Washington Navigation Company ferries. Automobiles waiting at the Point Defiance ferry landing in July of 1937. A ferry boat moored next to the landing bears the sign Fox Island - Gig Harbor. The slag pile of ASARCO is at the right middle and the entrance to Quartermaster harbor is near the top right. The slag pile created a breakwater for the Tacoma Yacht Club. Ordered by North Pacific Bank Note Company. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Ferries--Tacoma--1930-1940; Marine terminals--Tacoma; Washington Navigation Co. (Gig Harbor);

The Washington Navigation Company ferry " Vashonia" out of Gig Harbor is pictured approaching the Point Defiance ferry landing in July of 1937. The ferry to the right is the "Fox Island." Signs indicate that the cars and people on the pier are loading for Gig Harbor. The Washington Navigation Company, under the direction of president Mitchell Skansie, ran ferries between Tacoma and the Peninsula. It had recently come under criticism from commuters opposed to new ferry rates and changes to the schedule. The small building to the left of the pier has doors for the men's and ladies' restrooms facing out. A sign on the other side of the building indicates that it is "Louie's Lunch." Ordered by North Pacific Bank Note Company. TPL-9858 (T.Times 7-13-37, p. 7-article on ferry changes)

Ferries--Tacoma--1930-1940; Marine terminals--Tacoma; Washington Navigation Co. (Gig Harbor);

Automobiles loading onto ferry at Titlow ferry dock.

Ferries--Tacoma; Marine terminals--Tacoma;

Washington Navigation Company's "Defiance" ferry pulling into Titlow ferry landing. Ordered by North Pacific Bank Note Company.

Ferries--Tacoma; Marine terminals--Tacoma; Washington Navigation Co. (Gig Harbor);

Washington Navigation Company's "Defiance" ferry pulling into Point Defiance landing where automobiles are waiting. This scene was photographed in July of 1937. Ordered by North Pacific Bank Note Company. (Corrected information provided by a reader)

Ferries--Tacoma; Marine terminals--Tacoma; Washington Navigation Co. (Gig Harbor);

A dusty dirt road winds through the hop fields to what appears to be a farm house at the model hop farm in Roy. The farm is owned by James E. & J. W. Feak.

Hops--Roy--1930-1940; Farming--Roy--1930-1940;

View of hop fields. Three men in foreground standing on dirt road by farm equipment.These fields are believed to be part of the 41 acre farm belonging to James E. & J.W. Feak outside of Roy.

Hops--Roy--1930-1940; Farming--Roy--1930-1940;

Four men holding rifles for portrait with two gutted bears hanging from the rafters of a wooden building. Elias Messinger Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Hunting - Bear HuntingOrganizations - Military Organizations - Veterans Organizations - Veterans of Foreign Wars - Tacoma - Elias Messinger Post

Charles W. Greening, manager of the Lincoln Branch Puget Sound National Bank of Tacoma, stands behind the bank counter and discusses recent bank robberies. He became a hero when he pursued and shot a young bandit who held up his bank January 13th, 1937. The wounded robber was arrested when he sought medical attention in Spokane. Mr. Greening was later rewarded with a watch by the bank's insurance company. (T. Times 11/11/1937, pg. 13)

Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Greening, Charles W.;

ca. 1937. Mrs. Peterson's announcement party. Matronly woman standing between two younger women who appear to be twins--one is wearing a tuxedo and tophat, the other one is wearing a dress with a corsage.

Women

One of the strangest social events of the 1920's & 1930's was the "Tom Thumb wedding," a mock wedding of a child couple impersonating the 1863 wedding of P.T. Barnum's famous midget couple, Charles Stratton (exhibited as Gen. Tom Thumb) and his miniature bride, Lavinia Warren. The pictured double Tom Thumb wedding was held April 16, 1937 at the St. Paul Methodist Church as a fund raiser, with proceeds going to the missionary society. The participants were, left to right, Harrison Killian (best man), Curtis Killian (Tom Thumb, groom), Shirley Clark (Jennie June, bride), Eddie Goodenough (minister), Buddy Cross (best man), Billy Goettling (Fred Finger, groom) and Barbara Ann Bowen (Nellie May, bride.) All of the children, with the exception of Goodenough, were four years old. Eddie Goodenough was the son of Rev. Frank Goodenough. In all, over 100 children, ages 4-11, took part in the pageant, impersonating wedding members and guests, including Pres. & Mrs. Roosevelt, movie stars and local city officials and personalities. ( T. Times 4/16/1937, pg. 8- picture & article)

