These Native American girls were taking a sewing class at the Cushman Indian School on the Puyallup Reservation in June of 1918. The goal of Native American education from 1880-1920 was to assimilate the children into the dominant European culture, removing them from traditional Indian ways. One method was to remove them from their families and enroll them in government run boarding schools. By 1910, the Puyallup Indian School had become the Cushman Indian School, a large industrial boarding school, hosting over 350 students from the Northwest and Alaska. The school's focus was training the students for a place as a laborer in an industrialized America. During WWI the Red Cross entered into a partnership with schools to produce needed goods for the war torn countries. The girls in this photograph are probably sewing for the Red Cross. The boarding school closed in 1920. G39.1-163; TPL-2822

Cushman Indian School (Tacoma); Boarding schools--Puyallup Reservation; Sewing--1910-1920; Sewing machines--1910-1920;

This is what the exterior of the Tacoma Indian Hospital looked like in October of 1954. A shortage of building materials due to WWII delayed the construction of the nearly $2,000,000 U.S. Indian medical center at the Cushman site. Construction was finally completed in April, 1943. In October, 1954, the hospital cut Native American care to treat only those with tuberculosis. The hospital had served 285 patients the previous year; the number had dropped to 250 in 1954. Native Americans from Alaska and the Pacific Northwest were eligible for care at this facility. When the TB level dropped, the hospital was closed in 1959 despite Northwest Native American requests to keep the facility open. It was demolished and the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Bingo Hall and Emerald Queen Casino were built on this site. (TNT 10-14-54, A-9)

Tacoma Indian Hospital (Tacoma); Cushman Indian Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Patricia Stewart, an occupational therapist at the Tacoma Indian Hospital , smiles at Bob McIntyre and Janet Sawyer as they examine a large box of flower pot decorations on December 14, 1957. The little flower pots, wrapped in tissue, were on stars fashioned from Christmas seals. The two teens were officers on the Junior Board of the Tuberculosis Association of Pierce County; McIntyre from Franklin Pierce High School was the program chairman and Sawyer, from Clover Park High School, the president. The flower cups were created by Junior Board members and were to be filled with candy and put on Christmas trays of the 216 T.B. patients. This informal photograph was taken on the grounds of the U.S. Indian Hospital. The Indian Hospital, despite Northwest Indian requests, was finally closed in 1959 due to falling T.B. levels. Photograph ordered by the T.B. Association. (TNT 12-22-57, A-11)

Tacoma Indian Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1950-1960; Occupational therapy--Tacoma; Stewart, Patricia; McIntyre, Bob; Sawyer, Janet;

Robert Hall, Kenneth Johnson, and C. M. Wienker present gifts on behalf of the Young Men's Business Club to young children at the Tacoma Indian Hospital. The Y.M.B.C. was a civics organization that performed many charitable works including supporting the Jessie Dyslin Boys Ranch. Just prior to Christmas, 1958, they traveled to the Tacoma Indian Hospital with gifts for the young patients. Many of the children came to Tacoma from out-of-state and would not be able to return home for the holidays, including Keith Pocatilla of Fort Hall, Idaho, and Thelma Jones of Poplar, Montana. Photograph ordered by the Young Men's Business Club. (TNT 12-23-58, p. 11)

Young Mens Business Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Community service--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hall, Robert; Johnson, Kenneth; Wienker, C. M.; Pocatilla, Keith; Jones, Thelma;

Installation of new charter for the Cascadia Juvenile Reception-Diagnostic Center. Two men display the new charter from the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees on April 22, 1964 for the Cascadia Juvenile Reception-Diagnostic Center Employees, Washington, Local 368. The state had taken over the former site of the Tacoma Indian Hospital on E. 28th St. in 1961. Photograph ordered by the Washington Federation of State Employees, Olympia.

Charters--Tacoma; Labor unions--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Acceptance of charter for union employees. 25 employees of the Cascadia Juvenile Reception-Diagnostic Center, 2002 E. 28th St., watch as the new charter from the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees is displayed on April 22, 1964. It proclaims them to be a part of Local 368. Photograph ordered by the Washington Federation of State Employees, Olympia.

Charters--Tacoma; Labor unions--Tacoma--1960-1970;

• The Puyallup Indian School opened in 1860. It was renamed the Cushman Indian School in 1910, and then became Cushman Hospital in 1918. circa 1900.
• Printed on front: Puyallup Indian Reservation, School and Church, Tacoma, Wash