Two workers are pictured unloading a roll of Kraft paper to join others already stored in St. Regis' paper storage room. St. Regis had began producing paper in January of 1949 as it used the most modern equipment available at the time to convert liquid pulp into heavy multiwall Kraft paper. The plant was able to produce about 240 tons of multiwall bag paper per day.

Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Paper; Hoisting machinery; Machinery; Equipment; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

Western Gear at St. Regis plant. A view of two large pieces of machinery used in paper manufacturing at the new Kraft paper plant of St. Regis manufactured by Pusey-Jones Corporation, Wilmington, Delaware.

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Machinery;

St. Regis paper plant in Tacoma is the focal point of the company's expanding pulp, paper and multiwall bag operations in the West Coast. The paper mill was recently completed and is one of the largest and most modern plants in the United States. The new paper producing mill is now able to mass produce paper and offer their customers their quality product in higher volumes and lower prices. Workmen are using an "Ederer" crane to move an enormous roll of paper.

Paper--Tacoma; Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Laborers--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Ederer Engineering Co. (Seattle);

St. Regis was established in Tacoma in 1928, the New York firm purchased this industrial site, modernized it and began operations in 1936. St. Regis Paper Company is said to be the most modern pulp mill ever built. The Tacoma facilities are spread out over 65 acres, between the Puyallup River Waterway and the St. Paul Lumber Company. Aerial view of St. Regis Paper Company, construction in progress.

Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mills--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Progress photographs; Aerial photographs; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

One of the employees at St. Regis Paper Company records information from a printout at one of the machines in the plant. Ordered by McGraw Hill Publishing Co., Inc., New York, NY.

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--People; Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Several views of chimneys at St. Regis Paper Co. were photographed on March 24, 1954. This may have been a new chimney constructed by the Boedecker Chimney Construction Co. It was not typically black, but seems to be lighter in color. Smoke is billowing out from the top. Photograph ordered by Boedecker Chimney Construction Co.

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Chimneys--Tacoma;

An aerial view of the new multiwall bag plant at St. Regis. The plant was completely equipped to produce a full range of multiwall bags. Equipment included six production lines, three printing presses, a complete art and engraving department and auxiliary equipment. This plant replaced a leased plant in Seattle. (TNT, 10/19/1952)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Aerial photographs; Mills--Tacoma--1950-1960; Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

An aerial view on February 16, 1952, showing the new multiwall bag plant at St. Regis. St. Regis also had other bag plants on the Pacific Coast at Los Angeles and San Leandro, California. The company also maintained complete engineering and service facilities for automatic bag filling equipment, including a machine shop at Los Angeles, and packer sales and engineering offices at San Francisco and Seattle. The company was self-contained on the west coast. (TNT, 10/19/1952)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Aerial photographs; Mills--Tacoma--1950-1960; Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

An aerial view of the new multiwall bag plant at St. Regis. The expansion of the bag plant facilities by St. Regis reflected the continuing trend of industry and agriculture to use the multiwall shipping sack. It was estimated that approximately 2 1/2 billion multiwall bags were used in 1951 for all types of products, compared with less than half a billion in 1938. The multiwall bag came into general use as an industrial container in the mid 1920's and was used for packaging cement and other rock products. Shortly thereafter is was adopted by the sugar industry. (TNT, 10/19/1952)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Aerial photographs; Mills--Tacoma--1950-1960; Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

New Swenson evaporators and connecting tubes, stairways to different levels at St. Regis. "Black Liquor" was the substance that was left after the chemical "cooking" process that removed sap and pitch from the cellulose fiber. The evaporator evaporated the water content from the liquor to the point of 52% solids. The liquor was sent to furnaces where it burned like oil, and the chemicals not used in the "cooking process" were recovered. (TNT 2-17-1952, pg. C-14)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Two Swenson evaporators and pipes at St. Regis. The molten substance left after the "Black Liquor" burns through the furnace is called "Green Liquor." The green liquor is sent to the caustic department, where the insoluble matter settles out, also the calcium carbonate, and a clear white liquor is made. This liquor is the original one used in the "cooking process" to separate sap & pitch from cellulose fibers and the recovery and recycling is complete. (TNT 2-17-1952, pg. C-14)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Another machine, a large roller type machine, is used to strip bark from logs at the St. Regis Paper plant. At the end of 1951, St. Regis reached a point where it was able to supply from its own operations virtually all of the sulphate pulp requirements, both bleached and unbleached, of its kraft paper mills. St. Regis had been experimenting at its Tacoma mill in manufacturing kraft pulp from clean waste wood chips and in 1951 was making use of this material on a considerable scale in production. (St. Regis Paper Co. 1951 Annual Report)

Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mechanical systems--Tacoma; Machinery; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960;

Two men are at work at a barking machine at the St. Regis Paper Company. One man is checking the logs while the other handles the controls. The pulp mill at Tacoma was being expanded in 1950 and was expected to be completed in 1951. During 1950 St. Regis was preparing to participate in the national defense program by supplying its regular products in larger quantities for many uses related directly or indirectly to military preparations. Multi-wall bags were used for shipment of essential materials. St. Regis bags had a greater value overseas because of special papers developed to resist moisture and contamination, such as polyethylene-coated kraft paper, for which production capacity was tripled in 1940. (1950 St. Regis Paper Co. Annual Report)

Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mechanical systems--Tacoma; Machinery; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960;

An elevated view of St. Regis Paper Company's new bag plant showing the covered loading dock where freight cars are being loaded. The roof has been built in a series of angled sections to allow clerestory windows to provide daylight to the interior of the plant. The Middle Waterway is seen immediately adjacent to the plant and the business district of Tacoma is seen further in the distance on the right.

