Exhibit in Crystal Ballroom, Hotel Winthrop, Bemis Bag Company, S.L. Young. Six men are shown with a display from Bemis Brothers Bag Company. The display includes several types of bags for different types of animal feed: rabbit, dog and calf meal. There are sample bags of flour from Centennial, Fisher's, and Crown companies. They have a panel showing a kitty in a Bemis Bag and they have cotton feed sacks. Their central display shows a revolving board with photographs of their different processes.

Crystal Ballroom (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Bemis Bag Co. (Tacoma); Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bags; Business enterprises--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Western Hotels Inc. had allocated money to modernize and improve the Winthrop facilities. They were planning to redecorate and refurbish many of the public facilities, including the lobby, dining room, Crystal and Junior ballrooms, private dining rooms and the presidential suite. View of hotel laundry room, laundry and housekeeping workers are ready to make everyone's stay more enjoyable, photo ordered by Botsford, Constantine and Gardner, an advertising agency based out of Seattle.

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

Fisher's style show. The model, Gail Haberling, is wearing one of the new styles for Easter 1948. The floral, one-piece dress has 3/4-length sleeves and a square neckline. The hat has an upward curving brim with spotted netting over the face. The model carries dark gloves and handbag to match the dark hat and platform shoes. The show was held at the newly opened Wedgewood Room at the Hotel Winthrop and presented by Fisher's Department Store. (T.Times, 2/20/1948, p.11)

Haberling, Gail; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Fashion shows--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fashion models--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dresses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hats--1940-1950;

Fisher's style show. Two models show new dresses for the bride and bridesmaid. The bride's dress, modeled by Gail Haberling, is floor length with long sleeves and a sweetheart neck-line. The fabric has a low sheen which looks especially lovely with the calla lilies she is carrying. The veil is finger-tip length with a crescent shaped headdress. The bridesmaid wears a floor length dress with off-the-shoulder triple-ruffle neckline with a net insert to the neck, elbow-length gloves and a no-brim headdress. (T.Times, 3/5/1948, p.13)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Fashion shows--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fashion models--Tacoma; Wedding costume--1940-1950; Gloves; Veils--Tacoma--1940-1950; Headdresses;

The Winthrop Hotel was designed by W. L. Stoddard and Roland E. Borhek; it was built by F. A. Pratt and A. I. Watson. It first opened in May 1925 and was named after Theodore Winthrop, explorer and writer. In 1940 they began offering residential apartments on the top floors of the hotel. Exterior view of the Winthrop Hotel; photo ordered by Pioneer Incorporated, a printing, lithography and stationary business.

Hotels--Tacoma; Business districts--Tacoma; Signal lights--Tacoma; Pedestrians--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Pioneer, Inc. (Tacoma);

The Sportsmen's Show was having demonstrations, explanations, displays, safety seminars and educational film clips. The show would last for four days in the lobby of the Winthrop Hotel. View of fishing tackle demonstration at Winthrop Hotel, photo ordered by McCune-Merifield, manufacturers agents based out of Seattle, Washington; Winchester and Warter's Hardware displays also visible (T.N.T., 5/19/48, p. 12).

Demonstrations--Tacoma; Fishing & hunting gear; Sporting goods; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Audiences--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); McCune-Merifield (Seattle);

Bob Dickinson (far right) and his Orchestra opened in the Wedgwood Room of the Winthrop Hotel in June of 1948. Dickinson, who could play six different instruments and sing solos, was a longtime friend of Bing Crosby. He and his orchestra had been playing in and around Tacoma for eight years including the old Crystal Ballroom from 1944 through 1946. Previously, he had been music director at both KOMO and KJR radio in Seattle. Sitting on the piano, surrounded by six orchestra members, is vocalist Margie Smith. According to the News Tribune, they are: (left to right) Jan Busbank at the piano, Dave Black, Charles Childs, drums, Francis Coe, bass, Miss Smith, Dean Christian, Tony Bye, saxophone and Bob Dickinson at far right. (T. Times, 6/18/48, p. 8; TNT 6-25-1948, p. 14).

