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Explore stories in Northwest history through highlights from MOHAI’s collections. Search by keyword below or browse the entire online collection by entering the asterisk symbol (*). Filter your search by type of materials.

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331 results for: World War II, 1941-1945 (WWII)

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Image of Seattle Rainiers outfielder Bill Matheson jumping to catch a ball, Seattle, 1944
Photograph

Seattle Rainiers outfielder Bill Matheson jumping to catch a ball, Seattle, 1944

Just after the United States entered World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt decided that it would be good for the nation's morale if professional baseball games continued. Some players from the Seattle Rainiers joined the military, but the team continued to play throughout the war. In addition to their regular games, the team also played exhibition games against service ball…
ID Number:PI26702
Date:1944
Image of University of Washington bomb squad with fire extinguishers, Seattle, 1942
Photograph

University of Washington bomb squad with fire extinguishers, Seattle, 1942

Handwritten on negative: U.W. Bomb squad.Handwritten on sleeve: World War II - Seattle - bomb squad (Univ of Wash).Date photograph was filed at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (date of photograph and file date may differ by a month or more): March 9, 1942.
ID Number:PI27956
Date:1942
Image of Gas mask instruction in front of the Armory, Seattle, August 2, 1942
Photograph

Gas mask instruction in front of the Armory, Seattle, August 2, 1942

Civilian defense units donned gas masks as the entire city went through its biggest practice air raid on August 2, 1942. Fifty-eight thousand men and women took part in the 90-minute test as army and navy planes simulated a bomb attack. The control headquarters was located at the Field Artillery Armory, where "incidents" were reported by telephone. Civilian defense workers…
ID Number:PI27963
Date:1942
Image of Madrona air raid wardens drilling with gas masks, August 1942
Photograph

Madrona air raid wardens drilling with gas masks, August 1942

On August 2, 1942, Seattle staged a city-wide air raid drill to test its wartime emergency preparedness. Sirens wailed and army and navy planes roared low over the city as 58,000 civil defense workers handled traffic, dealt with imaginary fires, gave first aid and evacuated people from areas where bombs had supposedly landed. During the drill one theoretical bomb landed…
ID Number:PI27965
Date:1942
Image of Army guns at civil defense demonstration in Husky Stadium, Seattle, 1943
Photograph

Army guns at civil defense demonstration in Husky Stadium, Seattle, 1943

Handwritten on negative: U of W stadium civilian defense show.Handwritten on sleeve: U.S. Army - Seattle - show (U of W stadium).Date photograph was filed at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (date of photograph and file date may differ by a month or more): June 20, 1943.
ID Number:PI27983
Date:1943
Image of Civil defense workers in first aid drill, March 1942
Photograph

Civil defense workers in first aid drill, March 1942

During World War II, Seattle-area communities set up volunteer civil defense groups to help in case they were attacked. Men, women and even children joined up to help with such things as fighting fires, running air raid shelters, driving ambulances, and caring for the injured. Each community held periodic drills to make sure that everything would run smoothly in an…
ID Number:PI27990
Date:1942
Image of Civil defense workers in first aid drill, Vashon Island, 1942
Photograph

Civil defense workers in first aid drill, Vashon Island, 1942

During World War II, Seattle-area communities set up volunteer civil defense groups to help in case they were attacked. Men, women and even children joined up to help with such things as fighting fires, running air raid shelters, driving ambulances, and caring for the injured. Each community held periodic drills to make sure that everything would run smoothly in an…
ID Number:PI27991
Date:1942
Image of Paul Billingsley at civil defense lookout, Vashon Island, 1942
Photograph

Paul Billingsley at civil defense lookout, Vashon Island, 1942

During World War II, Seattle-area communities set up volunteer civil defense groups to help in case they were attacked. Men, women and even children joined up to help with such things as fighting fires, running air raid shelters, driving ambulances, and caring for the injured. Each community held periodic drills to make sure that everything would run smoothly in an…
ID Number:PI27993
Date:1942
Image of Sailor kissing girl during blackout, Seattle, 1941
Photograph

Sailor kissing girl during blackout, Seattle, 1941

In December 1941 an unidentified but creative photographer was assigned to cover what might happen in Seattle if wartime authorities declared a blackout. With all the lights turned off, a kiss stolen over coffee in a downtown cafe was oneof the results. Written on negative: Seattle blackoutHandwritten on sleeve: World War II - Seattle - blackoutDate photograph was filed at…
ID Number:PI28004
Date:1941
Image of Japanese Americans surrendering equipment to police, Seattle, December 29, 1941
Photograph

Japanese Americans surrendering equipment to police, Seattle, December 29, 1941

On February 19, 1942, shortly after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor and United States entry into WWII, President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, calling for the exclusion of all civilians of Japanese descent from "designated military areas." More than 9,000 Japanese and Japanese American people living in the Pacific Northwest were forced into incarceration at camps in Idaho and…
ID Number:PI28030
Date:1941
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MOHAI stands on the historic and contemporary lands and shores of the Duwamish, Suquamish, Muckleshoot, and other Coast Salish Nations. We acknowledge the forced displacement of Native Communities from this land while honoring the endurance of the Duwamish people who still live here.
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