The "Lounging Room" at the Tacoma Club, located on the top floor of Washington Building. The Grand Opening for Tacoma's newest and most exclusive social club was held May 10, 1937. Lounge with sofa, upholstered chairs, desk, tables and lamps. (WSHS)

Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Sam Perkins, left, and G. Herbert Raleigh, members of Tacoma's newest and most exclusive club- the "Tacoma Club," check over the furniture in the club's "lounging room" prior to the Grand Opening the evening of May 10, 1937. The Tacoma Club, located on the top floor of the Washington Building, was organized and incorporated in November, 1936. The original roster of members included leaders in lumber, retailing and manufacturing, banking, real estate, medical, and legal fields. S.A. "Sam" Perkins, newspaper publisher, was one of the first presidents of the club. George Herbert Raleigh was the manager of the Bank of California in 1937. (T.Times 5/10/1937, pg. 1; History of Pierce County, Vol. 3, p. 96)

Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Perkins, S.A.; Raleigh, George Herbert;

Sam Perkins, seated on the right, and three other men pose for a portrait to celebrate Perkin's 73rd birthday. The event was held at the Tacoma Club in the Washington Building. Mr. Perkins had a long and varied work history in Tacoma. Sam Perkins and W.P. Bonney were partners in a wholesale and retail drug business in the late 1880s- 1890s. They went out of business in the depression of the early 90's when customers dried up. Mr. Perkins became the secretary of Mark Hanna, chairman of the Republican election committee for William McKinley. After the election, Perkins stayed on with Hanna for a while. Mr. Perkins returned to Tacoma in the late 90's as the owner of the Tacoma Daily Ledger and the News. His party at the Tacoma Club was attended by over 100 of his friends and business associates. (T. Times 5/5/1938, pg. 1)

Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Perkins, S.A.--Commemoration; Birthday parties--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1938. Annie Wright Seminary, circa 1938. Luncheon in honor of seniors given by Joan Burnmister at the Tacoma Club. Approximately 30 women and girls seated around luncheon table. (filed with Argentum)

Private schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Dinner at Tacoma Club for 73rd birthday of Sydney Albert "Sam" Perkins, local tycoon and former newspaper editor. The dinner was attended by over 100 of Mr. Perkins's friends and business associates. During his 50 years in Tacoma, he had served as the partner of W.P. Bonney in a wholesale and retail drug business, in Washington D.C. as the secretary of Mark Hanna and as owner of the Tacoma Daily Ledger and the News.

Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Perkins, S.A.--Commemoration; Birthday parties--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The Harold L. Stamey Company was an insurance company that offered assurances, fire, casualty, automobile, bonding, life and home insurances. Mr. Stamey moved to Tacoma in 1938 and gained immediate success in the insurance business. He took an active role in youth sports later in the 1950's, sponsoring several baseball and basketball teams. View of eleven unidentified employees at the Harold L. Stamey Co. offices; Mr. Stamey is believed to be seated, center. Photo ordered by Harold Stamey.

Insurance companies--Tacoma; Group portraits; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Harold L. Stamey Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1943. The Tacoma Chamber of Commerce held a dinner in 1943 at the Tacoma Club to honor local shipbuilders. These five men were in attendance but names were not provided.

Tacoma Chamber of Commerce (Tacoma); Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Group portraits; Men--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1943. Tacoma Club dinner circa 1943. Chamber of Commerce honoring ship builders. Group portrait of five men. Names of the individuals were not provided.

Tacoma Chamber of Commerce (Tacoma); Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Men--Tacoma--1940-1950;

An unidentified employee of Pacific Forest Industries demonstrates the use of a collapsible shipping crate. These wooden containers saved space and were reusable. Pacific Forest Industries was an exporting firm located in the Washington Building at 1019 Pacific Avenue.

Pacific Forest Industries (Tacoma); Crates--Tacoma;

The interior of the Tacoma Club showing tables set with white table cloths and tableware. A mural of trees in bloom covers the upper part of the back wall. Ordered by Earl Reynolds.

Banquet halls--Tacoma; Table settings & decorations; Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Murals--Tacoma;

The interior of a lounge at the Tacoma Club is shown with sofas, easy chairs, several lamps and tables for easy conversation or reading. The floor is covered with a bold-patterned carpet and the windows are covered with venetian blinds and floral draperies. Ordered by Earl Reynolds.

Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma; Lounges--Tacoma; Furnishings; Chairs; Sofas; Tables;

Pilgrim candidates representing five high schools and sponsors at the Tacoma Club, Times, Mrs. McDonald. The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) honored five outstanding Tacoma high school students as Pilgrimage candidates at a luncheon at the Tacoma Club. The Pilgrimage candidates would submit an essay on American history and government. The winner of the state contest would be given a trip to Washington, D.C. The young women are wearing corsages. Corrine Engh from Clover Park High School is seated on the left. Beverly Highland from Sumner High School is seated, second from the right. Barbara Cope from Orting High School is standing fourth from the left. Freda Schuler from Fife High School and Doris Beardsley from Lincoln High School are standing, fourth and third from the right. Another candidate, Margaret Hanson from Stadium High School, was unable to attend the luncheon. Two of the regents are Kathleen P. (Mrs. Cyril V.) Lundvick and Mrs. W.B. Gregg, standing, second and third from the left. (T.Times, 3/22/1948, p.5; TNT, 3/11/1948, p.20))

National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Family night at the Tacoma Club. Members and their wives enjoy each other's company around the table: L-R, Lucille B. (Mrs. R. Franklin) Thompson; Edward B. King, a mortician with Buckley-King; Margaret K. (Mrs. Henry G.) Shaw; R. Franklin Thompson, President of the College of Puget Sound; Anna S. (Mrs. Edward B.) King; and Henry G. Shaw, president of Shaw Supply Company. Photo taken for Ernie Knight, Tacoma News Tribune.

Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Thompson, Lucille B.; Thompson, R. Franklin, 1908-1999; King, Anna S.; King, Edward B.; Shaw, Margaret K.; Shaw, Henry G.; Eating & drinking--Tacoma;

Mallon Motor Company, staff banquet held at the Tacoma Club celebrating the dealership's receipt of Ford Motor Company's "4 Letter Award" for the 1955 model year. The award was presented each year to the dealer that qualified in the following classifications: sound finances, management efficiency and completely modern facilities. The dinner was hosted by Robert Mallon who served as Master of Ceremonies. Tommy Mallon, the President of Mallon Motors, is seated to the far right of the picture; to his left is Abel Rigney, Mallon Sales Manger; to his left is J.C. Hogue, Ford's Field Manager; standing directly behind Mallon is C.J. Powell, Ford's District Sales Manager. The man standing third from the right in the back row has been identified as Harold Nutley. (TNT 3/11/1956, pg. A-6)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Mallon Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Mallon, Thomas; Rigney, Abel;

WAAC's at Headquarters. Lt. Jean Hunnewell (left) and Ruby Zdillae saluted each other on the roof of the Washington Building, 1019 Pacific Ave, that housed the Recruiting Office. Auxiliary Zdillae was home on furlough from her duties as cook stationed at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and stopped in at the Army recruiting headquarters in late February of 1943. (T. Times 2-26-43, p. 4-alt. photograph)

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Zdillae, Ruth; Hunnewell, Jean;

Condon Co. was an advertising company, Roscoe A. Smith is the President and Victor Kaufman is the Vice-President. The Condon Co. was working on an advertising campaign for Mobilgas. Mobilgas sign on Washington Building, view of downtown Tacoma buildings, Rust building on left side with the Medical Arts Building (now Tacoma Municipal Building) in the left background.

Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cityscapes; Office buildings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Medical Arts Building (Tacoma); Petroleum industry; Advertisements;

Wallace E. Difford, Managing Director of the Douglas Fir Plywood Association retired after 8 years of service in the organization and over 30 years in the plywood business. He was presented with a pocket-watch at a banquet held at the Tacoma Club. View of four unidentified men at the banquet in honor of Mr. Difford, photo ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association (T. Times, 6/28/46, p. 18).

Retirements--Tacoma; Commemoration--Tacoma; Difford, Wallace E.; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Over 80,000 taxpayers from the Washington-Alaska district had already filed their Federal Income tax forms for 1948 by January of 1949. By filing before the 17th, you could expect an early tax return. The last date you could file was March 15th. Ruth Meyer sorted through stacks of mail that were opened with a cutting knife operated by Earl Chambers. (T.Times, 1/30/1949, p18)

Internal Revenue Service (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Correspondence; Income taxes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Office workers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Office equipment & supplies; Meyer, Ruth; Chambers, Earl;

Roy Woods (left) and Joe McGovern stand on a platform outside the 17th floor of the Washington Building at 1019 Pacific Ave. in this photograph from September 1948. The Earl Painting Company, owned and managed by Earl Gallmeyer, had been contracted to paint the sashes and frames of the 900 windows in the 237 foot building. (T.Times, 10/11/1948, p.5)

Washington Building (Tacoma); Buildings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Earl Painting Co. (Tacoma); Painting--Tacoma--1940-1950; Architectural elements--Tacoma; Capitals (Columns)--Tacoma; Cornices--Tacoma; Pilasters--Tacoma; Sash windows--Tacoma;

The Tacoma Club had just elected new officers for 1948, Bert Sweeting was retiring as President and B. E. Buckmaster had just been elected new President. The new club officers would hold their meetings and club activities in the newly remodeled and carpeted facilities located in the Washington Building. Interior view of the Tacoma Club with new carpeting from Selden's.

