The Independents at the College of Puget Sound were getting ready for their first big social of the year, a "Sadie Hawkins Day" dance on Saturday November 8th, 1941, at the Knights of Columbus Hall on 6th and Steele. The climax would be the selection and shotgun wedding of Li'l Abner and Daisy Mae. Candidates for the groom are, left, Jim Angus and Harris Martin; the tall gentleman is Larry Henderson, master of ceremonies and candidates for the not-so-blushing bride are Ruth Sonneman and Annabel Miller. (T. Times 11/7/1941 p.13)

College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Costumes; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Angus, Jim; Martin, Harris; Henderson, Larry; Sonneman, Ruth; Miller, Annabel;

On June 6, 1942, commencement exercises were held at Jones Hall on the campus of the College of Puget Sound. Eighty-nine degrees were being awarded, including an honorary degree of Doctor of Science in Government to Governor Arthur B. Langlie. He was pictured shaking hands at the exercises with an unidentified man. Rev. Stanley G. Logan was also awarded an honorary degree, Doctor of Divinity. (T. Times 6/6/1942, pg. 1)

College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Universities & colleges--Tacoma; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Governors; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966;

Pacific Lutheran College football team, players and coaches. Unidentified coach is believed to be Philip G. Strombo, who succeeded Cliff Olsen as the new director of athletics at PLC in the fall of 1942. Strombo, at 41, was a former North Dakota University player and had coached in North Dakota and Oregon.

Football players--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1940-1950; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1940-1950; Football--Parkland--1940-1950;

The four youngest members of the 1951 May Queen's court are shown during the festivities at Pacific Lutheran College for May Day 1951. Ingrid Rae and Iral Ann Mobroten, twin sisters, hold baskets of daisies as flower girls. Jonathan Nesvig, wearing short pants, carries a floral crown on a pillow. Cathy Harshman, left, served as train bearer for the queen. All three girls wear floor-length dresses and their hair has been curled into ringlets. (TNT, 5/3/1951, p.D-3)

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1950-1960; Festivals--Parkland--1950-1960; Children--Clothing & dress--Parkland--1950-1960;

Marjorie Anderson was the 1951 May Queen at Pacific Lutheran College. She poses for her portrait by a floral arch with the Queen's train spread out behind her. She is wearing a floral crown and carried a small bouquet of roses. (TNT, 5/3/1951, p.D-3)

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1950-1960; Festivals--Parkland--1950-1960; Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Anderson, Marjorie;

Students from McCarver Junior High School fill the stage during the May Musical Festival in 1951. Several girls have wound streamers around the May pole in the center of the stage. A large watering can hangs against the back curtain. Several of the students wear butterfly wings while others hold large tulips, daffodils and sunflowers. A piano and the accompanist are seen in the foreground. TPL-10576

McCarver Junior High School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Music education--Tacoma; Music festivals--Tacoma;

Students at Annie Wright Seminary watch a slide presentation shown by one of their teachers. The teacher handles the slide projector from a table in the middle of the class. A movie projector stands at the back of the room. Sound panels have been attached to the back wall.

Private schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Uniforms; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Group portraits; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Motion picture devices; Transparencies;

On February 6, 1950, Pacific Lutheran College students gaily tossed their shoes off at the door to enjoy the Stocking Shuffle Dance in the gymnasium. Rhoda Young (right), head of the women's physical education department, was on hand to judge most holey, colorful and biggest pairs of socks. Among the finalists in the competition were Walter Masters, Raymond Green and Florence Brandstetter. The prize for the winners was, appropriately, three new pairs of socks. Ordered by the Tribune, Barbara Dana. (TNT, 2/9/1950, p.C-6)

Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Dance parties--Parkland--1950-1960; Hosiery; Young, Rhoda;

Pacific Lutheran College dedicated their new $200,000 Science Hall October 1947. Architectural studies, ordered by Lea, Pearson & Richards, Charles Pearson.

Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--Buildings; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;

Robert Gray Junior High School, 9th grade graduating class. Five rows of students in front of school building, designed by Emanual J. Bresemann, Architect in 1925. Ordered by Mr. Paine.