Children playing adults; Weddings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Brides--1930-1940; Wedding clothing & dress--1930-1940; Grooms (Weddings)--1930-1940;

Standing outside the Tacoma armory are Comrade David L. Crossen (left) and Commander L.A. Wilcox. Both in their 90s when this picture was taken in 1937, they were officers in the G.A.R. and two of the last civil war veterans living in Tacoma. Mr. Crossen fought with the 11th Pennsylvania volunteers at Bull Run and Antietum. Mr. Wilcox was in Company F of the 4th Wisconsin Infantry. (T. Times, 5/29/1937, p.1)

Civil War, U.S., 1861-1865--Veterans--Tacoma; Veterans' organizations--Tacoma; Grand Army of the Republic (Tacoma); Crossen, David L.; Wilcox, L.A.; Flags--United States;

Copy for Tacoma Times columnist E.T. Short of Treasury warrant for purchase of Alaska, dated 08/01/1868. Check for $7,200,000 to Emperor of Russia. Warrant & acknowledgement. (T. Times)

Documents;

ca. 1937. Water stands almost to the doorways of these homes during the 1937 Puyallup Valley flood.

Floods--1930-1940; Disasters--1930-1940;

Among the most cherished possessions of Eliza Ferry Leary was the Bible used to administer the oath of office to her father, Elisha P. Ferry, the first governor of Washington State. After Mrs. Leary died, the Bible was deposited with the Washington State Historical Society. W.P. Bonney sits at Governor Ferry's desk flanked by Ruth and Harold Wheeler. The Wheelers were students in the History department at the College of Puget Sound. The chair in which Mr. Bonney is seated was made in 1854 for Isaac I. Stevens, the first governor of the Washington Territory. (T.Times, 11/11/1937 p. 14)

Galleries & museums--Tacoma; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Bibles--Tacoma; Bonney, William P.; Wheeler, Harold; Wheeler, Ruth; Stevens, Isaac Ingalls, 1818-1862--Associated objects; Ferry, Elisha P., 1825-1895--Associated objects;

On May 13, 1937, this photograph of the junior girls' drill team of the Ancient Order of United Workmen appeared in the Tacoma Times. This group was the only junior drill team of its kind in the state of Washington and they were preparing to perform at the state convention to be held in Tacoma the following week. The group in the back holds signs: "Patriotism, Obedience, Honesty." Girls in the front are, left to right, Aimee Fuhrmeister, Ethel Gunnett, Virginia Sharman, Jean Scalara, Phyllis Nelson, Eva Harrison, Juanita Retke, Lois Langdon, Jean Marie Baker, Francine Funk, Clara Panico, Edna Ruth Harper and Jean Mergel. In the back are Maxine Walsh, James Melton, Bill Funk, Capt. Charles Funk, Loren Cowling and Billy Cook. The United Workmen was a mutual benefit society, offering an early form of life insurance to its members. (filed with Argentum) (T.Times 5/13/1937, pg. 12)

Group portraits; Ancient Order of United Workmen Juniors (Tacoma);

The students of Franklin Elementary School at 3202 So. 12th Street presented a pageant titled "The Coming of Spring" on Wednesday, April 21, 1937. The performance recreated spring celebrations from several countries as well as the United States. Patricia Litstrom, at the center, was Queen of the festival. Pictured on the left, front to back, are David Woodard, Eugene Clough, Helen Hansen, Margaret Macemon and Gloria Mardesick. On the right, front to back, are Martin Sangster, June Nyquist, Gloria Raymond, Betty Weber and Marie Nelson. Franklin School was demolished in 1997 and a new building was constructed. (T. Times, 4/20/1937, p. 14) (WSHS)

Litstrom, Patricia; Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Franklin School (Tacoma); Woodard, David; Clough, Eugene; Hansen, Helen; Macemon, Margaret; Mardesick, Gloria; Sangster, Martin; Nyquist, June; Raymond, Gloria; Weber, Betty; Nelson, Marie;

ca. 1937. Works Progress Administration motion picture projectionist at the Tacoma Armory, circa 1937. Man looking at reel of film, sign reading "USA Work Program WPA", many children in background. The poster is a typical graphic from the WPA. The WPA was created in May of 1935. The letters originally stood for Works Progress Administration, which later became the Works Projects Administration. The New Deal program provided jobs and income to the unemployed during the Great Depression. It was shut down in later 1943, as defense industries eliminated unemployment during World War II. (T. Times)

