McChord Field under construction in February of 1939. The metal framework of a curved barrel vault roofed building is highlighted against the sky. On completion, this structure will be a hangar housing warplanes. The War Department was constructing a modern airbase on acreage that formerly held Tacoma Field, the city's municipal airport. The land was deeded to the War Department in March of 1938. Construction contracts totalled $2,649, 455.00 and employed 2100 men. Ordered for Corky Maybin, T. Times. (T. Times 2/8/1939, pg. 3) (filed with Argentum)

Building construction--McChord Field; McChord Field (Tacoma);

McChord Field Construction in February of 1939. The War Department was building a modern airbase on land deeded to them by Pierce County. The construction was valued at over two and one half million dollars and employed 2100 men. Ordered for Corky Maybin, T. Times. (filed with Argentum)

Building construction--McChord Field; McChord Field (Tacoma);

McChord Field construction in February of 1939. The War Department was busily constructing buildings, hangars, roads and runways on the land deeded to them by Pierce County. The land was formerly the site of Tacoma Field, Tacoma's Municipal Airport. Ordered for Corky Maybin, T. Times. (filed with Argentum)

Building construction--McChord Field; McChord Field (Tacoma);

The metal framework of a curved, barrel vault roofed building rises into the air as construction continues in February of 1939 on McChord Field. The modern airbase was being constructed on property deeded to the War Department by Pierce County in March of 1938. The cost of construction was topping 2 1/2 million dollars and creating jobs for over 2100 local workers. (T. Times 02/08/1939, pg. 3) Ordered for Corky Maybin, T. Times. (filed with Argentum)

Building construction--McChord Field; McChord Field (Tacoma);

McChord Field construction in February of 1939. Two large brick buildings being erected; building in foreground appears to be the Administration Building. The airbase was being built where the Tacoma municipal airfield, Tacoma Field, was formerly located. The land was deeded to the War Department in March of 1938. (filed with Argentum)

Building construction--McChord Field; McChord Field (Tacoma);

The ladies' lounge in Puget Sound National Bank, Lakewood branch. The ladies' lounge, which opened off the lobby, was fully furnished in an early American motif and accented with its own fireplace. It added a truly elegant touch to the bank. The employees had their own lounge in the basement, also with a fireplace. (TNT 10/20/1953, pg. C-6)

Puget Sound National Bank (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Banking--Lakewood;

Knights of Pythias Hall, located at 52nd & So. Tacoma Way. Congregation photographed at bible lecture. The lodge was built in 1926 to serve members in South Tacoma. The building was sold in January of 1937. Photograph ordered by Mr. Bentz. (filed with Argentum)

Knights of Pythias, Lodge #59 (Tacoma);

Group taken at Prairie Owl. C/O Mrs. H. I. Wold, 3819 So. G. The name of the group is unknown, but to the right of the picture, seated at the table, is John Bjorklund, Pierce County Sheriff. Standing to the left of Bjorklund is Thor Tollefson, recently elected Pierce County Prosecutor. Both men have an insignia hanging from their suit lapels.

Group portraits--1930-1940;

ca. 1953. An office with a desk. The desk has a wooden top with a corrugated look bottom. A fountain pen stands ready on the desk and a lamp suspended from the ceiling provides lighting. On the wall is plywood panelling with the squares in alternating grains.

Offices--1950-1960; Office furniture; Desks;

Room-Temp Lockers, Inc., refrigeration equipment. Interiors of new office. Front desk, business office with built-in planter. For Paul M. Smith, secretary-treasurer. (WSHS)

Room-Temp Lockers, Inc. (Tacoma); Office furniture; Offices;

Room-Temp Lockers, Inc., refrigeration equipment. Interiors of new office with built-in planter. Business office. For Paul M. Smith, secretary-treasurer. (WSHS)

Room-Temp Lockers, Inc. (Tacoma); Office furniture; Offices;

Room-Temp Lockers, Inc., refrigeration equipment. Interiors of new office. Business office with desk featuring the same design and material used in planters. Hanging Danish-style light and modern floor lamp with up-light. For Paul M. Smith. (WSHS)

