Home portrait of the Irving E. Hill Sr. family. The Hills enjoyed a family reunion on June 13, 1942, at Irving Hill's E. 31st St. residence in honor of Bud Hill, who was leaving shortly to begin training with the Navy Air Corps. Pictured in the front row are, left to right, Mrs. W.D. Cooley (formerly Doris Hill), Tilda (Mrs. Irving Sr.) Hill and Mrs. Fred Stedman (formerly Mabel Hill.) Back row, l to r, Carroll Hill, Irving (Bud) Hill Jr., Irving E. Hill Sr., James C. Hill and Loyal W. Hill. All together, seventeen members of the Hill family turned out to see Bud off. (TNT 7/12/1942, pg. A-2)

Hill, Irving E.--Homes & haunts; Hill, Irving E.--Family; Hill, Irving E.; Hill, Tilda A.; Reunions;

Railroad boxcar being loaded with plywood sheets.

Industries - Wood Products Industry - Plywood Manufacturing Transportation - Rail Transportation - Freight Shipping

The Grand Chapter of the State of Washington, Order of the Eastern Star, opened their "Victory Session" at Fellowship Hall in the Masonic Temple on June 18, 1942. The Grand Officers posed for a group portrait for the 59th annual meeting. Hanging above them are flags from many nations. Since America was at war then the flags shown are from some of their allies, including Great Britain and the USSR. Silhouettes of Presidents Washington and Lincoln flank the officials on stage. 1500 Eastern Star members attended the meeting. Mayme Harmony of Seattle and Irwin Jones were selected as worthy grand matron and worthy grand patron, respectively. (T.Times 6-17-42, p. 8-article; T.Times 6-19-42, p. 9-article)

Order of the Eastern Star (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flags--United States; Flags; Silhouettes; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1941. Row of teller windows and safe deposit boxes inside lobby of Puget Sound National Bank, 1117-19 Pacific Ave., circa 1941.

Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;

ca. 1942. Bright eyed students pose in front of Stanley School, circa 1942. (WSHS)

School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Group portraits; Stanley Elementary School (Tacoma);

Extension of Sperry Flour Milling Co.

Sperry Flour Milling Co. (Tacoma);

Sperry Flour Milling Co. loading extension

Sperry Flour Milling Co. (Tacoma);

Large redwood tree at Ashton residence for Tacoma Garden Club. It was photographed on March 6, 1942.

Trees;

ca. 1942. Workmen for Walker Cut Stone.The 1942 City Directory lists Robert G. Walker as manager and a Post Office Box in Wilkeson as the only address.

Walker Cut Stone Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Building materials industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Installation of liquid filters. St. Regis Paper Co. Two lg. boilers.

The Anderson Building at the corner of 10th and Pacific was built in 1941, and in 1942 became the new home for Knapp College, the Federal Insurance Group, Gale's Rugs, and the Lutheran Service Center. Knapp's Modern Business College was founded in 1921 and for many years was the only fully accredited business training school in Tacoma. In 1965 they remodeled and expanded their building, and in 1975 they moved to 1001 North J Street. After being in business for almost 70 years, Knapp College declared bankruptcy and closed in 1990.

Anderson Building (Tacoma); Knapp College (Tacoma); Storefronts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Federal Insurance Group (Tacoma); Gale's Rugs (Tacoma); Lutheran Service Center (Tacoma);

In September of 1942, Tacoma got its first visit from the new US Girl Soldiers. Two of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) members were stationed in Tacoma to push the recruitment of more women. Margaret Barth is pictured in her snappy uniform with Bob Sonnen at the Winthrop Hotel. Miss Barth wore the bars of a second lieutenant. The WAAC was established by a bill enacted May 14, 1942 and the first women began training in July of that year. It was abolished at the end of August of 1943 and replaced by the Women's Army Corps (WAC), making women bonafide members of the Army. The other branches of the service soon followed. Women enlisting in the WAACs were required to have a high school diploma and could be married, but had to be without children. (T. Times 9/24/1942, pg. 1)

