During World War II, the US military was still segregated. Despite the fact that they fought side by side, servicemen of color were not allowed in the whites only USO clubs. In Tacoma, a group of prominent religious, community and civic leaders addressed this problem by opening USO #2 at 713-15 Commerce St. and dedicating it for the use of African American servicemen and women. This photograph is of an unidentified violinist and accompanist performing at USO #2.

Volunteer Senior Hostesses at the USO #2 posed around a refreshment table, circa 1946, at an unidentified event at the club located at 713-15 Commerce St. Pictured in the standing row were, at far left, Lila Brown; second from left, Ethel Butler; fourth from left, Maude Leonard; fourth from right, Louise Beck; far right, Helen Beck Stafford. Minnie Harris is seated, partially hidden, in the second row. The remainder of the women are unidentified. Mrs. Leonard served on the Operating Committee of the club; she also volunteered over 5,000 hours during its years of operation. (brochure from Recognition Ceremony USO Number Two on 3/30/1947; photograph by F.L. Powell of Tacoma)

In this photograph from around 1946, eight volunteer Senior Hostesses posed around a refreshment table for an unidentified event held at the USO #2 located at 713-15 Commerce Street. Pictured left to right: Lila Brown, Ethel Butler, Helen Beck Stafford, Maude Leonard, unidentified, Louise Beck, unidentified and Minnie Harris. (brochure from Recognition Ceremony USO Number Two on 3/30/1947; photograph by F.L. Powell of Tacoma)

Boats at Northern Pacific dock, Tacoma, Washington Territory, circa 1885. The owners of the warehouse in the center of photograph were not identified. The large building to the far left is the Blackwell Hotel, considered New Tacoma's first hotel. Built by the Northern Pacific Railroad, it opened on January 1, 1874 and closed in 1884. It was razed during the summer of 1901. KING-002, TPL-1095

In this photograph believed to be from the mid 1880s, a group of Puyallup Indians gathers on the shore of the Puget Sound to gamble. The game they are playing appears to be the bone game, where two teams of 10-12 sit opposite each other. One team has four bones which they pass to the distracting accompaniment of the pounding of sticks and singing of chants. The other team must guess who has the bones. In the background are longboats and a bridge. The Puyallup village during this time period was believed to be at the foot of South 15th St. KING-003, TPL 2897.

Three-masted ship "Eldorado" at old coal bunkers, Tacoma, Washington Territory, circa 1885. These are believed to be the Northern Pacific coal bunkers projecting into Commencement bay that were completed in 1882 at a cost of $250,000 and considered at that time to be the most modern of their type on the North Pacific Coast. Ships like the "Eldorado" were a common sight waiting to take on loads of coal. (Hunt, "The Coal Bunkers," History of Tacoma) KING006, TPL 1076

This is the original Annie Wright Seminary designed by architects Boone & Meeker as it appeared circa 1886. The private school for girls opened two years before in September of 1884, thanks to its benefactor, Charles B. Wright. The building's foundation came from Wilkeson stone and brick. Its sharp gables and turrets added to the impressive ediface. A gymnasium was added in 1899 and was the sole remaining building left when the school was razed in 1924. Due to growing enrollment, a new campus arose at 827 Tacoma Ave. N. the same year.

Members of the Tacoma High School faculty and the senior class, class of 1900, posed on the porch and steps of the school then located at 714 Tacoma Avenue South. The site was the former location of the Washington College, private school for boys. Two students have been identified in the photograph: George (or Georgia) Armstrong and Roy Knapp. Roy Knapp is seated in the second row of steps, second from left, next to an unidentified female. He was the business manager in 1899-1900 for the "Tahoma," the monthly publication of the Tacoma High School students and would pass away in 1906. Two cadets sit on the step railings. They are holding their distinctive hats and appear to be wearing similar clothing, i.e. uniforms. Cadets would participate in drills and would have an armory prepared for their use. KING 012, TPL 1038.

ca. 1911. Al G. Barnes Wild Animal Circus wagon with a small brass band on top and African lions inside is pulled down a street in South Tacoma. Probably taken Sept. 13, 1911.

ca. 1908. Northern Pacific shops in South Tacoma.

ca. 1910. G. W. O'Brien, contractor, and men laying pipe in South Tacoma.

ca. 1908. Young man standing behind a "Flying Merkle" motorcycle. The young man is wearing a shirt with the words "Flying Merkle" on it.

ca. 1910. Unidentified young man, holding a metal milk pitcher in each hand, stands next to a horse-drawn mik wagon among the trees. The wooden panels on the side of the wagon say "Jersey Milk."

ca. 1908. A group of men, women and children crowd into a butcher shop - probably in South Tacoma. Various cuts of meat are on display including a whole smoked pig. Four butchers, in white aprons, are standing behind the counter.

ca. 1908. McClintock's World Famous So. Tacoma Band. Men in costumes in parade on So. Union Ave. The vehicles and men cover from the sidewalk into the street. C.S. (Carl S.) Enger's hardware store, 5401 So. Union Ave., in background.

