Dr. Albert J. Lindsey stands behind the pulpit at the First Presbyterian Church.

Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; Clergy--Tacoma--1950-1960; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Lindsey, Albert J.; Pulpits--Tacoma;

Patricia Henry and Alvin Larsen wedding. The bride and groom sign their marriage certificate at St. Josephs while the maid of honor and best man look on. The bride was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Forest Henry and the groom was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Emile Larsen. The couple made their first home in Tacoma. (TNT 8/19/1952, pg. 11)

Catholic churches--Tacoma; Wedding costume--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grooms (Weddings)--1950-1960; Henry, Patricia--Marriage; Larsen, Alvin;

Visitation School's 1952 graduating Class of 42 students taken in church sanctuary. Visitation Church was designed by C. Frank Mahon, Architect, and constructed in 1913. The school was added in 1925 and opened on September 8th with an enrollment of 170 students, at a cost of $1.00 per month for in parrish families. The school was staffed by the Benedictine Sisters of St. Benedict's Convent in Minnesota. ("A History of Pierce County" V. 3)

Church schools--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Altars--Tacoma; Church of the Visitation (Tacoma); School of the Visitation (Tacoma);

Committee of four ladies for the Catholic Daughters of America.The Catholic Daughters of America was founded in 1903. The organization is made up of Catholic women involved in religious, charitable and educational projects. Pictured are Mrs. Alexander Brewuer, Mrs. Edward C. Grewich, Aimee (Mrs. M.J.) Kenney and Catherine (Mrs. Ashley K.) White.

Catholic Daughters of America (Tacoma); Kenney, Aimee; White, Catherine F.; Public service organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The choir stands in front of the pipe organ at Central Lutheran Church.

Central Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma; Choirs (Music); Organs;

Dorothy Hanson (far left) and Al Bellandi were crowned king and queen of the Young People's Fellowship's Mardi Gras carnival held on Friday February 22, 1952 at Holy Communion Church parish house. Toni Jones (right), president of the Young People's Fellowship, is helping arrange King Bellandi's royal cape. Booths, a box supper and games were followed by dancing and cards. Proceeds from the affair benefited the church. (TNT, 2/20/1952, p.A-12) TPL-10520

Church of the Holy Communion (Tacoma); Episcopal churches--Tacoma; Hanson, Dorothy; Bellandi, Al; Jones, Toni;

The adult choir at Trinity Methodist Church. Ordered by Mrs. Sanderson. Reverend John P. Johnson was pastor at this time.

Trinity Methodist Church (Tacoma); Methodist churches--Tacoma; Choirs (Music);

The kitchen at the First Presbyterian Church has been recently remodeled. The new stainless steel surfaces on the ovens, stove, sinks and counter tops are gleaming as are the exteriors of the large coffee urns on the right. Large windows are seen on the right. Wooden tables have been added in a row along the middle of the long kitchen providing ample space for large amounts of food to be prepared. (TNT, 1/13/1952, p.C-15) TPL-2267

Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Kitchens--Tacoma--1950-1960; Remodeling--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Hugh MacWhirter, Carman Knap Nordlund and Ernest Bates (L-R) sang the trio in the Saint-Saens "Christmas Oratorio" at the First Methodist Church's annual carol service in 1951. The church choir, directed by Fritz Berntsen, and other soloists would also take part in the performance. Ordered by Mr. Berntsen. (TNT, 12/23/1951, p.C-7)

Methodist churches--Tacoma; First Methodist Church (Tacoma); MacWhirter, Hugh; Nordlund, Carman Knap; Bates, Ernest; Singers;

In October of 1951, Carol S. (Mrs. W. C.) Allen and Lloyd L. Wynans received their awards as national prize winners in a contest sponsored by the Kelvinator Division of the Nash-Kelvinator Corp. Mrs. Allen won a new Nash Rambler Country Club sedan for her completion of the statement, "I like the Kelvinator refrigerator because..." in less than 100 words. Mr. Wynans also received a new Nash Rambler from the Sanford Nash dealership for being the salesman at Harkness Rug and Furniture Company that demonstrated the Kelvinator appliances to Mrs. Allen. They are seen with their new cars in front of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Central Ward at 1201 So. 4th St. Pictured are, L-R, Lloyd L. Wynans, Harkness appliance manager; C.R. Manning, sales manager for Nash-Kelvinator Sales Corp.; Roger B. Trick, zone manager for Nash-Kelvinator; Mrs. Allen, Nash winner; and E.P. Christian, district manager for Nash-Kelvinator. (TNT, 10/14/1951, p.A-12)

Mormon churches--Tacoma; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Tacoma); Nash automobile; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Awards; Wynans, Lloyd L.; Allen, Carol S.;

Children fill the stage at Faith Temple. They may have taken part in a Christmas pageant since this photograph was taken two days before Christmas 1951. Stripes, plaids and western wear seem popular in children's wear at this time.

Congregational churches--Tacoma; Faith Temple (Tacoma); Theatrical productions--Tacoma; Children performing in theatrical productions--Tacoma; Children--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The congregation of Sixth Avenue Baptist Church listens attentively to its minister, Rev. Victor A. McKee, in late January, 1953. Members of the children's and adult's choirs are seated up front. The church is nearly full, with people also sitting in the balcony. The covered table in front of the minister may be for Communion. Photograph ordered by Victor A. McKee. TPL-9619

Religious services--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baptist churches--Tacoma; Choirs (Music); Sixth Avenue Baptist Church (Tacoma); McKee, Victor A.;

Orpheus Club members are shown post-concert at the First Methodist Church on December 9, 1952. The Orpheus Club, with more than fifty participants, was a male choir that performed in many concerts, including several at the First Methodist Church and was part of the massive collaboration of choirs in productions of Handel's "The Messiah." The December, 1952, concert featured soprano Gloria Marinacci, as guest artist. The Orpheans were directed by Ivan Rasmussen and Helen Nancy Congdon was the piano accompanist. (TNT 11-30-52, D-10)

Orpheus Club (Tacoma); Concerts--Tacoma--1950-1960; Choirs (Music); First Methodist Church (Tacoma);

Members of the committee planning St. Rita's annual church bazaar met to complete their plans. There were to be many well stocked booths and favors awarded hourly on the hour during the three-day event. L-R, are, seated Mary (Mrs. Fisher) Messina, Evelyn (Mrs. Joseph) Liberto and Caroline Turco. Standing, Mrs Louis Constanti, Amelia (Mrs. John) Mazzuca, and Cyrilla (Mrs. Leo) DiStafano. (TNT, 11/12/1952, p.15)

St. Rita's Catholic Church (Tacoma); Messina, Mary; Liberto, Evelyn; Turco, Caroline; DiStafano, Cyrilla; Mazzuca, Amelia; Women--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fund raising--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Plywood concrete forms have been extended to prepare for pouring the walls of the second story of the Central Seventh Day Adventist Church. The modern design provided for a triangle shape measuring 154 feet on the Sprague Avenue side, 142 feet on the Sixth Avenue approach and 89 feet on the side facing Grant Avenue. The new church should seat 700. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (TNT, 9/28/1952, p.C-15)

Churches--Tacoma; Central Seventh Day Adventist Church (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Reinforced concrete construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma);

Men are adding window shapes to the plywood concrete forms at the new Central Seventh Day Adventist Church in this photograph dated November 3, 1952. The estimated cost of the new church was $150,000 and it was expected to be completed in March 1953. The congregation had outgrown their building at 923 South I Street that they had used for more than 30 years and had been renting the First Congregational Church since 1943. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (TNT, 9/28/1952, p.C-15)

Churches--Tacoma; Central Seventh Day Adventist Church (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Reinforced concrete construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma);

Members of the Central Seventh Day Adventist Church donated much of the labor needed to build their new church. Plywood forms are in place for concrete to be poured and a steel I-beam stretches across the main floor of the modern, streamlined structure designed by Silas E. Nelsen. John Wagner, the contractor from Salem, Oregon, specialized in building churches. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (TNT, 9/28/1952, p.C-15)

Churches--Tacoma; Central Seventh Day Adventist Church (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Reinforced concrete construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma);

