Consolidated Freightways was a moving and shipping company. It was conveniently located next to the railroad tracks, where materials were unloaded and packed into trucks for further distribution.

Consolidated Freightways, Inc. (Tacoma); Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Loading docks--Tacoma; Trucks--1950-1960;

Logging near Mineral; ordered by Malcolm McGhie. A logging truck heavily loaded with huge tree trunks winds up a hill on a gravel road. Mist shrouds the clear cut area surrounding the road. Mineral is a small logging town on Mineral Lake fourteen miles north of Morton in north central Lewis County. During 1956, this private two lane road was built by St. Regis Paper Co. to replace a 12 mile logging railroad. Roads are now the main artery in the area that supplies the Tacoma mill. (1956 Annual Report, St. Regis Paper Co.) TPL-9428

Lumber industry--Mineral; Logs; Cutover lands--Mineral; Trucks; Woodcutters; Loggers--Mineral; Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Firs; Forests--Mineral; Woodcutting--Mineral; St. Regis Paper Co. (Mineral);

The sign for Highland Hills (originally Highland Hill) Shopping Center. The parking lot was still under construction; the Grand Opening was scheduled for December of 1956. The shopping center was built to serve the growing population of the West End, including University Place and Fircrest. Located on 6th Ave. near Peal, the center would be convenient to these areas. The first tenant was the Big Bear Store, which opened in 1955. The center would house 21 stores in a modern layout with a pedestrian mall in the center and 5 acres of customer parking. The angled roofline created visual interest. (TNT 10/28/1956, pg. C-17)

Big Bear Stores (Tacoma); Supermarkets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs; Highland Hills Shopping Center (Tacoma); Highland Hill Shopping Center (Tacoma); Shopping centers--Tacoma;

Logging near Mineral; ordered by Malcolm McGhie. A hard hatted logger stares up at an old growth tree, possibly judging how best to cut it. This forested area is located at St. Regis Paper Company's Camp #2, near Mineral, Washington.

Lumber industry--Mineral; Logs; Woodcutters; Loggers--Mineral; Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Firs; Forests--Mineral; Woodcutting--Mineral; St. Regis Paper Co. (Mineral);

National Trailer Sales Inc. on South Tacoma Way. Nathan A. Perry was the president of the company and Ian McMillian was the Secretary-Treasurer. The "home on wheels" that you could pull with your car or truck was becoming more common and more aerodynamic. A square version with curtains can be seen in the right center of the picture; on the left foreground is the more sleek "Spartan Mansion." The sign for the company advertises Pan American trailer coaches.

National Trailer Sales Inc. (Tacoma); Mobile homes; Trailers;

Peerless Laundry and Drycleaning. Peerless was owned by Edward V. Hudson and offered complete laundry service, dry cleaning and linen supply. Two women in matching white uniforms with handkerchiefs in pockets and white pumps prepare two coats for cleaning. One woman brushes the sleeve of a coat and the other stuffs the sleeves open on another coat. The coats sit on two pieces of machinery with frames that fit inside the coats, filling them out.

Peerless Laundry (Tacoma)--Employees; Cleaning establishments--Tacoma;

Peerless Laundry and Drycleaning. Peerless was owned by Edward V. Hudson and offered complete laundry service, dry cleaning and linen supply. Their service was speedy; items in by 9 were completed by 5. Exterior of the building with service vehicles and employees. The business was founded in 1937. This building was demolished in 1974 after a massive fire and a new building was erected in its place. Peerless is still operating at this same area in 2002, despite another large fire in 1988.

Peerless Laundry (Tacoma); Cleaning establishments--Tacoma;

The finishing room at Rayonier's Grays Harbor mill, for Malcolm McGhie. The pulp rolls have been sheeted on the cutter and counted out on the layboy. They are moving by automatic conveyer to the large hydraulic bailing presses where they will be compressed and wrapped for shipment. (1955 Annual Report, Rayonier, Inc.)

