Built of Wilkeson sandstone donated by Robert Walker, the First Baptist Church was nearly ready for its dedication set for June of 1925. Designed by architects Heath, Gove & Bell and built by J.E. Bonnell, contractor, the huge church cost about $250,000. The fencing around the church would be removed by Sunday, June 7th. First Baptist's congregation chose to remain in the downtown area so built on a vacant lot adjoining its old site. "We aim to make this a great friendly downtown church for everybody," said pastor C.O. Johnson. In just a few years First Baptist grew to become one of the largest churches on the West Coast. The years 1924-25 saw perhaps a record in church construction in Tacoma with the First Baptist Church, Sixth Avenue Baptist, First Presbyterian, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, and Fern Hill Baptist among those built. First Baptist is now called Urban Grace, the Downtown Church. BU11,472 (TNT 6-4-25, p. 11)

First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930;

On October 17, 1926, the Tacoma Sunday Ledger ran a picture of the Peninsula Stage Company's 17-passenger coach parked outside the First Baptist Church, 902 Market St. The new bus chassis was built by the Studebaker Company which already had a fine reputation in passenger cars. The Peninsula Stage Company had three buses on the Bremerton-Tacoma run, with stops in Gig Harbor, Purdy, Burley, and Port Orchard. Owner R.L. Stubbs indicated that his prior experience with Studebaker cars prompted him to purchase the new bus. Photograph ordered by the B.H. Kennedy Co. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, October 17, 1926, G-7) G66.1-078

Buses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Studebaker automobile; First Baptist Church (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Times on their front page reported on the wedding of James H. Louie and Virginia Lew Wing who were married by Rev. Walter Macoskey on August 5, 1948 at First Baptist Church in front of 125 guests. This was the first wedding ceremony officiated for a Chinese-American couple at First Baptist Church. Virginia had been a member of the church since childhood. James is a graduate of University of Washington and received his masters degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Virginia graduated from Stadium High School and is a graduate of St. Joseph Hospital, School of Nursing. The couple will live in Seattle. Left to right, Mr. and Mrs. Lew Bow Wing of Tacoma, and Mr. and Mrs. Montim Louie of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; the bride and groom's parents (T. Times, 9/1/48, p. 1 & 9)

Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Evening gowns--Tacoma; Chinese Americans--Tacoma; Chinese American families--Tacoma; Louie, James H.--Family; Wing, Virginia Lew--Family; First Baptist Church (Tacoma);

Bride's portrait of Phyllis Lee Murphy. Phyllis Lee Murphy and Robert Bernard Freeman were married September 11, 1948, at the First Baptist Church. Reverend Walter O. Macoskey performed the services. Phyllis carried her paternal grandmother's handkerchief and wore the engagement ring of gold-set moonstones belonging to her maternal grandmother. Her gown was of white moire with a petal shaped collar and cuffs, both trimed in seed pearls and bugle beads. The full skirt swept into a train. Her veil was edged in lace, cascading from a petaled headpiece. She carried a bouquet of white rosebuds and stephanotis circled with pink rosebuds. Candles and flowers stand to either side of her. (TNT, 9/15/1948, p.8)

Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Brides--1940-1950; Wedding costume--1940-1950; Bouquets; Veils--Tacoma; Candles; Candelabras; Murphy, Phyllis Lee--Marriage; First Baptist Church (Tacoma);

Regional Banquet at First Baptist Church, Camp Fire Girls, Miss Bently. Leaders in Camp Fire Girls activities attended a regional training institute for Washington and Oregon leaders. More than 200 leaders met November 8, 1948, at the First Baptist Church. The assembled leaders are shown attending a banquet and several Camp Fire Girls model uniforms on the stage. (T.Times, 11/9/1948, p.1: TNT, 11/9/1948, p.7)

Camp Fire Girls (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1935. Reverend Weldon M. Wilson and wife Nellie, circa 1935. Rev. Wilson, 39, was the newly arrived pastor of the First Baptist Church. The church pulpit had been occupied by supply pastors and visitors for over a year before Rev. Wilson came to town. He was a graduate of the Berkeley Baptist Divinity School and prior to coming to Tacoma in September of 1935, had been the pastor of Grace Baptist in Spokane. Rev. Wilson would later be named pastor of the First Baptist Church in Portland and take up duties there in January of 1939. (T. Times 9-6-35, p. 1-alternate photograph; TNT 11-24-38, p. 1-article ).

Wilson, Weldon M.; Wilson, Weldon M.--Family; Clergy--Tacoma--1930-1940; First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Protestant churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; Baptist churches--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Washington Baptist Convention at the First Baptist Church of Tacoma. Large group of people gathered in front of the church. Wilkeson sandstone building by Heath and Gove, Architects; 1925.

First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; Religious meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940;

In November of 1937, the choir of the First Baptist Church, 902 Market St., was photographed with the ministerial staff. The choir was under the direction of Ernest C. Sheppard, standing left in the group of four at the front of the choir. He had been director of the choir for 20 years. Standing in the front with Mr. Sheppard were, left to right, Mrs. Norma Wadsworth, pianist, Rev. Weldon Wilson, Pastor, and Clayton Johnson, organist. The large downtown church was built in 1925 from a design by Heath, Gove & Bell, architects. (T. Times 11/26/1937, pg. 16)

First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; Choirs (Music); Sheppard, Ernest C.; Wadsworth, Norma; Wilson, Weldon M.; Clergy--Tacoma--1930-1940; Johnson, Clayton;

Autograph seekers gather around Swedish tenor Jussi Bjoerling of the Metropolitan Opera who had just concluded a performance at the First Baptist Church on January 5, 1939. Margrete Anderson, second from right, watches as Mr. Bjoerling affixes his signature to a memento.

