In 1943, Miss Mildred Vaught's first grade pupils at Central School abandoned the usual Easter festivities in favor of learning about preparing nutritious foods. The children, using materials and cookbooks provided by the Washington Dairy Council, studied a unit entitled "Helping to Win the War by Keeping Well." As many mothers left home to work in defense plants, filling shifts as needed, children were required to care for and feed themselves at younger ages. The children are lined up to receive supplies from Billie McDonald for their cooking lesson, which incorporated lessons in reading, writing, math and hygiene. From left to right: Kay Francis, Verle Wagner, Don Clarkson, Billy York, Rose Marie Guillaume, Bennie Deschington and Jack Heath. (T. Times 4/24/1943, pg. 5)

Elementary schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Central School (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Children cooking--Tacoma--1940-1950; School children--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The students of Central School's first grade, led by their teacher Miss Mildred Vaught, are learning to cook on April 20, 1943. With so many mothers involved in the war effort, many kids were caring for themselves and siblings at younger ages. The lesson was geared to teaching them to prepare nutritious meals and included exercises in reading, math and hygiene. The students are lined up to get supplies for the day with Billie McDonald dispensing the supplies. (T. Times 4/24/1943, pg. 5)

Elementary schools--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Central School (Tacoma); Children cooking--Tacoma--1940-1950;

School is almost out for these eighth graders at Bryant School in June of 1924. The elementary school, located at 708 South Ainsworth Avenue, was named after poet and journalist William Cullen Bryant. It would close in 1961. G46.1-063

Bryant Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; School children--Tacoma--1920-1930;

This is Miss Anna B. Quigley's 6A class standing in front of the entrance to Lowell School, 1210 North Yakima Avenue, in June of 1924. Two girls in the front row hold a scroll indicating that the class was a "Savings Banner Room." The scroll was given by the Education Thrift Service headquartered in New York. Each Tuesday was banking day at Tacoma Public Schools and each week Miss Quigley's class had the greatest percentage of depositors at Lowell. Her class were perennial winners. TPL-2331; G46.1-105 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-15-24, 4-A)

Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Teachers--Tacoma--1920-1930; Quigley, Anna B.;

Lincoln School 6A class. Lincoln School was built in 1887 from a design by C.N. Daniels. The school was originally named West School, but underwent a name change to Lincoln in 1889. It was demolished in 1938. (WSHS)

Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Lincoln Elementary School (Tacoma);

Pet Parade at Spanaway Elementary School. Several children with dogs, some in costume. School building in background. Photograph taken in May of 1940.

Spanaway Elementary School (Spanaway); School children--Spanaway; Pets; Dogs--Spanaway; Costumes;

May, 1949, Pet Parade at Spanaway School. Several children with dogs, some in costume. One child is wearing a dog costume, while his dog is dressed like a person.

Spanaway Elementary School (Spanaway); School children--Spanaway; Pets; Dogs--Spanaway; Parades & processions--Spanaway; Bicycles & tricycles--Spanaway; Costumes;

Lowell students and their principal prepare for a howling good time at the '53 Halloween Carnival. The Lowell School Parent-Teacher and Preschool Association sponsored a school carnival on Friday October 23, 1953. Pictured left to right are Sammie Warren, Nancy Conly, principal Clarence Monson, Andy Levesque, Tommy Rowland and Judith Sleep.With his chef's hat and apron, Principal Monson looks as if he'll be manning the hot dog grill. The carnival midway had over 30 booths including fun booths where students could throw darts at balloons or shoes at stuffed animals; food booths with ice cream, hot dogs and pop corn; and craft booths where they could make decorations or put on make-up. (TNT 10/20/1953, pg. A-11)

Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1950-1960; Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Halloween--Social life; Monson, Clarence; Warren, Sammie; Conly, Nancy; Levesque, Andy; Rowland, Tommy; Sleep, Judith;

View of Lowell Elementary School. The roots of Lowell School run deep as it is the Tacoma School District's oldest school. Established in 1869, and originally known as the First Ward School, it served families living west of Division Avenue in Old Tacoma. After moving to several locations, it was renamed Lowell after the American poet James Russell Lowell in 1890. A new Lowell School was built in 1950 on North 13th & Yakima Sts. as the nearly sixty year old Lowell, located a block away, was condemned following the 1949 earthquake. Students were moved into the new classrooms in November, 1950, although total construction was not completed until February, 1951. Photograph ordered by Bonnell Construction. (Olsen: For the Record, p. 43)

Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma)--Buildings; Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960;

View of new portable classroom at Brookdale Elementary School, taken on February 16, 1962. The new structure, to the farthest right, is built extensively out of wood. It includes an overhang to provide shade on one side of the portable. Brookdale Elementary, located in the Franklin Pierce School District, was built in 1957, primarily out of brick. Douglas Fir Plywood Association helped in the building of the portable for Brookdale as well as one for James Sales Elementary. The units could hold 30 students and could be used until permanent structures could be built. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (TNT 11-22-61, p. 12)

Brookdale Elementary School (Parkland); Public schools--Parkland--1960-1970;

The first grade students in Miss Mildred Vaught's class at Central School gather at a table to study their cookbooks during the lesson on "Winning the war by keeping well." The children studied cooking and nutrition, while also practicing reading, writing, math, hygiene and good manners. (T. Times 4/24/1943, pg. 5)

Elementary schools--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Central School (Tacoma); Children cooking--Tacoma--1940-1950;

6th Grade students, Stanley School, Mr. Thune. The graduating 6th grade class posed in front of the school in May of 1949. Several of the boys are wearing safety patrol badges and shoulder straps. Elmer Thune was the school's Principal.

Stanley Elementary School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Education--Tacoma; Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Group portraits;

Manitou School group. A group portrait of the third grade class at Manitou School in 1948. There are seven girls and fifteen boys. Economic pressures of World War I caused building of a new school in the Manitou neighborhood to be postponed. After approval of a bond issue a four-room tile structure was erected in 1919 at the new Manitou site. Additions and remodeling were done in 1924 and 1957. (For the Record, a History of Tacoma Public Schools, 1869-1984, by Winnifred L. Olsen) Format 5" x 8" TPL-9843

Manitou Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; School children--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The Lowell School PTA and Preschool were preparing for the upcoming February 7, 1953 Mardi Gras/Carnival. Helping out were: (left to right) Mrs. James Byers, general co-chairperson Mrs. George Loring; Sharon Buxton; Mrs. Charles Longstreth; and general co-chair Mrs. Lars Jensen. Sign painter was Davy Wright. Balloons, clowns and games would serve as entertainment with the "New Orleans Court Cafe" open for sandwiches and pastries and a school talent show offered hourly. (TNT 2-4-1953, p. 20)

Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma); Parent-Teacher Association (Tacoma); Byers, James--Family; Loring, George--Family; Buxton, Sharon; Longstreth, Charles--Family; Jensen, Lars--Family; Wright, Davy;

Jefferson Elementary School, detail view of end wall. Brick building with double doors and a small curved roof above. Ordered by Washington Stove Works.

Jefferson Elementary School (Tacoma)--Buildings; Jefferson Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Washington Stove Works (Everett);

The 12-room Lowell Elementary School at 810 North 13th Street, built to replace the original Lowell School, was completed in February 1951. This view of the exterior of the school shows the concrete steps up to the entrance of the two-story school. Lowell School can trace its history back to the first school in Tacoma, a cabin built at North 28th and Starr streets. The school shown replaced the Lowell school built in 1892; that building had to be torn down after being damaged by the great 1949 earthquake. (Ordered by Washington Stove Works, Everett, Washington.)

Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma)--Buildings; Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Miss Berg's first grade class at Lowell School. The children are all clutching small postcard-sized cards while one young man waits with an open bag. The classroom flag is hoisted by a boy dressed neatly in suit and tie. Miss Berg would later teach third grade at Lowell where one of her pupils was George Weyerhaeuser, victim in the 1935 famous kidnapping. TPL-5797; G46.1-054

School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Berg, Lucille; Teachers--Tacoma--1920-1930; Flags--United States;

ca. 1901. Sepia photograph of a Lincoln Elementary School class in 1901. Standing on the steps of Lincoln Elementary are numerous students; in the third row, second from the left is reportedly Jeston Reed Foss. Originally named West School, construction began on the new school at 1610 South K Street (now MLK Way) in 1887. It was renamed in honor of President Abraham Lincoln in 1889. The school began as a two-room school with two grades; by 1890, it had four grades and five teachers. The school was closed and demolished in 1938. Most of the students and staff were transferred to McCarver Junior High where they joined students from Longfellow to form a new elementary school. Others were assigned to either Central or Stanley schools. (Olsen: For the Record, p. 57) (note: the same photograph is identified in Olsen's book as Hawthorne School)

Lincoln Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1900-1910; School children--Tacoma;