Undated photograph of the Matrons Club. The woman seated front left is Helen Beck Stafford, one of the founders of the group. Dr. Stafford moved to Tacoma in 1926 to marry Wendell P. Stafford on New Years Eve. Even though she had taught for a few years in Kansas schools, Tacoma school personnel directors refused to hire a black teacher. She stayed at home and cared for her husband and daughter. She and several other women who stayed home to rear their children would get together for a social outlet. In 1927, they formally organized the Matrons Club. The women who attended the meetings often brought their children along and the children would play together. (TNT 2/22/1982- NWR clipping file) (photograph by Liberal Engraving Co., 907 1/2 Commerce)

Last Man Club, American Legion, November 30, 1946. Eighteen men stand behind six empty chairs draped with American flags during their annual meeting held at the Hotel Winthrop. The Last Man Club was formed by World War I veterans who were also past Commanders of the Edward B. Rhodes Post of the American Legion in December of 1938. A bottle of 1917 cognac was reserved for the sole survivor to drink a toast to his fallen fellow members.

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

Red Cross. Hundreds of Christmas gifts have been wrapped and are placed on tables. Three Red Cross workers are busily wrapping more gifts at the table in the upper center. TPL-1964.

American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Gifts; Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950;

University Union Club. Wives of the executive board received other wives of members at a Christmas Tea on December 13th, 1946. L-R, Beryl (Mrs. Edward) Gazecki, Peggy E. (Mrs. Ted) Brown, Catherine (Mrs. Arthur) Gunderson, Barbara B. (Mrs. Warren Y.) Hull, Grace M. (Mrs. C. Nathan) Lynn, Alice G. (Mrs. Charles M.) Fogg, and Florence B. (Mrs Clifford) Sayre. (T.Times, 12/14/1946, p.8)

Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950; University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hats--1940-1950; Gazecki, Beryl; Brown, Peggy E.; Gunderson, Catherine L.; Hull, Barbara B.; Lynn, Grace M.; Fogg, Alice G.; Sayre, Florence B.;

Red Cross had just started their annual fund raising campaign in Pierce County. Red Cross volunteers and community members were getting ready to begin asking for donations from individuals, families and businesses. Members from the Tacoma Boy's Clubs are loading up Red Cross fund raising campaign posters and information into someone's car. "Give Now '47" and "The Red Cross Carries On" are printed on the posters.

Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Posters; Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma);

American Red Cross training Center, American Red Cross, Mrs. Thomson. High school students attending the Junior Red Cross session July 1947 at Benbow Lakes raise both the United States flag and the Red Cross flag at the summer camp facilities. The Pierce County delegates to the program were Nancy Hobbs from Lincoln High School and Harry Butts from Sumner High School. (T.Times, 7/15/1947, p.3)

American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Flags--United States; Standards (Identifying artifacts); Flagpoles--Kapowsin; Benbow Lakes Resort (Kapowsin);

American Red Cross training Center, American Red Cross, Mrs. Thomson. A group posing with an automobile of a few of the high school students from Canada, Utah, Idaho, Oregon and Washington who attended the Junior Red Cross session July 1947 at Benbow Lakes.

American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Benbow Lakes (Kapowsin); Students; Lakes & ponds--Kapowsin;

American Red Cross Training Center, American Red Cross, Mrs. Thomson. High school students attending the July 1947 Junior Red Cross session also studied about the youth for youth program for Junior Red Cross at Benbow Lakes.

American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Benbow Lakes Resort (Kapowsin); Group portraits;

American Red Cross Training Center, American Red Cross, Mrs. Thomson. High school students attending the July 1947 Junior Red Cross session learned safety and lifesaving techniques such as artificial respiration at Benbow Lakes.

American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Benbow Lakes Resort (Kapowsin); Lifesaving--Kapowsin--1940-1950; Artificial respiration;

American Red Cross Training Center, American Red Cross, Mrs. Thomson. Three of the high school students attending the Junior Red Cross July 1947 session at Benbow Lakes are learning recreation skills by making rag dolls and knitting.

American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Benbow Lakes Resort (Kapowsin); Students; Handicraft; Dolls; Knitting;

American Red Cross training Center, American Red Cross, Mrs. Thomson. A group portrait of a few of the hight school students from Canada, Utah, Idaho, Oregon and Washington who attended the Junior Red Cross session July 1947 at Benbow Lakes.