Bjoerling, Jussi; Singers; Autographing--Tacoma; Anderson, Margrete; First Baptist Church (Tacoma);

Ladies' Musical Club concert at First Baptist Church. Guest artist Jussi Bjoerling, Swedish tenor of the Metropolitan Opera, autographs a portrait for Hilma Lynn, left, Ethel McFarland Siefert and Margrete Anderson, right (T. Times, 1/7/1939, p. 5).

Bjoerling, Jussi; Singers; Autographing--Tacoma; Lynn, Hilma; Siefert, Ethel McFarland; Anderson, Margrete; First Baptist Church (Tacoma);

Interior shot of the First Baptist Church on Easter Sunday, April 9th, 1939. (filed with Argentum)

Baptist churches--Tacoma; First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Easter--Tacoma;

First Baptist Church, general view of exterior. Wilkenson sandstone building by Heath and Gove, Architects; 1925. (T. Times, Special Edition) [Also dated February 1940] (filed with Argentum)

First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The Monday Civic Club spent many hours sewing at the First Baptist Church, creating 17 quilts for the Red Cross Program. The Club consisted of Tacoma women who met to study current affairs and trends. Their quilts were their contribution to the war effort. Pictured are standing (l to r) Mrs. Percy Creath Smith, president of the club; Mrs. C.M. Moore; Mrs. Charles Huhn; and Mrs. Edward Coleman; seated (l to r) Mrs. Gardner Reynolds; Mrs. George Edgar Staples; Mrs. Zoe B. Wheeler; Mrs. J.C. Huntley; and Mrs. John Williams. (T. Times 7/25/1942, pg. 5)

Monday Civic Club (Tacoma); First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Quilts;

Many hours of painstaking handwork were put in by the members of the Monday Civic Club to create the many quilts shown in this photograph from July, 1942. The club members had promised Mrs. Edward Coleman of the Red Cross that they would make 17 quilts for her Red Cross program. The club women pictured, who met at the First Baptist Church, 902 Market St., each Tuesday are: standing (l to r) Mrs. Percy Creath Smith, president of the club; Mrs. C.M. Moore; Mrs. Charles Huhn; and Mrs. Edward Coleman; seated (l to r) Mrs. Gardner Reynolds; Mrs. George Edgar Staples; Mrs. Zoe B. Wheeler; Mrs. J.C. Huntley; and Mrs. John Williams. (T. Times 7/25/1942, pg. 5)

Monday Civic Club (Tacoma); First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Quilts;

September 9, 1942 commencement exercises for 33 nurses from Tacoma General's School of Nursing, held at the First Baptist Church.

Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma General Hospital Commencement class at First Baptist Church.

Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Nurses are called to the stage to receive their diplomas at the 45th annual commencement exercises of the Tacoma General School of Nursing. The exercises were held September 9, 1942 at the First Baptist Church.

Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On September 9, 1942, the Tacoma General School of Nursing held its 46th annual commencement exercise at the First Baptist Church. The class consisted of 33 nurse graduates. The ceremony was presided over by Sam M. Jackson, who was concluding his 30th year as President of the hospital.

Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Friends and family watch from the floor and balcony of the First Baptist Church as 33 nurses from Tacoma General's School of Nursing receive their diplomas on September 9, 1942.

Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

September 9, 1942 commencement exercises for 33 nurses from Tacoma General's School of Nursing, held at the First Baptist Church.

Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Thirty three nurses stand for recognition after receiving their diplomas during the Tacoma General Hospital Commencement exercise at First Baptist Church on September 9, 1942. It was the school's 46th annual commencement exercise.

Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The 46th annual commencement exercises for the Tacoma General School of Nursing, held September 9, 1942 at the First Baptist Church. In the center of this group of formally dressed men is Governor Arthur B. Langlie who will be speaking at the ceremony. To the right of Langlie is Sam M. Jackson, who for 30 year has been president of the hospital and who will be presiding over the ceremony.

Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Jackson, Samuel M.;

Tacoma General Hospital Commencement class at First Baptist Church. Two recently minted nurses sit with two soldiers in this photograph from September of 1942.

Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Military personnel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma General Hospital Commencement class at First Baptist Church.

Tacoma General Hospital Commencement class at First Baptist Church.

Tacoma General Hospital Commencement class at First Baptist Church.

The chimes in the tower of the First Baptist Church, located downtown, that rang daily at 12 noon reminding business men, city officials and shop girls of their devotions, would herald Easter Sunday April 25, 1943. Easter Sunday sunrise services would take place despite the war and attendance would probably be heavier because of it. (T. Times 4/24/1943 p.1)

Chimes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Baptist churches--Tacoma; First Baptist Church (Tacoma);

Chimes ringer at First Baptist Church. Miss Evelyn Alcorn is seated at the console of the First Baptist Church organ. Before her are three tiers of keyboards, many stops between the tiers with a large number of buttons across the top. Miss Alcorn daily plays the chimes at noon and will be on hand to herald Easter April 25, 1943. (T. Times, 4/24/1943, p.1)

Chimes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Baptist churches--Tacoma; First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; Organ lofts--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma General Hospital. Commencement ceremonies for the nurses class of 1943 at First Baptist Church.

Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma;

Tacoma General Hospital graduation exercises at First Baptist Church for Mrs. Moore. The graduating class of nurses sits at the front of the church which is decorated with flags and a small copy of the Statue of Liberty. The top of the photograph is damaged.

Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma;