Members of the Wauna Club planning committee admire a scroll with artful drawings of bamboo during a meeting at the home of the Arthur Reynolds. The committee is planning the club's first dance of the year, a Chinese extravaganza themed "Through the Moon Gate." It will be held Saturday, November 8th, 1941 at the Roof Garden of the Winthrop Hotel. Pictured are, left to right, Stella (Mrs. Arthur) Reynolds, Helen (Mrs. Otto) Siburg, Ethel (Mrs. George) Weller and Elva (Mrs. C.J.) Weller. (T. Times 11/1/1941, pg. 4)

Wauna Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Reynolds, Arthur--Homes & haunts; Weller, Ethel; Weller, Elva; Siburg, Helen; Reynolds, Stella; Committees--Tacoma--1940-1950; Scrolls (Visual works);

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;

At mid-afternoon on Sunday June 15, 1941 three Army B-25 Mitchell medium bombers swooped in over the flotilla of boats off Point Defiance Park and began "strafing" the crowd of Tacomans who packed the beach. So began the dramatic war games enacted at the 4th Annual Young Men's Business Club Water Carnival. In a spectacular demonstration of the army's war preparedness, eight of the army's newest landing boats carried 312 fully equipped troops up to the shore. Armed with machine guns and mounted bayonets, the soldiers stormed onto the beach under the cover of a curtain of smoke laid down by an army attack plane. (T. Times 6/16/1941 p.1)

Organizations--Tacoma; Young Men's Business Club (Tacoma); Military air shows--Tacoma; Bombers--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Boats--Tacoma;

One of the main attractions of the Fourth Annual Young Men's Business Club Water Carnival of 1941 was an hour long "battle" staged by troops from Fort Lewis and McCord Field. In a coordinated invasion of Point Defiance Beach, landing boats hit the shore as a trio of bombers roared in and "strafed" the beach. As the troops made their way onto dry land, they had to fight a second force of soldiers who were defending the park. Noicy but harmless ammunition was used. (T.Times 6-16-1941 p.1)

Organizations--Tacoma; Young Men's Business Club (Tacoma); Soldiers--Tacoma;Festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Boats--Tacoma; Beaches--Tacoma;

Will Poelle, a Stewart Jr. High art student, and Bernice Pratt, an art student at Lincoln H.S., were the two 1st place winners in the American Legion poppy poster contest held in May of 1941. Sponsored by two Legion auxiliaries, Rhodes Unit No. 2 and Tacoma Unit No. 138, the poster contest preceded the annual Legion poppy sale held May 23rd and 24th. Money collected through the sale of poppies went to aid disabled veterans and needy children of deceased and disabled veterans. From left to right are: Mrs. Haze Coy, poppy poster chairwoman, Tacoma Unit No. 138; Will Poelle; Bernice Pratt; and Mrs. H.J.C. Berg, chairwoman from Rhodes Unit No. 2. (TNT 5/17/1941 p.6)

Patriotic societies--Tacoma; Clubs--Tacoma; American Legion Edward B. Rhodes Post No. 2 (Tacoma);

Members of the planning committee for the Spinster Club's 3rd annual Dixie Ball pose on the front steps on #95, possibly 95 East Rd. The women are, left to right, Virginia Austin, Dixie Thompson, Anne Louise Greiwe and Elinor Erickson. They are wearing floor length ballgowns, reminiscent of the antebellum time period. The dance would be held May 10th, 1941 at the Winthrop Hotel's Crystal Ballroom.

Spinster Club (Tacoma); Erickson, Elinor; Thompson, Dixie; Greiwe, Anne Louise; Austin, Virginia;

Four members of the Spinster Club donned summery formal gowns to help publicize the third annual Dixie Ball which was scheduled to be held on May 10, 1941 in the Crystal Ballroom at the Winthrop Hotel. Posed left to right, Elinor Erickson, Dixie Thompson, Anne Louise Greiwe and Virginia Austin were photographed just below the veranda of the August Von Boecklin home at 74 East Road. Miss Erickson was in charge of decorations for the dance and Miss Austin was secretary of the club. (T. Times 4/26/1941, pg. 5)