Rayonier, Inc. (Grays Harbor); Lumber industry--Grays Harbor--1950-1960;

This photo montage was created by the Richards Studio in 1956 to document a historic event that never quite happened. When President Eisenhower visited Tacoma in October of 1956, Earl L. Irwin, the owner of the B&I Circus Store, 8012 South Tacoma Way, wanted a picture taken of the President's motorcade driving by his business. Due to perceived threats against the President, the motorcade route to McChord AFB was altered and he did not pass the B&I store. Mr. Irwin had this photograph created to show what might have been. The crowd of Tacomans, the three elephants with circular signs behind their heads, and the car with President Eisenhower were all added to a stock photograph of the store. Even had the motorcade route not been changed this photograph could not have been taken as it appears. The car would have been going south, and therefore would be pointed in the opposite direction on the opposite side of the street. TPL-6678

Presidents--United States; Eisenhower, Dwight David, 1890-1969; Visits of state--Tacoma--1950-1960; Motorcades--Tacoma; Presidential elections--United States of America; B&I Circus Store (Tacoma); Photomontages;

ca. 1956. Copy of a customer's print of unidentified children, ordered by Mrs. Stella Smith. The two girls stand on either side of the chair holding an infant boy. The girl on the left has blonde hair and the girl on the right has dark; both girls have round faces and curly hair. The boy wears a lace gown and is also round faced and light haired. This copy was made in 1956, the original picture seems to date from the early 1900s.

Children--1900-1910;

Studio portrait Carl W. Broome. Mr. Broome strikes a emphatic pose by pounding his fist into his other palm in a studio portrait taken on December 20, 1956. Carl Broome owned the Lake Geneva resort in the 1950's which was located in southwest King County, two miles southwest of Auburn. People could enjoy swimming and other family activities lakeside. Photograph ordered by Carl W. Broome.

Broome, Carl W.;

A sepia photograph of a large family group was taken on November 28, 1956. This is possibly the Bjorkman family. All are dressed nicely as they pose in front of a large porch; they may be celebrating a family event. Photograph ordered by Mrs. Cecil Nicholson.

Group portraits; Families--1950-1960; Houses--1950-1960;

A large family, believed to be the Thomas Watts clan, gathered on Christmas Eve at the Chambers Creek home of Robert Goodwin . Everyone, including the small children, are dressed in their best. Sepia photograph ordered by Mrs. R.S. Goodwin.

Group portraits; Goodwin, Robert--Homes & haunts;

Jobs Daughters installation. Participants in the 35th installation of Bethel 8, Job's Daughters on December 8, 1956, clasp their hands in prayer. Those kneeling in white garments have positioned themselves in the shape of a cross. Three of the young girls are wearing tiaras; Queen Carol Berglund at the foot of the "cross" is carrying long stem flowers. "Winter Fantasie" was the theme of the public installation ceremonies held in the Gothic Room, Masonic Temple. Sepia photograph ordered by Mrs. Carl Berglund. (TNT 12-5-56, C-11)

International Order of Job's Daughters (Washington); Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Berglund, Carol;

Job's Daughters installation. Carol Berglund, center with roses, was crowned honored Queen at the 35th installation of the Bethel #8, International Order of Job's Daughters on December 8, 1956. She was wearing a lovely satin floor length gown, a ceremonial wrap, and a tiara. Carol is the daughter of Carl and Ellen Berglund. Sepia photograph ordered by Mrs. Carl Berglund. (TNT 12-5-56, C-11)

International Order of Job's Daughters (Washington); Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Berglund, Carol;

Reno Odlin stands under the 96 foot tall Puget Sound National Bank electric sign which displayed both the temperature and time in this photograph from December 5, 1956. Erected in June, 1953, the double "T" sign was one of the first in the country. Reno Odlin was the long-time president and chief executive officer of the bank. He successfully led Puget Sound National Bank for several decades, positioning it as the "hometown bank" and increasing branches to 33. He retired in 1974, leaving the bank to be led by former son-in-law, Bill Philip, and passed away in 1979. (Provorse: Banking on Independence, p. 130)

Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979; Bankers--Tacoma; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Clocks & watches;

An unidentified employee of Pacific Telephone & Telegraph smiles pleasantly as she demonstrates the long-distance board at the phone company on December 17, 1956. The telephone operator is wearing a headset while plugging a call into the switchboard. Over 300 operators would be on hand to handle Christmas Eve and Christmas Day calls. More than 55,000 telephone calls were expected in and out of Tacoma. Photograph ordered by Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (TNT 12-23-56, A-7) TPL-9272

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees--1950-1960; Telephone companies--Tacoma; Telephone operators--Tacoma--1950-1960; Telephone switchboards--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Judy Reed appears to be carefully watching her figure eights while she is on the ice at the Lakewood Ice Arena in this photograph dated November 29, 1956. Hair pulled back in an attractive ponytail, Judy is wearing a short black jumper and white blouse with three-quarter length sleeves. Sepia photograph ordered by Carl Reed.

