Seventeen Magazine coordinated a "back-to-school" style show at the Rhodes Brothers Department Store at 950 Broadway in August, 1963. The models, all members of the Rhodes high school and college fashion board, wore dresses, coats and hats that were featured in the August issue of Seventeen Magazine. The young girl fourth from the right has been identified as Suzanne (Suzy) Christel (now Fox), who was a member of the board representing Stadium High School. (TNT Ad 8-7-63, A-20) TPL-9098

Fashion shows--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fashion models--Tacoma--1960-1970; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1960-1970; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Christel, Suzanne;

Rhodes Brothers Department Store's main Broadway location would be the site of the Seventeen Magazine "back-to-school" style show on August 8, 1963. The store's window displays were artfully designed to highlight new clothing fashions for the upcoming school year. The two mannequins in the above photograph are dressed in becoming Bobbie Brooks attire. The handbags, shoes, and clothing are more upscale than those shown in D139059-1's window display.

Window displays--Tacoma--1960-1970; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Mannequins;

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. 1904. Rhodes Brothers Store, circa 1904; Ladies' parasols and intimate apparel. The Rhodes Brothers Department Store was opened at 950 Broadway by Henry A. Rhodes in 1903. It was the grand establishment of his dreams, patterned after Wanamakers and Marshall Fields. From the beginning, they employed Herbert A. Foster as the window trimmer and decorator. This view of the store was festooned with parasols, studded with palms and draped with garlands. The lighting fixtures hanging from the ceiling were gas lights. The shelves were covered with boxes of different sizes, possibly containing accessories or women's intimate apparel. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

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

ca. 1904. Rhodes Brothers store, circa 1904; Parasol and streamer decorations and unidentified merchandise in boxes. Rhodes Brothers Department Store opened at 950 Broadway in 1903. Each department was not equipped with bags or a cash register, so merchandise was lifted by pulley up to a track and then sent to the office on the mezzanine where it was wrapped and change was made. The cables and tracks in this photograph are believed to have been used for that purpose. Photograph damaged upper left corner. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

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

ca. 1904. Rhodes Brothers store, circa 1904; Stairway to Mezzanine balcony from first floor. The Rhodes Brothers Department Store opened at 950 Broadway toward the end of 1903. It was, for the time, a modern emporium based on the model of Wanamaker's and Marshall Field's. The store carried a wide variety of merchandise on its three floors. This photograph shows the stairway leading to the mezzanine, where the ladies' lounge and the business office were located. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

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

ca. 1904. Rhodes Brothers Store, circa 1904; Shoe and Boot department. Henry A. Rhodes opened his dream emporium in a three story building at 950 Broadway at the end of 1903. The Rhodes Brothers Department Store offered a wide variety of fine merchandise. In the womens' shoe and boot department, chairs were provided for shoppers to sit and try on the shoes. The shelves are lined with boxes of shoes. Shoe models are attached to the pillar right. Decorations- parasols, ivy and palms- are evident in many places. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

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

ca. 1904. Rhodes Brothers Store, circa 1904; Art department, with framed and matted art work. Henry A. Rhodes grand mercantile establishment carried a little of everything. This department, believed to be on the first floor, shows art work matted on the left and framed on the right. The staircase to the mezzanine can be seen between the two rows of pictures on the right. Photo torn lower left corner. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

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

ca. 1904. Rhodes Brothers Store, circa 1904; Fine china department. The Rhodes Brothers Department Store opened at 950 Broadway toward the end of 1903. At a time period when each middle to upper class home had a set of "good" china, this department was very important to the store. In the background, you can see the stairs to the mezzanine. Clearly visible is the track and pulley that carried merchandise and payment to the mezzanine business office. A sales girl stands to the left. The clerks were well screened and trained in efficiency and courtesy. She is wearing the "uniform" of spring and summer, a dark skirt paired with a white blouse. The store opened with over 100 clerks in its employ. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

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

ca. 1904. Rhodes Brothers Store, circa 1904; Fine china department. The Rhodes Brothers Department store had table after table stacked high with fine china- Cups & saucers, plates, serving pieces and beer steins. Although it seems crowded today, shoppers at the time were thrilled with the variety. (Photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

