Native American and European Americans posing at Owens beach in informal as well as traditional dress.

"Indian Murals, Mural being painted at Cushman Hospital, Tacoma Arts, 1937." Artist Julius Twohy was photographed as he stood on a scaffold to create a mural across the 72 foot long dining room wall at the Cushman Hospital at 2002 East 28th Street. The artist was a member of the Ute tribe from the Uintah Basin in eastern Utah.

A group of Puyallup Indians with their longboats (canoes) on the Puget Sound around 1886. Behind them can be seen the Northern Pacific Railroad bridge. The Puyallups were primarily fishermen, hunters and gatherers. The local salmon provided their primary food source, but was also a symbol of reverence to the tribe. In the Medicine Creek Treaty of 1854, they ceded many of their territories but retained their fishing rights. Their village at this time was believed to be at the foot of North 15th. KING-014, TPL 2895.

In this circa 1886 photograph, a Native American family lounges in their long boat near the shore. In the background can be seen the Northern Pacific Railroad bridge. The canoe is loaded with supplies, probably returning or setting off for the family's hunting ground. The Puyallup tribe members were primarily hunters, gatherers and fishermen. During this time period, their village was believed to be located at the foot of North 15th. KING-015, TPL 2894.

This early 1880s photograph by C. E. & Hattie King is of the Tacoma waterfront. Several European Americans are standing near Indian canoes moored along the shoreline. The location is believed to be south of the James Williams salmon cannery in Old Tacoma. The Kings brief period of photographing Tacoma views documents the blending of cultures and history--the presence and traditions of local Native Americans and the presence of newer Americans establishing homes, industries and towns in the West. KING 016, TPL-3746.

In this photograph believed to be from the mid 1880s, a group of Puyallup Indians gathers on the shore of the Puget Sound to gamble. The game they are playing appears to be the bone game, where two teams of 10-12 sit opposite each other. One team has four bones which they pass to the distracting accompaniment of the pounding of sticks and singing of chants. The other team must guess who has the bones. In the background are longboats and a bridge. The Puyallup village during this time period was believed to be at the foot of South 15th St. KING-003, TPL 2897.

Back of photo: Cascadia Jan 1 1977

Back of photo: Cascadia Juvenile Reception Diagnostic Center Photograph by Jerry Buck

Back of photo: Cascadia- Indian Tile Uncovered, Cascadia Juvenile Diagnostic Center

Back of photo: Tribal Leaders

Back of Photo:
Bill Sterud

Front of Photo:
Photo by Bruce A. Kellman

Front of Photo:
DEAD AT 66--Yakima Indian fishing rights activist David Sohappy Senior stands on the bank of the Columbia River in front of an old fishing platform at Cooks Landing, Washington, in this November 1990 file photo. Sohappy died Monday at Hood River Care Center in Oregon. Sohappy had been in ill health since suffering a stroke in 1988.
Associated Press File Photo, 1990

Front of Photo:
WHITE SWAN, WASHINGTON -- SOHAPPY BURIED -- Mourners circle the grave of David Sohappy Sr. during his funeral service Thursday on the Yakima Indian Reservation. Sohappy, a well-known fishing rights activist, died on Monday.
Associated Press Photo

Back of Photo:
Ramona Bennett

Back of Photo:
Ramona Bennett

Staff photo by Jerry Buck

Front of Photo:
Ramona Bennett shown with her daughter, Ee-Nuck-A-Mee, 7, is best known for her years of activism as Chairwomen of the Puyallup Tribe in Tacoma, Wash. Today, Ms. Bennett is Director of Family Services at the Seattle Indian Center where her job involves finding Indian foster homes for homeless Indian children.

Staff photo by Bruce Kellman

The regimental color guard for the 163rd Infantry with Company B at present arms. The group in the front is composed of, left to right, Corporal Red Thunder, Sergeant Skarie, Sergeant Hamilton and Corporal Red Elk. Company B hails from the Fort Peck Indian Agency in Northeast Montana and is composed almost solely of Sioux Indians. The original Company B was also formed of Native Americans and fought bravely in World War I before it was disbanded. This group from Montana is at Camp Murray for military exercises. (T. Times 12/11/1940, pg. 1)

Indians of North America--Sioux tribe; Montana National Guard, 163rd Infantry, Company B--Camp Murray; Ethnic groups--Indians of North America;

In September of 1941, David Miller (far left) and Chief Jobe Charley (far right), the 81-year-old patriarch of the Yakima Nation's Great Council, came with their wives to the Federal court in Tacoma to plead the case for their treaty fishing rights. They came to argue that the Bonneville dam had backed up the waters of the Columbia River and its tributary, the White Salmon River, spoiling their "usual and accustomed" fishing grounds. Mr. Miller's wife Bessie Charley-Miller is seated next to him. (Additional identification provided by a family member)

Indians of North America--Tacoma--1940-1950; Judicial proceedings; Miller, David; Charley; Chief Jobe; Charley-Miller, Bessie;

On July 31, 1936, promoter Rookie Lewis outdid himself by staging an authentic "Indian Wedding" as the evening's special attraction during his Walkathon (dance marathon) at the Century Ballroom in Fife. Chief White Eagle conducted the Native American wedding of So-To-Le-O and groom Qua-Le-Ales, with rites performed in sign language. Five different tribes participated in the wedding. The Walkathon was heavily attended by citizens of Tacoma and Seattle, since both cities had local ordinances forbidding such marathons. Approximately 30 people were pictured, first two rows were Native-Americans in costume, others may be some of the remaining participants in the Walkathon. Tribal blankets serve as backdrop. (T.Times 7-31-36, p. 4-article; 8-1-36, p. 5-article; www.historylink.org) (filed with Argentum)

Indians of North America--Clothing & dress; Weddings--Fife; Marathons--Fife;

Members of various Northwest Native American tribes gather in August of 1934 at Audoma Park, near Puyallup, for a round of the Indian bone game. The tribes have made their annual pilgrimage to the valley for the harvest of the hops. This park, owned and maintained by A.E. Applegate, is set aside for the exclusive use of the Native Americans although visitors are welcomed. During the bone game, two teams of 10-12, squatting on the floor, line up across from each other. One team has four small white bones. To the accompaniment of the pounding of sticks and tom-toms and the chanting of ancient songs, the team passes the bones rapidly from player to player. At a certain signal, the captain of the opposing team calls a halt and tries to guess which player has the bones. The ancient game is played for hours with a bright fire as the only light. (T. Times 8/30/1934, pg. 1+)

Indigenous peoples--Washington; Games; Gambling;

Native American mothers, each holding a baby wrapped in blanket, sit on a bench under a tree. They have travelled to the Puyallup Valley with other members of their tribes to pick hops. This is an ancient gathering for the Native Americans of Washington and British Columbia. The tribes represented are the Kowegians, Sheeshats and West Coast Tribes from Vancouver Island, Yakimas from Eastern Washington, Clallams, Neah Bays and Quillayutes from Port Angeles, Taholahs and Quinaults from Grays Harbor, Chahalises from farther inland, Skagits, Laconners, Snohomishes, and Lummis from the northern part of the state and the Puyallups and Nisquallys living in the valley. (T. Times 8-30-1934, pg. 1+)

Indians of North America; Mothers & children--Puyallup--1930-1940; Infants--Puyallup--1930-1940;

Two year old Marjorie Abraham Charlie kneels in the grass and straw next to a tent at the annual Native American gathering in Puyallup Valley at Audoma Park, two miles from Puyallup, for the hop picking season. The Native Americans tribes of Washington and British Columbia gathered annually at hop and berry picking time to socialize with each other and to help keep alive their ancient customs and games. (T. Times 8/30/1934, pg.1)

Charlie, Marjorie Abraham; Indians of North America; Migrant agricultural laborers--Puyallup--1930-1940; Migrant laborers--1930-1940; Hops; Girls--Puyallup--1930-1940;