Orchestras--Tacoma--1940-1950; Musicians--Tacoma--1940-1950; Musical instruments--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Dickinson, Bob; Smith, Margie; Busbank, Jan; Black, Dave; Childs, Charles; Coe, Francis; Christian, Dean; Bye, Tony;

Douglas Fir Plywood Association was presenting reasons for choosing plywood over other building materials. An advantage to converting Douglas fir logs into plywood is the efficient use of the timber. View of DFPA representative using charts and graphs during his presentation, including "Value and Market Value", "Building Material Prices", "Interest Rates", "National Real Estate and Business Cycles" and "Commodity Prices...".

Plywood; Molded plywood; Signs (Notices); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Charts; Presentation drawings (Proposals); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Douglas Fir Plywood Association helped establish the Plywood Research Foundation in Tacoma. The lab is consistently testing the plywood for strength and durability, testing sites are located throughout Washington State. Douglas Fir plywood is advertised as the "Wood of 1000 Uses", although several thousand uses have been determined. View of man giving a plywood product durability demonstration.

Plywood; Molded plywood; Signs (Notices); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Mrs. Louis A. Ellis, studio portrait. Mrs. Ellis was co-chair of the 16th annual Christmas ball of the Club of Hearts. The ball took place the evening of December 25, 1946, at the Crystal and Junior ballrooms at the Hotel Winthrop. It was an elaborate affair. Decorations featured holly wreaths tied with scarlet bows, silver Christmas trees, and a large red drop with "Merry Christmas" written in silver behind the orchestra. (T.Times, 12/21/1946, p.10)

Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Club of Hearts 11th annual Christmas dance was held in the Crystal and Junior ballroom at the Winthrop Hotel. The elaborate decorations included a huge red banner with "Merry Christmas" written in silver, hung behind the orchestra. Seated left to right are: Don Brown, Clara Bowe, Ben Fawcett, Joan Thrasher, Margaret Hansen and Jack Christensen, a bottle of "Clicquot Club" champagne in foreground (T. Times, 12/21/46, p. 10).

Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ballroom dancing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ball dresses; Evening gowns--Tacoma; Tuxedoes; Couples--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

This photograph from December 1949 of the Sabre Room in the Winthrop Hotel shows the popular Tacoma restaurant three months after its official opening in September. Created by Trader Vic to look like an authentic old-English tap room, the Sabre room was decorated in authentic English style and featured open hearth food service where you could see expert chefs prepare the food. The menu included roast beef cooked in rock salt, barbecued ribs, and steak and kidney pie - desert included trifle. The room could seat 110 persons, including the ladies' cocktail lounge. (TNT, 9/24/1950, p.6)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Lounges--Tacoma; Buffets (Cookery)--Tacoma; Cooks; Waitresses--Tacoma; Bartenders--Tacoma; Bars--Tacoma;

Group of approximately 30 at Winthrop Hotel, Pacific Northwest District of Kiwanis, R. Ralstad. It was reported earlier in the month that Edward A. Lane had been elected president of the North-West Tacoma Kiwanis Club for 1950. (TNT, 11/10/1949, p.C-11)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Kiwanis Club (Tacoma); Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Annual convention of Douglas Fir Plywood Association at the Winthrop Hotel. Four unidentified men stand in front of charts with production numbers. Ordered by Mr. McCallum.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Broiled steak dinner set up at Winthrop. The Hotel Winthrop was well known for their delicious meals. This photograph shows an elegant place setting with a New York cut sirloin steak with french fried potatoes, garden salad and toasted garlic rolls on display. Additional items on the table include a small pitcher of cream, bowl of sugar, salt and pepper shakers, and gravy boat. This particular dinner special cost a hungry diner $3.50 in 1950.

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Table settings & decorations; Silverware; Meat;

New officers of Order of Runeberg, Wedgewood Room. The western district Order of Runeberg held their biennial convention in Tacoma in August, 1950. Newly elected officers pose smilingly in the Hotel Winthrop's Wedgewood Room. There were 75 official delegates to the convention and 118 visitors, with over 60 from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Eureka. The Order of Runeberg is named for Johan Ludvig Runeberg, a noted Finnish poet. His poems and essays, based on Swedish culture, have been compared with Goethe and Shakespeare. (TNT 8-11-50, p. 5, 8-15-50, p. 14, TNT 8-16-50, p. 6)

Order of Runeberg (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960;

More than 600 members of the Washington State Junior Chamber of Commerce attended the state convention held in Tacoma at the Winthrop Hotel. The Junior Chamber of Commerce would be electing new officers for this year; and they designated Spokane as next year's site for the state convention. The convention consisted of several meetings and programs and would wrap up with a Saturday night banquet at the Top of the Ocean restaurant. View of members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce at the Winthrop Hotel (T.N.T., 4/23/49, p. 1).

Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Conference rooms--Tacoma; Hotels--Tacoma; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Junior Chamber of Commerce (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Douglas Fir Plywood Association was hosting their 13th annual meeting in Tacoma's Winthrop Hotel in May of 1949. Tacoma continued to be the worldwide leader in plywood production. View of informational Douglas Fir Plywood charts, these indicate: "Effective Promotion + Aggressive Selling = Healthy Order Files;" chart on left side has information about the Douglas Fir Plywood industry today.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Conference rooms--Tacoma; Charts; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Plywood; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

New telephone booths in lobby of Hotel Winthrop, Pacific Telephone & Telegraph, Sales Dept., Morris Hickey. Three telephone booths are seen on the right side and three more are on the left. An open telephone book is provided at the opening at the back. The lower portion of the stand is decorated with nail studs through a leather-like material.

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); Telephone booths--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma's Quarter Century Club would be celebrating their second anniversary with a banquet at the Winthrop Hotel. Club members would gather together to commemorate the club's yearly activities. View of unidentified members of the Quarter Century Club celebrating the club's second anniversary; club members are playing musical instruments and singing.

Commemoration--Tacoma; Singers; Singing--Tacoma; Musical instruments--Tacoma; Men--Social life--1940-1950; Quarter Century Club (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The 25th annual convention for the Northwest Florists would include: meetings, workshops, trade fair, round table gatherings, a tour of a greenhouse at Vashon Island, and everyone was invited to attend the weekend salmon derby. View of members of the Northwest Florists' association, at a banquet being held in the Winthrop Hotel (T.N.T., 9/4/49, p. 1 & 5).

Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Florists--Tacoma; Flower shows--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Northwest Florists (Tacoma);

Ben Perham smilingly shows off the watch he was given at the annual banquet of the Pacific Northwest Conference of Savings & Loans Associations held on May 24, 1954. Mr. Perham was the former chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco; the watch was presented to him by Gerrit VanderEnde for his sixteen years of service to the federal institution. Mr. Perham now is the president of a food distributing company in Yakima. View of Ben Perham on left and Gerrit VanderEnde on right, Mr. VanderEnde is the president of Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan in Tacoma. (TNT 5-23-54, C-16, TNT 5-25-54, p. 11)

Awards; Clocks & watches; Perham, Ben; VanderEnde, Gerrit;

Elevated view of Tacoma's downtown and industrial area. Photographs taken on September 2, 1954, from Room 716 of the Winthrop Hotel show a cluster of downtown Tacoma businesses, the 11th Street Bridge, and a portion of the industrial area in the distance. Tacoma Savings & Loan, the Tacoma Hotel, Lincolnshire Hotel and Security Building (formerly Provident Building) can be clearly seen. Smokestacks billow as Tacoma's lumber and chemical mills operate with full staff. Large billboards, placed on the rooftop of the Lincolnshire Hotel, provide advertising information for consumers interested in liquor, fruit and electrical equipment.

Billboards--Tacoma--1950-1960; Security Building (Tacoma); Lincolnshire Hotel (Tacoma); Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Bridges--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Clinton S. Reynolds (left), new president of Tacoma Chamber of Commerce, presents outgoing president Charles M. Fogg (center) with a framed check for $1.00, his salary for his tenure as 1954 Chamber President. Looking on at the right is Tom Collins, Kansas City banker and humorist and featured speaker for the event. The presentation was the highlight of the 70th annual Chamber dinner in the Crystal Ballroom of the Winthrop Hotel. A standing room only crowd of 435 attended the event. (TNT 1/20/1955, pg. 1 & A-5)

Tacoma Chamber of Commerce (Tacoma); Fogg, Charles M.; Checks; Collins, Tom; Reynolds, Clinton S.;

