ca. 1910. Rhodes Brothers Store, circa 1910; Women's fall fashions in corner window. Henry A. Rhodes opened his grand mercantile establishment, Rhodes Brothers Department Store, at 950 Broadway in 1903. By 1910, business was booming as a result of appeal of current fashions, expert merchandising and advertising. Road signs led travelers to the store from miles around, promising them that "All roads lead to Rhodes." The store employed a professional window decorator and buyers made frequent trips back east to New York for the current fashions. In 1911, three more stories were added to the building, providing a needed expansion. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

Department stores--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Women--Clothing & dress--1910-1920;

ca. 1911. Rhodes Brothers Store, circa 1911; Textiles and dry goods department. By 1911, the store was beginning to look less cluttered, with wider aisles. A counter littered with bolts of fabric supplied a place for shoppers to sit and clerks to cut the fabric. The displayed fabric on top of cabinet was priced at 39 cents per yard. Note on back of photo; image used in 1911 booklet. By 1911, Rhodes Brothers had outgrown the three floors at this location and was adding three more. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma;

ca. 1914. The Roof Garden at Rhodes Brothers department store, circa 1914. The Roof Garden was located just off the Sixth Floor Tea Room. The house photographer took this photograph just after the new awning was completed and the tables were set for luncheon. A similar photo was used in an ad in the July 3, 1914 Tacoma Daily Ledger. Lunch was served daily from 11:30 til 2p.m., afternoon tea daily from 2pm to 5:15 p.m. and evening dinner was served on Saturdays from 5:30-7p.m. (Photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma;

ca. 1914. Rhodes Brothers delivery department employees, circa 1914. The men pose on and around one of the store's delivery automobiles. In 1912, Rhodes Brothers retired their horse and wagons and replaced them with gasoline powered automobiles. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

Department stores--Tacoma; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);

ca. 1917. Rhodes Brothers Store, circa 1917; Fabric department. Several tables loaded with bolts of fabric dot the room. It appears that the track and pulley system is still in operation, indicating that each department does not have its own cash register. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma;

ca. 1917. Rhodes Brothers Store, circa 1917; Dining room at the store. The dining room was located on the top floor at Rhodes. It could seat 300 people. The tables were covered with white linen tablecloths and napkins and crystal vases held fresh flowers. Lunch was served everyday with dinner served 1-2 nights a week. Favorites on the menu were broiled crab, mulligawney soup, clam chowder and Rhodes' cheesecake. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma;

ca. 1917. Rhodes Brothers Store, circa 1917; Window display of luggage and travel. Rhodes Brothers Department Store opened their grand establishment at 950 Broadway in 1903. Its windows offered a glimpse of the interests and fashions of the time period. Around 1920, there was a sharp increase in tourism nationally. Travelers began to switch from more leisurely horse powered trips to travel by automobile, train and later planes. This Rhodes window display from 1917 displayed the "correct" luggage and accessories for travelers, including one "must have" that is no longer popular- the travelers' trunk. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

Department stores--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);

In November of 1922, the two thousand year old game of Mah-Jongg was all the rage in Tacoma. With its hints of oriental mysticism and terms like dragons, the four winds and bamboo, Tacoma was mad about Mah-Jongg. Carmen Staples, Sybil Lea and Gladys Busha, left to right, play a demonstration game in the Rhodes Brothers store. The ancient game is the perfect combination of skill and chance and contains elements of modern day rummy, poker, dominos and bridge. TPL-6365 ; G25.1-034 (T.D.L. 11/5/1922, pg. 1-B)

Staples, Carmen; Lea, Sybil; Busha, Gladys; Games; Mah jong; Fads--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1925. Window display at Rhodes Department Store for Weaver Studios. Living room "set" with fireplace, mannequins, motion picture cameras and studio lights. The H.C. Weaver Productions, Inc. Studio produced motion pictures in Tacoma during this period. In 1925, Weaver filmed "Hearts and Fists" in and around Tacoma. The film was set in the lumber camps.

Motion picture studios--Tacoma; Window displays--Tacoma--1920-1930; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Mannequins; H.C. Weaver Productions, Inc. (Tacoma);

On July 23, 1932 Shriners from throughout the Pacific Northwest, wearing their colorful and distinctive uniforms, marched in formation up Broadway and through the business district of Tacoma. Bands from the Afifi Shriners of Tacoma and the Gizeh Shriners of Victoria, B.C. took part. After a full day of activities in Tacoma, including a band concert in the Stadium Bowl, a large contingent boarded a chartered train at Union Station. They left at 12:30 in the morning on Sunday July 24th for the imperial council to be held in San Francisco the following week. (The tall, twelve story building at the top, center of the photograph is the Fidelity Building, 949-55 Broadway; it was torn down to build the Woolworth Building). TPL-3687

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma);

Afifi Shrine Temple; display advertising third oriental pilgrimage at Rhodes Brothers. Mannequin dressed in Afifi fez beside luggage and photographs of highlights of trip. (filed with Argentum)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Window displays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mannequins; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);

Mrs. Don Gordon, formerly Bernita Royse, had been a sales clerk in the stationery department at Rhodes Department Store for 5 years when she was featured in the "Around the Clock" column of the Tacoma Times in January 1936. The bride of two months likened her job as a clerk to sitting in a Parisian cafe watching the world pass by, because sooner or later everyone came to Rhodes. When asked about the changing habits of Tacomans she noted the increasing sales of smoking equipment, such as ash trays, lighters and holders, formerly scandalous items, and the shift away from formalism. The newly wed couple resided at 3502 1/2 McKinley Ave, apartment #2. (T. Times 1/9/1936, pg. 8)

Gordon, Bernita; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma)--Employees; Sales personnel--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1937. Rhodes Department Store, showing elaborate linoleum work around elevators. Shoe Repair and Shine station to right, vacuum cleaner in far right foreground. Dress displayed on mannequin and man working behind column at left.

