on defending Tacoma's industrial plants and shipyards from attack by airplane. One of the major problems was how to camouflage the over 200 trucks used to transport the men and equipment. Here boards are being used to disguise two of the trucks. (T. Times 4/18/1941, pg.1)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); 205th Coast Artillery (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Military training;

Personalities from Seattle Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation. Portrait of woman wearing hardhat and sitting at desk with typewriter.

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Personalities from Seattle Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation. Portrait of U. S. Navy Captain and man dressed in suit at the rail of "Cape Flattery", American Lines. Stack in background.

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Officers of the "Oregon" and their wives pose on the deck. On the left is the Captain, or Master as denoted by his cap, and on the right is the Chief Engineer. The Oregon was built at the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. as Hull #3 and MC 121 and was launched as the Cape Cleare. The vessel sunk in 1941. TPL-1872

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The Captain of the "M. S. Oregon" poses at the ship's wheel. Richard Studios notes indicate that the photograph was taken in Oregon. The Oregon was built in Tacoma at the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. and was launched as the "Cape Cleare."

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Proud workers at the Seattle Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. pose during the launching of U.S. Army transport Frederick Funston.

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

This was how the Tacoma yard of the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation appeared in October of 1941. The view was looking southeast and showed the yard's enlargement under the US Maritime Commission facilities contract. Under construction were five additional new ways, more dockage space and expanded fabrication facilities. All were expected to be completed in 1942. After expansion, the shipyard would employ over 8,000 persons. TPL-9953

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Lincoln High School track team member demonstrates the shotput. Lincoln would come in third place in the annual Cross-state League relays of May 3, 1941, a few days after this practice shot was taken. Members of the track team were versatile in more than one specialty as they were expected to race as well as participate in other track endeavors. In fact, the shot put competition at the relays was won by Lincoln athlete Ingwall Thompson with fellow team member Allen Smythe second. (T. Times, 5-5-1941, p. 10-article on relays)

Shot putting--Tacoma; Track athletics--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1940-1950;

This is a publicity photograph for the 1941 Silver Skis Race held on Mt. Rainier. The Silver Skis competition began in 1934. The mens downhill couse was 3.6 miles. It began at Camp Muir and decended to Edith Creek basin. The shorter womens couse started at McClure Rock. The 1941 race attracted 39 men and 17 women. The weather on the day of the race was so bad, and the conditions so hazardous, that the officials moved the mens starting point down from Camp Muir at 10,000 ft. to Little Africa at 8,695. Even with this change, the winning skier, Bill Taylor of Tacoma, fell four times and took 4 minutes and 51.4 seconds to complete the couse. Shirley McDonald, also of Tacoma, won the womens race. (T. Times 04/06/1941)

Skiing--Mt. Rainier--1940-1950; Paradise Inn (Wash.); Skiers; Winter sports;

On July 23, 1941, Private Thomas Skweres was greeted at mail call by a twenty-five-foot-long "round-robin" letter from home. The 24 year old was pictured entangled in the letter that was full of gossip and greetings. At Fort Lewis, Private Skweres was attached to the Headquarters Co. of the 194th Tank Battalion. Back in St. Paul, he operated a big cafe and tavern. The letter was composed by cooks, friends, customers, relatives and employees and was signed by dozens and dozens of people. TPL-1969 (T. Times 7/25/1941, pg. 1)

Skweres, Thomas; Correspondence;

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;

National Hospital Day was celebrated on May 11, 1941. In honor of the day, St. Joseph held a drawing. The names of all infants in the hospital and those who were born at St. Jo's and visited on the 11th were entered in a drawing. One boy and one girl each won a bank account with $10.00. (T. Times 5/12/1941, pg. 1)

St. Josephs Hospital & School of Nursing (Tacoma);

Dr. Clyde E. Gray took the pulse of an unidentified patient sitting up in a hospital bed in this unused publicity photo for the 50th anniversary celebration of St. Joseph Hospital. The names of the four other men in business suits were not provided. The hospital, which was founded in 1891, celebrated its anniversary from October 9 through 11, 1941. In its 50 years, it had grown from 10 to 300 beds. It was founded by the Sisters of St. Francis. A three- day jubilee was planned to celebrate the longevity of the hospital which included a colorful pageant depicting the history of nursing, a doctors' banquet, a nursing alumnae tea and a solemn high mass to begin the celebration. Tours and an open house were given. (T. Times 10/8/1941, pg. 20-article; TNT 10-8-41, p. 1-article) (Additional identification provided by a reader)

St. Josephs Hospital & School of Nursing (Tacoma); Anniversaries--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hospitals--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gray, Clyde E.; Physicians--Tacoma--1940-1950;

St. Leo's School, string quartet. The cellist has been identified as Barbara Adler in this May of 1941 photograph. (Additional identification provided by a reader)

St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma); Church schools--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; String quartets (Musical groups); Adler, Barbara;

The whole student body assembles in front of Stadium High School on May 29, 1941 to observe the Memorial Day tribute to the eleven Stadium High students who died in the First World War. View of school courtyard from building's upper levels. Twenty four Stadium girls, walking 2x2, carrying a wreath between them, exit from the front door and head toward the parking strip in front of the school. They will place a wreath at each of the eleven memorial trees and one at the plaque commemorating the eleven soldiers. (T. Times 5/30/1941, pg. 1)

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Memorial Day; Memorial rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Commemoration--Tacoma;

Unoccupied wooden swing hanging from branch of large oak tree. This serene scene was taken on July 9, 1941, at an unidentified location.

Swings; Oaks;

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 Pharaoh Club was playing host on September 27, 1941 at a dance at the Tacoma Country & Golf Club. This group picture is posed on the Club's famous staircase. The Pharaoh Club was composed of young men of high school and college age. The dance was advertised as a autumn semi formal. (T. Times 9/20/1941, pg. 5)

Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Pharaoh Club (Tacoma);

On September 27,1941, the Pharaoh Club was hosting an autumn semi-formal at the Tacoma Country & Golf Club. The young ladies by the piano are believed to be Marian Ingram and Hazel Schaeffer. The Pharaoh Club was composed of young men of high school and college age. (T. Times 9/20/1941, pg. 5)

Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Pharaoh Club (Tacoma);

Spectators and players at the 51st Annual Pacific Northwest Tennis Tournament, held July 14-19, 1941 at the Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club, shell out coins for an ice cold soft drink from the Coca Cola cooler. The group in tennis whites tries to beat the heat while the young man in suspenders rakes in the coins. The thirsty group is composed of, left to right, Elizabeth Kickhofel of Mill Valley Ca, Daphne Buckell of Oakland, Joanne Brooke of Santa Monica, Morris Sockolove of San Francisco and Marilyn Muckey of Tacoma. (T. Times 7/19/1941, pg. 4)

Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club (Tacoma); Tennis rackets; Tennis players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Muckey, Marilyn;

On September 19, 1941, some of Washington's public school music supervisors got together for an informal "jam session" at the Ted Brown Music Store, 1121-23 Broadway. They were in Tacoma for the 5th Annual School Music Leaders Conference. The conference represented a sizeable cross section of music leaders from Tacoma and southwest Washington. The Ted Brown store, with its wide selection of musical instruments, was a favorite stop every time they were in Tacoma. (T. Times 09/19/1941 p.7)

Ted Brown Music Store (Tacoma); Music Stores--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On April 21, 1941, College of Puget Sound May Day Festival Queen Janet Hatch, center, and attendants, Mary Ann Jelvsich, right, and Annabel Miller pose in front of Wright Park's Seymour Conservatory. (T. Times and 1941 C.P.S. annual, Tamanawas)

Universities & colleges--Tacoma--1940-1950; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; May Day--Tacoma; Wright Park (Tacoma); Seymour Conservatory (Tacoma); Hatch, Janet; Jelvsich, Mary Ann; Miller, Annabel;

A swimmer beats the summer heat with a long slide into the cooling waters of North Lake. An Inter-office shipyards picnic was being held at "Goldens" on North Lake. Other swimmers wade near the water's edge and sit on a dock. A man is bringing in a row boat to the left of the picture. North Lake Park was located 10 miles out on the Tacoma-Seattle Highway.

Water slides; Lakes & ponds; North Lake (Pierce County);

A new steel water storage tank rests on the beach at Dash Point where a work crew prepares the the cumbersome hulk for its final destination. The 23-ton tank, 31 feet long and 25 feet in diameter, will be placed on a platform at the top of a Dash Point hill. It will be loaded onto a huge truck which in turn will be pulled by other trucks to the hill top where it will provide the town with an abundant water supply. Five year old Kirk George Purvis poses at the base of the tank. (T. Times, 3/25/1941, p. 3.)

Water tanks; Storage tanks--Tacoma; Beaches--Dash Point; Purvis, Kirk George;

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;

Female wedding guests scramble for the bouquet tossed by new bride Jean McDonald Jepson. Jean McDonald and William Jepson were married on August 17, 1941 at the Little Church on the Prairie. The wedding was followed by a reception at the Steilacoom Lake home of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Weller, the bride's aunt and uncle, and the site of this free for all. The bride still appears to be attired in her modern wedding costume of ice green silk jersey dinner dress with elbow length gloves and matching turban. (T. Times 8/18/1941, pg.7)

Weddings--Lakewood--1940-1950; McDonald, Jean--Marriage; Brides--1940-1950;

Wedding of Miss Barbara Ball and Henry Hewitt, Jr., held May 24, 1941 at the Mount Baker Presbyterian Church, Seattle, followed by a reception at the Rainier Club. Four men in formal wear pictured at the wedding. The one only half seen on the right appears to be the father of the bride, R. Douglas Ball.

Weddings--Seattle--1940-1950;

Wedding of Miss Barbara Ball and Henry Hewitt, Jr., held May 24, 1941 at the Mount Baker Presbyterian Church, Seattle, followed by a reception at the Rainier Club. A woman believed to be Mrs. Henry Hewitt, second from right, sits with wedding guests..

Weddings--Seattle--1940-1950;

Wedding of Miss Barbara Ball and Henry Hewitt, Jr. The couple wed May 24, 1941 at the Mt. Baker Presbyterian Church in Seattle. The reception was held at the Rainier Club. The couple is photographed cutting their wedding cake. (T. Times 5/31/1941, pg. 5)

Weddings--Seattle--1940-1950; Ball, Barbara--Marriage; Hewitt, Henry; Brides--1940-1950; Grooms (Weddings)--1940-1950; Cakes;