Industrial edition, Banks, Times, Buzz. A view of the exterior of the National Bank of Washington. The building, designed by Sutton, Whitney and Dugan architects, was built of Wilkeson sandstone in 1921. The building became the home of the Tacoma Art Museum in May 1971 and contained the Dr. Lester S. Baskin Hall, Sara Little Center for Design Research, Helen B. Murray Gallery. TPL-9203

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Tacoma Art Museum (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma;

This view of the main floor of the National Bank of Washington at 1123 Pacific Avenue was taken in December, 1949 from the bank's mezzanine. The Italian Renaissance style building, with its gracefully arched ceiling, was designed by Sutton, Whitney & Dugan, architects. Construction started in 1920, and the bank, known then as the National Bank of Tacoma, opened in June, 1921. The tellers cages were spaced around the exterior of the large open floor separated from the public by a horse-shoe shaped partial wall that echoed the shape of the tall windows which provided light to the large interior. Desks and card catalogs were kept behind the partition. The name of the bank was changed to the National Bank of Washington in 1937. The Tacoma Art Museum took over the building in 1971. In 2007 it became home to Sound Inpatient Physicians, which provides "hospitalist" physicians to hospitals. TPL-9259

Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Lobbies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

National Bank of Washington was previously known as the National Bank of Tacoma until 1937, when they changed their name. In 1949 the bank President was Arthur H. Brouse; Charles T. Chandler, Ward Estey, Guy T. Pierce, W. L. Brown, Blake G. Crary, and Harold J. Dille were the Vice-Presidents; Orville T. Olsen, Charles R. Buchanan, J. Kaye Ewart, and Edward T. Ness were the Assistant Vice Presidents. View of employees of the National Bank of Washington reviewing customer accounts.

Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bankers--Tacoma; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma)--People;

National Bank of Washington was located at the heart of downtown Tacoma, at 1123 Pacific Avenue; this building is now used to house the Tacoma Art Museum. The National Bank of Washington Cashier in 1949 was James Byers; the Assistant Cashiers were: Arthur W. James, P. C. Hultman, Blandford W. Marley, Lester W. Nelsen, Harold T. Paulsen, Wilbur F. Rieck, Jerry M. Sandal, Albert L. Taylor, and Sparks O. Washburn; the Pro-Assistant Cashier was Harold R. Carlson. Interior view of bank, two customers are being helped; view of customer files and filing cabinets.

Banks--Tacoma; Customer relations; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bankers--Tacoma; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma)--People;

National Bank of Washington offered their customers full banking services. In 1949 Ashley M. Gould was an Assistant Vice President and Trust Officer; Harry Anderson was an Assistant Trust Officer; and S. Pritchard Miller was an Assistant Cashier and Assistant Trust Officer. Interior view of the National Bank of Washington, a customer is at the transaction window and another customer is standing on the left side.

Banks--Tacoma; Customer relations; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bankers--Tacoma; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma)--People;

A display of Tacoma industries and their products is on view in the lobby at the National Bank of Washington for World Trade Week in May of 1950. Model ships built by N.C. Garrison line the upper molding above the teller's cages. Flags from many countries hang across the back of the lobby. The display featured the American Smelting and Refining Co., Carstens Packing Co., General Hardwood Co., General Mills, F.C. Wolf and Son and Wood Coffee Co. (TNT, 5/24/1950, p.26)

Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Lobbies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Model ships; Commerce;

N.C. Garrison sat on a ladder as he helped prepare the display of 30 of his model ships in the lobby at the National Bank of Washington, 1123 Pacific Ave., for World Trade Week in May of 1950. Mr. Garrison had been building ship models since 1929 and this was the first complete display of his models. Among the models on display were "Old Ironsides," the "Pocahontas" and the "Beaver," which was the first steamship on the Pacific Ocean and was seen on Puget Sound for 50 years. (TNT, 5/24/1950, p.26) Ordered by Mrs. Lindquist. TPL-5044

Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Lobbies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Model ships; Garrison, N.C.;

A view of the lobby of the National Bank of Washington with a tulip display from the mezzanine. More bouquets of tulips stand along the shelf at the top of the tellers' cages. Pilasters along two walls lead to arches at the ceiling that cover the wide lobby. Customers are seen at the teller windows and the two counters at the middle of the room. Ordered by Mrs. Lindquist.

Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Lobbies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In May of 1952, two news hungry Tacomans, Mrs. Lindquist & Mr. McIntyre, picked up news bulletins, provided by the news room of KTNT, in the lobby of the National Bank of Washington at 1123 Pacific Avenue. On the morning of April 12, 1952, the pressmen employees of the News Tribune struck Tacoma's only daily newspaper and posted pickets around the plant. The strike shut down the paper from mid-April until August 12, 1952. This was Tacoma's first major newspaper strike in more than 30 years. The KTNT news bulletins, published by the news division the Tribune's radio station, and the Tacoma Reporter, which was published from June-August of 1952, helped provide news to the community during the strike.

Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Lobbies--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Twenty-three men are seen around the large table for the last board meeting in the old board room at the National Bank of Washington. A landscape mural is seen on the far wall above the wainscoting. Skylights can be seen above the table. The National Bank of Washington had recently completed an annex across the street at 1201-03 Pacific Avenue. A.H. Brouse was president of the bank at this time.

Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Conference rooms--Tacoma; Meetings--Tacoma;

National Bank of Washington lobby decorated for the Northwest Territory Centennial Days. Carl L. Phillips, bank president, holds one of the pictures to be displayed. The pictures document Tacoma around 1853. The festivities designed to celebrate the 100 year anniversary included an outdoor drama, a beard growing contest, district street dances & celebrations and a parade. TPL-9204

Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Lobbies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Celebrations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Centennial celebrations--Tacoma; Phillips, Carl L.;

Carl L. Phillips, Bank President, and Mayor Harold Tollefson, left, pose with a mannequin depicting banking one hundred years ago in the lobby of the National Bank of Washington. As the city of Tacoma prepared for the week long celebration of the 100 year anniversary of the Northwest Territory, centennial displays went up all over town. Tacoma's main connection with the centennial was that in 1853 Tacoma's DeLin mill shipped the first lumber from Commencement Bay.

Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Lobbies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Centennial celebrations--Tacoma;

National Bank of Washington's trust department was enlarged and modernized in April, 1954. It occupied much of the third floor of the bank building on Pacific Avenue. The new quarters for the trust department contained acoustic ceilings, recessed fluorescent lighting, carpeted floors and air conditioning. Walnut desks matched the walnut paneling and green leather chairs provided comfortable seating. Gershom C. Rowland headed the department; it had been in existence for about forty years. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound Office Equipment, Inc. (TNT 4-11-54, A-12)

Office furniture; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Puget Sound Office Equipment, Inc. (Tacoma);

National Bank of Washington; Branch & Senior management of bank. Twenty men and one woman gather around the boardroom table. Carl L. Phillips, president of the bank, sits at the head of the table with C.T. Chandler, vice-president, to the right. The man to the right of Chandler in the chair is unidentified. The bank was known from 1913-1938 as the National Bank of Tacoma and was housed in the Italian-Renaissance building at the northeast corner of 12th and Pacific, that since 1971 has housed the Tacoma Art Museum.

Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bankers--Tacoma; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma)--People; Phillips, Carl L.; Chandler, C.T.;

Harvey O. Scofield (left), chairman of the Board of County Commissioners and Joseph E. Ford, auditor and clerk of the board, had to hand sign 1,500 bonds valued at $1,000 each for a total of $1.5 million to guarantee interest payments on the $14 million Tacoma Narrows bridge bond. The bonds were delivered on the afternoon of April 13, 1948, to the National Bank of Washington, trustee. Work on the second bridge began in April of 1948. The bridge opened on October 14, 1950. (T.Times, 4/13/1948, p.1) TPL-8240

Scofield, Harvey; Ford, Joseph E.; Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Bonds (Negotiable instruments); Administrative agencies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950;

National Bank of Washington, building exterior, for sign purposes. Shot from across Pacific Avenue, the National Bank of Washington is shown on the corner of 12th and Pacific. This building would later house the Tacoma Art Museum through the year 2000. Puget Sound National Bank Building is next door on Pacific Avenue and the Federal Building is behind on the right.

Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma);

1941 exterior view of National Bank of Washington. Sandstone building for National Bank of Tacoma by Sutton, Whitney and Dugan, Architects, 1920. Thirty years later in 1971, the Tacoma Art Museum moved into the former bank building.

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Facades--Tacoma--1940-1950;