Members of the Central Seventh Day Adventist Church began construction of their new church in the fall of 1952. They had rented the First Congragational Church at Division Avenue and J Streets since the congregation outgrew their old church on I Street. Plywood concrete forms and steel rebar are in place during construction and two workmen are sawing plywood while standing on scaffolding. Progress photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (TNT, 9/28/1952, p.C-15)

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Plywood; Reinforced concrete construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Churches--Tacoma; Central Seventh Day Adventist Church (Tacoma);

Dwight and Virginia Robinson stand outside St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Old Tacoma wearing some of the fall season's new fashions. Mrs. Robinson is wearing a coat of Bolivia cloth and a Canadian fox collar. Mr. Robinson, president of Western Furnaces, chose a conservative three-button lounge sack guit and a Dobbs hat. The exterior of St. Peter's has weathered and some of the windows are broken. Restoration of the early Tacoma church was begun in 1956. The small, 21 ft. x 45 ft., Carpenter Gothic church was built in 1873. It was designed by Rev. Charles Bonnell. The timber was donated by Hanson-Ackerson Mill and construction took 10 days. The building was placed on the National Register in 1975. Ordered by the Tacoma News Tribune for their fall fashion section. (TNT, 9/11/1952, p.C-7)

Episcopal churches--Tacoma; St. Peter's Episcopal Church (Tacoma); Aged persons--Tacoma; Robinson, Dwight; Robinson, Virginia; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; Spouses--Tacoma;

Spillman-Lyman meetings, fifth Sunday night audience. Tacoma Nov. 1, 1953. The Spillman-Lyman revival began at the New Bible Prophecy Auditorium at the Central Seventh Day Adventist's Church in September and was still going strong in November. Spillman, the "man with an answer," delivered a powerful end of the world sermon that he claimed was being fulfilled in current history. Motion pictures on the life of the Apostle Paul were also shown. The revival was advertised as "Where the meetings begin on time and are out by nine" and Tacomans were instructed to "follow the crowds to these great meetings." (TNT 10/3/1953, pg. 6 & TNT 11/7/1953- photo used in advertisement)

Revivals--Tacoma--1950-1960; Religious meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Churches--Tacoma; Central Seventh Day Adventist Church (Tacoma);

First Presbyterian Church and approximately 300 children attending the 1953 Vacation Bible School. Vacation Bible School was sponsored by area churches during a week in the summer to give children a chance to study the scriptures during their free time, and for parents to keep their children busy during the long summer days. For many baby boomers, summer brings fond memories of Vacation Bible School - memorizing Bible verses, singing songs, making Biblical characters out of clothespins and having snacks of cookies and Koolaid.

Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; Christianity--Tacoma--1950-1960; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1950-1960; Christian vacation schools--1950-1960;

Seventh-day Adventist Disaster Emergency Unit. In March of 1953 Tacoma's Adventist churches spent a full day having their members demonstrate first-aid techniques and preparing emergency disaster kits filled with medicines, bandages and other supplies. Nurse Roberta Sharley is pictured above with two unidentified women as she looks over the items to be placed within the white SDA buckets. About $19 worth of first-aid items were placed in each emergency kit. (TNT 3-22-1953, A-15-article)

Seventh-day Adventist Church (Tacoma); Civil defense--Tacoma--1950-1960; Sharley, Roberta; Nurses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Seventh-day Adventist Disaster Emergency Unit. Members of the Tacoma Central and South Side Seventh-day Adventist churches met in March of 1953 for a joint project in preparing for emergency disasters. Special SDA supply kits were filled for household use in case of disaster. Members lined up assembly-style to place about $19 worth of bandages, antiseptics, splints, dressings, water purification tablets and other useful items into each white can. (TNT 3-22-1953, A-15-article)

Seventh-day Adventist Church (Tacoma); Civil defense--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Seventh-day Adventist Disaster Emergency Unit. Shown filling a special SDA Disaster Kit bucket with neatly folded bandages in March of 1953 were several members of Tacoma's Seventh-day Adventist Church. They were participating in a 10-hour day full of first aid training and stocking of emergency care kits. According to Pastor DeWitt S. Osgood, it was the church's objective to have a Red Cross first-aider in every home with every church a disaster depot and every home equipped with a disaster kit. The disaster kits would help not only the homeowner but their neighbors as well. (TNT 3-22-1953, A-15-article)