Reed, Judy; Ice skating--Lakewood--1950-1960; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood);

Studio portrait of Rabbi Richard Rosenthal. In 1956, Rabbi Richard Rosenthal replaced Rabbi Bernard Rosenberg at Temple Beth Israel. This first Jewish congregation in the Tacoma area was organized in 1892 and identified itself with the reform movement in Judaism. Later in 1960, Temple Beth Israel and another more traditionally-minded congregation, Talmud Torah (later renamed Sinai Temple) merged into one community, Temple Beth Israel. Rabbi Rosenthal was elected to lead the combined congregation. Rabbi Rosenthal was a well-known community leader and well respected by all faiths. Besides leading Temple Beth Israel, he also taught at the University of Puget Sound. He was a German immigrant, coming to the U.S. in 1939, and a graduate of the Centenary College of Shreveport, La. and the Hebrew Union College in Cincinatti. He and his wife Barbara resided at 409 No. Sheridan Ave. (History of Pierce County, Vol. 1, p. 15 and TNT 8/17/1956, pg. 4)

Rosenthal, Richard; Rabbis--Tacoma;

John "Sandy" Swanson does a turn on the ice as the young figure skater is photographed at the Lakewood Ice Arena on November 29, 1956. He placed 4th in the Pacific Coast Junior Men's competition in 1954 and in 1956, was 2nd in the Northwest Junior Men's. He is neatly dressed with pullover sweater and tie and wears his hair in a modified crew cut. "Sandy" was a member of the Lakewood Winter Club. Photograph ordered by Walter Swanson.

Swanson, John; Ice skating--Lakewood--1950-1960; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood);

Road signs. View of Pacific Avenue around 26th Street on a busy November 30, 1956, shows heavy traffic. Traffic signs warn that the speed limit is 25 mph and to be careful of a railroad crossing. A large metallic sign hanging on a sturdy pole gives motorists the choice to heading toward Bremerton, Portland, or Seattle. Puget Sound Auto Electric is to the right of the photograph with the Travel Lodge and Hauge's Gateway Service across the street. Photograph ordered by Condon Co. TPL-8384

Traffic signs & signals--Tacoma--1950-1960;

View of tanks and building. Several large fuel tanks are placed in close proximity to one another in a photograph taken on December 13, 1956. One horizontal tank has the name "Chapman Chemical Co., Tacoma, WN" clearly marked on its base. These possibly could have been used by the National Paint & Oil Companies, refiners and manufacturers, both located at 3011 So. Fife. Photograph ordered by National Paint & Oil Co.

Storage tanks; National Paint & Oil Co. (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);

Interiors of Wood Convalescent Home. In late 1956, the former John S. Baker home became the Wood Convalescent Home. Built in 1887 in the Queen Anne style of architecture, the rest home had semi-private rooms with hospital-style beds and modern trays. Comfortable period furniture was available for either patient or guest. The Wood Convalescent Home was owned and operated by Agnes H. Wood. It had room for 34 beds and each bed was equipped with a modern buzzer button to summon nurses. Three sitting rooms were provided for quiet visits from guests or just relaxing. Patients enjoyed 24 hour patient care and visitors were welcome at any time. Remodeling was done by Cameron Construction Co. Photograph ordered by Wood Convalescent Home. (TNT 12-2-56, B-13)

Wood Convalescent Home (Tacoma); Rest homes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Nursing homes--Tacoma;

Tacoma Mayor "Big John" Anderson at the microphone after receiving the official plaque declaring Tacoma an "All-America City" at the event banquet at the Top of the Ocean on Ruston Way in Old Town. Four hundred and thirty eight attendees watched on January 15, 1957, as Tacoma was presented the parchment "in recognition of progress achieved through intelligent city action." Only a few years earlier, Tacoma had received a "bad" rating from the American Social Hygiene Association. It was a "wide open" town where vice reigned. Ft. Lewis was threatening to put the city "off limits" and a legislative committee had aired the city's "dirty laundry" on television to the amusement of the rest of the state. The reaction was to change the city's form of government and to bring in a reformer as Police Chief. Tacoma had operated under the commission form of government for over 50 years, where the 5 commissioners as councilmen made the laws and enforced them. The form was changed to council-manager on June 1, 1953 after a hotly contested election. The new city council hired Frank Backstrom as Tacoma's first City Manager. He, in turn, imported Police Chief Roy Kerr who proceeded to stamp out prostitution and vice. Both individuals noted the contribution of John Anderson to the improvement of Tacoma. Anderson had served as Tacoma's mayor under both forms of government. (TNT 1/16/1957, pg. 1+) G 10.1-044 ALBUM 14