Public schools--Tacoma; Gray Junior High School (Tacoma);

On July 19, 1951, workmen were cutting and installing one-inch blankets of insulation in the band room at the new chapel-music-speech building at Pacific Lutheran College. The J-M system of sound isolation was being used to control sound waves which are transmitted by structural vibration. Light weight and specially constructed floors, walls and ceilings were entirely divorced from the building structure by means of felted isolators. The floating interior had no rigid contact with the outer solid structure of the building. The felt cushioned isolators took up the sound impulses which otherwise would be transmitted throughout the structure. (TNT, 7/22/1951, p.C-12)

Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--Buildings; Building construction--Parkland--1950-1960;

Junior Prom at Annie Wright Seminary. Chaparones and a few students are seen in a receiving line for the Junior Prom in this photograph from April of 1950. Head Mistress Ruth Jenkins is seen on the far left. Ordered by Tribune, Barbara Dana. (TNT, 5/7/1950, p.D-6)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Private schools--Tacoma; Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Teenagers--1950-1960; Couples--Tacoma--1950-1960; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Jenkins, Ruth;

Participants in the 1950 May Day Program at Stewart Junior High School, possibly the seventh-grade flower girls. The festivities included a procession for the queen and her duchesses and their escorts, the coronation, a program by the 71-piece Stewart band, the flag salute, tumbling and acrobatics, a track meet for ninth-grade boys, and the May Queen's ball in the gymnasium. Ordered by Miss Helen Andres. (TNT, 4/30/1950, p.C-12)

Public schools--Tacoma; School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Events--Tacoma--1940-1950; Holidays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stewart Junior High School (Tacoma);

A record 228 students graduated in the class of 1950 at Pacific Lutheran College. They pose on the steps of Old Main. Dr. Harry K Newburn, president of the University of Oregon, spoke on the subject of "The Uncommon Man". That could describe the person with a college diploma in 1950. Only slightly over 5 per cent of the nation's population 25 years of age and over had college degrees. Names were listed in the Tacoma News Tribune, 5/25/1950, p. 3. (TNT, 5/30/1950, p.1)

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Universities & colleges--Parkland; Students--Parkland; Graduation ceremonies--Parkland;

Pacific Lutheran College. The exterior of the Student Union Building showing the grounds and part of a garden with a sun dial. A few students are enjoying the sunny spring day.

Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Educational facilities--Parkland; Education--Parkland; Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--Buildings; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;

An exterior view of the Science Hall at Pacific Lutheran College. The three-story building was dedicated October 1947. TPL-9331

Students--Parkland; Educational facilities--Parkland; Education--Parkland; Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--Buildings; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;

A group of 260 school children from the Silverdale School in Kitsap County and Bainbridge Island School visited the Washington State Historical Society in June 1950. Chapin D. Foster (right foreground), Secretary and Director of the Washington State Historical Society museum, was giving a talk on Washington history prior to conducting them through the building. This was the largest school group in the building at one time in 1950. During the school year more than 200 bus loads of pupils totaling more than 6,000 students visited the Historical Society building as part of their study of Washington history. (TNT, 6/4/1950, p.A-4)

School children--Tacoma; School field trips--Tacoma; Art exhibitions--Tacoma; Galleries & museums--Tacoma; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Foster, Chapin D.;

Exterior picture of completed Lowell Elementary, 810 No. 13th. Established in Old Tacoma in 1869, Lowell holds the distinction of being the district's oldest school. It was originally known as the First Ward School and served families living west of Division Avenue. After several locations, it was renamed Lowell School and was located at No. 12th & Yakima. When Tacoma's earthquake hit at noon on April 13, 1949, Lowell student Marvin Klegman was killed by falling chimney bricks when leaving his classroom to take his post as a patrol boy. Two other Lowell students were hurt and the school was condemned. Students finished out the year at Grant, Bryant and Jason Lee until they moved into their new classrooms on No.13th St. in November of 1950. Construction on the school was completed in February of 1951.

Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma)--Buildings; Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Three art students at Pacific Lutheran College are working on a still-life of kitchen implements.

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Painting--Parkland; Art education--Parkland--1950-1960;

Thirty-four children in one of the lower grades at the Dupont School. Two cub scouts in the front row are wearing their scout uniforms. The children sit with their hands folded in their laps in front of a North Pole scene on a bulletin board. Dupont had an elementary school enrollment of 376 students for the 1950-1951 school year. Lulu Bennett, Ida Franklin and Alma Hanson taught 1st grade.

Schools--Dupont--1950-1960; School children--Dupont--1950-1960;

Twenty-four children in one of the younger classes at the Dupont School pose outdoors with their teacher. Two girls in the front row wear their Brownie Scout uniforms. Robert Zurfluh taught 5th grade during the 1950-1951 school year.

Schools--Dupont--1950-1960; School children--Dupont--1950-1960; Teachers--Dupont--1950-1960;

Twenty-six children in one of the younger classes at the Dupont School pose with their teacher. Silhouette drawings hang on the wall behind them. Dupont school children were combined with Steilacoom and Clover Park schools sometime later in the 1950's.

