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Theatrical Group, Order of Vasa, ca. 1912, Tacoma
Photograph courtesy of the Vasa Lodge Norden, Tacoma

From In the Footsteps of Nicholas Delin: the Swedish Presence in Pierce County, a photography exhibition tracing the world of Swedish and Swedish-Finnish immigrants in Pierce County from 1887 - 1930, opening Thursday, December 14, 1995 at the Tacoma Public Library's Handforth Gallery (Main Library, 1102 Tacoma Avenue South in downtown Tacoma).

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Indians, Nisqually

A person in rubber boots weighs a bucket

Catherine Frank, left, stands beside husband James V. Mills. Frank is a Nisqually tribal member and Mills is a Yakima tribal member. Also pictured: mother, blanket keeper, left, and food basket keeper at right.

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Indians, Nisqually

Nisqually law enforcement officers, Jack Jewart, left, and Clyde Parsons, check over their new patrol boat at the Steilacoom Marina. The boat will be used for tribal fisheries regulation enforcement on Puget Sound.

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Indians, Nisqually

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Fireworks stands fizzle
Puyallup Indian fireworks stands that boomed with business on the reservation last week lie fizzled out after the July Fourth celebration.
photo by Bruce Kellman

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Three-year-old Calvin Medina, Tacoma, checks out his competition and other tribal dress during the Puyallup tribe's Pow Wow. There was singing, dancing, eating, and competition for best dress and dance.
Photo by David Brandt

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Artist rendering of Puyallup Tribal Bingo Hall

A year after the Puyallup Tribe reached a $162 million settlement which guaranteed hundreds of new jobs, social services, and economic rebirth programs began to receive funding. “Among the tribe’s projects for economic improvement is a $2.1 million state-of-the-art bingo hall, seating up to 1,500 people, to be built in east Tacoma.” The bingo hall was estimated to generate between 90 to 150 jobs.

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Puyallup Project/Patty Butler
Patty Butler enjoys the closeness of family and the feeling of living in an Indian community in Youngsville.

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Indians, Puyallup

Joe Washington, shaman of the Lummis, led the Puyallup Tribe in a ceremony marking the start of the salmon run. The ancient ceremony was held on tribal land near the Portland Avenue Bridge. The ceremony ended with a wedding. Joe Washington asked for the tribe’s adults to remember what they had seen and to pass the knowledge on to their children. Photo by Tribune staff member Russ Carmack.

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Indians, Puyallup

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Indians, Puyallup

A person holds binoculars and looks at the camera.

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Indians, Puyallup
Photo by Kai Silva

Puyallup Tribal members try to stop Wildlife agents from confiscating fish. Ralph Larson director of the state Game department had restricted all fishing starting on December 5th. Three Puyallup tribal officers were cited for permitting tribal members to fish in waters that were closed to all. Photo by Kai Silva.

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Indians, Puyallup
Photo by Bruce Kellman

A person in Native dress talks to some people.

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Indian cigs
Photo by Bob Rudsit

Police and state revenue agents seized cartons of unstamped cigarettes and other Tabacco products allegedly headed for the Satiacum Smoke Shop. The raid was based on a state law prohibiting unlicensed distributors from handling unstamped cigarettes. Puyallup Tribal member Robert Satiacum is not a licensed dealer according to Robert Munzinger, who serves as assistant director of field operations for the Revenue Department. Photo by Tribune staff member Bob Rudsit.
A person walks to a smoke shop that has "Drive in Window Service" written on the front.

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Mrs. Argle

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Scores of men and a couple of women line up, with bags and packs, to gain admission to the Last Chance Shelter on Commerce St. The line often starts forming at 4 o'clock, with the door opening at 6:30.
Photo by Peter Haley

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--BJ's Bingo, new Indian gambling rules.
Lazara Gallardo, 90, of Tacoma plays bingo at BJ's Bingo Hall Friday. Her granddaughter, Lamar Abalahin, 22, of Tacoma is sitting behind her. They were playing in hopes of winning one of the six Yugos given away at BJ's. The winner of the car was Lazara's daughter! (Juanita A. Pastor, winner)
Photo by Susie Post

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Kendo
Photograph by Bruce Larson

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--Old Culture, New Life--
Kathy Laufasa and Tupou Mamaea, both students at Chief Sealth High School, practice Polynesian dance steps. The Samoans are among increasing numbers of Pacific Rim natives who have emigrated to the United States.

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Asian Day - Monk Dance
Yi Yi Young

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Hang Sou, a Hmong refugee, stands in line for his final medical exam at a Thailand transit camp in the Non Fiction Television documentary "Becoming American", which will be televised over the Public Broadcasting Service Friday, June 4 at 9 p.m. (Check local listings.) The documentary by Ken Levine and Ivory Waterworth Levine follows Hang Sou and his family from a refugee camp in northern Thailand to their new home in Seattle, WA.