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Mills--Tacoma--1950-1960; Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Progress photograph of steelwork at St. Regis Paper Company. The new multiwall bag plant, adjoining the paper mill, was to replace a leased plant at Seattle. The plant was expected to be in operation before April 1, 1952. It would employ approximately 400 people, including a large percentage of women. (St. Regis Annual Report 1951)

Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960;

St. Regis had been expanding their facilities for many years, the company had added new buildings and had recently begun the mass production of paper in Tacoma. St. Regis began producing paper in January 1949; the paper mill was converting the liquid pulp into heavy multiwall Kraft paper, using the most modern equipment available. Interior view of plant and new roll grinding machine.

Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mechanical systems--Tacoma; Machinery; Machinery industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

Link Belt equipment at St. Regis. The large rolls of paper are moved by a conveyer belt arrangement made up of lots of little rollers. It appears that the rolls of paper are rolled onto the belt when flat. The belt then uprights the paper and transports it. One man operates the machinery, while another stands to the rear with 2 more rolls of paper for loading.

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Mills--Tacoma--1950-1960; Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A Veneer Chip Transport Kenworth truck and trailer, indicating capacity weight of under 36,000, is parked outside the St. Regis plant on Portland Avenue on April 11, 1960. The photograph would be used for advertising. Photograph ordered by Kenworth Motor Truck Co., Seattle.

Trucks--Tacoma--1960-1970; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1960-1970;

July, 1961, saw the installation of a Fibre Making Processes, Inc., barking drum at the Tacoma St. Regis Paper Co. plant. The 12' x 67.5' drum tumbles logs or billets by mechanical rotation which strips the bark using abrasive action. Photograph ordered by Fibre Making Processes, Inc., Chicago, IL.

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1960-1970; Paper industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Machinery;

Chip feeding operation at St. Regis Paper Co. 's Tacoma plant. Mounds of wood chips blanket the area. St. Regis allowed storage of pulp-mill chips outside its kraft mill location. Sulphate pulp is one of the products made from chips made out of waste wood. Photograph ordered by Improved Machinery, Inc.

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1960-1970; Paper industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Machinery;

View of outdoor chip feeding section of St. Regis Paper Co. plant in Tacoma, May, 1961. The low covered structure may have housed wood chips. Machinery in background was probably used to transport the chips. Photograph ordered by Improved Machinery, Inc.

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1960-1970; Paper industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Machinery;

The new bag multiwall plant at St. Regis. St. Regis was proud of being identified with the development of wood conservation methods in the Northwest. The Tacoma mill began experimenting with the utilization of chips cut from debarked wood slabs from sawmills and other wood using industries in their manufacture of kraft pulp. Wood chips were purchased on long-term contracts in the immediate vicinity which reduced the waste from sawmills, sash and door factories and plywood mills that had previously been burned. (TNT, 10/19/1952)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Mills--Tacoma--1950-1960; Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Construction continues on new buildings at the St. Regis Paper Company on Portland Avenue. Still in its early stages in August, 1951, the new buildings have been mapped out with low walls but as the mounds of dirt indicate, no flooring is in place. St. Regis was nearing completion of its eight year expansion plan; this structure is probably the multiwall bag plant which was completed in 1952. Anticipated to add an additional 400 workers to the St. Regis payroll, the new plant, constructed of steel and concrete, would be used for the production of industrial-use bags for cement, fertilizer, and other heavy-duty items. Hooker Electrochemical's tank cars can be seen in the background close to the St. Regis water tower.

Progress photographs; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Conveyor link belt at St. Regis Paper Company. Link Belt Company. Long conveyor containing wood chips.

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Conveying systems--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interiors at St. Regis Tacoma plant for 1952 Annual Report showing a recovery boiler. A major expansion program completed in 1952 increased the company's production capacity. St. Regis products made in Tacoma included sulphate pulp, kraft paper and board and multiwall bags. Products made in their other plants also included printing and publications papers and industrial and decorative plastics. A forerunner in conservation and recycling, Kaiser operated an efficient plant and originated the use of wood chips and ends in the paper process.

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interior exposure of gauges for the new Swenson Evaporator Co. installations at St. Regis Paper Co. Tacoma. An 8 year expansion program for the company was to be completed in 1952. Part of this program was focused on recycling and reusing processing elements in an efficient manner. The Evaporator was used to recover chemicals used. (TNT 2-17-1952, pg. C-14)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior shot of new Recovery Building at St. Regis Paper Company. This new building housed the six story high combustion furnace and the Koppers electric precipitator. The precipitator collected odor bearing particles before they could escape the chimney into the open air. This was part of the company's program to reduce odor caused by the chemical processes of producing pulp. (TNT 2-17-1952, pg. C-14)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Tacoma's St. Regis plant has been extremely busy since the end of World War II. The pulp plant has been modernized and a paper mill has been added; these combined improvements strengthen the company's position in pulp, Kraft paper, Kraft board and multiwall bags. Aerial view of St. Regis plant, located in Tacoma's tideflats area.

Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Aerial photographs; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

In 1949 St. Regis ranked among the top companies in the paper and pulp industry. Interior view of St. Regis plant, Ederer cranes with 24 ton capacity are being used in paper mill. Photo ordered by Ederer Engineering Company, cranes, hoist and veneer machinery manufacturers based out of Seattle, Washington.

Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hoisting machinery; Pulleys; Equipment; Machinery industry--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Ederer Engineering Co. (Seattle);

Logs for the St. Regis pulp mill were originally supplied by the St. Paul and Tacoma lumber mill; these two companies established a partnership since the beginning of St. Regis' operations. In 1949 St. Regis began producing paper at the Tacoma plant. View of General Electric machinery; photo ordered by General Electric Company, machinery and equipment manufacturers.

Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Machinery; Machinery industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; General Electric Co. (Tacoma);