Room-Temp Lockers, Inc. (Tacoma); Office furniture; Offices;

Photograph of the McDonald-Smith building, 1932-36 Pacific Ave., taken in February of 1939. The building was constructed around 1890 (1932-34 Pacific) with an addition at 1936 Pacific added in 1893. In 1939, the addresses were occupied by, left to right, Paramount Supply Co. (at 1936), the former location of Consolidated Dairy Products Inc. (1934) and Younglove Grocery Co. Consolidated had relocated in 1937 to 102-190 So. 26th St. (filed with Argentum)

Paramount Supply Co. (Tacoma); Consolidated Dairy Products Inc. (Tacoma); Younglove Grocery Co. (Tacoma);

Pacific Lutheran College "Choir of the West" with Professor Gunnar J. Malmin, Director of Music and Choir of the West Conductor. The choir wears traditional robes with a monogrammed stole. The Choir of the West toured the area and performed on the radio. They sang a classical repertoire. Prof. Malmin took over as director of the choir in 1937. He was noted for his work with religious music. (1954 PLC yearbook, The Saga- see yearbook for names)

Choirs (Music); Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Conductors; Malmin, Gunnar J.; Choir of the West (Parkland);

Portable classroom, for the Simpson Logging Co. As school overcrowding approached epic proportions, pre-fab portable classrooms offered a quick and affordable solution. This classroom will accomodate close to 30 additional students, with plenty of room for the teacher at her desk at the front. A large heating unit can be seen in the left hand front corner of the classroom. TPL-9372

Portable buildings; Classrooms; Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baby boom generation--Tacoma; School overcrowding--Tacoma;

Studio setup of an angel collection, belonging to Byrd (Mrs. Carleton) McMillan. Carleton McMillan was a travelling engineer for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. The McMillans lived at 35 Beverly Dr. S.W. in Lakewood. Mrs. McMillan had collected more than 200 figures of angels of all sizes, both black and white.The angels appear to be formed from many materials and represent the artistry of over ten countries. Mrs. McMillan's fascination with angels dated back to her childhood and a beloved picture of a guardian angel in a Sunday School book. (TNT 12/13/1953, pg. E-8)

Angels; Figurines; Sculpture; McMillan, Byrd--Associated objects;

Eight Mack trucks parked in row outside White Truck Co. F.S. Harmon & Co. in background. Richards Studio notes list the address as 2202 A St. (filed with Argentum)

White trucks--Tacoma;

Eight Mack trucks parked in row outside White Truck Co. F.S. Harmon & Co. in background. Richards Studio notes list the address as 2202 A St. (filed with Argentum)

White trucks--Tacoma;

New Mack Trucks for Tacoma - Port Angeles Auto Freight. (filed with Argentum)

White trucks--Tacoma;

New Mack Trucks for Tacoma - Port Angeles Auto Freight. (filed with Argentum)

White trucks--Tacoma;

Funeral Group taken at Calvary Cemetery - Mrs. John S. Shaenes/Sharnes re John Sharnes, 1136 Cedar St., Raymond, Washington. (filed with Argentum)

Calvary Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma); Funeral rites & ceremonies;

Griffin Fuel Company. Man standing next to fuel truck. Snoqualmie Falls Power Company Transfer House, 250 So. 19th St., in background. For Harmon Miller. In February of 1939, Griffin Fuel Co. celebrated its 50th anniversary. The company was founded in 1889 by Fred L. Griffin. Griffin started his business with one horse, one wagon and fuel logs, which he cut himself. (filed with Argentum)

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Snoqualmie Falls Power Co. Transfer House (Tacoma);

Griffin Fuel Company. Man standing next to fuel truck. For Harmon Miller. In February of 1939, Griffin Fuel Co. celebrated its 50th anniversary. The company was founded in 1889 by Fred L. Griffin. Griffin started his business with one horse, one wagon and fuel logs, which he cut himself. (filed with Argentum)

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fuel--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fuel trade--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Interior of office at Griffin Fuel Company. In February of 1939, Griffin Fuel Co. was celebrating its 50th anniversary. The company was started in 1889 by Fred L. Griffin. Through the years, the Griffin family was noted for its amicable and long term relationship with company employees. Four men and two women are photographed working in the office. (T. Times 2/27/1939, pg. 2-3) The photo is marred by two black marks.