American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Students; Benbow Lakes Resort (Kapowsin); Group portraits;

Nearly 40 local Boy Scouts and scout masters helped the 1947 Community Chest campaign by posting pole cards along Tacoma streets to keep Tacoma citizens aware of the upcoming campaign. Here Russell Matthews, Lucien Gumm, Bob Wright and Scoutmasters S/Sgt. L.J. Keehley and Lt. J.A. Kruavica from Troop 102, McChord Field, put up placards in South Tacoma. The scouts took over the project as part of their community service work. (T.Times, 9/24/1947, p.2-article, TNT, 9/24/1947, p.7)

Boy Scouts (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Teenagers; Lampposts--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Matthews, Russell; Gumm, Lucien; Wright, Bob; Keehley, L.J.; Kruavica, J.A.;

Publicity, Girls selling Follies tickets, Junior League, Nancy Custis. The Junior League Follies would be held November 12th and 13th, 1947. Two Junior League members show the program from the upcoming Follies to encourage a young shoe salesman to buy tickets to the fund raising event. Proceeds from the show would benefit the Tacoma Occupational Therapy Workshop.

Junior League (Tacoma); Junior League Follies (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Shoes; Shoe stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Junior League proviso. A committee of four Junior League "Follies" committee chairs meet with Robert H. Gage, an advance man, at the Tacoma Country Club to coordinate preparatory activities for the Follies which will be presented at Temple Theater November 12 and 13, 1947. Mr. Gage was in Tacoma from the Jerome H. Cargill organization of New York City The women are, L-R, Mrs. Emile Sacanno, Betye M. (Mr. Elbert H, II) Baker, Caroll (Mrs. Thomas) Carstens, and Sally G. (Mrs. Thomas) Moffitt. (T.Times, 8/30/1947, p.9)

Junior League (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Baker, Betye M.; Carstens, Caroll; Moffitt, Sally G.; Gage, Robert H.;

On Thursday October 9, 1947, the Tacoma Charter of Building Laborers and Hod Carriers honored three members with honorary life membership at a dinner in their union hall. D. L. McInnis became a member in 1916; Joe Collins in 1917; and Dan Avery , a member of the local in Denver, CO in 1888, helped establish the Tacoma chapter when he moved to Tacoma in 1905 and was present when it received its charter in 1911. Left to right, D. L. McInnis, Joe Collins and Dan Avery (T. Times, 10/10/47, p. 12).

Labor unions--Tacoma; Labor leaders--Tacoma; Charters--Tacoma; Aged persons--Tacoma; Building Laborers & Hod Carriers Union Local No. 252 (Tacoma); McInnis, D.L.; Collins, Joe; Avery, Dan;

Fred Wheeler (left) and Charles McDonald congratulate each other as the two newly elected labor leaders for the Cooks, Waiters, Waitresses and Bartenders Local No. 61. The union held a special two day election, Wheeler was appointed the new Outside Business Representative and McDonald the local Secretary-Treasurer. The newly elected labor leaders will officially take over their duties on November 15, 1947.

Labor leaders--Tacoma; Labor unions--Tacoma; Cooks, Waiters, Waitresses & Bartenders Union Local No. 61 (Tacoma); McDonald, Charles E.; Wheeler, Fred T.;

Red Cross activities, Mrs. Strong. Two older women are seated while knitting sweaters. They are surrounded by baskets and shelves full of skeins of dark colored yarn. An enlisted man after being wounded wrote in a letter home, "Only God and the Red Cross can help me now".

Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; Aged persons--Tacoma--1940-1950; American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Knitting; Yarn;

Red Cross activities, Mrs. Strong. Women are standing at large tables working in the production room with fabric and clothing. Bolts of fabric lay on shelves at the back of the large work room and wrapped bundles are ready on the table at the front. Over four million Red Cross workers make surgical dressings, sew garments for hospitals and refugees, knit sweaters, drive ambulances, etc., to help during war time. (T.Times 2/29/1944, p.1), (TNT, 2/27/1944, p.1)

Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma;

Red Cross activities, Mrs. Strong. Three women and two men sit around a table reviewing plans for the fund raising campaign that will begin March 1, 1944. March was proclaimed as Red Cross War Fund Month by the President of the United States. 90% of all money raised will go directly into services for the armed forces. (T.Times, 2/29/1944, p.1)

Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Eagles receive visit from National President in January of 1944. Large group portrait of men, those in front wearing uniforms, and several on stage behind and beside an Honor Roll plaque. Eagles' National President, Robert W. Hansen, is the man on the far right in the back row. (T.Times, 1/10/1944, P. 5; 1/18/1944, P.18)

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Fraternal Order of Eagles (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hansen, Robert W.;

Tacoma's first senior hospital aides. 15-18 year old Girl Scouts are receiving intensive training to become Senior Scout Hospital Aides. They will assist nurses at Tacoma General with hospital duties. Group portrait of 14 young women and nurse. Names appear in newspaper (T. Times, 6/21/44, p. 4).