The Fircrest Kiwanis Club celebrated charter night with a September 15, 1955, banquet in the Winthrop Hotel's Crystal Ballroom. Dignitaries were seated at the head table and various speeches were given. A large flag is positioned behind the guest speakers, and the Kiwanis Club banner is also prominently displayed. 250 people from various Kiwanis clubs in the Tacoma area met to recognize the new club. The Fircrest Kiwanis already have 54 members. On the far left is Fred G. Rounds, district governor; Herbert Socolofsky, lt. gov., standing in light suit, was toastmaster. (TNT 9-14-55, A-10, TNT 9-16-55, A-11)

Fircrest Kiwanis Club (Fircrest); Rounds, Fred G., Socolofsky, Herbert; Flags--United States; Signs (Notices); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Banners; Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Comus Club presented the "Comus Comets" ball at the Winthrop Hotel. Eight men and eight women are seen in their formal attire for the event. The men wear tuxedos and black bow ties. The women wear evening gowns and tiaras with three stars each. Charles and Betty Wolf were co-chairmen of the dance. Mr. Wolf was president of the Comus Club at this time. Other members of the planning committee were Wilfred and Avonelle Brown, Leonard and Lucille Peck, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Kemp, Mr. and Mrs. Chester Hogan, Sidney and Ellen Dean, George and Gwyne Bevington, and Jonas and LaVerna Bjelland. (TNT, 10/12/1952, p.D-4)

Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; Clubs--Tacoma; Dance parties--Tacoma--1950-1960; Comus Club (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Members of the Comus Club were invited on a "Flight to Mars" during the club's first dance of the season, the "Comus Comets" ball. This was the club's 33rd season. Leonard and Lucille Peck and Charles and Betty Wolf (from left) had their guest tickets checked by Wilfred and Avonelle Brown, the captain and flight attendant on the right, before boarding. (TNT, 10/16/1952, p.D-6)

Dance parties--Tacoma--1950-1960; Comus Club (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Peck, Leonard; Peck, Lucille; Brown, Wilfred; Brown, Avonelle; Wolf, Charles; Wolf, Betty;

A bartender waits for business at the bar discretely tucked away in the Winthrop Hotel's Sabre Room on November 2, 1955. A cheerful motto is painted on the bar's wall: "Happy to meet/Sorry to part/Happy to meet again"; the writer's name is Scotty. Two crossed swords on a paneled wall give the room its name. The unique Sabre Room was opened by Trader Vic in September, 1949. The popular dining room would reopen on November 15, 1955; completely redecorated, it still retained its Old World atmosphere. The menu was predominately Old English with plenty of beef. Photograph ordered by the Winthrop Hotel. (TNT 11-15-55, p. 6)

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

New marquee being put in place at the Winthrop Hotel. Six men hold the new marquee in place. The sign advertises the hotel as the home of Daffodil Room and the Sabre Room. A panel van parked in front has a sign on it reading "Man of the Year."

Marquees--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Standard Brands Inc. The "25 Year Club" annual banquet. Two area residents were inducted into the quarter century club of Standard Brands Inc. at their annual dinner held at the Winthrop Hotel. The two inductees are in the center of the front row holding their certificates of long service. To the left is Emil C. Werner and to his right is Elmer E. Krueger. Both were employed at Fleischmann's Yeast in Sumner. For their 25 years of continuous service, they were presented with gold watches and certificates. Werner resided at 413 8th Ave NW, Puyallup. Werner came to the US in 1906 and worked as a farmer. In 1928, he joined the work force at Fleischmann's. His hobbies were fruit growing and farming. He had 3 daughters, a son and 7 grandchildren. Krueger lived in Sumner Heights. He was a native of Clear Lake, S.D., a WWI veteran and a member of the American Legion. He had two sons, Jerry and LaVon, who were employed at Rainier Plywood in Tacoma. Company executives attending the dinner were Albert R. Fleischmann, vice president and general sales manager, and L. G. Reichhard, vice president of manufacturing. (TNT 11/16/1953, pg. 13)

Standard Brands, Inc. (Tacoma); Group portraits; Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fleischmann's Yeast (Sumner)--Employees;