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Mannequins; Department stores--Tacoma--1930-1940; Shoe shining--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Main floor at Rhodes Brothers Store, Christmas season 1937. Christmas display of bags, gifts and jewelry. This photograph was taken by noted photographer J.R. Eyerman from the front of the store, looking toward the rear, and before the escalator was installed. Neon signs around the room, above the fine wood cabinets, denote the goods available- cosmetics, jewelry, toilet sets, hankies, novelties, finer bags and gift bags, to name a few. High arching decorations reach over the clear aisles. A large sign on the back wall gives "Gift Ideas" available by floor. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

Department stores--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);

Main floor at Rhodes Brothers Store, Christmas season 1937. The main floor at Rhodes was festive with holiday decorations and crowded with boxed holiday gifts. Signs point out suggested gifts- stationery, hose, wool gloves, gowns and games- all boxed and ready to give. A counter in the back was devoted to wrapping and gift slips. A large sign directs children, and their parents, to the special elevator "direct to Toyland" on the fifth floor. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

Department stores--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);

Window display at Rhodes Department Store for Boys Department featuring items relating to archery champion Sonny Johns. Sonny Johns was the 1938 Washington State Jr. Archery champion and the Northwest Junior Champion. He won the Northwest title at Portland, Oregon, when he shot three "perfects," a feat never performed before in any world competition. In the display are bow and arrows, photographs and awards. Ordered by father Harry C. Johns, 4911 No. 27th. (filed with Argentum)

Window displays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Johns, Sonny--Associated objects;

ca. 1938. Rhodes Brothers Store, circa 1938; Christmas display of handbags and silk stockings. Rhodes Brothers Department Store opened at 950 Broadway in 1903. By the time that this photograph was taken, around 1938, the clutter of the earlier years had been replaced by spacious aisles and attractive displays. The store was well known for its festive seasonal decorations. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

Department stores--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);

ca. 1938. Rhodes Department Store window display. Two adult and four child mannequins dressed in white rain coats. Signs read, "Wear White Rain Coats For Safety" and " White May Save Your Child's Life!" White raincoats were recommended by the Traffic Authority to help pedestrians shine through the gloom.

Window displays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Mannequins; Clothing stores--Tacoma--1930-1940; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940; Raincoats;

This group of second grade students from Whitman school were literally put on display for National Education Week during November of 1939. Their library class was held in a display window of the Rhodes department store at 950 Broadway. The students being watched by proud parents and curious shoppers are (l to r): George Mills; Dorothy Powell; Dolores Duncan, writing her name on the blackboard; Ann Truitt, with her back to the camera; Richard McCulloch; and Allyn Hultman with back to camera. (T. Times, 11-10-1939, p.18)

School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children reading & writing--Tacoma; Duncan, Dolores; Mills, George; Powell, Dorothy; McCulloch, Richard; Truitt, Ann; Hultman, Allyn;

National Education Week. Whitman School, 2B, holding library class in display window of Rhodes Department Store on November 9, 1939. The proud parents of these seven-year-olds peek from the outside. Glady J. Christie was the classroom instructor. Students were : Dolores Duncan writing her name on the blackboard, (seated) George Mills, Dorothy Powell, Richard McCulloch, and Ann Truitt and Allyn Hultman with backs to camera. (T. Times, 11-10-1939, p.18)

School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children reading & writing--Tacoma; Duncan, Dolores; Mills, George; Powell, Dorothy; McCulloch, Richard; Truitt, Ann; Hultman, Allyn;

National Education Week. Whitman School, 2B, holding library class in display window of Rhodes Department Store on November 9, 1939. Dorothy Powell sits reading at the table, looking over her shoulders are Ann Truitt, Allyn Hultman, Richard McCulloch and George Mills. Delores Duncan sits with her back to the camera. Watching through the windows are many pairs of admiring eyes, probably belonging to family members. (T. Times, 11-10-1939, p.18)

School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children reading & writing--Tacoma; Duncan, Dolores; Mills, George; Powell, Dorothy; McCulloch, Richard; Truitt, Ann; Hultman, Allyn;

Four Stewart Junior High School students "published" the school newspaper "The Evening Star" in a display window of Rhodes Department Store on November 10, 1939 during National Education Week. Mayor J.J. Kaufman watched as (l to r) Clair Cook, Elmore Brolin, Helen Cox and Joan Weber used a mimeograph machine to copy off the pages of the student written paper. Ordinarily, "The Evening Star" was published on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the school year. The papers staff was composed of 8th and 9th graders who circulated 1,300 copies free to the student body. The newspaper was first published in 1925. (T. Times, 11-10-39, p. 18) ALBUM 11. TPL-5120.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Kaufman, Joseph J.; Newspapers--Tacoma; Journalism--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Cook, Clair; Brolin, Elmore; Cox, Helen; Weber, Joan; Copying machines;