ca. 1926. First Presbyterian Church, general view of interior of the main auditorium. Cram and Ferguson with Sutton, Whitney and Dugan, Architects; 1920-24. The church is listed on the Historic Registry of both the city of Tacoma and the nation. It is a fine example of Romanesque architecture. Not only the architecture, but many of the interior elements, including carved wood and stained glass, were designed personally by Ralph Adams Cram. (WSHS, Argentum)

Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma);

ca. 1926. First Presbyterian Church, general view of interior of the main auditorium. Cram and Ferguson with Sutton, Whitney and Dugan, Architects; 1920-24. The lights, hung from heavy chains, were constructed of antique iron. All of the interior features, including the carved wooden pieces and stained glass windows, were designed by Ralph Adams Cram. In 1926, the church's membership exceeded 2200, making it the largest Protestant church in Tacoma and the 33rd largest Presbyterian church in the country. (WSHS, Argentum)

First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma);

ca. 1926. First Presbyterian Church, interior of Ferguson Chapel. The small chapel was given to the church as a memorial to the late William Ferguson by Mrs. William Ferguson and her sons William and John. Mr. Ferguson had come to Tacoma as an Irish immigrant and was one of the founders of the church. The Ferguson Chapel seated 150 and was open to the community for use, without regard to denomination. (WSHS, Argentum)

Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma);

ca. 1926. First Presbyterian Church courtyard. The church design by Ralph Adams Cram featured a center courtyard with a pillared colonnade separating the central worship area from the administration portion of the church. The courtyard is paved with brick and has stone seating. The church took around 5 years to construct and cost nearly a half million dollars in 1925. The Associate architects were the local firm of Sutton, Whitney & Dugan. The church is on the City Registry. (WSHS)

Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma);

The bas relief at the front of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Parkland, ordered by the Olympian Stone Co. of Seattle. The original church at this site was "The Gray Church" built in 1907 and also named Trinity Lutheran. It was demolished in 1957 and this new church, designed by John Richards of Lea, Pearson and Richards, was dedicated in March of 1959. The relief over the door was designed by Pacific Lutheran College Art Professor George Roskos. The three ton sculpture illustrates the parable of the sower, how both seed and the word of God need fertile soil to take root and grow.

Trinity Lutheran Church (Parkland); Lutheran churches--Parkland; Bas-reliefs;

Exterior - Temple Baptist Church, 1961. Designed by Silas E. Nelsen and built of reinforced concrete in 1949, the Temple Baptist Church was located at 245 Saint Helens Avenue. Dr. Robert L. Powell was the church's pastor. The sanctuary was completed in 1960. Temple Baptist has been located at 1108 Columbia Ave. in Fircrest since 2001.

Temple Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma;

ca. 1921. St Paul's Catholic Cathedral, Yakima, WA. for Father Robert Armstrong, J.W. Maloney and J.E. McGuire, Associated Architects. Copy of architectural rendering of Spanish style church with decorated tower and large round window. (filed with Argentum)

St. Pauls Catholic Cathedral (Yakima); Catholic churches--Yakima; Architectural drawings;

A group of thirteen men and two women pose on the front steps of a building for a group portrait, "Conference Presidents and Office Staff, Northwestern States Mission, Tacoma, Wash., December 19, 1925." The Northwestern States Mission was organized in July of 1897 by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons, for the purpose of locating lost members who had migrated to the Northwest. (WSHS) (www.mission.net/oregon)

Group portraits--Tacoma--1920-1930; Northwestern States Mission (Tacoma); Mormon churches--Tacoma; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Tacoma); Church membership--Tacoma;

Members of Tacoma's Rainbow Court No. 42 and Seattle's Sarah W. Dupree Court No. 19 of the Heroines of Jericho held joint Holy Week services in Tacoma at Bethlehem Baptist Church in March of 1964. Members and officials of the Rainbow Court are posed in the foreground; Seattle contingent in back row. L-R, front row: Era M. Martin, Vivian Jones, Lucy B. Marshall, Jessie M. Baldwin, Worthy Joshua Gerald L. Baldwin, Hallie Brooks, Sarah Booth, Julie Gillum and Berdie Johnson. 2nd row: Maggie White, Lizzy Green, Cora Walker, Octavia Charles, Benny Ruth Fox, Elizabeth Wesley and Laura Latmier. 3rd row: Court directors Louis J. Marshall and Robert L. White, Helen Adams. 4th row: Clara White, Mrs. Allen M. Douglas, Helen Krisel, Edith Allen, Janie M. Bennett, Leona Kidd, Floy Ruffins, Addalana Moore, Beatrice Chatters and past Worthy Joshua William Hawkins. (TNT 3-26-64, p. 7)

Group portraits; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1960-1970; African Americans--Tacoma--1960-1970; Bethlehem Baptist Church (Tacoma); Heroines of Jericho;

Confirmation picture, First Lutheran Church.

First Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma; Confirmations--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1926. Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, general view of exterior. Stone church by Heath and Gove, Architects. 1925. (filed with Argentum)

Baptist churches--Tacoma; Sixth Avenue Baptist Church (Tacoma);

Sixth Avenue Baptist Church. Located at the intersection of Sixth & Fife, the Sixth Avenue Baptist Church has been a presence in the area since 1924. The church was designed by architects Heath, Gove & Bell and was built of cut stone. An educational wing, to the right of the original imposing edifice, was added in 1963.

Sixth Avenue Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma;

New Prince Hall Grand Lodge members pose in front of the Bethlehem Baptist Church in July, 1967. Over 300 members attended the 65th Grand Lodge convention.

Group portraits; New Prince Hall Grand Lodge (Tacoma); Bethlehem Baptist Church (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1960-1970;

New Tacoma Cemetary, Colonial style Building.

Cemetaries - Washington State - Pierce County - New Tacoma Cemetary

Colonial style building on grounds of New Tacoma Cemetary.

Cemetaries - Washington State - Pierce County - New Tacoma Cemetary

ca. 1943. This view of the New Tacoma Cemetery, with large firs on right and small bushes by gravesites, was taken circa 1943. The park-like surroundings provided a serene resting place for the deceased using non-intrusive flat markers. Opened in 1932, the 150-acre New Tacoma Cemetery overlooks the City of Steilacoom and the waters of Puget Sound. (www.newtacoma.com-information)

Cemeteries--Tacoma; New Tacoma Cemetery (Tacoma);

ca. 1926. M.J. Wood stands beside an Oakland automobile in Division Street beside First Presbyterian Church. The Oakland automobile was manufactured from 1907-09 by the Oakland Motor Co. of Pontiac, Michigan, and from 1909-1931 by the Oakland Motors Division of General Motors. After 1931, the company continued to produce its other line of vehicles, the Pontiac. (filed with Argentum)

Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Automobiles--1920-1930; Oakland automobiles; Wood, M.J.;

Catholic Church of the Visitation. Thirty seven young boys standing in appropriate Catholic choir garb, holding hymn books, ready to sing. Building by C. Frank Mahon, Architect, 1913.

Churches - Catholic Churches - Tacoma - Church of the Visitation Music - Choral Music - Choirs - Church Choirs

Robert E. Hutchins Funeral. Aviation cadet Robert E. Hutchins, age 20, was killed in a mid-air plane crash 12 miles north of Merced, California. His casket at Trinity Lutheran Church in Parkland is surounded by flowers, several of which depict the medals Cadet Hutchins won during the war. The one to the left of the casket resembles the Army Distinquished Service Cross, the two on the right resemble the Silver Star, given for galantry in action. (T.Times, 5/19/1945, p.1; 5/21/45, p.11)

Hutchins, Robert E.; World War, 1939-1945--Casualties--Tacoma; Trinity Lutheran Church (Parkland);

Choir at St. Nicholas Church, 17 girls and the choral director standing in the sanctuary of the church on July 31, 1945. The walls are painted with religious icons. The second choir member in the front row (L-R) has been identified as Gloria Victoria Hallis. Miss Hallis was 18 years old at the time of this group portrait. She would be the church organist for many years and active in the Daughters of Penelope. Miss Hallis' parents owned Hallis Produce Co. where she was employed as head bookkeeper her entire life. A second choir member has been identified as Katherine Formuzis Turlis. She is in the front row, extreme right. (Additional information provided by Despina K. McLaughlin Alatsis)

Orthodox churches--Tacoma; St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church (Tacoma); Choirs (Music); Altars--Tacoma; Hallis, Gloria Victoria;

In June of 1927, Seattlite and frequent Tacoma visitor Esther Landstrom (in coat) was pictured with her new Willys-Knight 70-A coupe in front of the First Presbyterian Church at 20 Tacoma Avenue South. Her small dog stands on the running board. Her friend Dolly Wescott, a bookkeeper at Manley Motors, was at the wheel. Mrs. Landstrom had recently purchased her car from Manley Motor Company, 956-58 Fawcett Avenue, in Tacoma. Manley Motors were the authorized dealers of Overland, Willys-Knight, and Whippet automobiles. (TDL 6/19/1927, pg. G2) (WSHS)

Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Landstrom, Esther; Wescott, Dolly; Willys-Knight automobile; Dogs--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Mary Elizabeth Thaut died at the age of 63. She was a native from Russia and first lived in Dallas, Oregon, she spent her last 35 years in Tacoma. The services were organized by Cassedy and Allen at Evangelical Lutheran Church. Cassedy & Allen casket pictures of Mary Elizabeth Thaut.

