500 women attended the Evangelical Lutheran Church convention from the Pacific District in early June, 1953. A large number of them posed for this group portrait in front of the new music/chapel/speech building at Pacific Lutheran College on June 9, 1953. Perhaps some of the meetings may have occurred in the new building as the auditorium was designed to hold over 1,000 people. Mrs. Harold J. Leraas was the local convention chairman for the conference that occurred on June 8-10, 1953. Photograph ordered by Mrs. A.W. Rumstad. (TNT 6-5-53, p. 24)
Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Religious meetings; Group portraits;
ca. 1955. This appears to be a more intimate coffee shop atmosphere on the campus of Pacific Lutheran College in 1955. Students could place their orders at the nearby counter and then relax alongside the large plate glass windows. This photograph was taken in the evening as students enjoyed their ice cream sundaes, pie and milk. The coffee shop, located in a spacious room in the new College Union Building overlooking Wheeler St., seats 90 persons. Photograph ordered by Pacific Lutheran College. (TNT 12-18-55, A-19, TNT 2-5-56, B-6) TPL-9321
ca. 1956. Pacific Lutheran College Chorus. Professor Frederick L. Newnham directed the Pacific Lutheran College Chorus in 1956 due to the absence of R. Byard Fritts. The Chorus had a very active year with many public performances including the Christmas Concert, journeying to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Olympia, and a farewell concert for the servicemen at Fort Lewis. The Chorus was headed by Richard Farness, president. Names of individual chorus members are found in the 1956 Saga yearbook, p. 121. Photograph ordered by Pacific Lutheran College.
Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Choirs (Music); Universities & colleges--Parkland--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;
Pacific Lutheran College students Naomi Rasmussen (left) and Lois Ronell are studying in the tidy room they shared in the school's new women's dormitory in October, 1954. Drapes on the large window are open to let in natural light and provide a beautiful view of a large tree-filled lot. Each girl seems to have a bed, bookcase, and possibly separate desks. Large cuddly stuffed animals rest on top of their beds. Computers and refrigerators are conspicuous by their absence.The new South Hall dormitory was home to 129 women in the fall of 1954. It had many amenities such as two decorated lounges complete with televisions and a grand piano, four small kitchen units, complete laundry service and study rooms. Mrs. Clara Nelson was housemother. (TNT 10-13-54, C-2, 1955 Saga yearbook)
ca. 1954. Students are clustered close to the very modern brick South Hall dormitory for women on the campus of Pacific Lutheran College, in a 1954 photograph. Clothing styles have changed since then but the art of socializing has not. The students are taking advantage of a lovely day to converse with one another. The dormitory opened for the first time that year and was home to 129 students. The facilities included two lovely lounges with televisions and a grand piano, four small kitchen units, complete laundry service and two small lounge-study rooms. View of the south side of South Hall dormitory; dorm had four stories. Extending from the building is the lounge and recreation area; there is a sun deck on top of the lounge and concrete patio at its base. (1955 SAGA yearbook, p. 108, TNT 10-13-54, C-2)
Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland); Dormitories--Parkland;
Circulation clerical assistant Mrs. Olga S. Fisher assists a young man at the Pacific Lutheran University library on January 16, 1963. There are shelves of reference books beside her; use of these books was limited to one-hour. (1963 Saga Annual, p. 36)
Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland)--1960-1970; Libraries--Parkland; Books; Fisher, Olga S.; Students--Parkland--1960-1970;
An unidentified Pacific Lutheran University student receives one-to-one instruction from a chemistry professor believed to be Dr. Laurence D. Huestis on January 16, 1963. Dr. Huestis had joined the faculty at PLU in 1961 after receiving his Ph.D from the University of California. (1963 Saga Annual, p. 21)
Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland)--1960-1970; Teachers--Parkland--1960-1970; Students--Parkland--1960-1970;
A complex mathematical formula is being figured out on the blackboard by a Pacific Lutheran University instructor believed to be E. Robert Newell on January 16, 1963. Mr. Newell graduated with a B.A. from the Western Washington College of Education in 1956 and was involved in graduate study at the University of Washington. (1963 Saga Annual, p. 22)
Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland)--1960-1970; Teachers--Parkland; Blackboards;
In 1963 Pacific Lutheran University celebrated the 30th anniversary of May Festival. In this May 3, 1963, photograph, a dashing young dancer is the object of several admiring gazes. Ronald Miller appears to have his pick of four young ladies for a Lithuanian folk dance; from left to right are : Dani Saxton, Rhoda Pappajohn, Jean Andrews and Dallas Schuler. Students practiced an entire year to bring the two-night folk dance festival to fruition. (TNT 5-5-63, D-14)
Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland)--1960-1970; Festivals--Parkland--1960-1970; Folk dancing--Parkland--1960-1970; Students--Parkland--1960-1970; Miller, Ronald; Saxton, Dani; Pappajohn, Rhoda; Andrews, Jean; Schuler, Dallas;
A variety of photographs were taken of the Pacific Lutheran University campus in early October, 1960, by the Richards Studio, showing new facilities and improvements. The photograph above shows the Jacob Samuelson Chapel in the new Administration Building, a multipurpose room used for devotional meetings, closed circuit TV lectures, and recitals. It utilized an innovative notion--multiple television sets mounted on walls to provide students with a clearer view of professorial lectures broadcast from the school's own new studio. The chapel was a gift from Mr. Samuelson's estate. (TNT 10-13-60, C-6)
ca. 1952. Music room with four different heights of raised platforms for musicians in a semi-circle. Wood flooring. Photograph taken circa 1952 at Pacific Lutheran College.
Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Music stands;
A practice room in the new chapel-music-speech building at Pacific Lutheran College as photographed in March of 1952. Some of the larger instruments for an orchestra have been left in the room behind the chairs and music stands: timpani, snare drums, chimes, sousaphones, and a bass violin. A piano stands on the floor below three steps for the other musicians to perform.
Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Drums; Pianos; Music stands; Percussion instruments; Violins;
1952 May Day Festival at Pacific Lutheran College. Unidentified young woman wearing floral crown, holding bouquet of roses, and sitting outdoors in royal chair.
Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Beauty contestants--Parkland--1950-1960; Festivals--Parkland--1950-1960;
Men are smoothing on one of the three layers of plaster on the ceiling and high along one of the walls in the new chapel-music-speech building at Pacific Lutheran College in July of 1951. Acoustical plaster was used on two walls of each room, above the dado, or wainscoating; and on a strip across the middle of the ceiling. The structure incorporated the latest engineering features designed to cut noise to a minimum. Students in one of the seventeen 6-foot by 10-foot practice rooms should seldom hear sounds coming from practice rooms on either side of them. The building also had seven studios, a band room, choir room and radio studio. (TNT, 7/22/1951, p.C-12)
Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--Buildings; Building construction--Parkland--1950-1960;
1951 construction work on the exterior of the new chapel-music-speech building at Pacific Lutheran College. Brick veneer is being laid by men working from scaffolding. Scaffolding is still in place around a steeple that has been added above the roof. Architect John Richards explained that the design of the rooms in the building were unusual. The walls and ceilings were not true, or straight. The ceiling in some rooms slanted up, in others it slanted down. The same was true of the walls. The purpose of this was to break up the reverberation of sound waves. (TNT, 7/22/1951, p.C-12)
Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--Buildings; Building construction--Parkland--1950-1960; Progress photographs;
Mrs. John Richards and her three sons, Phillip, age 8, Thomas, age 14, and John, age 16, walk down the sidewalk in front of the chapel/music/speech building at Pacific Lutheran College. Ordered by the Tacoma News Tribune for their fall fashion issue. (TNT, 9/11/1952, p.C-14)
Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--Buildings; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Richards, Phillip; Richards, Thomas; Richards, John; Families--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Unidentified dancers swung their partners "do-si-do" as part of the festivities held in the Pacific Lutheran College's gymnasium for May Day 1951. The men wore plaid shirts and jeans while the women wore floor-length print dresses that twirled in the air as they spun. The American square dance was part of a performance of folk dances during the 18th annual holiday celebration. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 5-6-51, A-8-article on festivities)
Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1950-1960; Festivals--Parkland--1950-1960; Folk dancing--Parkland--1950-1960; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Marjorie Anderson, the 1951 May Queen at Pacific Lutheran College, poses for her portrait carrying a small bouquet of roses. Marjorie, a senior from Tacoma, was chosen by vote of the student body at the college. (TNT, 5/3/1951, p.D-3)
Three women students are shown in one of the women's dormitory rooms at Pacific Lutheran College in the spring of 1950. Two desks are set into an alcove near the window. A flowered curtain covers the closet. One of the women is reading on one of the beds and another is leaning on one of the dressers against the far wall. The floor is covered with checked linoleum tile and sprinklers are shown along the ceiling. A comfortable wicker rocking chair is positioned nearby.