Family group in front of the Norstread residence in South Tacoma.

ca. 1908. Fowler children on Oak (sp) Street. Probably the children of Jane and/or Mary S. Fowler. Jane Fowler, the widow of Fredrick Fowler, lived at 832 N. Oakes in 1908. Mary S. Fowler, the widow of Giles H. Fowler, lived at 709 No. O St.

ca. 1910. Stegelon (Germans) at 49th and Oak (sp) streets in South Tacoma. Two men, two women and a child stand in front of a small one story house with a picket fence. One of the men has a rifle.

A group of African Americans look on for the cutting of a cake at an unidentified social event at the USO #2, 713-715 Commerce St., circa 1946. The cake has four candles, possibly indicating that it was in honor of the Club's fourth anniversary in September of 1946. In the group were Helen B. Stafford (second from left), Arthur Hayes (fifth from left), Maude Leonard (seventh from left) and Louise Beck (back of center, in hat.) (photograph by F.L. Powell of Tacoma)

The second annual USO Music Festival was held at Point Defiance Park on July 28, 1946. One of the featured performers was the 70 piece Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Pacific Northwest, under the direction of Dr. Francis Aranyi. The concert took place around the temporary bandstand set up in the natural amphitheater at the entrance to the park. It was attended by over 7,000 people. (TT 7/27/1946, pg 2 and 7/28/46, pg 1; TNT 7/27/46, pg.1 and 7/29/46, pg. 1& 2; Photo by F.L. Powell, YMCA, Tacoma)

On July 29, 1945, the USO hosted its first Music Festival at Point Defiance Park. Over 6,000 spectators were on hand to enjoy the concert. The main feature was a performance of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" by the 362nd Army Band of Fort Lewis. Cpl. William Sumner of New York City was the featured soloist. Cpl. Sumner was the solo pianist with the National Broadcasting Company before entering the Army. Other performers included the 29th Special Band directed by Sgt. Earnest Hayden and the 25 voice Naval choir from Bremerton, featuring baritone soloist Robert Brown. (TNT 7/29/1945, pg. 1; photograph by F.L. Powell of Tacoma)

From September of 1942 until the end of March, 1947, 713-15 Commerce housed USO #2, a club reserved for the entertainment of servicemen and women of color. One of the unique activities in the club took place each year during "Be Kind to Animals" week. Servicemen assisted in the planning and production of a dog show with the pets of local children. Ribbons were presented to the best in each catagory. In this photograph dated September 16, 1945, unidentified children and servicemen pose with a variety of dogs at the club. (photograph by F.L. Powell of Tacoma)

ca. 1947. Orson Welles (right), noted performer and director of stage, screen and radio, posed in this undated photograph with a longtime friend and Army-Navy USO Club leader Bennie D. Brown. The occasion was possibly in March of 1947, when Mr. Welles spoke to 5,000 persons in the Armory as a guest of the Tacoma Jewish Association in observance of Brotherhood Week.

On July 28, 1946, over 7,000 people attended the second US Music Festival at Point Defiance Park. Featured performers were the Seattle Elks Band, the Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Pacific Northwest, the Puget Sound Navy Orchestra, the 448th Special Service Band, Sharps and Flats led by Joe Jordan and the Three Dynamos. (TT 7/27/1946, pg 2 and 7/28/46, pg 1; TNT 7/27/46, pg.1 and 7/29/46, pg. 1& 2; Official photograph, U.S. Army Air Forces McChord Field)

View looking south of the Northern Pacific Railroad track along Commencement Bay, Tacoma, Washington Territory, circa 1885. Sidewheeler steamship North Pacific at dock. The Northern Pacific wharf lay below today's Stadium Way and would serve, according to historian Murray Morgan, as a "third world between Old Tacoma and New Tacoma." (Morgan: South on the Sound, p. 48-49) KING-001, TPL-018.

1908/08. Group by peach tree. Krumm Farm. Three men, a woman and a horse stand next to a tree. There is a barn in the background.

ca. 1908. Miller residence at Manitou Park in South Tacoma, circa winter of 1908. Trees and ground are covered with snow. Icicles hang from the house eaves.

ca. 1908. People at the Western Washington Fair in Puyallup. It is raining, and people have umbrellas. Road is muddy.

Tacoma High School students parade to "Boost the Stadium." The campaign to raise $100,000 to build a beautiful high school stadium next to the school was successfully launched on October 6, 1908, when 2,000 school children ranging from 7th-8th grade to high schoolers marched in the "Boost for Stadium" parade. The school district cooperated by making the day a half-day so that the youngsters could march from Tacoma High School (later renamed Stadium High School) to the Union Club and then onto the downtown business district. Led by the Tacoma Musicians Union, who provided their services without charge, the marchers chanted "Boost for the stadium, stadium, stadium" and "Stadium, stadium, stadium, stadium" throughout the long walk. Paraders canvassed the business blocks of Commerce and "C" (now Broadway) and Pacific and would go on to canvas residential areas after school the next day. They asked businesses to contribute $10 promissory notes payable to the Board of Education. Each $10 entitled subscribers to one seat in the stadium for all entertainments there for the next five years. Supporters of the new stadium aimed to have it completed and ready for dedication and use by May 1, 1909. (TDL 10-6-1908, p. 5-article; TDL 10-7-1908, p.1-article)

ca. 1908. Garret W. O'Brien, contractor, and men laying pipe in South Tacoma.