Thaut, Mary Elizabeth, 1883-1946--Death & burial; Funeral rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Morgues & mortuaries--Tacoma; Religious articles; Bouquets; Cassedy & Allen Mortuary (Tacoma); Evangelical Lutheran Church (Tacoma);

Central Lutheran Church was founded in 1925, the church was an active member of the Tacoma community, during World War II they set up a Lutheran Center for Servicemen. They were expecting a large turnout for this year's Easter Services. Interior view of Central Lutheran Church, the Choir is on the altar and in front of a large pipe organ, getting ready to sing their Easter music.

Easter--Tacoma; Choirs (Music); Religious services--Tacoma; Organs; Crosses; Altars--Tacoma; Central Lutheran Church (Tacoma);

St. Joseph's Slovak Catholic Church, Father Joe, First Communicants. Five boys wearing white shirts and bow ties and twelve girls wearing white dresses and veils stand with two nuns.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church (Tacoma); Catholic churches--Tacoma; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

This photograph of the interior of Visitation Church, 3318 So. 58th St., was taken on January 22, 1948. The sanctuary is filled with scaffolding to the top of the interior arches to make it ready for painting. Two unidentified man at the left watch as workmen from the Safway Steel Scaffolding Company build the complicated gridwork. The church was founded in 1892 and this building was dedicated in 1913. The architect was C. Frank Mahon. The churches stained glass windows are visible on both sides of the pews.

Church of the Visitation (Tacoma); Catholic churches--Tacoma; Interiors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Scaffolding--Tacoma--1940-1950; Safway Steel Scaffolding Co. (Tacoma);

The Assembly of God Church at 1121 So. G St. (now Altheimer St.) is filled with families attending a youth rally. The Tacoma church was founded in 1918 by Rev. Frank Gray. Today, as First Assembly of God Life Center at 1717 So. Union Ave., it has one of the largest congregations in Tacoma. The building in this photograph was designed by Silas E. Nelsen, architect, and dedicated in 1926. It is now the Altheimer Memorial Church of God in Christ. TPL-6397

Assembly of God (Tacoma); Protestant churches--Tacoma; Religious meetings; Audiences--Tacoma; Musicians--Tacoma--1940-1950; Families--Tacoma--1940-1950; Balconies--Tacoma; Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma);

Cecil B. DeMille's "King of Kings" was presented at the Roxy (Pantages) Theater March 22 - 26, 1948. Admission was free as sponsored by the Tacoma Council of Churches. The theater was nearly filled for the showing of the film when this photograph was taken on the 26th. The Pantages was built as a vaudeville theater in 1917. Motion pictures replaced vaudeville shows and the name was changed to the RKO Orpheum in 1930 and changed again in 1932 when the new Roxy opened. The Pantages was rededicated after restoration in 1983. Ordered by, Council of Churches, Loyal Vickers. (TNT, 3/21/1948, p. A-12). TPL-1773

Roxy Theatre (Tacoma); Tacoma Council of Churches (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1940-1950; Motion pictures; Motion picture audiences--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Assembly of God was hosting a United Full-Gospel Fellowship Rally, Reverend Walter McAllister was the guest speaker. The rally would include eleven churches and eleven pastors, community Christian discussions with worship services and growing revivals. View of participating people in the auditorium of the First Christian Church, the balcony and ground level pews are filled up, stained glass in background (T. Times, 5/29/48, p. 3).

Religious meetings--Tacoma; Audiences--Tacoma; Churches--Tacoma; Pews--Tacoma; Religion; Assembly of God (Tacoma); First Christian Church (Tacoma);

Assembly of God was inviting all interested individuals to hear G. B. McDowell, evangelist and Paul Glover, singer, to their great pentecostal rally. Some of the subjects that would be covered included: "The Bannisters That Need To Be Built", "The Paralyzed Soul", and "What Will Bring America Back To God?". View of First Christian Church auditorium, balcony and main level are filled up, stained glass in background (T. Times, 5/29/48, p. 3).

Religious meetings--Tacoma; Audiences--Tacoma; Churches--Tacoma; Pews--Tacoma; Religion; Assembly of God (Tacoma); First Christian Church (Tacoma);

The New Tacoma Cemetery offers their clients and families a tranquil serene final resting place. Families can choose from beautiful grounds landscaped with junipers, rhododendrons and azaleas, mausoleum, or an Urn Garden and Rockery constructed in three levels with a perpetual waterfall. View of entrance leading into the New Tacoma Cemetery, the gates are open, the mausoleum is located on the right side.

Cemeteries--Tacoma; Gates--Tacoma; Undertaking--Tacoma; Morgues & mortuaries--Tacoma; Death--Tacoma; New Tacoma Cemetery (Tacoma); Tacoma Cemetery Association (Tacoma);