In 1887, Salvation Army Captains Alfred and Lizzie Harris arrived in Seattle. Starting with only $20.00 in their pockets, the couple opened a hall in the basement of a saloon and started their ministry to the homeless and hungry. Over a century later, the Salvation Army continues its work among the needy in Seattle and King County, providing food, shelter, health services, counseling and spiritual support.

This May 1940 photo shows Ruth Clark, a Salvation Army worker, and two unidentified men outside the group's mission at 213 Second Avenue South, near Pioneer Square. In 1940, Salvation Army workers ran seven halls in Seattle.

Signs in image read: Liberty Cafe. [...] Pentecostal Mission. Hand Laundry.
Handwritten on sleeve: Clarke, Ruth, Salvation Army.
Date photograph was filed at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (date of photograph and file date may differ by a month or more): May 11, 1940.