Schools--Dupont--1950-1960; School children--Dupont--1950-1960; Teachers--Dupont--1950-1960; Classrooms--Dupont;

Annie Wright Seminary. Members of the drama club, the "Masque Club", are dressed in sweaters with emblems, skirts, and saddle shoes and are standing on the basketball court. The student in front is holding a Theater Arts sign. Names are listed in The Shield, 1951.

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Private schools--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Activities at Annie Wright Seminary. In November of 1949, three students were photographed taking a break from studies in one of the large dormitory rooms at Annie Wright Seminary. One of the girls sits at a desk with a book open. Another student leans against one of the dressers in the room while sitting on the arm of an upholstered chair. The other girl sits on the end of her bed with stuffed animals. An Annie Wright banner is hung on the wall and there are also two bulletin boards hung on the walls. Annie Wright Seminary was a private school for girls, many of them boarding, which had been established in September of 1884.

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Teenagers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dormitories--Tacoma; Stuffed animals (Toys); Banners--Tacoma; Desks; Beds; Dressers (Furniture);

A worker appears miniscule as he stands high on top of the giant, curved beams that would hold up the dome shaped roof of the cafeteria/auditorium of the Henry F. Hunt Junior High School (later renamed Middle School) at 6501 So. 10th St. Posed under cloudy skies on June 26, 1957, the new wooden structure resembles a multi-legged spider. Architect Robert Billsbrough Price's unique designs was described as "one of the most imaginative new schools in the nation." Construction of a new junior high was approved because of the growing school age population in Tacoma's western region and in neighboring Fircrest. The school was completed in the summer of 1958, with an official dedication on October 29, 1958. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (Olsen: For the Record, p. 157)

Henry F. Hunt Junior High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs; Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Gordon Gilbertson directed both the 27-piece orchestra and the 48-member concert band at Pacific Lutheran College in 1958. He is standing to the extreme left of the January 14, 1958, photograph, next to the bass player. The PLC Concert Band added to the spirit at football and basketball games with cheerful, colorful tunes. They also performed at the Rainier State School, McNeil Island, and the First Presbyterian Church in Seattle. Occupants of Eastern Washington, Idaho and Oregon were privileged to hear the concert band during its nine day tour. The band concluded its year with participation in the graduation ceremonies. Names of band members are listed in the 1958 SAGA yearbook. Photograph ordered by Pacific Lutheran College. (1958 SAGA yearbook, p. 97)

Bands--Parkland--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Gilbertson, Gordon;

ca. 1956. College students enjoy some downtime during their busy day by chatting with friends, contemplating a roaring fire, or merely reading. The modernistic lobby contains contemporary curved sofas and chairs. During the day, the large windows would permit plenty of sunshine into the room; at night, large light fixtures would provide lumination. This early 1956 photograph was taken on the campus of Pacific Lutheran College in the new College Union Building, the center of student activity. The College Union Building would also contain a large recreation room with ping pong and pool tables, book store, post office, snack bar, yearbook and student council offices. Photograph ordered by Pacific Lutheran College. (1956 Saga, p. 1, TNT 2-5-56, B-7) TPL-9350

Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;

ca. 1956. These young ladies and gentlemen are preparing for an elegant evening out on the campus of Pacific Lutheran College in January, 1956. One girl checks her bag to make sure it contains all she needs for the evening while a young man reads a copy of the News Tribune while he awaits his date. Two couples appear to be enjoying a casual conversation. This is probably the foyer of the College Union Building which had recently been completed and would be dedicated in February, 1956. Photograph ordered by Pacific Lutheran College. (TNT 2-5-56, B-7)

Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;

ca. 1956. The college bookstore was an integral part of college life. Here a student could purchase books and materials necessary for courses plus "fun" items such as sweatshirts, jackets, and pennants bearing the school's name. Even toys like stuffed dogs could be ordered and paid for. The Pacific Lutheran College self-service bookstore was located in the new College Union Building recently completed in early 1956. Items were neatly displayed making it easy to locate necessary merchandise. Store hours were adjusted to suit the needs of its clientele; in this January, 1956, photograph, the store was open in the evenings past 6 o'clock. All furnishings were custom built. Photograph ordered by Pacific Lutheran College. (TNT 2-5-56, B-7) TPL-9351

Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Bookstores--Parkland--1950-1960;

Some of the hi-jinks of the annual Annie Wright Seminary's Dad's Day. Five upper class girls in matching dark blouses and white shorts and one brightly attired Dad perform a high kick routine to the delight of uniformed girls, their Dads and Headmistress Ruth Jenkins, at the bottom right of picture. Families were invited to the school for this special annual event and activities were planned for the students and their Dads.

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Private schools--Tacoma;