Spinster Club (Tacoma); Erickson, Elinor; Thompson, Dixie; Greiwe, Anne Louise; Austin, Virginia; Von Boecklin, August--Homes & haunts;

The third annual "I Am an American" Day observance, sponsored by the Tacoma Americanization Council, was held in May of 1941 at Jason Lee Middle School. Invitations were sent by the Americanization Council to over 600 newly naturalized and first generation American citizens. There were about 35 different nationalities represented at the impressive and patriotic ceremonies. Governor Arthur B. Langlie, Tacoma Mayor Harry P. Cain and Superior Court Judge Ernest B. Card delivered addresses of welcome. Many other dignitaries were in attendance including Federal Judge Lloyd L. Black, jurist whose court in Tacoma saw nearly 600 persons attain American citizenship during the past year and who received a silent standing tribute by the assembled new citizens before his brief speech. (T.Times 5-8-41, p. 8-article; T.Times, 5-16-41, p. 3-article)

Tacoma Americanization Council (Tacoma); Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Immigrants; Naturalization; Citizenship;

The committee planning the next Wauna Club dance, scheduled for April 19th, 1941 at the Winthrop roof garden, visits the Central Travel Bureau to get the scoop on Hawaii. The theme for the dance is "Aloha Oe." Pictured, left to right, are Anna (Mrs. Harold R.) Johnson, Evelyn (Mrs. Erling) Johnson, Edith (Mrs. J.W.) Gourley, Mrs.Tim Kimball and Eva (Mrs. Thor) Tollefson. (T. Times 4/12/1941, pg. 5)

Wauna Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Central Travel Bureau (Tacoma); Johnson, Anna; Johnson, Evelyn; Gourley, Edith; Tollefson, Eva;

Riders enjoy a traditional "Hunt Breakfast" while seated on the steps of the Woodbrook Hunt Club clubhouse, balancing plates on their knees. The hunt breakfast actually follows the hunt, making it more of an afternoon meal. The members of Woodbrook were the hosts for a joint hunt with the Columbia Hunt Club from Portland. Pictured, front row, Mrs. Jack Loehr, Miss Jen Eckelsen, Errol Ostrum and Clark Fay, all of Portland. Back row, Dorothy Faber of Portland, Fred Kenworthy, Richard Hall, Mrs. Helen Keho Woods, Miss Ethel Hacker, unidentified young girl. (T. Times 3/19/1941, pg. 10; 3/29/1941, pg. 5; picture in T. Times 4/5/1941, pg. 5)

Woodbrook Hunt Club (Lakewood);

Members of the Woodbrook Hunt Club, wearing traditional hunt clothing, were photographed in the Spring of 1941 riding across the prairie with their hounds. The "Huntsman" was the gentleman in the top hat. Woodbrook still practices the tradition of riding to the hounds and is one of 170 member hunts of the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America. They keep a group of pedigree American Foxhounds in their kennels. (www.woodbrookhunt.com)

Woodbrook Hunt Club (Lakewood); Horses--Tacoma;

Members of the Woodbrook Hunt Club were photographed on March 29, 1941 against a background of prairie and (faintly) Mount Rainier. The Club had played host to two other groups of riders, from other cities, twice during the Spring. The group was captured by the Richards photographer while setting out on a hunt. (T. Times 4/5/1941, pg. 5)

Woodbrook Hunt Club (Lakewood); Horses--Tacoma;

Two couples pose at the University Union Club Sadie Hawkins Dance on March 15, 1941. The men are dressed in formal attire, but the women are definitely attired Dogpatch style. The pairs are seated on a hay bale and tin cups and cans have taken the places of drink glasses for the evening. Sadie Hawkins Day, usually celebrated in November, was the invention of Al Capp in his Li'l Abner comic strip. It was the day, decades before women's liberation, when women could ask out the man of their dreams. By the 1930's, it was sweeping the nation. The schedule for the evening included dancing from 9:30- 1, followed by a supper.