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

ca. 1904. Rhodes Brothers Store, circa 1904. Copper tea and coffee pots, cooking pots, crockery, pottery, what appear to be birdcages and miscellaneous. Henry A. Rhodes opened his department store at 950 Broadway toward the end of 1903. He had started with a tea and coffee shop in 1892 and gradually moved into larger stores until he expanded into this three story space. Most of the stores, like this one, sold crockery and glassware. Tables are shown piled high with tea services, pots, pans and crockery. Hanging from the ceiling are contraptions with wheels, possibly serving carts. Photograph damaged right edge. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

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

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. 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;

Exterior of downtown Rhodes Bros. Department Store. This is the 11th & Broadway corner of the venerable Rhodes department store. The photograph was taken in late March of 1974, nine months before the flagship downtown store was to close. Liberty House/Rhodes was building a large, two-story store at the west end of the Tacoma Mall which was scheduled to open in the fall of 1974. Rhodes, which had opened in November of 1903, was well-known for its slogan, "All roads lead to Rhodes." The building staved off demolition for several years and eventually became the new location of the University of Puget Sound Law School in 1980. August 13, 1999 was the last day of the law school in Tacoma as it officially moved to Seattle. Three years before the move, the State of Washington purchased the building to house several state offices but needed to wait until the law school actually vacated the space before remodeling. The Tacoma Rhodes Center was later put up for sale by the state in February of 2007. Color photograph ordered by Liberty House/Rhodes, Oakland, CA.

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Another elevated view of the downtown Rhodes department store as photographed on March 27, 1974, for Liberty House/Rhodes, Oakland, CA. A skybridge connects the upper level of the store to a massive 2000+ car parking garage. Other customers apparently have chosen this day to park on the street outside of Rhodes even though the street has metered parking. Rhodes had already begun construction of a new two-story store in the west end addition of the Tacoma Mall. Once it was completed, it would announce closure of the downtown flagship store.

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1970-1980;

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);

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;

Table setting display at Rhodes Department Store, for Sunset Magazine. (filed with Argentum)

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1907. Copy of photograph of Rhodes Department Store, circa 1907. View of three story building by Ambrose J. Russell and Frederick Heath, Architects, 1903. Photograph was taken after repairs to building. Richards Studio copy made on 11-31-1937. (filed with Argentum)

Commercial buildings--Tacoma--1900-1910; Department stores--Tacoma--1900-1910; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);

View of Rhodes Department Store Building, Fredrick Heath and A.J. Russell, Architects, 1903. View from across street, pedestrians and traffic in foreground. Publicity for three day sale.

Business Enterprises - Department Stores - Tacoma - Rhodes Brothers

When a committee of interested citizens decided to play Santa to the men in the Armed Forces in 1942, they went to old St. Nick himself for a few pointers. Santa received them at the Rhodes Bro. Department store, where he was making his naughty and nice list. Tacomans were being asked to buy small inexpensive gifts to be handed out Christmas morning to soldiers in the Puget Sound area. Gift depots were set up all over town for them to leave the packages for distribution. Kneeling at Santa's feet are Mayor Harry P. Cain, left, and Col. Olivia Merrill. Standing, left to right, E.R. Fetterolf, Mrs. C. A. Davidson, Mrs. L. Chall, G.O. Rolstad, Mrs. Will J. Connor, Mrs. Anna M. Neilson, Wilma Zimmerman and Mrs. Wilfred E. Burrows. (T. Times 12/1/1952, pg. 9)

Santa Claus--Tacoma; Holidays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Christmas presents; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979;

A committee of interested citizens volunteered in 1942 to act as Santa's elves in bringing a little cheer to the members of the Armed Forces in Puget Sound, who were celebrating the holidays far from their homes and families. They are photographed grouped in front of the old guy himself at the Rhodes Bro. Department store. Tacoma Mayor Harry P. Cain is seated on the floor second from the right. Tacomans were being asked to buy small inexpensive presents to hand out on Christmas morning to soldiers. Gift depots had been set up all over town, in stores, schools and USO centers, for people to deposit these gifts. (T. Times 12/1/1942, pg. 9)

Santa Claus--Tacoma; Holidays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Christmas presents; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979;

Rhodes Brothers Department Store's window display featuring "Palm Beach Story by Sacony" fashions, exclusively available at Rhodes' ladies fashion department. Mannequins are wearing chic two piece suits, part of the Palm Beach collection, palm tree in background surrounded by sand; fashions are ideal for the modern women of the 1940's.

Mannequins; Window displays; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);

Rhodes Department Store fabric section.

Business Enterprises - Department Stores - Tacoma - Rhodes Brothers - Fabric Department