Close-up view of Annie Wright Seminary. Building by Sutton, Whitney and Dugan, Architects, 1924. Photograph taken for the T. Times in conjunction with the investigation into the kidnapping of George Hunt Weyerhaeuser. On May 24, 1935, George was kidnapped near noon from the grounds of Annie Wright. He had left his school, Lowell Elementary, and walked to meet his sister Ann at the seminary intending to ride home with her for lunch. The Weyerhaeusers were informed at around 3 p.m. that their son was missing. A ransom note, demanding $200,000 arrived around 6:30pm. that evening. (T. Times 5/26/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding months.)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

Entrance between hedges at Annie Wright Seminary to staircase; area where George Weyerhaeuser was kidnapped shortly after noon on May 24, 1935. Following the death of J.P. Weyerhaeuser, obituaries citing his wealth caught the eye of a trio looking for a fast buck. Harman Waley, his wife Margaret and William Dainard decided to abduct Weyerhaeuser's grandson 9 year old George and hold him for ransom. They took the boy as he walked from Lowell School to the Seminary to meet with his sister Ann and travel home for lunch. They held him for $200,000 in ransom. The sensational case forced everything else off the front page, including the lumber workers strike in Tacoma. (T. Times 5/25/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding days)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

Annie Wright Seminary Field Day, also known as May Day, 5/1/1935. Girls leaving pitch after playing Field Hockey.

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Field hockey; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

A young man with a tennis racquet, tentatively identified as Weyerhaeuser acquaintance Bob Taylor, poses on a path at Annie Wright Seminary, near the area where 9 year old George Weyerhaeuser was kidnapped on May 24, 1935. The path was possibly used by the kidnappers. The Weyerhaeuser kidnapping was the second most famous in the nation and Tacoma's most sensational crime. It had everything to make newspaper headlines, a handsome grade school boy and a moneyed family desperate for his return. The retiring Weyerhaeusers however spoke only to the police and moved secretly so that publicity did not prevent George from being released. By June 1, 1935, George had been released. The first set of suspects was arrested within weeks, a former Puyallup couple named Harmon and Margaret Waley, and they identified the third suspect, William Dainard, who was arrested almost a year later. (T. Times 5/26/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding months.)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

Automobile parked outside entrance between hedges at Annie Wright Seminary, the area where George Hunt Weyerhaeuser was kidnapped on May 24, 1935. The heavy hedges undoubtedly provided cover to the people abducting the boy. George had left Lowell School just before noon to walk the five or so blocks to the Seminary where he would meet his sister and the young people would be driven home for lunch by the family chauffer. (T. Times 5/25/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding months)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

Steps and hedge at Annie Wright Seminary, one of the possible locations for the abduction of George Weyerhaeuser on May 24, 1935. He was kidnapped from the grounds of seminary, near the tennis courts, as he walked at noontime from Lowell Elementary to meet his sister at the seminary and travel home for lunch. The boy was held for $200,000 in ransom. (T. Times 5/26/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding months.)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

Annie Wright Seminary annual Field Day, May of 1935. Girls play Field Hockey behind the school. (filed with Argentum)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Field hockey;

The drive between the hedges at the Annie Wright Seminary. This road led downhill from Tacoma Ave. between the seminary grounds and the tennis court property. The seminary grounds were the location of the abduction of 9 year old George Weyerhaeuser on May 24, 1935. He was kidnapped near the tennis courts and whisked away in a waiting car. Between the time of his abduction on May 24th and his release on June 1st, he was held in two pre-dug pits prepared for his capture and in a rental house closet at 1509 W. 11th Ave. in Spokane. (T. Times 5/26/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding months.)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

In June of 1935, some of Annie Wright Seminary's earliest alumnae returned to the campus to help celebrate the school's 50th anniversary. The girls school opened in September of 1884 at 611 Division Ave. and these ladies were some of the first students. As a part of the anniversary celebration, they took part in a seminary pageant, modeling outfits from that opening year. Pictured seated are, left to right, Mrs. W.H. Dickson (Gertrude Holt,) Mrs. Frank Allyn (Flora Long,) Mrs. Alice Rector Watson (Alice Rector) and Miss Isabel Holt. Standing are Mrs. Bassie (Maud Burr) and Mrs. Warren Brown (Jennie Forbes.) Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Times. (filed with Argentum) (T.Times 6/13/1938, pg. 10)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Dickson, Gertrude; Allyn, Flora; Watson, Alice; Holt, Isabel; Bassie, Maud; Brown, Jennie; Annie Wright Seminary--Alumni & alumnae; Private schools--Tacoma;

Annie Wright Seminary's 1936 May Day celebration. Crown bearers and young flower girls in costume.