Barth, Margaret; World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (Tacoma);

The Western State Hospital "Tillicum Chiefs" of the Twilight League had won 23 games in the 1942 summer season and were in the playoffs for the circuit title. Manager Clink Jacobs (left) gives some tips to his players.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Western State Hospital (Lakewood)--Baseball players;

In December of 1942 Mrs. Carl W. Bobb went with her family to the Homes Registration Bureau in the Provident Building at 917 Pacific Avenue for help in finding Living quarters for herself and her son. Her husband, Sgt. Bobb, had just been stationed at Fort Lewis and they were hoping to find housing near him. The influx of defense industry workers and military families during the war was creating a growing problem for the Tacoma Housing Authority. New construction, such as Lincoln Heights and Salishan, took time and capital. Until new housing could be built, Tacomans were asked to list any rooms, apartments or houses that they had available for rent with the Homes Registration Bureau. (TNT 12/17/1942, pg. 8)

Bobb, Carl W.--Family; Homes Registration Bureau (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma;

Publicity for Community Chest. Phil Brown at Standard Brands - 1308 South K. Mr. Philip S. Brown had accepted the chairmanship of the district payrolls division for the upcoming fund raising campaign, October 15-30, 1942. (T.Times 8/4/1942, pg. 2) (Corrected identification provided by a reader)

Brown, Philip S.; Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; Standard Brands, Inc. (Tacoma);

Reopening of Central Cafe, for Nick A. (Vic) Zvolis. The "Sagebrush Racketeers," two men and two women in Western outfits, with a guitar and a bass, on stage. "Kitty" box for tips at right.

Central Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Musicians--Tacoma--1940-1950;

After wedding portrait of Catherine Norton Chambers and Lt. Ridgeway Foust. The happy couple pose inside a home, in front of the fireplace.

Chambers, Catherine Norton--Marriage; Foust, Ridgeway; Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

After wedding portrait of Catherine Norton Chambers and Lt. Ridgeway Foust. The wedding party poses in what appears to be a residential area. The bride and her attendant are in floor length formal wedding garb, the men are in uniform.

Chambers, Catherine Norton--Marriage; Foust, Ridgeway; Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

October 15-30, 1942 was the fund raising campaign for Tacoma's War Chest. The War Chest was a branch of the Community Chest that specifically funded wartime charities, such as the USO and refugee relief groups. Part of the publicity for the upcoming drive was a play that emphasized that volunteers would be going to homes and businesses to collect donations and pledges for the drive.The campaign was very successful, it went over the top of the goal at $369,822, two days before the end of the drive.

Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Publicity for Community Chest. A group of teachers gathers at a table in the Tacoma Community Chest office, Room 409, Provident Building. This group of educators had recently been appointed to a committee formed to educate Tacoma students about the War Chest and its goals. Pictured, left to right, are Frank Gorow, Miss Lola E. Friars, Miss Mary T. Pakenham, Mrs. Myrtle MacLennan and Mrs. M.D. (Blanche) Wilkinson. (TNT 8/13/1942 p.9)

Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Teachers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gorow, Frank; Pakenham, Mary; MacLennan, Myrtle; Friars, Lola; Wilkinson, Blanche;

In October of 1942, the children of the Ling family heard that there was a key to the city and came up with a great idea for the local "Keys to Victory" key collection drive. Ling Shun Chow (left), age 10, and Ling Jing Nge, seven, watch as Ling Shun Hung, eight, tries to put the mayor's mammoth key into a collection can held by Mayor Harry Cain. The "Key Kans" were placed all over the city for people to deposit unneeded housekeys. Most keys were made of high grade metal, mostly nickel, that was needed for war materials. The youngsters were the children of Ling Yu Nan, a local medicine manufacturer.(T. Times 10-09-1942 p.2)

Chinese Americans--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chinese American families--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Scrap drives--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979;

An unidentified woman is pictured on the phone, spreading the word about "War Chest," a very live and voluble duck used in the October 1942 fund raising campaign to help the participants work a little harder. "War Chest" was awarded to the individual raising the least amount of money. He was required to feed and care for the duck until he improved his financial position and then pass the duck on to the next low man. Most workers spent the two weeks of the campaign trying to "duck the duck."

Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ducks;

On October 20, 1942, a quintet of African American singers from Fort Lewis provided the entertainment at the War Chest report luncheon. The men harmonized on spirituals. The musical group was composed of, in no particular order, Pvt. Chester Crowell, Pfc. Henry Graham, Pvt. Scott Blackshear, Pvt. Matthew Harris and Pfc. Theodore Scott. We have been unable to determine the significance of their identical hand gestures and would appreciate any information available from our readers. (TNT 10/20/1942, pg. 1- story only)

Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; Singers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma vehicle owners line up at an area high school on November 19, 1942, the last day to register in the first group for gasoline ration books. Those drivers registering at this time would receive "A" booklets, allowing them four gallons of gasoline per week. The purpose of the ration was double fold, it also cut down on the wear and tear of tires since rubber was in short supply due to the war in the Pacific.

Consumer rationing--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma;

On November 19, 1942, Lt. William Vacin of Gray Field, Fort Lewis, completed the registration forms for his gasoline ration booklet, with the aid of his wife and four year old son Billy. He was presented with an "A" decal for his vehicle by first grade teacher Ruth Erickson, right, of Lowell Elementary. The "A" decal entitled him to four gallons of gasoline a week. Prior to being called up for active duty, Lt. Vacin had operated a flight school in Enid, Oklahoma. He had been at Fort Lewis for about a month. (T.Times 11/20/1942, pg. 11)

Consumer rationing--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma; Vacin, William; Vacin, William--Family; Erickson, Ruth;

Home portrait of Mrs. Lindmark and family. Portrait of one of the couples pictured in D13524 image 4 group picture.

Couples--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In December of 1942, newly elected Pierce County Sheriff Lee Croft and his wife Pearl pose with one of their three children and a grandchild. The trio are photographed at the Croft Hotel, which Mr. Croft owned as well as resided there.

Croft, Lee; Croft, Pearl; Croft, Lee--Family; Sheriffs--Pierce County--1940-1950; Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Croft (Tacoma);

Bing Crosby arrived at Tacoma's Union Station in August of 1942 to help out with WWII bond sales in the town of his birth. Harry Lillis Crosby was born in Tacoma in May of 1903 when his family lived at 1112 North J Street. While in town with a USO troupe to entertain the soldiers at Fort Lewis, he graciously agreed to headline a show on August 6th at 12 noon at the Liberty Center in an effort to promote bond sales. The Paramount Studios star sang a number of popular songs. Also appearing were Hollywood comedians Phil Silvers and Rags Ragland. The Tacoma local of the Boilermakers union were noted as buying $50,000 worth of war bonds. (T. Times 8-5-42, p. 1; T. Times 8-6-42, p. 1-article)

Crosby, Bing; Singers; Entertainers; Celebrities--Tacoma; War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma;

Chin Sang, attired in a brilliant native costume, performed a ribbon dance at the Liberty Center for the War Chest's opening program on October 8, 1942. The 20 foot ribbon was replaced in a later dance by swords. (T.Times 10-09-1942 p.1)

Dancers--Chinese--1940-1950; Clothing & dress--Chinese

On October 9, 1942, Chin Sang , attired in a brilliantly colored Chinese costume, performed a traditional ribbon dance as part of Tacoma's first War Chest program. It was China's Day at Liberty Center, 1000 Pacific Avenue. A medium-sized crowd watched and listened to a group of Chinese singers and dancers, accompanied by a Chinese orchestra. They also heard a stirring speech by Dr. Kalfred Dip Lung, commissioner of overseas affairs for China. (T.Times 10-09-1942 p.1)

Dancers--Chinese--1940-1950; Clothing & dress--Chinese;