Awards; Mayors--Tacoma--1950-1960; Anderson, John H.;

All America City Banquet held January 15, 1957 at the Top of the Ocean. J.D. (Jack) Powell, president of the Tacoma Municipal League, accepts the award on behalf of the citizens of Tacoma. Tacoma's nomination for the award was made jointly by the American Association of University Women, the League of Women Voters and the Tacoma Municipal League. Standing to the left of Powell are representative of those organizations; Councilwoman Mrs. Clara Goering of the League of Women Voters on the left and Mrs. Lucille Chastek of the Tacoma Municipal League on the right. Mrs. Robert Chamberlin, representing the AAUW, is hidden by Powell. These three women, along with Gerrit VanderEnde, had represented the city at the judging in Memphis Tennessee. Standing to the right of Powell are the representatives of the joint sponsors of the award; George Leonard of Look Magazine on the left and Seattle businessman and council member of the National Municipal League Myron Law on the right. Seated to the right of Powell are Karen Anderson, daughter of the Mayor, Tacoma Mayor John H. Anderson and Mrs. Frank Backstrom, wife of Tacoma's first city manager. (TNT 1/15/1957, pg. 1 & 1/16/1957, pg 1+) G 10.1-047

Awards; Powell, J.D.; Goering, Clara; Chastek, Lucille; Leonard, George; Law, Myron; Anderson, Karen; Anderson, John H.; Mayors--Tacoma--1950-1960; Backstrom, Frank--Family;

All America City Banquet held January 15, 1957 at the Top of the Ocean. Celebration Chairman Roe Shaub kicked off the event by paying tribute to "a city of beautiful homes, fine schools and government, progressive business and industries and wonderful people"- the city of Tacoma. The 438 revelers jammed into the upper deck of the Top of the Ocean agreed with him. He suggested a new city slogan- "I like Tacoma." Tacoma was one of eleven US cities recognized in 1956, and one of only 4 in the west, for their dramatic progress through the action of their citizens. In Tacoma's case, the city had voted in the council-manager form of government and made great strides in ridding Tacoma of vice. (TNT 1/15/1957, pg. 1 & 1/16/1957, pg 1+) G 10.1-045

Awards; Shaub, Roe;

The Tacoma Athletic Commission would be sponsoring the ninth annual Golden Gloves tournament January 18 & 19, 1957. Charles "Charley" Brown, Fort Lewis light-heavyweight, takes a familiar stance. Brown would be one of twelve Tacoma-area entrants. He would eventually meet Johnny White of the Portland Knott Streeters in the finals of the 147# class; White would decision Brown for the victory. The Golden Gloves traditionally attracted many entrants from throughout Washington, as well as Oregon and British Columbia. Military personnel also commonly entered the amateur boxing tournament. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Athletic Commission. (TNT 1-17-57, C-9, TNT 1-21-57, p. 14))

Boxing--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Brown, Charles; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma);

When January, 1957, rolled around, it was time to prepare for the 9th annual Camp Fire Girls candy sale. Thousands of Tacoma homes would be visited by Camp Fire Girls and Blue Birds in a door-to-door campaign extending to February 23rd. Three unidentified girls stopped by the Brown & Haley Co. on January 22nd to pick up boxes of the chocolate mint wafers packed in new slim cases. It was the first time that wafer-thin chocolate-covered mints were offered. Proceeds of the sales went to support the Camp Fire Girls Camp Wakoma. Photograph ordered by the Camp Fire Girls. (TNT 1-27-57, B-15-article)

Camp Fire Girls (Tacoma); Fund raising--Tacoma--1950-1960; Candy--Tacoma;

Douglas Fir Plywood Association employees were photographed in February, 1957, in the association's mail room facilities. Here two workers, wearing aprons, keep careful eyes on the operating machinery. They appear to be turning handles nearly in unison. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Machinery; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Mothers were prepared to march in the fight against polio during the 1957 March of Dimes annual campaign. Frank Gillihan, campaign director, is seated to the foreground, holding envelopes filled with donations. Other mothers sort through their "Mothers March On Polio" packets with the help of the Tacoma Police Department. A blackboard shows listed donations from various parts of the city and neighboring communities. Photograph ordered by the March of Dimes.

March of Dimes (Tacoma); Fund raising--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gillihan, Frank J.;