Group of masonic members posing against a rock backdrop.

Tacoma Scottish Rite Class Spring Reunion featuring consistories Clarence D. Martin, R.E. Gallot, E.L. Tarnsworth and Albert Rasmussen.

Panorama of the Sons and Daughters of Norway Convention, Trip to Mt. Tacoma (Rainier)

Panorama of 85th Annual Communication Most Worshipful Grand Lodge F.&A.M of Tacoma WA. Masonic group standing outside of lodge in uniform with group members occupying stairwell and balcony.

Three men holding a beer stein in the meeting room of an unidentified fraternal organization while a seated man looks at the camera. Three of the four men are wearing lapel pins.

Committee for Masonic Convention. Group of four men and six women standing on steps of building. (T.N.T.) (WSHS)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Free & Accepted Masons (Tacoma);

Group of men in Afifi costumes inside the Masonic Temple; photograph taken in June of 1932. This is possibly the same group of men as images 1 & 1A. (filed with Argentum).

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Masonic Temple (Tacoma); Afifi Arab Patrol (Tacoma);

Tacoma Elks motion picture. Man and woman holding a piece of paper and standing in front of Elks casting office. Sign in window "Now Casting Tacoma Elks Own Motion Picture." The Elks had signed the Peptimist Motion Picture Corp. of Hollywood to make a motion picture comedy drama woven around the industrial life and scenic beauties of Tacoma. The script called for a cast of 500 Tacoma men, women and children, with the two lead female roles to be salaried. The cast selection was to be announced on June 27; the picture was to be completed in about two months.(TNT 6/2/1931, pg. 16; TDL 6/14/1931, pg. 10-E; TNT 6/4/1931, pg. 13)

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Motion picture production & direction--Tacoma--1930-1940; Motion picture industry--1930-1940;

An unidentified Tacoma motorcycle patrolman operates the camera while cameraman L.A. Tatom, in white knickers and sweater, selects the best angle. Director L. Jack Sherry crouches by a 1931 Buick eight automobile directing the action, involving three motorcycle patrolmen holding two cuties aloft. In 1931, the Tacoma Elks commissioned a motion picture comedy/drama about Tacoma to be made by the Peptimist Motion Picture Corporation of Hollywood. This staged production photograph was taken in the Stadium Bowl. Patrolmen appearing in the film were officers Bill Cordell, Edwin Janassen, Bob Marshall and George Johnson. The two female stars were Hollywood actresses Helen White and Bebe Lee. (TNT 6/2/1931, PG. 16; TDL 6/14/1931, pg. 10-E; TNT 6/4/1931, pg. 13)

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Motion picture production & direction--Tacoma--1930-1940; Motion picture industry--1930-1940; Motion picture cameras--1930-1940;

Tacoma is treated to a parade on May 6, 1938 when Knights Templar from all over the state gathered here for the 51st Annual Conclave of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Washington. Unit of marching men in traditional dress uniforms with swords and plumed hats parade up 13th Street and turn north on Broadway.

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Knights Templar (Tacoma);

Horatio N. Dryer of Yakima, pictured here, was installed May 10, 1938 as the Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery, Knights Templar of Washington. His installation was part of the 51st annual conclave of that group, held at the Masonic Temple. (T. Times 5/11/1938, pg. 3)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Knights Templar (Tacoma); Dryer, Horatio N.;

Shriners gather in Tacoma to board the special train to the Golden Jubilee 1938 Imperial Council Session to be held in Los Angeles June 6-9. A farm wagon carries eight men. Several other men wait for an opportunity to ride in the wagon which displays a sign "New Deal." Parades, events, stunts and hijinks will be an important part of the convention.