University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma); Dance parties--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Woodbrook Hunt Club. Five young women, four holding hunting dogs, posed for portrait in front of fireplace. They are the officers of the newly formed junior organization of the Woodbrook Hunt Club. The girls are, left to right, Diane Corse, Jean Strong, Wendy Wagner, Nancy Griggs and Ann Stickney. (T.Times 1/25/1941, pg. 5)

Woodbrook Hunt Club (Lakewood); Hunting dogs; Clubs--Lakewood--1940-1950; Corse, Diane; Strong, Jean; Wagner, Wendy; Griggs, Nancy; Stickney, Ann;

Pacific Coast Fire Chiefs Convention. Man in driver's seat of fire engine parked by Winthrop Hotel. The Pacific Coast Fire Chiefs Convention was held in Tacoma during late July of 1940 with chiefs visiting from Washington, Oregon, California, Montana, Idaho and other western states. The unidentified gentleman behind the wheel of the fire engine may have been one of the many firemen in attendance.

Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The Pacific Coast Fire Chiefs Convention was held in late July of 1940. The roof of the Winthrop Hotel was a favorite spot for photographing large groups as the downtown skyline made a memorable view. Men on roof of Winthrop Hotel, city and port in background.

Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Cityscapes;

Over 100 firemen posed for a formal group photograph on the roof of the Hotel Winthrop in late July of 1940. From July 31 through August 3rd the 47th annual convention of the Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs was held in Tacoma. Emory N. Whitacker, Tacoma Fire Chief, was convention host to chiefs from Washington, Oregon, California, Montana, Idaho and other western states. With wives, guests, and concessionaires, the convention was expected to bring some 1,500 visitors to Tacoma. The Murray Morgan Bridge (11th St. Bridge), the City Waterway (now the Foss Waterway), and several of the prominent buildings on A Street including the Tacoma Building and the Perkins Building can be seen in the background.

Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Cityscapes; 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma); City Waterway (Tacoma); Tacoma Building (Tacoma); Perkins Building (Tacoma);

The 47th annual convention of the Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs would be held in Tacoma for the first times on July 31 through August 3rd, 1940. Emory N. Whitacker, Tacoma Fire Chief, would play convention host to 500-700 chiefs from Washington, Oregon, California, Montana, Idaho and other western states. With wives and guests, the conventioneers would total over 1500. Pictured seated center is Chief Baker of Louistown, Mt., president of the Pacific Coast Fire Chiefs. Standing back left is Jay W. Stevens of San Francisco, Secretary of the Fire Chiefs. (T. Times 7/23/1940, pg. 2)

Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stevens, Jay W.;

Community Chest. Portrait artist and subject at 13th and Pacific U.S.O. Volunteers provided many services for the military men stationed here. In January of 1943, portrait artist Laurie MacLeod posed with her painting of Chief Petty Officer Joe Catanzinto, of Punxsutawney, Penn., and the model himself. Mr. Catazinto drew the lucky number in the Wednesday contest at the USO Club at 13th & Pacific and won the sitting and portrait. He planned to send it to his family back home. Mrs. MacLeod held the drawing while her husband Robert MacLeod, also an artist, attended his Coast Guard Reserve meeting. The couple has a studio in New York until four years prior when they moved to this area and built a home at Lakota Beach. (TNT 2/3/1943, pg. 1)

USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Military personnel--Tacoma; Portraits; MacLeod, Laurie; Catanzinto, Joe;

Portrait artist Laurie MacLeod paused in her painting to admire her likeness of Chief Petty Officer Joe Catanzinto, of Punxsutawney, Penn. Mr. Catanzinto drew the lucky number at the USO Club at 13th & Pacific, winning the free sitting and portrait. He plans to send it back home to his family. Mrs. MacLeod held a drawing each Wednesday night while her husband Robert MacLeod, a marine artist, attended his Coast Guard Reserve meeting. The couple had a studio in New York until four years prior when they came to the area and built a home at Lakota Beach. (TNT 2/3/1943, pg. 1)

USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Military personnel--Tacoma; Portraits; MacLeod, Laurie; Catanzinto, Joe;

