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;

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;

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.;

Pacific Lutheran College's noted Choir of the West sings at the cornerstone laying ceremony for the new library building on October 23, 1937. P.L.C. choir director leads the college choir composed of men and women students. (T. Times 10/25/1937, pg. 3)

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1930-1940; Choirs (Music); Cornerstone laying--Parkland--1930-1940; Universities & colleges--Parkland; Rites & ceremonies--Parkland--1930-1940;

The cornerstone laying ceremony of the new library building on the Pacific Lutheran College campus took place on Saturday, October 23, 1937. A crowd gathered around the partially completed brick building to listen to the college's "Choir of the West." At this time, the school had an enrollment of 700 and was a Christian Junior College and Normal School headed by Dr. O.A. Tingelstad. This building was replaced in 1967 by the Mortvedt Library; it was remodeled and is now known as Xavier Hall. (T.Times 10/25/1937, pg. 3)

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1930-1940; Cornerstone laying--Parkland--1930-1940; Universities & colleges--Parkland; Rites & ceremonies--Parkland--1930-1940; Choirs (Music);

ca. 1922. This is Harstad Hall, familarly known as "Old Main," in a photograph taken circa 1922. "Old Main" was the first building on the Pacific Lutheran College (later University) campus located at 12180 Park Ave. So., Parkland. Its cornerstone was laid in October of 1891. The building was renamed for the school's first president, Rev. Bjug Harstad, in 1960. It had a myriad of uses over the years including classrooms, administration offices, chapel, library, dining hall and dormitories. G40.1-142, TPL-474, BU-12762

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--Buildings--1920-1930; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1920-1930;