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma);

On December 3rd, 1938, The Golden Jubilee was brought to a close with a banquet at the Winthrop Hotel, where 600 Shriners from 12 temples gathered to commemorate the founding of Tacoma's Afifi Temple. Honored were the "Old Timers," those who were members before 1900 and helped to grow the membership from 8 to the current 2,000. Pictured are, seated left to right, William McIntyre, Charles Schutzman, S.A. Perkins, Ira S. Davisson, Dr. A.J. Gustaveson, W. R. Nichols and C.P. Kimball. Standing, left to right, are Fred W. Agatz, Ralph Metcalf, Henry Drum, Walter J. Thompson, Horace Tyler, and Robert P. Allen, potentate of the Afifi Temple. (T. Times, 12/5/1938, p. 1)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma);

College of Puget Sound Sigma Mu Chi fraternity and Kappa Sigma Theta sorority dance in the Crystal Ballroom of the Hotel Winthrop. Couple on dance floor in front of band find the jitterbug or shag fun to dance. (T. Times, 12/3/1938, p. 9).

Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1930-1940; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Sigma Mu Chi Chapter (Tacoma); Kappa Sigma Theta (Tacoma); Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1930-1940;

November, 1938, College of Puget Sound Sigma Mu Chi fraternity and Kappa Sigma Theta sorority formal dance at the Hotel Winthrop. Merritt Nelson, Florence McLean, Betty Noble, and Weymar Rosso converse during intermission. This was the first joint dance given by a sorority and a fraternity located at the College of Puget Sound and the first formal dance held in several years. (T. Times, 12-3-38, p. 9)

Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1930-1940; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Sigma Mu Chi Chapter (Tacoma); Kappa Sigma Theta (Tacoma); Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1930-1940;

College of Puget Sound Sigma Mu Chi fraternity and Kappa Sigma Theta sorority dance at Winthrop Hotel. Just arriving, Carl Klemme, right, and Jim Eagleson, left, help Barbara Rothermel and Sara Jayne Perkins with their long, fur-trimmed evening coats.

Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1930-1940; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Sigma Mu Chi Chapter (Tacoma); Kappa Sigma Theta (Tacoma); Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1930-1940;

College of Puget Sound Sigma Mu Chi fraternity and Kappa Sigma Theta sorority formal dance, held in the Crystal Ballroom of the Hotel Winthrop. The attendees at the dance are identified as, left to right, Sherman Jones, Marian Wilkinson, Constance Coleman and Lee Becker. (T. Times, 12/3/1938, p. 9)

Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1930-1940; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Sigma Mu Chi Chapter (Tacoma); Kappa Sigma Theta (Tacoma); Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1930-1940;

C.P.S. Kappa Sigma Theta Picnic Committee on lawn swing at Raymond Tarr home. L to R: Frances Tarr, Ruth Raymond, Idabelle Arnold, Florence McLean, future Olympic medalist Gretchen Kunigk, Marilyn Mulligan, Dixie Thompson. (T. Times, 8/13/1938, p. 8)

Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma; Alumni & alumnae--Tacoma; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Kappa Sigma Theta (Tacoma); Fraser, Gretchen Kunigk, 1919-1994;

ca. 1939. The Normanna Male Chorus attired in their distinctive dark blazers, white slacks and captain's hats posed for a group portrait circa 1939. The men's chorus would be performing in a concert with the Tacoma Swiss Singing Society at Normanna Hall. (T. Times 3/31/1939, pg. 11) (filed with Argentum)

Normanna Male Chorus (Tacoma); Choirs (Music)--1930-1940; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ethnic groups--Tacoma; Sons of Norway (Tacoma); Music ensembles--Tacoma; Singers; Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Eastern Star Convention in Tacoma, June 23, 1939. Eighteen women wearing formal dresses, some holding large bouquets of flowers. For John D. Morris. (filed with Argentum)

Order of Eastern Star (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Women--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Tacoma Elks handball team. Most men are wearing white Tshirts with the Elk logo and the Lodge number, 174 along with shorts, court shoes and special gloves in this January 5, 1940 photograph. There were apparently more than one handball team among the Elks members. In June of 1940, the News Tribune in a special Elks insert, paid tribute to a Tacoma Elks handball team who had gone undefeated in Class B Puget Sound league that season. Although not the team pictured above, the victorious Elks proved the popularity of the sport. (TNT 6-13-1940, p. 8-special insert)

Elks Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Handball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sports & recreation facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sport clothes; Athletes--Tacoma;

A couple dressed in the style of the Gay Nineties poses at the Pi Beta Phi style show, held at the Masonic Temple roof garden on September 6, 1940. The style show and tea was hosted by the sororities' alumnae organization. (T. Times 9/5/1940, pg. 10)

