Fisher's Department Store was featuring the "Kwan Yin" perfume line. View of Fisher's sales person and four unidentified individuals wearing Asian clothing for the "Kwan Yin" perfume display, including "Cairo" perfume. Photo ordered by O'Connell, Ragan and Richardson advertising company.

Perfumes; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Asian Americans--Clothing & dress--Tacoma;

For Mrs. Coors. Blanche Coors is president of the Ladies Musical Club and is the impresario of the winter season's programs of vocalists sponsored by the club. Blanche Coors is seen here at her desk located at Fisher's store handing tickets to Betty Fisher who has just bought tickets to the Strauss festival. (T.Times, 10/19/1946, p.7)

Coors, Blanche; Fisher, Berry; Ladies Musical Club (Tacoma); Ticket offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma);

Fisher's Department Store, fashion show. Fishers Department Store held a birthday party on May 3, 1947 for the 5th anniversary of Joan Miller's clothing collection. A young model stands by a column with a sign for "Junior World." The fashion show included boys from three of the local high schools as judges of the male-appeal of the dresses. (T.Times, 5/2/1947, p.3)

Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fashion shows--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fashion models--Tacoma--1940-1950; Posing;

Fisher's Department Store, fashion show. Fishers Department Store held a birthday party for the 5th anniversary of Joan Miller's clothing collection. The ten models stand together showing all the dresses from the Joan Miller collection included in the Saturday afternoon fashion show. (T.Times, 5/2/1947, p.3)

Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fashion shows--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fashion models--Tacoma--1940-1950; Posing;

Fisher's Department Store held a birthday party in May of 1947, for the 5th anniversary of the Joan Miller clothing collection. The party included a fashion show of Joan's newest and cutest sport and date fashions, a birthday cake and plenty of ice-cold Coca-Cola. The fashion show drew a large crowd of mostly teenage girls who admired outfits such as the $14.95 double-breasted jacket with stitched bib and full skirt with deep twin pockets worn by the unidentified model above. (T.Times, 5/2/1947, p.3-ad)

Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fashion shows--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fashion models--Tacoma--1940-1950; Posing;

Five young women modeled petticoats in March of 1948 for the "Petticoats Pay Off" fashion show at Fisher's Department Store, 1104 Broadway. Three of them have been identified as : (l-r) Marjie Joy Miller (later known as actress Marjie Millar), Barbara Michaelson (now Barbara Diamond) and Corinne Sule. Fisher's held a series of "Saturday Style Shows" on the store's 3rd Floor. The full page ad in the News Tribune declared: "Fisher's is ready with wonderful styles that have all the swish, the rustle, and come-hither that make petticoats so popular." The unidentified intimate apparel employee at the far right announced each model and style. (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Lingerie; Fashion shows--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fashion models--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; Miller, Marjie Joy; Michaelson, Barbara; Sule, Corinne;

In January of 1949, almost a year before Volkswagen introduced its Transporter (VW bus) to the world's press, people in Tacoma were viewing a strikingly similar vehicle, the Mustang "Teardrop," at Fisher's department store. Made by Mustang Engineering Corporation in Renton, the streamlined, aerodynamic vehicle featured a 4-cylinder Hercules rear engine, hydraulic 4-wheel brakes, swivel seats, split front window with dual windshield wipers, round Mustang logo, protective front bumper grill, and projecting driver's side mirror. Young Ronnie Warter, at the wheel, and passenger Elizabeth Fynboe envision what it would be like to take the Teardrop on the road with its cruising speed of 65 m.p.h. TPL-6191 (T. Times, 1/2/49, p. 6).

Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Prototypes; Mustang; Mustang Engineering Corp. (Renton); Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Walter, Ronnie; Fynboe, Elizabeth;

Davis car at Fisher's, Times. Crowds formed all day to look over a stripped down model of a 3-wheeled 1949 Davis automobile outside Fisher's Department Store.The experimental automobile was for sale at $995. The sign above the vehicle announced that dealer franchises were available. This was the newest American automobile design in many decades although 3-wheeled automobiles were manufactured in England during the 1920's and 1930's. Designed by aircraft engineers and designers, it boasts new features including a removable top. Its top speed was 116 miles per hour. It had disc brakes. Gary Davis of Van Nuys, California, planned to manufacture and sell 40,000 of these automobiles in 1949. (T.Times, 1/23/1949, p.7)

Experimental automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Davis automobile; Department Stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Publicity;

On January 22, 1949, a crowd gathered on the first floor of Fisher's Department Store to view the cigar shaped 3-wheeled Davis automobile. The aluminum bodied Davis, manufactured by the Davis Motor Co. of Van Nuys, California, reportedly went faster, stopped quicker, turned shorter and burned less gasoline than almost any other automobile made in America. It was touted as the truly unique automobile of 1949. It was claimed that 50 cars a day would be rolling off the 1949 production line. However, only 15-17 of the automobiles were ever manufactured. Gary Davis, the company's founder, was investigated by the Los Angeles District Attorney's office for fraud and the factory was shut down at the end of 1948. It was estimated that $1,200,000 was raised by Mr. Davis based on his test models. He had sold over 300 franchises that were waiting for their first shipments. Gary Davis was found guilty of fraud. He had designed an excellent vehicle but lacked the business acumen to produce it. (T.Times, 1/23/1949, p.7 and Parade magazine, Davis Automobile Registry online at www.suarezweb.com/davis)