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma)--Employees;

Horace Mann Elementary multi purpose room. This new school, dedicated in 1953, replaced the original four room school built in 1901 and its additions. The unusual design featured a continuous suspended fiberglass skylight that provided natural light in the hallways. The building has 21 classrooms, a library, health room, lunchroom and kitchen, special services room, and this large all purpose room and auditorium.

Horace Mann School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Horace Mann Elementary classroom. The new school, dedicated in 1953, was named after noted American educator Horace Mann. He revolutionized public school organization and established the first normal school for teacher training in 1839 and was a US Representative for 10 years. The new school had 21 classrooms. They were equipped with new adjustable school desks that accommodated the physical stature of each individual student. Tops could also be tilted for art class.

Horace Mann School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; School children--Tacoma--1950-1960; Classrooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Teachers--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interior view of redecorated Spellman's Buster Brown Shoe Store, 1122-28 Broadway, circa 1939. Walls lined with shelves filled with shoe boxes, chairs running down the center for customers to sit and try on shoes. Buster Brown Shoes had opened their store in the David Gross Block building in 1924. In 1933, it became Spellman's, owned and managed by William and J. B. Spellman. In 1934, brother J. A. Spellman also joined the company. By 1939, the brothers owned and operated four other shoe stores in the Northwest. Spellman's Shoe Store closed on Broadway around 1966.(filed with Argentum) (TT 3/7/1939, pg.7)

Spellman's Buster Brown Shoe Store (Tacoma); Shoe stores--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Sherman Elementary School construction for Robert B. Price, architect. Sherman was originally built in 1891 at N. 38th & M St. and named for William Tecumseh Sherman, a Civil War Union Army general. It was overcrowded as soon as it opened. In January of 1953, plans were revealed for a new $500,000 one story structure. The old school was demolished to make room for playgrounds. The new Sherman had 20 classrooms, a lunchroom, auditorium, library and two outside play courts. Skylights, plastic sky domes and natural brick lightened the halls and classrooms. The school was dedicated in November of 1954. This school was demolished in 1998 to make way for Sherman #3. ("For the Record" by Winnifred Olsen)

Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Sherman School (Tacoma);

Sherman Elementary School construction for Robert B. Price, architect. Sherman was originally built in 1891 at N. 38th & M St. and named for William Tecumseh Sherman, a Civil War Union Army general. It was overcrowded as soon as it opened. In January of 1953, plans were revealed for a new $500,000 one story structure. The old school was demolished to make room for playgrounds. The new Sherman had 20 classrooms, a lunchroom, auditorium, library and two outside play courts. Skylights, plastic sky domes and natural brick lightened the halls and classrooms. The school was dedicated in November of 1954. This school was demolished in 1998 to make way for Sherman #3. ("For the Record" by Winnifred Olsen)

Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Sherman School (Tacoma);

American Institute of Architects, Southwest Washington Chapter, in the Wedgewood Room at the Winthrop Hotel. Most Tacoma and Seattle architects are pictured here, some with spouses. In the foreground of the picture, left to right, are Si Nelson, Percy Ball, Rod O'Hiser, Marshall Perrow, James Wilson and future mayor Gordon Johnston. Seated on the right side of the room, directly under the palm tree wall decoration are Hubert and Betty Bisson. Mr. Bisson was an architect, and later associate, for the well-known Tacoma firm of Lea, Pearson & Richards. Mr. Bisson worked for them for over 20 years until his death in 1971. He designed many of Tacoma's banks and schools for the firm. (for more detailed name information, please see name chart accompanying picture in Richards files) (Additional information provided by a reader)

American Institute of Architects, Southwest Washington Chapter (Tacoma); Architects; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Bisson, Hubert; Bisson, Betty; Johnston, Gordon N.; Nelson, Silas E.; Ball, Percy G.; O'Hiser, Rod; Perrow, Marshall; Wilson, James;