Mayor Harold Tollefson points out an interesting picture in his photo album to a Japanese visitor from Tacoma's sister city, Kitakyushu, on February 5, 1965. The young man is believed to be a student. Linn Johnson, a University of Puget Sound letterman, shares a smile with the mayor and his visitor. Johnson had spent a month in Japan in the spring of 1964 as a student at Kitakyushu University. He and returning college student Nobuyuki Fujimoto boarded the vessel Sanyo Maru in Bellingham for the trip to Japan. Fujimoto, possibly the young man above, had spent eight months at the University of Puget Sound. (TNT 3-19-64, A-6)

Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Johnson, Linn; Photograph albums;

Mayor Ben Hanson presented Dr. Saburo Tomita, director of the Kokura, Japan, Hospital, with a key to the city on September 28, 1961, in front of Tacoma General Hospital. Kokura is Tacoma's sister city. Dr. Tomita delivered a letter of greeting and gift from Kokura Mayor Nobuo Hayashi and in return, received a key to the city from Mayor Hanson. From L-R are Sylvia Sass and Dr. David H. Johnson of the Sister City Committee, Dr. Tomita, Dr. Sumiho Wada, Mayor Hanson and Thomas Takemura. Dr. Tomita had toured Tacoma General the previous day and had visited Mountain View General Hospital on the 28th. (TNT 9-28-61)

Hanson, Ben; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tomita, Saburo; Foreign visitors--Japan; Keys (Hardware); Sass, Sylvia; Johnson, David H.; Wada, Sumiho; Takemura, Thomas;

Mayor Harold Tollefson, photo album resting on one knee, admires a beautifully attired Japanese doll on November 19, 1965. This may have been the doll presented to the mayor on July 22, 1965, by seven Kitakyushu students visiting Tacoma. The two women in the picture have not been identified. Mayor Tollefson had visited Kobe, Japan, in November, 1963, as part of the Japanese-American Conference of Mayors & Chamber of Commerce Officials and had sent progress reports to the News Tribune. Harold Tollefson would serve three terms as Tacoma's mayor.

Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Dolls; Photograph albums;

In September of 1962 Mayor Harold Tollefson (far right) was photographed with three members of Tacoma's Sister City committee. He was showing them the People to People Citation that Tacoma received at the 1962 American Municipal Association congress that was held that year in Philadelphia. The citation was awarded to Tacoma for its Sister City program and its "excellent manner in promoting goodwill." From left to right are Sister City committee members Thomas Takemura, Sylvia Sass and Dr. John Moore. (TNT 8-22-62)

Awards; Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Takemura, Thomas; Sass, Sylvia; Moore, John;

Mayor Gordon Johnston is pictured on September 18, 1970, kneeling before an Alaska Airlines stewardess. She has one hand on his shoulder and is reading from a framed plaque. TRUEBLOOD 1984

Mayors--Tacoma--1970-1980; Johnston, Gordon N.; Flight attendants;

On March 9, 1926, Tacomans voted a new "tennent" into the Mayor's office when M.G. Tennent defeated four time Mayor Angelo G. Fawcett by a wide margin of 5,235 votes. At that time, the election had the heaviest vote ever cast in Tacoma with Tennent elected by the largest vote ever given a candidate for the office of Tacoma Mayor. The newly elected Mayor Tennent was photographed on the front steps of his home with his dog. Elderly Mayor Fawcett could not compete with the younger, more progressive Tennent. Mayor Tennent would serve two consecutive terms before being defeated himself by Harry P. Cain. TPL-1493 (TNT 3/10/1926, PG. 1)

Four-time Tacoma mayor Angelo Vance Fawcett, right, turns over the reins of city government to new mayor Melvin G. Tennent on June 7, 1926. A. V. "Fighting" Fawcett was defeated by M. G. "Smilin'" Tennent in the election of March, 1926. By June, there was a new "Tennent" in City Hall. Fawcett was preparing to retire to his home at Greene Park after over 30 years of nearly continuous service and activity in city and county politics, including terms as Mayor 1896-97, 1910-11, 1914-19 and 1922-26. He introduced Tennent at the first meeting of the new city council by stating that he hoped and believed that Tennent would make a good mayor. Tennent, in response, extolled the retiring mayor and said that he would always be welcome to come back to the city council and give his advice. (TNT 6-7-26, p. 1) Bowen 26376 TPL-6320,

On October 29, 1924, a group of city and railroad officials met in Mayor A.V. Fawcett's office in (Old) City Hall, 625 Commerce St., to sign Belt Line contracts. The municipal carline was now the industrial belt line, effective November 1st. Mayor Fawcett is seated at far left; also seated are City Attorney E.K. Murray and chairman Ernest Dolge of the traffic bureau. Among others present was the mayor's son, and future mayor, Val Fawcett, second man standing in rear at left. The sole woman in the group is city clerk, Genevieve Martin. (other officials are listed in the Tacoma Daily Ledger article, 10-30-24, p. 4) TPL-10461

Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fawcett, Angelo Vance; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Municipal officials--Tacoma--1920-1930; Contracts; Martin, Genevieve; Dolge, Ernest; Murray, E.K.;