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Tuyet Mazziotta feeds her 14-month-old daughter during a visit to the Luner New Year Festival celebration in the Kingdome Saturday. This is the beginning of the year of the horse. It's two days of food, music, booths, and combines many groups of differing Asian backgrounds including Vietnamese, Cambodian, Chinese, Thai et cetera. The traditional dragon dance can still be seen tomorrow afternoon after 4 pm in Chinatown in S. Seattle.

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From:
Executive Order 9066:
50 Years Before-50 Years After
Chiyoko Shiromura and Family
Courtesy of the Wing Luke Asian Museum
Seattle, WA

Oral history interview with current president of the Tacoma Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, Cynthia Tucker. Interviewed by dindria barrow on April 21, 2022 in the Digital Media Lab of the Tacoma Public Library. Cynthia shares her personal story of growing up with strong women who helped her overcome shyness, her life overseas, her family stories and her hopes for the future. Cynthia states, “I am still a Black woman no matter where I go,” so it is important to be proud of who you are. Cynthia believes that you should enjoy what you do for work and build confidence in your life by “seeking yourself first”.

Oral history interview conducted by dindria barrow at the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch's Digital Media Lab on June 1, 2022. Reverend Robert T. Penton was born on December 11, 1947 in Bogalusa, Louisiana. He was born in a segregated town with a large Ku Klux Klan chapter in a shotgun (one-room) house. Bob felt he had no voice in this town and grew disenchanted with his life there. He believed he could make a difference by joining the VISTA program. He was sent to South Central Los Angeles in 1967 to be a community organizer, two years after the riots in Watts. Bob joined the Black Panther Party and became a Minister of Information. He found his voice in Los Angeles. His second year in the VISTA program brought him to Tacoma, WA and the largest public housing complex west of the Mississippi river, Salishan. Bob worked in the anti-poverty program and helped to organize a community center, a family food coop, and youth programs. In the 80’s, Reverend Bob ran campaigns against fear and gang violence by fasting. One of his guiding quotes is: “Poverty of purpose is worse than poverty of purse.” When addressing trauma and divisive politics “it takes something bigger than all of us to break down those walls to bring that common purpose.” Overall, he reminds us that “people need to know how much you care, not how much you know.” Listen to Rev. Bob’s personal purpose and his insights into how to navigate life.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Kyle Jolibois conducted by dindria barrow on August 17, 2022. In this interview, Kyle tells us about his birth and how he is connected to the grittiness of Tacoma. To paraphrase him, "Tacomans are fighters and survivalists no matter who is in control of the city." Kyle’s story is about resilience and speaking truth to power. He leads his life with a direct and realistic view about our environment and our social/political issues. Kyle is open about his views, his sobriety goals, and his physical disability. His strength is his voice and his desire to stand up for what is right.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Anita Latch conducted by dindria barrow on August 30, 2022. In this interview, Anita outlines the places she calls home using artwork that her daughter created of locations Anita has lived in. Her grandparents had a farm near Traverse City, Torch Lake, Michigan. She watched trains pass by in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. She lived in a ground floor apartment in Nerburgh, New York after living in Wallkill near Woodstock. Anita’s dad drove the family on Interstate 80 in a Super 88 to McChord Air Force Base and Spanaway, Washington. She remembers listening to a transistor radio in the back of the car during the trip. Anita left home at 15 years old and hitchhiked to Grants Pass, Oregon. She went to college in Redlands, California and then learned silversmithing in Jerome, Arizona. Anita also spent time in Tahiti when her daughter was young. She moved around often between her homes. Anita is a traveler, a journalist, a teacher, a political advocate, and an artist with many life stories. She has been a Precinct Committee Officer and has served on the Tacoma Civil Service Board. “Democracy is not a spectator sport!” Anita declares towards the end of her interview, “so, get involved in voting for each election.” Her openness and honesty are palpable in this oral history and there is some strong language and adult content.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Tom Stenger conducted by dindria barrow on October 20, 2022. In this interview, Tom Stenger shares his family history going back four generations in Tacoma. Tom is a third generation Stadium High School alumnus and received his law degree from the University of Washington. Tom discusses his early years, working as a janitor in college at the University of Puget Sound, and his time serving on the Tacoma City Council. Tom has lived in Tacoma all of his life and, specifically, in the Hilltop neighborhood since buying a house in 1985. Tom has been interested in history ever since he was 14 years old and is the living co-founder of the Tacoma Historical Society.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Freddie Mae Barnett conducted by dindria barrow on January 28, 2023. In this interview, Mrs. Barnett shares her life story with us. She tells us of her upbringing in Athens, Georgia, and military travels with her husband. Mrs. Barnett was active in the military community and in Tacoma. She is a past president of the Tacoma Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, the Washington State Association of Colored Women’s Clubs and the Regional Association of Colored Women’s Clubs which are all affiliated with the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs.