Tacoma's Rudder Club was located at 735 Commerce Street in Tacoma's business district; the club manager was Walter Geehan. Throughout the year the Rudder Club hosted and sponsored many events, including dinners, luncheons and style shows for members and their family and guests. View of Rudder Club members being served their dinner by Bill and Palmer, Rudder Club restaurant waiters, on May 4, 1949.

Table settings & decorations; Chafing dishes; Waiters--Tacoma--1940-1950; Restaurant workers--Tacoma; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Organizations' facilities--Tacoma; Rudder Club, Inc. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Sculpturing Club would be exhibiting their work at the Washington State Historical Society museum in May of 1949. The club was celebrating ten years of wood carving sculpture. View of Walter A. and Grace L. Heath; Grace carved a life-size wood bust of her husband, Walter (T.N.T., 5/1/49, p. D-5 & 5/8/49, p. A-13).

Tacoma Sculpturing Club (Tacoma); Sculpture--Tacoma; Wood carving--Tacoma; Art exhibitions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma)--Exhibitions & displays; Heath, Walter A.--Family;

The Tacoma Sculpturing Club celebrated their tenth anniversary in May 1949. A celebration exhibit at the Washington State Historical Society museum displayed members' works. Grace L. Heath carved a life-size wood bust of her husband, Walter A. Heath. Grace compares her work with its real life model, husband Walter. (T.N.T., 5/1/49, p. D-5 & 5/8/49, p. A-13).

Tacoma Sculpturing Club (Tacoma); Sculpture--Tacoma; Wood carving--Tacoma; Art exhibitions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma)--Exhibitions & displays; Heath, Walter A.--Family;

Town of Fircrest. Mayor Nelson J. Morrison is addressing citizens during the tree planting ceremony outside Fircrest Fire Hall. The town had completed a five-year beautification program by planting more than 150 trees along Regents Boulevard.

Tree planting ceremonies--Fircrest; Fircrest Fire Hall (Fircrest); Fire stations--Fircrest;

Tacoma city officials were asking all local government agencies and local organizations to participate in the annual "Clean-Up Campaign". Tacoma Fire Chief, Charles J. Eisenbacher, and Safety Commissioner, Robert S. Temme were about to see J. R. "Bob" McKinnell, Tacoma Fireman, on top of the 100 foot ladder wash the face of the famous Tacoma Totem Pole. Other firemen involved were: Ralph Harvey, Harold "Hap" Feley and Dale Mason (TNT., 5/12/49, p. 1). TPL-1902

Urban beautification--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cleaning--Tacoma; Totem poles--Tacoma; Fireman's Park (Tacoma); Sheard & Thorne Totem Pole (Tacoma); Tacoma Totem Pole (Tacoma);

Auto mechanics was one of the most popular courses offered by the Tacoma Vocational Technical School in the 1940's. The course, taught by J.W. Van Wyhe, provided 2,580 hours of training, two-thirds of that being practical experience in repairing cars. Jim Jorgenson is pictured here on April 28, 1949, loosening a nut on a motor while Eric Peterson observes while atop the car's left front fender. The car's radiator is off allowing the engine to be seen. Tacoma Vocational Technical School offered their students 50 vocational training programs besides auto mechanics including: boat building, beauty school, cake decorating, cosmetology, practical nursing, radio and many other programs. Instruction had begun in 1940 and a new 1.1 million dollar facility was dedicated on May 2, 1949. (T.N.T., 5/1/49, p. 1, B-1+; B-7).

Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma; Jorgenson, Jim; Peterson, Eric; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vocational education--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Vocational School (Tacoma);

Retha Winifred Conlon and William F. Erwert were married on June 4, 1949; the couple will be honeymooning in Seaside, Oregon. View of the Conlon-Erwert wedding party at Saint Andrew's Catholic Church in Sumner, Washington (T.N.T., 6/12/49, p. D-11).

Weddings--Sumner--1940-1950; Wedding costume--1940-1950; Brides--1940-1950; Grooms (Weddings)--1940-1950; Altars--Sumner; Catholic churches--Sumner; St. Andrew's Catholic Church (Sumner); Erwert, William F.; Conlon, Retha Winifred--Marriage;

Portrait photograph of Mable C. (Mrs. George W.) Grimm and her daughter taken on May 9, 1949. Mrs. Grimm was a cook at Vern's Sandwich Shop in Tacoma. The Grimm family portraits were going to be hand tinted, black and white photographs. The family home was located in Tacoma's rural route 12, box 28, which is the East Tacoma and tideflats area.

Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hairstyles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Portrait photographs; Portraits; Families--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mothers & children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Posing; Grimm, Mabel--Family;

Portrait photograph of George W. and Mable C. Grimm's daughter; she is wearing a brown and white striped dress with white buttons, she has dark brown hair and brown eyes. The Grimm family portraits were going to be hand tinted, black and white photographs. The Grimm family home was located in Tacoma's rural route 12, box 28, which is the East Tacoma and tideflats area.

Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hairstyles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Portrait photographs; Portraits; Families--Tacoma; Social values--Tacoma--1940-1950; Posing; Grimm, Mabel--Family;

Buckley High School graduating class 1949. 49 students graduated during commencement ceremonies at Buckley High School in 1949. Names are listed in the newspaper. (TNT, 6/2/1949, p.31)

Buckley High School (Buckley); Graduation ceremonies--Buckley; Students--Buckley--1940-1950;

Church of the Visitation's school was planning their graduation ceremony for June 1, 1949. The graduates would attend mass and receive holy communion followed by a breakfast prepared by the Visitation Women's Club. Spiritual exercises would be presented by Father Michael Feeney, O.S.B., of St. Martin's College. View of Visitation School graduates on the altar.

Church schools--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Events--Tacoma; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Altars--Tacoma; Church of the Visitation (Tacoma); School of the Visitation (Tacoma);

City Millwork Company was located at 2909 South Wilkeson Street; the business was owned by Lewis N. Benson and Albert J. Kemp. Exhibit booth features sample kitchen cabinets, counters and other home furnishings; all were manufactured by City Millwork Company. Tacoma's first annual home show proved to be a great success.

Exhibitions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Exhibit booths--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Cupboards--Tacoma; City Millwork Co. (Tacoma); College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--Buildings;

Tacoma's first annual home show was being held in College of Puget Sound's recently completed Memorial Fieldhouse. View of unidentified man providing information to unidentified customer; Holroyd Company's display booth is constructed with their brick and concrete products; photographs of their work is displayed and additional information is available.

Exhibitions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Exhibit booths--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Holroyd Co. (Tacoma); College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--Buildings;

View of Loxide Structures Incorporated exhibit booth at the Tacoma Home Show; two unidentified representatives are ready to answer consumer questions. The display features informational catalogs, photographs and blueprints of homes that were manufactured exclusively in Tacoma. Earl Rowe is President of Loxide Structures, Alfred J. Weberg is Vice-President and Robert D. Campbell is Secretary-Treasurer.

Exhibitions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Exhibit booths--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Loxide Structures, Inc. (Tacoma); College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--Buildings;

Wollander Better Builder Plans and Wollander Farwest Homes designed and built the model home displayed at the first annual home show in Tacoma. This beautiful model home was on display at College of Puget Sound's Memorial Fieldhouse; people attending the home show could register to win this $8,500 home. View of display booth featuring Wollander exterior home colors information.

Exhibitions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Exhibit booths--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Wollander Farwest Homes (Tacoma); Wollander Better Builder Plans (Tacoma); College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--Buildings;

View of "Rite Lighters" punch board, you could win one year's supply of fuel and 20 cigarettes. The board lists the winning numbers and indicated that there would be a total of 55 winners. Each chance cost 5 cents and the last punch would win the remaining prizes. Photo ordered by Johnson-Cox Company, Incorporated; a printing company based out of Tacoma.

Gambling--Tacoma--1940-1950; Board games--Tacoma; Awards; Signs (Notices); Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business enterprises--Tacoma; Printing industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Johnson-Cox Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Interior and exterior view of new store, Ghilarducci's, Elbert Baker. A view of the interior of Ghilarducci's new florist shop showing the business office and cash register. A counter is located on the left where customers can make out cards to go with their flowers. The company advertised that they had three telephones to accept orders. The office has a file cabinet and safe against the far wall.

Ghilarducci's California Florists (Tacoma); Florist shops--Tacoma; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Office furniture; Cash registers;

Thirteen people at dinner for Mierow's staff, Wallace Silversmith, Mrs. Alberta Brenner. Wallace - Mierow Dinner. Mierow's staff are seated and standing around a table set with china and silver. Posters and brochures relating to silverware and silver table service from Wallace Silversmiths are seen around the room. Mierow's was located at 1105 Broadway and dealt in fine jewelry, diamonds, silverware, and watch repairing.

Mierow's (Tacoma)--Employees; Jewelry stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Silverware; Tableware; Dining rooms--Tacoma; Table settings & decorations; Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Dr. J. Renwick McCullough would be leaving Tacoma's First Presbyterian Church and joining Lincoln Avenue Presbyterian Church in Pasadena, California. His Tacoma congregation gave Dr. McCullough and his family a farewell dinner and gift. View of Dr. J. Renwick McCullough delivering his last sermon at First Presbyterian Church on April 24, 1949 (T.N.T., 4/21/49, p. A-5).

Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; Christianity--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clergy--Tacoma; Preaching--Tacoma--1940-1950; Religious services--Tacoma--1940-1950; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); McCullough, J. Renwick;

Repair shop machinery and equipment for factory representative, Sanford Nash. Specialized machinery for testing automobile performance has been placed up on a ramp where the rear wheels rest against a spinning column. Neon signs hang from the ceiling for "Engine" and "Motor Tune Up".

Sanford-Nash, Inc. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

May Day at St. Leo's, Sister Lavinia. More than 60 young women stand on stage wearing floor-length gowns. The stage is set with side and back panels showing a woods with young, spring growth.

St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma); Stage props; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stages (Platforms); Auditoriums--Tacoma;

Tacoma's Rudder Club offered their members a number of social activities throughout the year. Hat and style shows, stag and doe parties, children's events, dinner and cocktails at the club's facilities, and many other functions for their members and guests. Interior view of private dining room at the club's facilities, located at 735 Commerce Street; a lovely table is set with five unidentified waitresses ready to serve at the private party.

Table settings & decorations; Dining tables; Waitresses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dining rooms--Tacoma; Restaurant workers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Organizations' facilities--Tacoma; Clubs--Tacoma; Rudder Club, Inc. (Tacoma);

Eilert E. Meader's, District Traffic Superintendent for the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company, team of employees were being honored at an employee appreciation tea. View of women employees that are being honored for their participation in the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company bowling league; tea samovars are located at the end of the table.

Telephone companies--Tacoma; Telephone operators--Tacoma--1940-1950; Employee-employer relations--Tacoma; Samovars; Tea--Tacoma; Celebrations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees;

Machinery at Wesley Crawford & Sons, U.P. Freight Terminal, Mr. Crawford. Wesley Crawford was president of Mutual Fruit Co. Seven women are working at a conveyor system packing fruit.

Wesley Crawford & Son (Tacoma)--Employees; Farm produce--Tacoma; Packaging; Shipping--Tacoma--1940-1950; Food industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Copy of torn photograph; date of actual photograph is unknown, April 29, 1949 date refers to studio copy date. Copy of photograph ordered by Eva Seeley of 5454 South State Street in South Tacoma, possibly Seeley family members.

Domestic life--Tacoma; Brooms & brushes; Photographs; Reproductions; Portraits; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1890-1900; Families--Tacoma; Group portraits; Seeley, Eva--Family;

Aerial of Seattle skyline taken from above Elliott Bay. Piers jut into the bay with warehouses on them. Smith Tower is the taller building on the right. TPL-4749

Aerial photographs; Cityscapes; Skyscrapers--Seattle; Piers & wharves--Seattle; Harbors--Seattle; Smith Tower (Seattle);

Studio stock negatives. An aerial view of rural Pierce County with open and wooded areas. Small groupings of buildings are dotted over the area. Mount Rainier is seen above the mist.

Aerial photographs; Land; Rainier, Mount (Wash.);

50th wedding anniversary, Mrs. Joe Darnell. The elderly couple is surrounded by their large family, celebrating their fifty years together. Two men in US Navy uniforms are at either end of the first and second rows.

Anniversaries--Tacoma--1940-1950; Darnell, Joseph G.--Family;

The Elks Band was playing and majorette Gloria Ellexson was performing while club members waited on July 7, 1949 at Union Station for the train taking them to the national convention in Cleveland, Ohio. The Tacoma Elks ritual team, which held the state championship, together with coach Russ Barlow, would also compete in Cleveland. It was reported during the convention that Gloria Ellexson, a student at the College of Puget Sound, had been named national champion drum majorette. Ordered by Harry Lynch, Elks Club. (TNT, 7/6/1l949, p.10; TNT, 7/13/1949, p.1)

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); Marching bands; Bands--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ellexson, Gloria; Drum majorettes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Crowd gathers outside Benson's Furniture at 1408 So. "K" Street for big sale on July 20, 1949. Benson's had two locations in Tacoma with the second store at 5032 South Tacoma Way. They placed two full-page ads in the News Tribune to advertise the enormous sale. In the store's statement to the public, it was announced that their warehouse was packed to overflowing and auditors demanded that this bottleneck be rectified immediately. The public was invited to save mightily with such bargains as 77 cent ironing boards, $12.44 innerspring mattresses, $3.88 table lamps and living room suites from $63 to $247. (scan from original negative, no print on file) (TNT 7-19-49, p. 8-9-advertisements)

Benson's Furniture (Tacoma); Furniture stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Crowds--Tacoma; Shopping--Tacoma--1940-1950;