Girl Scouts (Tacoma); Nursing--Tacoma; Uniforms; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma);

In April of 1944 the U.S.O. Travellers Aid Service at 13th and Pacific hosted a special Easter egg hunt. The two lucky winners who found the golden eggs that were hidden in the service center each received the special prize of a free telephone call home. As four service men and two travellers aid employees listened in, Pvt. H. Shaboby (left) of Chicago, Illinois and Seaman 1/c Michael V. Moauro of Canton, Ohio waited for their calls to go through. When Seaman Moauro's mother heard her son's voice she wept, and couldn't talk to him; his father came to the phone. (The woman at the far right is Mrs. Louise Rohrback, assistant director at the center.) (T. Times, 4/11/44, p. 16).

USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Easter egg hunts--Tacoma; Telephone booths--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In August of 1944, Camp Fire Girls Donna Lee Schaller, Nancy Lee Coons, and Florence Neu helped prepare campaign supplies for the upcoming Community War Chest drive. These girls decided to volunteer for the campaign and spend their last few days of summer vacation helping the Tacoma Community Chest and Council office. Camp Fire Girls giving ten hours of community service were eligible for the National Service emblem, with a Red Star added for each additional twenty five hours. (T. Times, 8/25/44, p. 5; TNT 8-26-44, p. 14-alt. photograph).

Camp Fire Girls (Tacoma); Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Schaller, Donna Lee; Coons, Nancy Lee; Neu, Florence;

Members of the Red Cross Motor Corps load materials into their vehicle for transportation to Ft. Lewis. Pictured left to right are Mrs. Lyle Abrahamson, Mrs. Hazel Rushmore, Mrs. D. M. Woods and Mrs. Clinton Reynolds.

American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma; War bonds & funds; Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Central Labor Council donation to Pierce County Foundation. [Also dated 02-17-1943]

Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gifts; Central Labor Council (Tacoma); Pierce County Foundation (Tacoma);

In 1943 the Poggie Club raffled off an Evinrude Zephyr outboard motor to raise money for their annual Father-Son Derby. Eugene Rubattino, right, was the proud winner. He received his prize at the Washington Hardware Company, 921-23 Commerce Street, from (l to r) Clarence Johnson, Club president, and Everett L. "Tiny" Reynolds, Club Sec. (T. Times 5/5/1943 p.14)

Poggie Club (Tacoma); Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat engines; Rubattino, Eugene; Johnson, Clarence; Reynolds, Everett L.; Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma);

Three couples smile for the camera on February 23, 1943 at the social event following the installation of new officers at the Rudder Club, 1131 Commerce St.

Rudder Club, Inc. (Tacoma);

The new Board of the Spinster Club. Officers are, left to right, Virginia Austin, Ann Baillargeon, Katherine Foss and Mary Marush. Members of the Club will be hosting a dance honoring the Officers of the Army Air Corps at McChord Field. The dance will be held Friday in the Junior ballroom of the Hotel Winthrop. Music will be supplied by the Brad Bannon Orchestra. The decorating theme will be silver bombers against a sky of blue. (T. Times 3/13/1943, pg. 4)

Spinster Club (Tacoma); Austin, Virginia; Baillargeon, Ann; Foss, Katherine; Marush, Mary;

Three members of the Spinster Club are hard at work in May of 1943 on the "Mammy" dolls that will adorn the tables at the 5th annual Dixie Ball, to be held at the Roof Garden of the Hotel Winthrop. The women are, left to right, Mrs. James Hayes, Katherine Foss and Penny (Mrs.H.J.) Croteau.The dolls are made out of cones covered with red gingham fabric. The event in 1943 would also be a benefit for the Army/Navy relief fund. (T.Times 5/5/1943, pg.4; TNT 5/8/1943, pg. 4)

Spinster Club (Tacoma); Dolls; Foss, Katherine; Croteau, Penny;

The staff of the Progressive Italian-American Club stand behind the clubs newly modernized bar. The PIA Club was about to celebrate their remodeling by hosting a complimentary buffet luncheon for fraternal and social members and the press. The club, at 739 St. Helens, had been totally remodeled, at a cost of over $70,000 - almost twice the original budget. Rocco Manza, the club manager, and Frank A. Reda, the social chairman, had made elaborate preparations for the event. The same location was later home to Honan's Restaurant. (T. Times, 3/14/46, p. 9).

Italian Americans--Clubs--Tacoma; Bars (Furniture)--Tacoma; Progressive Italian American Club (Tacoma); Dohrmann Hotel Supply Co. (Tacoma);