The Club of Heart's officers would be greeting guests at their 16th annual Christmas dance; dancing would be from 9:00 P.M. until 1:00 A.M. in the Winthrop Hotel's Crystal Ballroom. View of two unidentified couples and a Club of Hearts member at the annual Christmas dance at the Winthrop Hotel's Crystal Ballroom (T.N.T., 12/19/48, p. D-5).

Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ball dresses; Evening gowns--Tacoma; Christmas--Tacoma; Couples--Tacoma; Club of Hearts (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The "March of Dimes" was starting their fundraising campaign, "Mile O' Dimes", in January of 1949. All special events for the organization were under the direction of Norton Gordon. View of Tacoma Fire Department's new 100 foot ladder extending to the Winthrop Hotel's seventh floor where climber Fireman Scotty Miles, a member of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, will accept one of the first donations for the "March of Dimes" campaign (T. Times, 1/15/49, p. 1).

Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; Poliomyelitis--Prevention; National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (Tacoma); March of Dimes (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Miles, Scotty; Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma)

Comus Club dance at Winthrop Hotel, circus theme, Tribune, Mrs. Hosmer. The Comus Club held their February dance, the "Comus Circus," in the Hotel Winthrop's Crystal Ballroom on February 19, 1949. Four men wearing black ties, tuxedos and tall, conical hats stand in front of a picture of a female dancer. The man on the left points over his shoulder at the picture.

Comus Club (Tacoma); Dance parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Winthrop Hotel's new Daffodil Dining Room will have a full restaurant, coffee bar and shop. Ann Rickard, Western Hotels' decorator, stated the room will have a strong yellow over the ceiling, two tones of red and chartreuse on the walls, pebble cloth drapes and deep green on eight chandeliers; Victor Jones and Associates of Seattle are the architects. Interior view of Winthrop Hotel's Daffodil Dining Room being painted for its upcoming grand opening (T. Times, 3/30/49, p. 6 & 7).

Painting--Tacoma; Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ladders; Paints & varnishes; Restaurants--Tacoma; Hotel employees--Tacoma; Remodeling--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Northwest Florists conference would include an exposition featuring new and traditional florist products. The trade fair was being held in the Winthrop Hotel's Wedgwood Room. View of Oliver & Thompson and O. E. Panzer exhibits, both business are from Portland, Oregon; florist products are displayed (T.N.T., 9/4/49, p. 1 & 5).

Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Exhibit booths--Tacoma; Flower shows--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Northwest Florists (Tacoma); Oliver & Thompson (Portland, Or.); O.E. Panzer (Portland, Or.);

Northwest Florists were holding their 25th annual meeting in Tacoma's Winthrop Hotel. The florists could attend an "Afternoon Growers Clinic", Professor Alex Laurie from the University of Ohio was the guest speaker. View of florists that attended the afternoon workshop held in the Crystal Ballroom of the Winthrop Hotel (T.N.T., 9/4/49, p. 1 & 5).

Workshops (Adult education)--Tacoma; Delegations--Tacoma; Florists--Tacoma; Flower shows--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Northwest Florists (Tacoma);

Internationally known restaurateur, Trader Vic, had brought his world famous menu items to Tacoma. The Winthrop Hotel and Trader Vic enterprises have remodeled the restaurant site, at an estimated cost of $45,000, and opened up the Sabre Room. View of Mayor C. Val Fawcett (center) with Trader Vic (left) and an unidentified man at the grand opening celebration of the new Trader Vic's Sabre Room, located in the Winthrop Hotel (T.N.T., 9/21/49, p. 2).

Hotels--Tacoma; Restaurants--Tacoma; Events--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Sabre Room (Tacoma); Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Bergeron, Victor J.;

Two crossed sabres decorate the appropriately named Sabre Room in the Winthrop Hotel in November, 1955. The decor appears Elizabethan with a predominance of wood, including wooden beams and simple chairs and tables. A touch of the modern appears with the presence of the room's chef in his open kitchen, just steps away from dining customers. The popular Sabre Room had been completely redecorated and was reopened on November 15, 1955. It retained its Old English atmosphere in the design by Arthur Morgan & Associates of Seattle. Newly added dishes were flaming shish kebab and Old English pastries. Photograph ordered by the Winthrop Hotel. (TNT 11-15-55, p. 6) TPL-8126

Dining rooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Daggers & swords; Cooks; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

A large luncheon for the Shell Oil Company. Most of the women wear nametags, corsages and hats. They are seated at circular tables, with the speakers' long table at the end of the room. The luncheon was held at the Crystal Ballroom of the Winthrop Hotel and was attended by 185 wives of Shell Oil employees from the Tacoma district. The guest speaker was travel expert Carol Lane. She offered the women helpful hints for summer travel including how to pack a suitcase and how to care for children on a trip. (TNT 5/20/1956, pg. A-18)

Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Shell Oil Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Chandeliers;

The trophy for the best plant safety record for the past five years was being awarded to the Longview Fibre Co. during this March 12, 1953 banquet. The Pulp & Paper Manufacturers were one of the sponsors of the March 12 - 13 safety conference. Over 200 labor and management representatives from 20 mills attended the 7th annual meeting. The banquet was being held in the Wedgewood Room, Winthrop Hotel. (TNT 3-1-53, B-10, TNT 3-13-53, p. 26))

Pacific Coast Association of Pulp & Paper Manufacturers (Tacoma); Awards; Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Members of the Pacific Coast Association of Pulp & Paper Manufacturers proudly displayed the Governor's Annual Safety Award during a banquet held at the Winthrop Hotel on March 12, 1953. Governor Langlie was scheduled to present the trophy to the mill with the best safety record. It was claimed that work accidents had deceased 80% since the conferences began in 1946. Over 200 labor and management representatives from 20 mills were in Tacoma March 12-13th for the 7th annual jointly sponsored, with the International Brotherhood of Pulp, Sulphite and Paper Mill Workers and the International Brotherhood of Paper Makers, safety conference. The 1953 winner was the Hoquiam plant of Rayonier, Inc. (TNT 3-1-53, B-10)

Pacific Coast Association of Pulp & Paper Manufacturers (Tacoma); Group portraits; Awards; Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Card rack at Winthrop Hotel, Rust Craft Publications. Since Christmas trees, fir boughs and pine cones decorate the back wall over the many rows of Christmas cards and the photograph is dated in July, this must have been an advertising set up, possibly for a catalog.

Hotels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Greeting cards; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

American Institute of Architects, Southwest Washington Chapter, in the Wedgewood Room at the Winthrop Hotel. The map of the counties of Southwest Wa. is on the wall, with each county connected by string with a lighted candle. The back row tentatively identified as, left to right, Gil Wojahn, Percy Ball, Si Nelson, unidentified, John Richards, W.W. Durham and Nelson Morrison. The seated row, left to right, Charles Lea, Marshall Perrow, unidentified and George Gove. The two men to the right of the table are unidentified.

American Institute of Architects, Southwest Washington Chapter (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Walter C. Davidson, standing row second from right, son of the co-founder of the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Co., visited Northwest dealers on 12/5/1953 for an all day meeting at the Winthrop Hotel. The dealers are posed around the 1954 model Harley-Davidson motorcycle, the Golden Anniversary model. Harley-Davidson was celebrating fifty years of motorcycle design and production. In 1903, Davidson's father, Walter Davidson Sr., began making motorcycles in a small shop in Milwaukee. By 1953, the endeavor had grown into a plant that produced 40,000 motorcycles a year. (TNT 12/6/1953, pg. A-10) TPL-8194

Motorcycles; Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Co. (Milwaukee);

Walter C. Davidson, son of the co-founder of the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Co., and now sales manager of the Milwaukee firm was making a tour of the US in observation of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the motorcycle industry in this country. In 1903, his father Walter Sr. began making motorcycles in a small shop in Milwaukee. Walter Jr. entered apprenticeship in the factory at the age of 15 and learned every phase of the business over the next 10 years. His son Douglas is planning to follow in his footsteps. David Huffman, Northwest representative, Joe Campbell, parts rep, and Howard Beck, West coast service manager, assisted in the sales meeting for the NW dealers at the Hotel Winthrop 12/5/1953. (TNT 12/6/1953, pg. A-10)

Motorcycles; Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Co. (Milwaukee); Davidson, Walter C.;

Convivial Shriners enjoy themselves at the "Jesters" banquet in early June, 1957. Tam-o'-shanters seem to be the fashion of the evening. A seated guest extends his hand toward the head table; he appears to be speaking directly into a microphone. Their "Book of the Play" had been held earlier. Photograph ordered by Pacific Northwest Shrine Association. (TNT 6-6-57, A-1)

Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hats; Pacific Northwest Shrine Association (Tacoma);

The Winthrop Hotel hosted the Northwest Federation of Stamp Clubs' 14th annual convention in late May, 1954. Framed displays of rare and beautiful stamps were placed in long rows for interested collectors to view in the hotel's Crystal Ballroom. Stamp collectors were of assorted types, ranging from young boys to teenagers and also older men and women. Stamp collecting was a very popular hobby during the 1950's and exhibits such as the one pictured would have attracted large crowds. (TNT 5-23-54, p. 6)

Postage stamps; Collectors--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Dr. R. Franklin Thompson, president of the College of Puget Sound, was the featured speaker at the annual banquet of the Pacific Northwest Conference Savings & Loan Associations on May 24, 1954. His speech was entitled "Prelude to a New Age." At the head table in the Winthrop Hotel's Crystal Ballroom with Dr. Thompson were Mr. and Mrs. Ben Perham, Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit VanderEnde, and Mr. and Mrs. J. Alston Adams. More than 150 delegates and wives attended the two day savings & loan conference. (TNT 5-23-54, C-16, TNT 5-25-54, p. 11)

Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Public speaking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Thompson, R. Franklin, 1908-1999; Perham, Ben; VanderEnde, Gerrit; Adams, J. Alston;

Elevated view of Tacoma's downtown and industrial area. Smoke from various lumber and chemical companies in Tacoma's industrial area blends into the sky. Busy plants meant employment for thousands of local residents. The Tacoma Hotel and Tacoma Savings & Loan can also be spotted on the left of this September 2, 1954, photograph, taken from the seventh floor of the Winthrop Hotel.

Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

Tuxedoed men and ladies dressed in evening gowns posed for this October, 1954, group portrait. The group, including Mr. and Mrs. T.G. Calbreath, Mr. and Mrs. L. Evert Landon and Judge and Mrs. Bertil E. Johnson who were surrounding the wicker table, were members of the Comus Club attending the "Moonlight Magic" dance on October 16, 1954. The glittering crescent moon on the backdrop is framed by several potted trees. The dance was held in the Wedgwood Room of the Winthrop Hotel.

Group portraits; Comus Club (Tacoma); Calbreath, T.G.; Landon, L. Evert; Johnson, Bertil E.; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Employees of the Washington Hospital Service enjoyed a tasty luncheon at the Winthrop Hotel on September 23, 1954. The business apparently handled Blue Cross plans and was located in Seattle at 2121 Third Avenue. View of luncheon tables with employees; some have on name tags.

Washington Hospital Service (Seattle)--Employees; Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Nearly 200 delegates attended the annual summer board meeting of the Business and Professional Women's Clubs held in the Crystal Ballroom of the Winthrop Hotel on August 23, 1952. Ten women, both past and present officials, posed at the head table which had been decorated with candles and a large bouquet of gladiolus. Standing from left to right: Fay Anderson, present of the Tacoma Business and Professional Women's Club; Fae Hite; Mrs. John Stanley; Alice Colman; Helen Haller and Selma Therrault. Seated from left to right: Ruby Grant; Ruth Cullen, national federation chrm.; Margaret Pearson, state president and Marguerite Boye. Later a costume and swimming party was held at the American Lake home of Ruby Grant.

Tacoma Business & Professional Women's Club (Tacoma); Women--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grant, Ruby; Cullen, Ruth; Pearson, Margaret; Boye, Marguerite; Therrault, Selma; Haller, Helen; Colman, Alice; Stanley, John--Family; Hite, Fae; Anderson, Fay;

W.L. Stoddard designed the Winthrop Hotel and it was built in 1924 and dedicated May 15, 1925. It was named for explorer and writer Theodore Winthrop, author of "The Canoe and the Saddle" which helped popularize the Northwest. The hotel was to be a civic center.

Hotels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Banquet tables have been prepared in the Cystal Ballroom at the Winthrop Hotel. Tables that would seat ten have been covered with white table cloths and set with table ware, cups and saucers and napkins. The room is lit with daylight coming in through the tall windows, chandeliers and sconces. The head table has been set on a dais along the right side with flags behind it. An American flag hangs at the far end of the room.

Hotels--Tacoma; Ballrooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The wide lobby and lounge at the Winthrop Hotel has been decorated in a grand style. The windows have been draped with light-colored fabric, pulled back with braid and tassels to allow plenty of daylight into the room. Several large sofas have been placed below each window and in the center of the room. Desks have been placed near columns on the left and a few side chairs have been spaced around the edges of the room to allow plenty of open space for people to congregate. Chandeliers hang from the ceiling and a figured carpet covers the floor.

Lobbies--Tacoma; Hotels--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Circa 1925.

Circa 1925.

Football star and motion picture actor Harold "Red" Grange posed with Helen Nelsen (left) and Corinne Martin on a rainy day atop the Winthrop Hotel in late January, 1926. The ladies are holding a sign "Ice" in front of Mr. Grange; it was his nickname when he was a leading rusher at Wheaton (Illinois) High School. He had worked as an ice hauler while in school which accounted for his nickname ("Ice Man" or "Wheaton Ice Man") and developed his strong physique. Now better known as "The Galloping Ghost" for his blinding speed and elusive running style, Mr. Grange, a three-time all-American at the University of Illinois, had paid a very short visit to Tacoma a couple of days before his Chicago Bears pro team faced the Washington All-Stars in Seattle. He would run for two touchdowns and pass for a third en route to a 34-0 shellacking of the local team. (TDL 1-29-26, p. 1-article & alternate photograph; TDL 2-1-26, p. 8-article on game; www.britannica.com)

Grange, Harold; Football players; Nelsen, Helen; Martin, Corinne;