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;

Delighted Pacific Lutheran College co-eds applaud the selection of freshman Nadine Bruins of Arnegard, North Dakota, as the Lucia Bride on December 12, 1958. She has her eyes closed as the traditional red sash is wound around her waist. Tammara Oman (L) and Solveig Leraas (R) were selected as her attendants. The Festival of Santa Lucia is a very old Swedish custom, generally held the 13th of December, which features the eldest daughter of each household approaching her sleeping parents dressed in a long white gown with a red sash and wearing a crown of lingonberry leaves in which are set seven lighted candles. She supposedly represents the white-clad maiden, wearing a crown of burning candles, who brought food to starving Swedish villagers. Pacific Lutheran, like many other schools with large Scandinavian populations, celebrated this festival annually with the selection of a lovely Lucia Bride. (1959 Saga yearbook, p. 190-191, TNT 12-13-1958, p. 3)

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Festivals--Parkland; Bruins, Nadine; Oman, Tammara; Leraas, Solveig;

Too cool for swimming now that it is November, but Pacific Lutheran College students can still enjoy the presence of the new outdoor swimming pool. The pool was presented to P.L.C. students by President and Mrs. S.C. Eastvold on May 28, 1958. The Eastvolds were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary and their 15th anniversary at P.L.C. The swimming pool is adjacent to three women's dorms. It is 20 feet wide, 40 feet long, and nine feet deep at the diving end. Its heating system is powered by propane gas and the pool has a chlorinating system with water changes every 6-8 hours. Surrounded by a chain link fence, use of the swimming pool is restricted to students and staff. Photograph ordered by McCarty Co. of Washington, an advertising agency in Seattle. (TNT 5-29-58, p. 13) TPL-9354

Swimming pools--Parkland; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;

Paying little heed to the lovely campus beyond the large view windows, these Pacific Lutheran University students are hard at work on January 16, 1963, studying at the school library. Long tables provided plenty of room for students to spread out their books and other materials.

Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland)--1960-1970; Libraries--Parkland; Students--Parkland--1960-1970; Studying--Parkland;

This smiling group of Pacific Lutheran University students show the happiness of the annual May Festival. Under the direction of Mrs. Rhoda Young, a whole year of dedicated practice would culminate in the May, 1963, two-night performance of the folk dance festival. Not only were dances from the Scandinavian countries represented, but also those thousands of miles away, from the Philippines. (1963 Saga yearbook, p. 98-99)

Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland)--1960-1970; Festivals--Parkland--1960-1970; Students--Parkland--1960-1970; Folk dancing--Parkland--1960-1970;

The cornerstone laying for the new library structure at Pacific Lutheran College on October 23, 1937. A group of 20 notables pose for a portrait beside the building on the speakers' platform. Building design by Emanuel J. Bresemann, Architect, and the architectural firm of Heath, Gove and Bell. It was built for $104,000 debt free and was dedicated in 1939. Soon outgrown by the expanding student body, the building was remodeled and is now known as Xavier Hall. (T. Times 10/25/1937, pg. 3, see photograph caption in paper for names.)

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

Pacific Lutheran College had just dedicated their new $200,000 Science Hall in 1947. Classes were now being taught in the building, which had modern, fully equipped labs available in the classrooms. The new building enabled students to get hands on experience in the science field. View of students in a classroom with microscopes and lab tables, the instructor is Verner L. Johnson (standing, left), Master of Science, Biology. Professor Johnson spent two years at PLC from 1946-48 following his release from service at Fort Lewis. He went on to receive a Ph.D. in zoology at Washington State College (later named Washington State University) in 1953 and joined the faculty at the school's College of Veterinary Medicine the same year. Verner L. Johnson passed away in 1964. (Saga, 1948) (Additional information provided by a reader) TPL-10189

Universities & colleges--Parkland; Laboratories--Parkland; Classrooms--Parkland; Science--Parkland; Students--Parkland--1940-1950; Scientific equipment--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1940-1950; Johnson, Verner L.;

Students are seated in chairs with writing arms on risers in of one of the classrooms in the new chapel-music-speech building at Pacific Lutheran College. The instructor stands near the opening of the semi-circular steps up into the seating area.

Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Lecture halls--Parkland; Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Teachers--Parkland;

ca. 1952. Interior exposure in Pacific Lutheran College music department's new music building, circa 1952. Room with tile floor, oriental carpet, chair by door and grand piano with cover.

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Pianos; Rugs;

Pacific Lutheran College was proud of the new combination chapel/music/speech building that would be the religious and cultural center of the campus. At a cost of $625,000, it contained a 1,238 seat auditorium, music facilities, and a radio studio. A small devotional chapel, seating 75 people, was on the third floor.

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--Buildings; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;

The exterior of "Old Main" at Pacific Lutheran College (later University) has been cleaned of ivy in 1950. In other years the administration building was covered thickly with ivy. Pacific Lutheran University was founded in 1890 by a group of mostly Norwegian Lutherans from the Puget Sound area. They were led by the Reverend Bjug Harstad, who became PLU's first president. Although founded as a university, the institution functioned primarily as an academy until 1918, when it closed for two years. It reopened as the two-year Pacific Lutheran College, after merging with Collumbia College, previously located in Everett. Spokane College merged with PLC in 1929. Four-year baccalaureate degrees were first offered in education in 1939 and in the liberal arts in 1941. TPL-9332

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

ca. 1955. Students enjoy tasty meals at one of the dining halls on the Pacific Lutheran College campus in 1955, while lines of people wait to be seated. This may have been taken roughly around Thanksgiving, as trays are filled with plates of turkey, mashed potato, peas, and pumpkin pie. The dining hall appears to be very large with bright overhead lights and plenty of windows. The new dining hall seats 600 persons. Everything is new, including furniture, dishes, silverware, and even trays. Students who board at P.L.C. eat very well on $1.33 a day covering three meals. Photograph ordered by Pacific Lutheran College. (TNT 2-5-56, B-6) TPL-9320

Universities & colleges--Parkland--1950-1960; Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Eating & drinking--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;

Professor Gunnar Malmin, Director of Pacific Lutheran College's Choir of the West, stands at the base of the cross composed of choir members in January of 1956. The choir was taking its annual two-week tour through the Pacific Coast states of Washington, Oregon and California where it presented a sacred music-only program. It appeared before many civic organizations and church groups. Besides the tour, the choir also appeared on many radio broadcasts and gave a concert, for the first time, at the state prison. Names of choir members are listed in the 1956 PLC Saga yearbook. Photograph ordered by Pacific Lutheran College. (1956 Saga yearbook, p. 120-alt. photograph)

Choirs (Music); Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Malmin, Gunnar J.; Students--Parkland--1950-1960;

Two Pacific Lutheran College students and Professor Robert C. Olsen appear to be observing a chemistry experiment in a May 30, 1954, photograph. An elements chart is placed above the blackboard on the wall behind the students.

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1950-1960; Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Chemistry--Parkland; Olsen, Robert C.;

ca. 1955. The lovely Miss Marion Gabrielson of Eugene, Oregon, will be crowned 1955 May Queen at Pacific Lutheran College. Her coronation would take place during a program on May 4, 1955, in the college gym. She was a senior nursing education student. She poses here on the campus grounds in front of what is probably the Science Hall. She is dressed formally in an evening gown and holds a bouquet of spring daffodils and forsythia. (TNT 5/1/1955, pg. D-1, 5/5/1955, pg. A-8)

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Gabrielson, Marion; Beauty contestants--Parkland--1950-1960; Evening gowns--1950-1960;