Private schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; May Day--Tacoma; Girls--Tacoma--1930-1940; School children--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Annie Wright Seminary May Day activities. Six young girls dressed in butterfly or bee costumes dancing around a young girl seated on the ground. Spectators watching event from loggia.

Private Schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; May Day--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Annie Wright Seminary annual May Day activities. Procession, little girls in long gowns lead May Queen Burdette Craig and her Court between rows of little girls in short dresses. Neighborhood houses in background. (T. Times 5/18/1936, pg. 1)

Private Schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; May Day--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Annie Wright Seminary May Day. Procession, seen through trees with school building in the background.

Private Schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; May Day--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Annie Wright Seminary 1936 May Day activities. Queen Burdette Craig and her court on school steps. Photographer adjusting movie camera on tripod. (T. Times 5/18/1936, pg. 1)

Private Schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; May Day--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Craig, Burdette;

Annie Wright Seminary Field Day. The annual Field Day took place in May of 1936. Students are pictured engaging in a softball game with one girl at bat. The Tudor-styled school building is in the background.

Private schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Events--Tacoma; Softball--Tacoma--1930-1940; Softball players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Annie Wright Seminary Field Day. Tennis courts, view from hill of game in progress. Neighborhood homes visible in background. Each year, generally in May, the student body of Annie Wright Seminary participated in a day full of activities including sports, music and the crowning of a queen and her court.

Private schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tennis courts--Tacoma; Tennis--Tacoma;

Annie Wright Seminary Field Day. Archery, girl shooting bow and arrow.

Private Schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Events--Tacoma--1930-1940; Archery--Tacoma--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Annie Wright Seminary Field Day. Field hockey game in progress, run on at goal post.

Private schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Events--Tacoma; Field hockey--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Annie Wright Seminary Field Day. Woman standing in loggia observing little girls in short dresses playing on slide and balance bar.

Private schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Events--Tacoma; School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children playing outdoors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Playgrounds--Tacoma; School recesses--Tacoma;

Annie Wright Seminary Field Day. Volleyball team in action on basketball court of gymnasium.

Private schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Events--Tacoma; Volleyball--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Annie Wright Seminary Field Day. Little girls in short dresses going down play yard slide and walking on balance bar. "Speed King" wagon next to slide.

Private schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children playing outdoors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Playgrounds--Tacoma; School recesses--Tacoma;

Annie Wright Seminary Field Day. Six young girls in short dresses standing on a slide.

Private schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children playing outdoors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Playgrounds--Tacoma; School recesses--Tacoma;

Annie Wright Seminary Field Day. Archery, girls shooting at target. School building in background.

Private Schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Events--Tacoma--1930-1940; Archery--Tacoma--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

1936 Annie Wright Seminary Field Day. Girl performing somersault off diving board into indoor swimming pool. Other girls watch.

Private schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Events--Tacoma; Swimming--Tacoma--1930-1940; Swimming pools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Diving--Tacoma--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Diving--Tacoma;

Annie Wright Seminary Field Day. Field hockey game in progress. Commencement Bay and Browns Point in background.

Private schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Events--Tacoma; Field hockey--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Annie Wright Seminary. Snow storm brings out students with skiis and sled. Neighborhood houses in the background beyond the snow-covered tennis courts.

Private schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Snow--Tacoma; Skiing--Tacoma; Sleds & sleighs--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Annie Wright Seminary Junior Prom, held on Saturday April 17, 1937 in the Great Hall at the school. Two young couples, names not provided, photographed sitting on a davenport in what appears to be the school library. The prom honored the senior class graduating in June. A typical Dutch setting served as the ball's background where junior and senior girls danced with their escorts. (T.Times 4-24-37, p. 5-various photographs)

Private schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Dance parties--Tacoma--1930-1940; Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Group picture at the Annie Wright Seminary Junior Prom, held Saturday April 17th 1937 at the school. Several couples photographed seated on stairs. They are eating dessert and socializing.

Private schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Dance parties--Tacoma--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Stairways--Tacoma;

The Annie Wright Seminary Junior Prom, held Saturday April 17, 1937 in the Great Hall at the school. The dance had a Dutch theme and was scheduled to honor the senior class before their graduation in June. Three couples were photographed wearing formal attire and standing in front of a fireplace. The room was embellished with elaborate decorations. Pictured left to right are Robert Cowden, Barbara Bogan, Betty June Howe, Clinton Campbell, Elizabeth Post and Gordon Ketring. (T.Times 4/24/1937, pg. 9)

Private Schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Dance parties--Tacoma--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Annie Wright Seminary May Day activities. Seven young women wearing costumes are performing a skit or dance. The scene is dramatized by the photographer's shadowy frame of spectators and trees in the foreground and landscape in the background.

Private Schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma; May Day--Tacoma;