Students are seen studying at the rows of tables at the Pacific Lutheran College library in April of 1950. Open beams lead towards the large windows at the far end of the room. The library, designed by Tacoma architect Emanuel J. Bresemann, was dedicated in 1939. TPL-9330
Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Libraries--Parkland; Educational facilities--Parkland; Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--Buildings; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Studying--Parkland;
May Day festivities at Pacific Lutheran College, Pacific Lutheran College, Miss Helen Hedine. Catherine Breum of East Stanwood was crowned May Queen at ceremonies May 6, 1949. Two members of her royal court, train bearer Anne Malmin Berg and crown bearer Tom Tommervik, stand by her as she is crowned. She is wearing a floor-length, white eyelet gown. (TNT, 5/5/1949, p.1) (Additional identification provided by a reader)
Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1940-1950; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1940-1950; Breum, Catherine; Rites & ceremonies--Parkland--1940-1950; Celebrations--Parkland--1940-1950; Berg, Anne Malmin; Tommervik, Tom;
ca. 1954. Groups of students chat on the campus of Pacific Lutheran College in 1954 outside the new North Hall dormitory. The presence of long coats and sweaters may mean that it was taken in the fall. North Hall, along with the South Hall dormitory for women, was completed in fall, 1954; it housed 120 men students, two per room. Both new dorms were very large and made of brick with multiple windows to bring inside the beauty of the outdoors. They were designed by architects Lea, Pearson & Richards and built by Bennett-Campbell, general contractors, at a total cost of $1,150,000. The men enjoyed the same amenities as the women: two large lounges, several smaller ones and a complete self-service laundry. A busy social and spiritual life was planned by dormitory officers. (1955 SAGA yearbook, p. 109, TNT 10-13-54, C-2) TPL-9348
Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland); Dormitories--Parkland;
Under the direction of Gordon O. Gilbertson, the Pacific Lutheran College Concert Band during the 1956-57 school year performed many concerts, both at school and at neighboring locations, as well as providing added spirit to basketball and football games. The band is pictured here in the Music & Chapel building on January 17, 1957. Photograph ordered by Pacific Lutheran College.
Bands--Parkland--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;
The Concert Chorus at Pacific Lutheran College posed for the camera seated in an open fan shape in the Music-Chapel on April 9, 1958. The men all sported tuxedoes while the women were primarily dressed in evening gowns. According to the student yearbook, the SAGA, the popularity of the group was increasing rapidly in the Seattle-Tacoma area. The chorus performed several times on Fort Lewis, at various churches, and at chapel exercises on campus. They were honored to be the first choral group to sing at the new Central Lutheran Church in Tacoma. The Concert Chorus, under the direction of R. Byard Fritts, concluded its year by recording music for the sound track of a technicolor movie to be released by the United Good Neighbors. (1958 SAGA yearbook, p. 94)
Choirs (Music); Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;
Students at Pacific Lutheran University enjoy a sunny fall day in 1960 as they chat in front of the new Administration Building. In contrast to the Gothic style buildings on campus, the Lea, Pearson & Richards-designed structure has a very modern look with flat roof, multiple windows with blinds, and overhang to protect students from the elements. Pacific Lutheran College officially became Pacific Lutheran University on September 1, 1960. The school celebrated the 70th anniversary of its founding during the weekend of October 14, 1960, when the new Administration building was dedicated. (TNT 10-13-60, C-1)
Universities & colleges--Parkland--1960-1970; Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland)--1960-1970;
In the early '60's, Pacific Lutheran University apparently provided instruction in the secretarial arts as well as in the sciences, nursing, business and education. Several young women are pictured on January 16, 1963, in the process of typing and the case of the student in the foreground, perhaps learning to transcribe dictation.
Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland)--1960-1970; Students--Parkland--1960-1970; Studying--Parkland; Typewriting--Parkland; Typewriters--1960-1970; Dictating machines;
Dennise Tetz and Phil Langston, foreground, delight spectators with their quick footwork in "La Furlana" during the 30th anniversary of May Festival at Pacific Lutheran University. The duo are dressed in folk dancing attire on May 3, 1963. Miss Tetz and the unidentified female dancer behind her have on laced vests, full skirts and wear large kerchiefs over their heads. (1963 Saga yearbook, p. 99)
Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland)--1960-1970; Festivals--Parkland--1960-1970; Students--Parkland--1960-1970; Folk dancing--Parkland--1960-1970; Tetz, Dennise; Langston, Phil;
Art Building. On January 24, 1970, a series of photographs were taken of an accident scene occuring on the campus of Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland. This color view is of the school's Art Building. It is not clear whether the accident occurred at this location or outside one of the nearby buildings. Photograph ordered by Seattle attorneys Reed, McClure, Moceri.
Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland)--1970-1980; Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland)--Buildings; Accidents--Parkland;
Distinguished faculty at Pacific Lutheran University. President Robert Mortvedt (extreme right) presided over graduation ceremonies on June 2, 1968, on the campus of Pacific Lutheran University. (L-R) Retiring professor of English Dr. Herbert R. Ranson, retiring professor and former dean Dr. Philip E. Hauge, and visiting dean of University of Utah's graduate school Dr. Sterling M. McMurrin joined President Mortvedt and the 347 graduates at the Sunday morning baccalaureate service. Dr. Ranson had 28 years of service on PLU's faculty; Dr. Hauge, 48 years. Dr. McMurrin gave the commencement address. Photograph ordered by Pacific Lutheran University. (TNT 6-3-68, p. 4, p. 5)
Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland)--1960-1970; Graduation ceremonies--Parkland; Mortvedt, Robert; Ranson, Herbert R.; Hauge, Philip E.; McMurrin, Sterling M.;
