In November 1940, an unidentified Civil Service Commission physician tested the lung capacity of H.E. Wood (center) and Lee York as part of the physical exam given to police force applicants. Eighty applicants took the exam, and twenty-three were immediately rejected because they did not meet the height and weight specifications. Those who passed the…
Thanksgiving Prize, 1949
Richard Wagner (center) won this handsome turkey at the Pharaoh Club's 5th annual Thanksgiving dance held on Thursday November 24, 1949 at the Top of the Ocean. Gene Nelson holds Mr. Wagner's turkey while Miss Janet McMath tickles its breast feathers. The Pharaoh Club was a young men's social group, organized in 1939. Since Mr…
Waiting for the Phone, 1943
Due to War Production Board rules, private telephones in Salishan, the housing project built for war workers in East Tacoma, were not just a luxury, they were almost an impossibility. The phone company was allowed to install just 12 outdoor booths, not enough to serve the planned occupancy of 10,000 persons. Using one of the…
Soda Pop Fundraising, 1927
On November 17, 1927, Mrs. A.B. Smith posed with bottles of soda pop while monitoring her booth at the Bellarmine College Fair, held in St. Leo's high school gym. Money raised during the Fair would go to support the planned construction of Bellarmine College, which opened in 1928. goo.gl/N3PBbb…
Triplets, 1937
Patricia Bush, a nurse at Tacoma General Hospital, holds William Henry Hartle, one of the triplets born to Mrs. William (Genevieve) Hartle on November 14, 1937. The first of the triplets, a girl later named Waunita (at right), was born at 11:23 PM and weighed 3 lb. 7 oz. She was followed by two boys…
Captain’s Quarters, 1972
Surprisingly, this is not the luxurious living room of a contemporary home but living quarters found within the Sea Royal, the 225-foot tuna seiner built by Tacoma Boatbuilding. An ornate electric fireplace, large wooden bar with upholstered stools, red leather chairs and oversized stuffed sofa resting on rich, red wall-to-wall carpeting present a picture that…
Ballot Counting, 1940
In November of 1940, Pierce County Prosecutor Thor Tollefson supervised the opening and counting of the absentee voters' ballots from the general election. The ballots had to be sorted by precinct and district, and each ballot's signature on the outside had to be compared with applications on file. The 1940 election was especially tense because…
Native American Heritage Month
November is Native American Heritage Month, also known as American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. The Northwest Room at Tacoma Library’s Main Branch has a wealth of materials to help you research and celebrate the Pacific Northwest’s rich Native history. You’ll find: Books and encyclopedias, as well as primary source materials such as Territorial…
Student Voters, 1944
In early November 1944, Pierce County Auditor Joseph E. Ford had a voting machine placed at Stadium High School so students could become familiar with the voting process. The results of the student ballots were announced prior to the national election. Their major candidate choices included Franklin D. Roosevelt for President, and Monrad C. Wallgren…
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