Tacoma Vocational School, Times, George Prescott. Two young men are seen at work putting together electronics equipment and checking it for correct wiring. Tacoma Vocational School had approximately 500 students enrolled full-time and 1,400 in apprentice and trade extension courses. (T.Times, 2/13/1949, p.30)

Tacoma Vocational School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vocational education--Tacoma--1940-1950; Electronic apparatus & appliances;

Several shots at vocational school, Times, George Prescott. Several students, all male, are at work in a workshop using tools and machines for electronic boards. Two of the young men work at a work table with a vice and hammers while several others work setting up and reading electronic boards with dials for readouts. Tacoma Vocational School offered programs in radio service and repair, and as electrical and engineering aides. (T.Times, 2/13/1949, p.30)

Tacoma Vocational School (Tacoma); Vocational education--Tacoma--1940-1950; Classrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Several shots at vocational school, Times, George Prescott. Merle Kimball conducts a class in radio broadcasting at the Tacoma Vocational School. Seven students, all male, sit at tables in a relatively small classroom in this photograph dated February 1, 1949. (T.Times, 2/13/1949, p.30)

Tacoma Vocational School (Tacoma); Vocational education--Tacoma--1940-1950; Kimball, Merle; Teachers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Classrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Radio broadcasting--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Vocational School's first building was built in 1941, it was renamed in 1969 to honor their first school director, LaVerne H. Bates. Exterior view of Tacoma Vocational School building, view of the 317 foot radio tower recently erected on roof; the school had a small radio broadcasting station directly below the tower. Photo ordered by Comfort, Davis and Blangy, a real estate and insurance business in Tacoma. TPL-10,545

Vocational education--Tacoma; Radio broadcasting--Tacoma; Towers--Tacoma; Radio stations--Tacoma; Tacoma Vocational School (Tacoma); Comfort, Davis & Blangy (Tacoma);

Five of the barbering students studying under E.S. West at the Tacoma Vocational-Technical School, 1101 Yakima Avenue South, were photographed in 1949 while practicing their new skills on five unidentified boys. The 1,712 hour, nine-month course in barbering was the only one of its kind offered in a vocational-technical school west of the Mississippi. Tacoma Vocational-Technical School began building their facilities in 1940. After the first wing was constructed, the schools facilities were used as a war job training center during WWII. The name of the school was changed to L.H. Bates Vocational-Technical Institute in 1969 to honor the man who was hired in 1944 to be the school's vocational training director. (T.N.T., 5/1/49, p. 1, B-1).

Barbers--Tacoma; Barbering--Tacoma; Apprentices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hairdressing--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vocational education--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Vocational School (Tacoma);

Tacoma Vocational School began on October 1, 1940 when a Public Works Administration grant of $40,000 was combined with a $175,000 worth of federally supplied tools and machinery. The school is expected to be a big success, with classrooms already filled with students and a waiting list of interested students for the next school year. View of two unidentified students working in the machine shop at Tacoma Vocational School (T.N.T., 5/1/49, p. 1, B-1). TPL-8333

Machine shops--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Apprentices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vocational education--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Vocational School (Tacoma);

Auto mechanics was one of the most popular courses offered by the Tacoma Vocational Technical School in the 1940's. The course, taught by J.W. Van Wyhe, provided 2,580 hours of training, two-thirds of that being practical experience in repairing cars. Jim Jorgenson is pictured here on April 28, 1949, loosening a nut on a motor while Eric Peterson observes while atop the car's left front fender. The car's radiator is off allowing the engine to be seen. Tacoma Vocational Technical School offered their students 50 vocational training programs besides auto mechanics including: boat building, beauty school, cake decorating, cosmetology, practical nursing, radio and many other programs. Instruction had begun in 1940 and a new 1.1 million dollar facility was dedicated on May 2, 1949. (T.N.T., 5/1/49, p. 1, B-1+; B-7).

Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma; Jorgenson, Jim; Peterson, Eric; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vocational education--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Vocational School (Tacoma);

Tribune, Ernie Knight.After the Second World War, many retuning soldiers from Tacoma/Pierce County took advantage of the GI Bill to return to school. This is the fifth graduating class at Tacoma Vocational School. 123 students received their apprentice certificates at Tacoma Vocational School June 3, 1949. Speeches were given by L.H. Bates, director of the school, and Superior Judge Hugh J. Rosellini, the guest speaker. The school was renamed in honor of L. H. "Vern" Bates in 1969. (TNT, 6/5/1949, p.A-4)

Tacoma Vocational School (Tacoma); Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950;