Motion pictures; Depressions--1929; Works Progress Administration (Tacoma); Propaganda;

ca. 1937. Stadium High School Girls' Marching Unit, the Tigerannas, ca. 1937. The Tigerannas were formed in 1937 to march with the Stadium Band, providing a little extra color to performances. They were the brainchild of R.C. Fussell, Stadium Instrumental director. The 45 girls were photographed standing in wing formation. Their uniforms are short, shiny dresses in blue and gold with matching Cossack boots and pillbox style hats. (T.Times 10/15/1937, pg. 8) (WSHS)

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Drill teams--1930-1940;

Tacoma Club. Facilities on 17th Floor of Washington Building. Hallway opening off elevators. Two mirror tables accent the walls between the three elevator doors. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Times for coverage of the Club's Grand Opening May 10, 1937. (WSHS)

Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Interior of new facilities for The Tacoma Club on the 17th Floor of the Washington Building. President, John P. Weyerhaeuser, Jr. Dining room with cloth-covered tables and modern chairs. The Grand Opening for the new club was held May 10, 1937.

Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Dining rooms--Tacoma--1930-1940;

In March of 1937, the Tacoma Times newspaper held a special party for their carriers at the World's Fair Museum, a travelling exhibit that was in Tacoma for two weeks from March 19 to April 5. The traveling attraction, which was housed in the building at 1155-57 Broadway, featured Capt. Paul Herold - the German Giant, Princess Wee Jean - the smallest mother in the world, the "Albino Twins," and Laurello- the man with the revolving head. The "museum" was featured at the "Century of Progress" in Chicago, the San Diego World's Fair, and the Texas Centennial. Many of the performers in the museum had been illustrated in cartoons by Robert L. Ripley. (T. Times)

Tacoma Times Publishing Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Exhibitions--Tacoma--1930-1940; World's Fair Museum (Tacoma); Newspaper carriers--Tacoma;

Art gallery in new top floor of Ferry Museum. (T. Times) (filed with Argentum)

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1930-1940; Art; Ferry Museum (Tacoma);

ca. 1937. J.S. Kemp art collection at the Ferry Museum, Washington State Historical Society. Photograph also numbered A7407-1

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Aerial view of North End Tacoma showing Annie Wright Seminary, surrounding neighborhood and Commencement Bay.

Aerial photographs; Private schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--Buildings;

ca. 1938. Aerial view of Tacoma General Hospital and surrounding neighborhood including Wright Park as pictured circa 1938.

Aerial photographs; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Wright Park (Tacoma);

G. L. Cornforth, left, of the Tacoma Racing Pigeon Club, holds the best hen and J. V. Fordan, right, the best cock racing pigeon. The two birds are the winners at the 44th Annual All-Northwest Winter Poultry Show held the Henry Mohr Hardware building, 1141-43 Broadway. This is the first time racing pigeons have been shown. Competitors come from Washington, Oregon and California. (T. Times, 12/14/38, p. 3)

Animal shows--Tacoma; Poultry; Tacoma Racing Pigeon Club (Tacoma); Pigeons;

Army Day at Fort Lewis. Staff Sergeant H. E. Etheridge, 91st Air Squadron, explains to Leona Schuck of Olympia how the 30-caliber rear flexible machine gun fires 1200 rounds of ammunition per minute. (T.Times, 4/6/1938, p.1).

Arms & armament--Tacoma--1930-1940; Artillery (Weaponry); Fort Lewis (Wash.); Etheridge, H.E.; Schuck, Leona; Fighter planes--1930-1940; Machine guns;

Artistic view of hanger, blimp and crew. Special hanger built at Fort Lewis to house the new 105 feet long airship.Men from across the United States make up the 125 member 3rd Balloon Company under Major M. E. McHugo. (T.Times, 3/11/1938, p.1).

Balloons (Aircraft)--Fort Lewis; Balloonists; Air pilots--Fort Lewis; Military personnel--Fort Lewis; Fort Lewis (Wash.);

Close-up of portrait of Army Air Corps blimp pilot Master Sergeant A. E. Miller seated in the two-man motorized undercarriage of the blimp. (T.Time, 3/11/1938, p. 1).

Balloons (Aircraft)--Fort Lewis; Balloonists; Air pilots--Fort Lewis; Military personnel--Fort Lewis; Fort Lewis (Wash.); Miller, A.E.;