Banquet halls--Tacoma; Table settings & decorations; Floor coverings; Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma); Tacoma Club (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Club had just elected new officers for 1948, Bert Sweeting was retiring as President and B. E. Buckmaster had just been elected new President. The new club officers would hold their meetings and club activities in the newly remodeled and carpeted facilities located in the Washington Building. Interior view of the Tacoma Club with new carpeting from Selden's.

Banquet halls--Tacoma; Table settings & decorations; Murals--Tacoma; Floor coverings; Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma); Tacoma Club (Tacoma);

On March 15, 1948, last minute tax filers flocked to the fourth floor of the Washington Building at 1019 Pacific Avenue for help from the Internal Revenue Service with their Federal income tax returns. March 15th was the filing deadline, and the IRS set up tables in the hall outside their offices to deal with the crowd. An estimated 700,000 returns arrived for processing from Washington and Alaska. (T.Times, 3/16/1948, p.1) Paul Sandegren

Income taxes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tax payers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clerks; Internal Revenue Service (Tacoma);

Located at the busy intersection of So. 11th & Pacific in downtown Tacoma's business district is the imposing 17-story Washington Building. To the photograph's left are the Commerce Savings & Loan Association and the Bank of California. A large red neon sign noting the presence of "Bank of California" is also on the rooftop of the Washington Building. Remodeling is occurring at Selden's Carpet & Floor Coverings, located behind the Washington Building on South 11th St., as the home center is completing modernization. The 1910-era Tacoma Building is the large structure on A Street close to Selden's. Photograph ordered by the Washington Building Co. BU-10,894

Washington Building (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1960-1970; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Seldens, Inc. (Tacoma); Tacoma Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1960-1970;

The Tacoma Chamber of Commerce recently honored three community leaders at their board meeting held at the Tacoma Club. Richard C. Boyles, currently the president of the Chamber of Commerce, is standing behind the honorees: (l-r) Robert G. Anderson, E.L. Perry and Alexander Sergienko. Mr. Anderson is the newly appointed director of Tacoma Public Works. Mr. Perry is the general manager of the Port of Tacoma and Dr. Sergienko is the new superintendent of Tacoma Public Schools. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce. TNT (A) 029b (TNT 7-14-74, D-7)

Tacoma Chamber of Commerce (Tacoma); Chambers of commerce--Tacoma; Boyles, Richard C.; Anderson, Robert G.; Perry, E.L.; Sergienko, Alexander;

The top of the Washington Building tower, circa 1925. At 17 stories, almost everyone had to look up at this building, it was the second highest in the Northwest. The Washington Building was innovative in grouping its tenants by fields and making offices specific to those fields. The top floors were dedicated to doctors and medical offices. Some floors were huge open spaces on completion, for large concerns who would dictate where partitions would be placed. (TNT 6/30/1925, pg. 1) (WSHS)

Washington Building (Tacoma);

Interior of the "Lounging Room" of the Tacoma Club on the 17th Floor of the Washington Building. This photograph was taken for publicity for the club's Grand Opening May 10, 1937. Lounge with sofa and upholstered chairs. (WSHS)

Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Interior of the new facilities for The Tacoma Club, located on the 17th Floor of the Washington Building. The new, exclusive club had its Grand Opening on May 10, 1937. The first club President was John P. Weyerhaeuser, Jr. Picture of a hallway with open, arched doorways in Classical-style woodwork. The hallway leads to the Clubroom. (WSHS) (T.Times 5/10/1937, pg. 1)

Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Five men dressed in tuxedos pose for a portrait at Sam Perkins' 73rd birthday event held at the Tacoma Club.

Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Perkins, S.A.--Commemoration; Birthday parties--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Gathering of men at the Tacoma Club in the Washington Building to celebrate Sam Perkins 73rd birthday. Men seated at dinner table. E. T. Short, Tacoma Times columnist, seated on right. The party for Mr. Perkins birthday was attended by over 100 friends and business associates from his 50 plus years in Tacoma. (T. Times 5/5/1938, pg. 1)

Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Perkins, S.A.--Commemoration; Birthday parties--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Sam Perkins celebrates his 73rd birthday with friends at the Tacoma Club. Mayor Smitley (far right) and another man sing happy birthday as he prepares to blow out the candles on his huge cake. Mr. Perkins was born in Boston on May 6, 1865 and was christened Sidney Albert Perkins. That moniker was soon shortened to "Sam." For his 73rd birthday, he was feted by some of the friends he made in over 50 years of business in Tacoma. Mr. Perkins was best known locally as the owner of the Tacoma Daily Ledger and the News. (T. Times 5/5/1938, pg. 1)

Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Perkins, S.A.--Commemoration; Birthday parties--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940;