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)

Universities & colleges--Parkland--1960-1970; Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland)--1960-1970; Televisions; Pianos; Lecture halls--Parkland;

Hailing from Grover, Texas, Pacific Lutheran University co-ed Kathryn Knudson was crowned Queen Kathryn II of the 28th annual May Festival in 1961. She would receive her Bachelor of Arts degree that year. (1961 Pacific Lutheran yearbook, SAGA, p. 124-5)

Knudson, Kathryn; Students--Parkland--1960-1970; Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland)--1960-1970;

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)

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1950-1960; Festivals--Parkland--1950-1960; Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Anderson, Marjorie;

PLC football players, Metcalf, Times. Jack Carbone played guard on the Pacific Lutheran College football team in 1947.

Football players--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1940-1950; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1940-1950; Carbone, Jack;

PLC football players, Metcalf, Times. Gene Strandress and Lowell Knutson jump to throw a long pass. Coach Marv (Thommy) Tommervik observes while the team practices at Pacific Lutheran College on September 10, 1947. They are preparing for their opening game in Tacoma Stadium September 20, 1947, against St. Olaf of Northfield, Minnesota, champions of their league in 1946. (T.Times, 9/16/1947, p.11)

Strandress, Gene; Knutson, Lowell; Tommervik, Marv; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1940-1950; Football--Parkland--1940-1950; Football players--Parkland; Coaches (Athletics)--Parkland--1940-1950;

Pacific Lutheran College was cleaning up their campus for the upcoming May Fete carnival in 1948. The carnival would include: the college band playing under the direction of Professor Gunnar J. Malmin, violin solos, folk games and many other activities. The festivities would begin after Queen Ardys Bredvold was crowned, and Student Body President, Walter Kunchak, has read the traditional May Fete. View of students gathering tree branches and other debris on campus.

Students--Parkland--1940-1950; Universities & colleges--Parkland; Tree limbs; Events--Parkland; Cleaning--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1940-1950;

On May 4, 1948, Pacific Lutheran College students were getting their campus ready for the annual May Fete. These unidentified students were raking in front of Old Main and loading the debris in a wheelbarrow. The May carnival would include many fun filled activities for the students. The highlight of the festivities would be the crowning of the 1948 Queen, Ardys Bredvold. TPL-8476

Students--Parkland--1940-1950; Wheelbarrows; Raking (Sweeping)--Parkland; Leaves; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1940-1950; Cleaning--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1940-1950;

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--Parkland--1950-1960; Educational facilities--Parkland; Education--Parkland; Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;

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;

Pacific Lutheran College's 24th annual May Festival Queen and her court. The Court was composed of two attendants from each class. Picture are, back row, left to right: Sophomore Betty Toepke from Fairfield, Wa., Senior Sigrid Tollefson from Fairfield, Mt., Queen Maudie Straub from New Westminster B.C., Senior Nancy Helland from Seattle, and Sophomore JoAnn Jackson from Oakland, Ca. Second row from top, left to right: Junior Joanne Peterson from Vancouver, Crown Bearer John Holmes (son of Mr. and Mrs. John Holmes), Train Bearer Sheryl Salzman (daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Salzman), Junior Hope Hammerstrom from Tacoma. Bottom row, left to right: Freshman Marilyn Force from Los Angeles, Flower girls Carol Jacobs (daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Jacobs) and Dikka Schnackenberg (daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Walter Schnackenburg), Freshman Audry Hart from Fresno, Ca. (The 1956 yearbook "Saga"; TNT 4/29/1956, pg. D-2, 5/3/1956, pg C-9)

Straub, Maudie; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Festivals--Parkland--1950-1960; Toepke, Betty; Tollefson, Sigrid; Helland, Nancy; Jackson, JoAnn; Peterson, Joanne; Hammerstrom, Hope; Force, Marilyn; Hart, Audry; Holmes, John;

Area residents would be fortunate to be able to see Academy Award winning actress, Luise Rainer, appear in the play, "Joan of Lorraine", which was held during Pacific Lutheran College's third annual drama-music festival in May, 1954. She worked with a student cast of 22 actors; here she is gesturing during rehearsals while three young men watch intently. The play, directed by Theodore Karl, was performed once only on May 7, 1954. (TNT 4-25-54, D-12, TNT 4-29-54, B-5)

Theatrical productions--Parkland--1950-1960; Actresses; Rainer, Luise; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;

Luise Rainer extends her arms wide as she speaks to fellow cast members on stage during rehearsals for Pacific Lutheran College's play, "Joan of Lorraine". She would be performing the lead in the Maxwell Anderson play on May 7, 1954, as well as giving a matinee program of interpretive readings and selections from the Bible the same day. Pianist Jakob Gimpel, who was also a guest artist in the drama-music festival, accompanied Miss Rainer in the matinee program. Miss Rainer, Viennese-born, was a stage and screen actress who won Academy Awards for The Good Earth and The Great Ziegfeld. She also appeared in the plays, "Kiss for Cinderella" and Ibsen's "The Lady from the Sea." (TNT 4-25-54, D-12, TNT 4-29-54, B-5)

Theatrical productions--Parkland--1950-1960; Actresses; Rainer, Luise; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;

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;

ca. 1960. Portrait of Pacific Lutheran University president Seth C. Eastvold. University president Eastvold poses in 1960 before a painting of Jesus. Dr. Eastvold saw the expansion of the private school both in capital projects and in enrollment during his 1943-1962 administration. In 1960 Pacific Lutheran was reorganized into six schools and colleges and became Pacific Lutheran University. (1961 Saga yearbook, p. 12)

Eastvold, Seth C.; Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland)--1960-1970;

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;