Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
United Service Organizations, Portland, Or. photographs collection, 1951-1974
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- United Service Organizations, Portland, Or. photographs collection
- Dates
- 1951-1974 (inclusive)19511974
- Quantity
- 0.36 cubic feet, (431 photographs in 1 box)
- Collection Number
- Org. Lot 91
- Summary
- The collection contains photographs of the activities of the United Service Organizations in Portland, Or. from 1951-1974, including USO social gatherings, personnel, and business affairs.
- Repository
-
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English.
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The United Service Organizations (USO) was formed in 1941 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt to handle the on-leave recreation of the United States armed forces. It comprised of six private, civilian organizations, including the Salvation Army, Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), National Catholic Community Services, National Aid Association, and the National Jewish Welfare Board. USO centers became a destination for many G.I.'s searching for rest and relaxation. They also provided an opportunity for community groups to engage in the keeping up the morale and well-being of young servicemen. During the 1940s, there were as many as 3,000 USO clubs around the world, and with its volunteer hostesses, servicemen could enjoy activities such as dances, movies, coffee, and talk.
The USO was started in Portland, Or. in 1941 by six different agencies, including the YMCA, the YWCA, and the Red Cross. The YMCA and YWCA hosted dances and socials every weekend, fifty-two weeks of the year, for on-leave G.I.'s. Junior Hostess volunteers entertained the troops through holiday formals, theme parties, luncheons and "Girl of the Month" contests. Senior Hostesses attended to USO business matters through meetings and community socials, as well as acting as chaperones for the young hostesses and servicemen. In 1950, USO agencies in Portland briefly closed. However, in September of 1951, an official USO office was opened on 941 SW Broadway, thanks to the efforts of the vice-chairman of the Oregon State USO and member of the USO national board, Mrs. S. Mason Ehrman. (She would be later honored Oregon's "Mrs. USO.") The Broadway location was generally used as an information center, and the Portland USO also combined efforts with the Special Services Sector of the Air Force base of Portland. Dances were held at the YMCA or YWCA, and young volunteers worked at Union Station and the examining center in order to acquaint servicemen with the USO.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection contains 431 photographs in 1 box pertaining to the activities of the United Service Organizations (USO) in Portland, Or. from 1951-1974. The photographs mostly depict social gatherings, including USO-sponsored luncheons, dances, "Girl of the Month" celebrations, and other parties for servicemen and volunteers, as well as images of the Junior and Senior Hostesses who worked with the USO and executive personnel. Other photographs depict USO annual meetings and business affairs, as well as some USO activities outside of Portland, Or.
Photographs in this collection were taken by Al Jessen, Carl E. Vermilya, and Photo-Art Commercial Studios, all of Portland, Or., as well as by some military photographers, among others. Includes both black-and-white and color photographs.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The Oregon Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation
United Service Organizations, Portland, Or. Photographs Collection. Org. Lot 91, Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is organized into the following series:
- Series A: Social gatherings, 1953-1974
- Series B: Personnel, 1951-1974
- Series C: Business affairs, circa 1950s
- Series D: Other USO photographs, 1959-1964
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series A: Social gatherings, 1953-1974Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | Armed Forces Day
Parade
Includes photographs of USO float entry,10th Anniversary of
Women in the Armed Forces parade entry, and Armed Forces Marching Band.
|
1956-1964 |
1/2 | Birthday Parties |
1956-1957; undated |
1/3 | Celebration for USS
Hector
A repair ship during WWII and the Korean War, the USS Hector
won the Battle Efficiency Plaque for the years 1953-1954 and 1954-1955.
|
1955 November 26, ; circa 1958 |
1/4 | Christmas Formal |
1956 |
1/5 | National Golf Day
Includes photographs of United States military officers, USO
personnel, and professional golfers.