Experimental automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Davis automobile; Department Stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Publicity;

Fisher's department store was advertising spring and Easter fashions for women, men and children in the Tacoma Times and Tacoma News Tribune. View of unidentified model wearing one of the latest hat styles for spring 1949; Fisher's was advertising the latest hats to go with the latest spring and Easter fashions, available in their hat department.

Fashion models--Tacoma; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Advertisements--Tacoma; Posing; Hats--1940-1950; Department stores--Tacoma; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma);

Fisher's Department Store has been in Tacoma for 60 years at the time of this October, 1945 photograph. They had recently completed a $500,000 expansion and modernization project, which helps them serve their customers better. View of three unidentified Fisher's Department Store window dressers; they are setting up a wedding and chrysanthemum display, featuring a bride and flower girl in the Bridal Room.

Mannequins; Wedding costume--1940-1950; Chrysanthemums--Tacoma; Window displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma);

The Relle Scatter-Pin Ring, a new innovation in the world of jewelry, was introduced to Tacomans at Fisher's Department Store in November 1949. It was a ring-pin combination; the wearer could choose to add a scatter pin to the ring, twisting securely to make a dinner ring. The creator, Norman Carr, designed brilliant stone-studded scatter pins which could be worn alone, or used in the creation of stuning dinner rings. (photo taken for Marian Wood, Fisher's Jewelry Dept.) (TNT, 11/27/1949, p.A-15)

Department Stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jewelry; Rings;

Santa Claus has joined a group from Puget Sound National Bank at Fisher's Toy Department. The group have gathered for their portrait at "Santa's Western Home". Ordered by Puget Sound National Bank, Bob Gordon.

Department Stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Bankers--Tacoma; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma)--People;

Fisher's is installing an escalator inside their department store. Plywood has been used to surface the outside of the opening where the escalator will be placed. Supporting columns and various pipes are seen outside the area enclosed by plywood. Counters are filled with children's hats and clothing. A sign points the way to infant's wear, girls wear, infants furniture and toyland. A sales area with a cash register is seen in the center by one of the columns.

Department stores--Tacoma; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Escalators--Tacoma;

Joan Thrasher tries on a wedding gown at the Bon Marche for the Tacoma News Tribune's "Brides" layout. The exquisite gown is full-length lace with lavish train. (T.N.T.)

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bon Marche (Tacoma); Wedding costume--1950-1960; Thrasher, Joan; Brides--1950-1960;

Joan Thrasher tries on a lace wedding gown at the Bon Marche, as multiple mirrors reflect back her image. This photograph was shot for the TNT 1952 bridal layout. Joan Thrasher married Allen Jerome Morgan June 14, 1952 in the Christ Episcopal church. The ceremony was followed by a reception at the Tacoma Lawn Tennis club. The bride was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James W. Thrasher of Tacoma and the groom the son of the Allen B. Morgans of Seattle. After the wedding, the couple left for Massachusetts, where the bridegroom served as coxswain for the Washington Athletic club-sponsored shell at the Olympic trials. Both Mr. and Mrs. Morgan graduated from the University of Washington, where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta and the Totem Club. Before the wedding, she had taught at the University Place grade school. While at the U of W, the groom was the president of Chi Psi, and belonged to Big W and the Varsity Boat club. He was coxswain for the U of W shell in the 1948 Olympic games. (Tacoma Reporter 6/21/1952) TPL-8058

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bon Marche (Tacoma); Wedding costume--1950-1960; Thrasher, Joan; Brides--1950-1960;

This photograph, taken on November 17, 1937, shows the Fisher's department store on the corner of 11th and Broadway. Designed by Frederick Heath, and built in 1905 by the Stone-Fisher Company, it was the home to Fisher's until they were taken over by the Bon Marche. The Bon Marche occupied the building from 1952 to 1964 when they moved to the Tacoma Mall. Today the main part of the building is occupied by the Columbia Bank-Broadway Plaza Branch. (T. Times)

Department stores--Tacoma--1930-1940; Clothing stores--Tacoma; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma);

One of the features of National Education Week in 1939 was a dressmaking class display inside a Fisher's Department Store window. Stadium High students Edrys Berg (at left) and Ruth Webb put finishing touches to an outfit credited to Phyllis Walters of Lincoln High School. Proud parents and curious customers were able to observe students in action behind the large glass-plate store windows. Students from elementary to senior high levels demonstrated skills and achievements, often in downtown store window displays, during November's National Education Week. (T. Times, 11-10-1939, p.18)

Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Berg, Edrys; Webb, Ruth; Seamstresses; Window displays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma);

John Keeler, managing director of the Bon Marche department store, accepts an office mural of the new Slenderella International Salon from Larry Mack, president of Slenderella, on January 17, 1956. Vice president of West Coast operations, Irene Ward, elegantly dressed in a fur wrap, stands between the two men. As its name hints, Slenderella was a weight reducing salon. It would soon open in downtown Tacoma on the sixth floor of the Bon Marche building and be managed by Mrs. Vera Jones. Although Slenderella had 100 stores worldwide, the Tacoma location would be the first in a western department store. Photograph ordered by News Tribune. (TNT 1-22-56, B-5)

Slenderella International, Inc. (Tacoma); Weight loss--Tacoma; Keeler, John; Mack, Larry; Ward, Irene;

Narrows Bridge - McChord Field Celebration. "Legion of 40 et 8" (World War I Veterans) mock jail and courtroom on flatbed truck parked in front of The Fisher Company store, July 1, 1940. Another scofflaw "faces the music" as he pays the penalty for not wearing a Celebration Hat. He will probably join fellow citizens "arrested" for disobeying the "law" in the make-shift pen. A large crowd casts amused looks at the good-natured foolery; this was part of the celebration surrounding the grand openings of both the (first) Narrows Bridge and McChord Field.

World War, 1914-1918--Veterans--Tacoma; Veterans organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; American Legion (Tacoma); 40 et 8 auxiliary (Tacoma);

Junior League at Fisher's Department Store. Woman shopping in the hat department. Hats are displayed on stands at many different heights. To the right is a seat and mirror for trying on hats. On September 9, 1935, members of the League will take control of the store for 1 day. More than 50 members will fill in as managers, clerks, models and co-workers for the regular store personnel. In exchange, a percentage of the day's receipts will be donated to League charities. (T. Times 8/20/1935)

Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Clothing stores--Tacoma; Department stores--Tacoma; Shopping--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Junior League (Tacoma); Clubwomen--Tacoma--1930-1940; Millinery; Hats;

The three unidentified ladies examining the merchandise in the jewelry and cosmetics department of Fisher's Department Store, 1104 Broadway, are members of Tacoma's Junior League. They are learning the retail ropes for the League's takeover of the Tacoma department store on September 9, 1935. About 50 League members were to work alongside the store's regular employees on that day. Store general manager Charles L. Hufford had agreed to contribute a percentage of the day's receipts to Junior League charities. (T. Times 8/20/1935)

Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Clothing stores--Tacoma; Department stores--Tacoma; Shopping--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Junior League (Tacoma); Clubwomen--Tacoma--1930-1940;

An unidentified sales clerk at Fisher's Department Store teaches a Junior League member the finer points of selling lingerie. The League member is learning how to sell lingerie in preparation for the League's take over of the store on Sept. 9, 1935. About 50 members filled in that day as managers, clerks and models. Fisher's contributed a portion of the day's proceeds to Junior League charities, including their baby clinic and their library at the County Hospital. (T. Times 8/20/1935)

Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Clothing stores--Tacoma; Department stores--Tacoma; Shopping--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Junior League (Tacoma); Clubwomen--Tacoma--1930-1940; Lingerie;

Camille Pessemier, of Pessemier's Bootery at 927 Broadway, shows formal shoe styles to Betty Martin (Baker.) Miss Martin (later Baker) tries on a shiny, strappy evening shoe. Studio records indicate photographs taken for the Junior League at Fisher's Department Store. The Junior League would be running the Tacoma department store on September 9, 1935 in exchange for a portion of the day's proceeds to benefit their charitable ventures. Both Miss Martin and Mr. Pessemier's wife were participating Junior League members. (T. Times 8/20/1935)

Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Clothing stores--Tacoma; Department stores--Tacoma; Shopping--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Junior League (Tacoma); Clubwomen--Tacoma--1930-1940; Baker, Betye M.; Pessemier, Camille;

Junior League at Fisher's Department Store. Two women in "Co-Ed Shop." The Junior League will put on their work aprons, roll up their sleeves and work alongside regular employees at Fisher's on September 9, 1935. In exchange, a portion of the day's profits will be donated to League charities. (T. Times 8/20/1935)

Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Clothing stores--Tacoma; Department stores--Tacoma; Shopping--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Junior League (Tacoma); Clubwomen--Tacoma--1930-1940;

• Colorized photograph aerial view of the downtown Tacoma business district. The 11th Street Bridge (now called the Murray Morgan Bridge) is in the upper right of the card, and Fisher's Department Store is in the middle, just below center. circa 1940.
• Printed on front: Tacoma, Washington

• Black and white photograph aerial view of the downtown Tacoma business district. The 11th Street Bridge (now called the Murray Morgan Bridge) is in the upper right of the card, and Fisher's Department Store is in the middle, just below center. circa 1940.
• Printed on front: Tacoma, Wash.

Circa 1910.