Seventh-day Adventist Church (Tacoma); Civil defense--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Seventh-day Adventist Disaster Emergency Unit. An unidentified speaker addresses members of the Tacoma Central and South Side Seventh-day Adventist churches in March of 1953 as they spent a long day filling and distributing emergency disaster kits and practicing first aid. The Fifties were a time of anxiety for our nation and civil defense was highly promoted. The City of Tacoma had a Civil Defense Building on Fawcett Ave. which was constructed of concrete and considered bombproof and had its own local director of civil defense. The Seventh-day Adventist Church has provided emergency relief in times of disaster for over a hundred years. (TNT 3-22-1953, A-15-article)

Seventh-day Adventist Church (Tacoma); Civil defense--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Seventh-day Adventist Disaster Emergency Unit. Members of all ages from the Tacoma Central and South Side Seventh-day Adventist churches spent a day in March, 1953, involved in a hands-on project of filling and distributing emergency disaster kits and practicing first-aid. Working on an assembly-line basis, these two boys and an elderly couple are pictured placing wooden splints into the white buckets marked SDA Disaster Kit(s). Piles of neatly folded bandages are shown on a nearby table ready for insertion into the kits. The objective of the kits and training was to hopefully equip every church member's home with a kit so they could be prepared to help themselves in case of disaster and also aid their neighbors. Most of the activities of this long 10-hour day were filmed for use as training for other Seventh-day Adventist churches. (TNT 3-22-1953, A-15-article)

Seventh-day Adventist Church (Tacoma); Civil defense--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A sepia photograph of the Central Lutheran Church choir was taken in the church's choir loft on March 15, 1953. They would be presenting "Seven Last Words", a cantata by Dubois, on Good Friday. Rev. Rueben H. Redal, pastor, is believed to be in the front row, on the left, with director Wilbur Arnold at his side. Central Lutheran, located at 1001 South "G" Street, apparently had a massive organ; there is a large cross placed on the front of the pipes. First Presbyterian Church was dedicated at that site in 1890; Central Lutheran established residency there in the 1930's. (TNT 3-29-53, D-11)

Central Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Choirs (Music); Organ lofts--Tacoma; Organs;

Father Anthony Baffaro, pastor of St. Rita's Catholic Church, stands on the church steps with his confirmation class on April 12, 1953. The boys in the group, some in uniform, have been placed in front of the veiled girls in white. St. Rita's was founded by Italian immigrants; built in 1924 in the Mediterranean style, it was placed on the National Registry. Its parish priest, Fr. Anthony Baffaro, was the youngest Jesuit priest in history. He was very involved in encouraging youth activities in the church and organized a church baseball team. Fr. Baffaro died on February 17, 1979, after serving his parish since September, 1948. Photograph ordered by Fr. Baffaro. (History of Pierce County, Vol. 3, p. 87)

St. Rita's Catholic Church (Tacoma); Confirmations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baffaro, Anthony;

Asbury United Methodist Church in South Tacoma has been in existence for over one hundred years. Named after Francis Asbury, a Methodist circuit rider, it was first located at South 56th and Warner Street before the church building was moved, with horse and manpower, to its present location at South 56th and Puget Sound. In April, 1954, a new church building was officially opened by Bishop A. Raymond Grant. It had taken the church ten years of fund raising to build the new church. View of church's interior; red drapes and carpet blend beautifully with wooden beams, brick walls and wood trimmings. (History of Pierce County, p. 12-13, TNT 4-3-54, p. 6)

Asbury United Methodist Church (Tacoma); Methodist churches--Tacoma;

The exterior of the Lincoln Ward, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, was photographed on April 22, 1954. The chapel was located at 5016 A Street; it was built primarily with the labor of its congregation. The building was constructed out of concrete block; the exterior appeared to be resurfaced with Perma-Stone. Perma-Stone was a tough, long lasting material which was cast by molds on walls of brick, block, wood, stucco or tile. Photograph ordered by Karl Kaman, contractor.

Mormon churches--Tacoma; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Tacoma); Building materials;