The Co-ed Club sponsored a social evening at the USO Club at 13th and Fawcett on Tuesday, July 21, 1942. Each Tuesday evening a different group took charge of the evening's entertainment and the late supper. Pictured around the punch bowl were club members and honored guests, left to right, Mrs. Kenneth Bourke, Mrs. Victor Vine, Pfc. LeRoy Strangeland, Marjorie Stewart, Peggy Shaw and Pvt. Sidney Jones. (TNT 7/25/1942, pg. 5)

USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Co-Ed Club (Tacoma); Strangeland, LeRoy; Shaw, Peggy; Jones, Sidney; Stewart, Marjorie;

On April 24, 1941, Mertice Brook, Pat Farris and Mildred Holstrum are preparing candles for the May 3 party celebrating the 60 year anniversary of the Young Women's Christian Association's Girl Reserves. Two are working with cut paper, the other putting birthday candles on marshmallows. The Girl Reserves was a Christian organization for grammar through high school girls sponsored by the Young Women's Christian Association. (T.Times 5/1/1941 p.11)

Girl Reserves (Tacoma); Anniversaries--Tacoma; Young Women's Christian Association (Tacoma); Brook, Mertice; Farris, Pat; Holstrum, Mildred;

Junior League provisionals at Kathryn King's residence. Pictured in front of the King home at 615 No. Yakima Ave. are Mrs. Henry Walker, Mrs. Robert Pfeiffer, Audsley Fraser and Leona (Mrs. Jospeph Jr.) Long. (T. Times 10/4/1941, pg. 5)

Junior League (Tacoma); Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Publicity for Community Chest. Children at Y.W.C.A. pool. A swimming instructor helps a young student on the diving board while parents look on from the gallery above. The YWCA pool had stayed open for the first time all summer long in 1942. With a shortage of gasoline and tires and with both parents often working in the defense industry, wartime vacations were almost non existent. The pool gave kids stuck at home on those long summer days something to look forward to. [Also dated 08-24-1942]

Young Womens Christian Association (Tacoma); Swimming pools--Tacoma; Swimmers--Tacoma;

In 1919 the Edward B. Rhodes Post No. 2 of the American Legion drew together a group of veterans at the Tacoma Armory to consider an organization and elect a delegate to the first national convention of the Legion in St. Louis. Regular meetings started soon afterwards. Since then new veterans are inducted on a regular basis. American Legion post No. 2, veterans of World War II installations, view of eight men receiving their oaths.

Veterans' organizations--Tacoma; Conference rooms--Tacoma; Oaths--Tacoma; American Legion (Tacoma); Murals;

Camp Fire Girls packing Community Chest Red Feathers.

Camp Fire Girls (Tacoma); Girls--Tacoma--1940-1950; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Mayor Val Fawcett with woman believed to be his wife Linda at Gyro Club District Convention function at Tacoma Golf and Country Club in August of 1946. The three day annual convention of the Gyro Club District Number 4 attracted 500 delegates representing 18 clubs from Washington, Oregon and British Columbia. The Gyro Club is a non-profit service club that promotes friendship. ALBUM 14.

Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gyro Club (Tacoma); Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965;

Traveler's Aid, "10,000th" person placed. When Pvt. and Mrs. Lowell Haines checked in at the Travelers Aid desk at Union Depot they became the 9,999th and 10,000th visitors to be given temporary housing by the USO - Travelers Aid since April 1, 1942. Edith Clayton was behind the counter to assist them. Flight Officer and Mrs. John Wilmering are waiting in the background. (T.Times, 6/4/1945, p.1) TPL-6420

USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Travelers' Aid (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Clayton, Edith; Wilmering, John; Haines, Lowell; Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The Tacoma/Pierce County League of Garden Clubs met in December of 1945 to make Christmas decorations to be used at Madigan Hospital. Their goal was to make 500 decorations. The all-day work program was held at the Red Cross building at 702-04 Broadway. Members were asked to bring evergreen clippings from their own gardens and their own pruning clippers. Holly was requested as well as Christmas tree trimmings and pine cones. (T.Times, 12/19/1945, p.10-article)

American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Christmas decorations; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; League of Garden Clubs (Tacoma);