Pi Beta Phi (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fashion shows--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Nearly 1,200 representatives of the Rainbow Girls from around the state met in Tacoma from July 12 through July 15, 1939 for their 13th annual Grand Assembly. On Wednesday the 13th, members met at the Masonic Temple at 47 St. Helens Ave. and march down St. Helens and Broadway. The convention ended on Saturday with a picnic at Pt. Defiance Park. The building in the center of this photograph is the Bostwick Building, 755-71 St. Helens Ave., home, at that time, to the Kress Malted Milk Shop. (T.Times 7/13/1939 p.13)

Rainbow Girls (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940

The unidentified young women in this photograph from June, 1938 are probably the drill team from the Knute Rockne Lodge, Daughters of Norway. Over 1,000 members of the Sons of Norway and the Daughters of Norway, representing lodges in Washington, Oregon,California, Idaho, Alaska, and British Columbia, attended the four day convention in Tacoma from June 23 - 28. The drill team members, and their little "mascot," are attired in jodhpurs and holding what appear to be polo mallets. The male team leader in the center is wearing a United States Marines uniform. (T. Times 6/23/1938, pg. 9)

Daughters of Norway (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma;

Hatasu Dancers, June of 1938. Large group of women in hall, attired in matching costumes. The Hatasu Temple was a group name used by Daughters of the Nile. Queen Hatasu was an Egyptian monarch. The Daughters of the Nile are the female offshoot of the Shriners, or Masons. The group was founded in 1913 in Seattle. The Hatasu #1 Temple still meets in Seattle. The annual session of the Supreme Temple of the Daughters of the Nile was held in Tacoma June 6-10, 1938. It was the first convention of this group to be held in Tacoma since 1925. (filed with Argentum)

Daughters of the Nile (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Evening gowns--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1939. Photograph taken at the Elks Temple, 565 Broadway, showing attendance. (filed with Argentum)

Elks Temple (Tacoma); Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);

ca. 1938. Dinner at the Elks Temple, circa 1938. Men being served by waitress, fireplace with head of an elk above it. (filed with Argentum)

Elks Temple (Tacoma); Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Dining rooms--Tacoma; Fraternal lodges--Tacoma;

Twenty-one members of the Normanna Male Chorus, wearing the group's distinctive white pants, dark blazers and nautical hats, posed for a formal portrait on the steps of the Masonic Temple in 1938. The Chorus was to be very busy in September of 1938 as they were celebrating their Golden Jubilee. Norwegian singing societies from across the Northwest were coming to Tacoma to help the group celebrate their 50th anniversary at Normanna Hall, 47 Saint Helens Avenue, on September 10-11th. The singing society had organized in 1888 with John Soquest as the director. They originally met in the old school house between I and J streets; their publicity was handled by the publishers of the Norwegian newspaper "Tacoma Tidende." The group reorganized in 1895 and has been active since that date. The singers were led by Carlo A. Sperati, churchman and musician, until 1904; he was succeeded by George Johnson, still the director in 1938. (T. Times 9/9/1938, pg. 3) TPL-9519

Normanna Male Chorus (Tacoma); Choirs (Music); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Ethnic groups--Tacoma; Sons of Norway (Tacoma); Music ensembles--Tacoma; Singers;

Over 1,000 members of the Sons of Norway and the Daughters of Norway, representing lodges in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Alaska, and British Columbia, attended the four day convention in Tacoma from June 23 - 28, 1938. These sixteen men in uniform with their leader were probably a visiting chorus. Group performances were part of the activities of the four day convention held in Tacoma. This particular group is attired in jaunty nautical costumes with brass buttons, bow ties and service bars, or stripes, on their sleeves.

Sons of Norway (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma;

College of Puget Sound sororities plan dances in April of 1939. L. to r: Frances Hoss, Alpha Beta Upsilon; Erna Brenner, Delta Alpha Gamma; Dorothy Shaw, Kappa Sigma Theta; Marjorie Wickens, Lambda Sigma Chi; Kathleen Sherrill, Alpha Beta Upsilon. (T.Times 5/6/1939, p.7)

Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1930-1940; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940;