Sixteen members of the Gold Seal Chinchilla Association posed outside the organizations headquarters at 8610 South Tacoma Way in June of 1956. E.G. Streets, president of the association, has been identified seated third from the right, with mustache, bow tie and ribbon. Over 300 members and friends of the Gold Seal group gathered in Tacoma from four northwestern states and British Columbia on Sunday June 3rd, the first anniversary meeting of the co-operative. The raising of chinchillas for the fur trade became a fad business of the fifties. As more people became interested, groups developed to guarantee quality control and to provide a springboard for more interested investors. The co-operative focused on production of high quality animals through selective breeding. Gold Seal sold breeding stock for the chinchilla trade. The sign behind the group reads "You too can make big money in the fastest growing business in America." (TNT 6/1/1956 p.27)

Fur trade--Tacoma; Business enterprises--Tacoma; Gold Seal Chinchilla Enterprises (Tacoma); Streets, E.G.;

Gold Seal Chinchilla Enterprises annual meeting. Group portrait of members in a lecture hall. Cages of chinchillas can be seen in the back right corner. Raising chinchillas for the lucrative fur coat trade became a fad investment opportunity of the fifties. The Gold Seal co-operative focused on the development of superior pelts by selective breeding. Gold Seal sold breeding stock to members and investors. As soon as a sufficient supply of top grade pelts was available, the group planned to make and market their own garments. (TNT 6/1/1956)

Fur trade--Tacoma; Business enterprises--Tacoma; Gold Seal Chinchilla Enterprises (Tacoma);