Young native Americans dance to the rhythm of hot jazz at the annual gathering for the harvesting of the hop crop in Puyallup Valley. Audoma Park, 2 miles from Puyallup, has been reserved by its owner A. E. Applegate as a meeting place for the tribes. A dance floor has been set up for the younger tribesmen. A large group of men, women and children assemble on an outdoor concrete floor. Wires are strung from poles across the floor to hold a center light. A group of four musicians plays music from a sheltered wooden stage. Each year many of the tribes of Washington and British Columbia gathered in the Puyallup Valley at harvest time to pick crops and socialize with other tribes. (T. Times 8/30/1934, pg. 1)

Indians of North America--Social life; Migrant agricultural laborers--Puyallup--1930-1940; Migrant laborers--1930-1940; Hops; Dance floors--Puyallup--1930-1940; Dance parties;

Indian Festival. Photograph ordered by the News Tribune. Girls in native American costumes pose in a grassy area, with the Puget Sound in the background. (filed with Argentum)

Costumes--Native American;

A Native American chief in headdress and buckskins gazes at the remainder of downed trees on November 27, 1954. He is standing on a trailer hitch of the large truck that will haul the giant peeler log through the streets of Bellingham as part of a parade. Georgia-Pacific Plywood Co. had arranged for several giant Douglas firs to be cut and transported for this special parade. Photograph ordered by Georgia-Pacific Plywood Co. TPL-8281

Indians of North America--Bellingham; Logs;

Oral history interview with former Puyallup Tribal Council Member, Ramona Bennett. Interviewed by dindria barrow on April 2, 2022, in the Digital Media Lab of the Tacoma Public Library. Ramona discusses her views on Indian and Indigenous rights, the people she encountered on her advocacy journey and how she continues living during difficult times. Ramona reminds us that “things shift slowly”, to “love whoever is left” after someone passes away, to put “just one foot after the other” and that her people live on because of “all the ways we pray are so hard”.

In 1933, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians urged the federal government to purchase the outdated Tacoma Indian Hospital complex and build a new facility. The Puyallup Tribal Council met with newly elected U.S. Representative Wesley Lloyd in February 1933 to seek his support. After numerous delays, the new hospital was completed in 1943. Standing, left to right: Silas Meeker (Tribal Secretary), Frank Wrolson, Representative Lloyd. Seated, left to right: Benjamin Wright, William Davis, Silas Cross (Tribal Chairman), Dorothy Kellogg (assistant to Representative Lloyd). Frank Wrolson's last name was misspelled on the photograph.

Indians of North America, Puyallup Tribe; Cushman Indian Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Meeker, Silas; Wrolson, Frank; Lloyd, Wesley; Wright, Benjamin; Davis, William; Cross, Silas; Kellogg, Dorothy;

Portrait of Native American Chief Black Thunder of the Skykomish tribe standing beside a tree. Chief Black Thunder is the leader of the native Americans from Washington and British Columbia that make an annual pilgrimage to pick the hops across the state of Washington. He first journeyed to the valley when he was a boy, at that time his people travelled by canoe from Snohomish County. He is also known as Mr. Bagley. (T. Times 8-30-1934, pg 1+)

Indians of North America--Skykomish tribe; Black Thunder; Migrant agricultural laborers--Puyallup--1930-1940; Migrant laborers--1930-1940; Hops;

In August of 1934, Native Americans from various parts of Washington and British Columbia gathered in Audoma Park, near Alderton, two miles from Puyallup on the Orting Road. They came, as they had for over 40 years, to pick berries and work the local hops fields. In the evening they socialized by holding dances and by taking part in ancient traditions like the "bone game". (T. Times 8/30/1934, pg. 1)

Indians of North America--Social life; Migrant agricultural laborers--Puyallup--1930-1940; Migrant laborers--1930-1940; Hops; Tents; Camping--Puyallup--1930-1940;

In August of 1934, these two unidentified young Native American girls joined other members of their tribes to pick hops in the Puyallup valley. Beginning around 1925 Audoma Park, near Alderton 2 miles from Puyallup on the Orting Road, became an official gathering place for tribes from throughout Washington and British Columbia. Here ancient games were played and the sound of traditional chants mixed with the strains of swing bands as the younger tribe members tried out the newest dance steps. (T. Times 8/30/1934, pg. 1+)

Indians of North America; Migrant agricultural laborers--Puyallup--1930-1940; Migrant laborers--1930-1940; Hops;