|
1954 |
1/6 | National USO Affairs Luncheon
for city officials and military leaders
Includes photograph of Admiral John L. Hall, National
Campaign Director
|
1954 May 24 |
1/7 | Picnic |
undated |
1/8 | Theme parties |
circa 1960s |
1/9 | USO 15th anniversary
party
Photograph taken at the Oregonian Hostess House.
|
1956 February 8 |
1/10 | USO 16th birthday party, USO
Pin Award Recipients
Photographs taken at the Oregonian Hostess House. Includes
photographs of guest speaker, Mr. Allen L. Chickering.
|
1957 February 5 |
1/11 | USO 17th birthday party, USO
Pin Award Recipients
Photographs taken at the Oregonian Hostess House. Includes
photographs of guest speaker, Martin A. Vanderberg, as well as others.
|
1958 February 6, ; undated |
1/12 | USO 18th birthday
party
Photographs taken at the Oregonian Hostess House.
|
1959 February 5 |
1/13 | USO Christmas
photos |
1958-1960 |
1/14 | USO dances |
1953, ; 1955 |
1/15 | USO dances |
1956 |
1/16 | USO dances |
1959, ; undated |
1/17 | USO dances |
circa 1960s |
1/18 | USO dances |
circa 1970s |
1/19 | USO "Girl of the
Month" |
1957; undated |
1/20 | USO "Girl of the
Month" |
1958-1959 |
1/21 | USO Halloween
party |
1955 October |
1/22 | USO Junior Queen and
Court
Includes a photograph of Chairman Applegate.
|
1962; undated |
1/23 | USO open houses |
circa 1970s |
1/24 | USO Pal Day
Luncheon
Photographs taken from the Aero Club, Portland, Or. Includes
photographs of Portland Mayor, Terry D. Schrunk; US Air Force Officers; USO
National Asst. Secretary, James Mitchell; USO City Committee Chairman, Mrs. S.
Mason Ehrman.
|
1957 November14 |
1/25 | USO social |
circa 1950s, ; undated |
Series B: Personnel, 1951-1974Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/26 | Armed Forces Day Open House,
USO exhibit
Photographs taken from USO exhibit at Air Force Base
Hanger.
Includes photographs of USO personnel, including Executive
Secretary, Evangelina McIntosh.
|
1956-1958 |
1/27 | United States
servicemen
Includes photographs of young United States military
officers and Governor Douglas McKay with USO personnel.
|
1955, ; undated |
1/28 | USO Junior
Hostesses |
circa 1950s |
1/29 | USO Junior
Hostesses |
circa 1960s |
1/30 | USO Junior
Hostesses |
circa 1970s |
1/31 | USO opening day |
1951 October 11 |
1/32 | USO personnel and servicemen
unidentified |
undated |
1/33 | USO Senior
Hostesses |
circa 1950s |
1/34 | USO Senior
Hostesses |
circa 1960s |
1/35 | USO Senior
Hostesses |
circa 1970s |
Series C: Business affairs, circa 1950sReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/36 | Annual meeting
Photograph of annual meeting at Portland Air Force base.
|
1956 |
1/37 | Business meetings |
circa 1950s |
Series D: Other USO photographs, 1959-1964Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/38 | People,
unidentified |
1964; undated |
1/39 | United Way Charity
Sign |
undated |
1/40 | USO Club, Okinawa,
Japan |
1960 August 20 |
1/41 | USO Educational Theatre
Group
Photograph includes part of the USO Educational Theatre
Group from the University of Portland and the Japanese Fulbright scholars who
were guests at the reception in their honor.
|
1959 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Military life--Oregon--Portland--Photographs
- Soldiers--Recreation--Oregon--Portland--Photographs
Corporate Names
- United Service Organizations (U.S.)--Photographs
Geographical Names
- United States--Armed Forces--Military life--Photographs
- United States--Armed Forces--Service clubs--Photographs
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographic prints
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Jesse, Al (photographer)
- Vermilya, Carl E. (photographer)
Corporate Names
- Photo-Art Commercial Studios (Portland, Or.) (photographers)