6A Class at Irving School in January of 1926. Irving was built in 1890, one of three schools made possible by the approval of a $100,000 bond issue on Nov. 30, 1889. The new school was named after author Washington Irving. By 1930, it was declared unsafe and it was closed. The school was razed in 1934. (WSHS)

Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Irving School (Tacoma);

Graduating class at Point Defiance School. The school began in 1909. Land was purchased at North 45th and Visscher streets in August, and a portable was ready for students one month later. The first school was named Francis W. Cushman after the Congressman from Tacoma who had helped get legislation passed for the federal government to give the City title to the land at Point Defiance. When the school was built two years later the name was changed to Point Defiance. (For the Record, Winnifred L Olsen) (WSHS)

Public schools--Tacoma; Point Defiance School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1920-1930;

McKinley School graduating class in January of 1926. McKinley School was built in 1908 and was designed by Frederick Heath, architect. It was named after the 25th President of the United States, William McKinley. (WSHS)

School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Group portraits; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Education--Tacoma; McKinley School (Tacoma);

9A Class Robert Gray School, January 1927. The school designed by E.J. Bresemann opened for classes in February of 1926. It was intended to serve the South Tacoma community and was named the Capt. Robert Gray Intermediate School. Gray was an American naval officer and explorer who, in 1792, was the first to sail a ship into the Columbia River. This was the first group of students to graduate from the intermediate course of study at the school. They for the most part would continue with their studies at Lincoln High School. (WSHS) (TNT 2/2/27, pg. 13)

School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Gray Junior High School (Tacoma);

Graduation Class at Sheridan School in January of 1926. The original Sheridan was built in 1889 as part of School District 53; the area was annexed by Tacoma in 1890. At that time, the school's name was changed from Bismark to Sheridan, to honor the Civil War general Philip H. Sheridan. A new school was built to replace the old in 1908. The 1908 facility was demolished and replaced in the 1990's. (WSHS)

School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Sheridan School (Tacoma); Education--Tacoma; Group portraits;

Students, all wearing a very serious expression, were photographed at Washington School wearing colonial costumes and powdered wigs. The eight couples had been rigorously rehearsing the minuet to perform in a series of three big music festival concerts taking place May 4-6, 1926 at Jason Lee, Lincoln and Mason. The concerts were part of the observance of National Music Week. Pictured, in no particular order, are Alene Symser, Daniel Stixrud, Barbara Bryan, Frederick Wolf, Barbara Rothermel, Gordon McEachran, Helen May, Lofton Tatum, June Everson, Lewis Jones, Muriel Ellis, Malcolm Shaw, Nancy Quick, Robert Cromwell, Phyllis Zeigler and Robert Martin. (WSHS) (TNT 4/30/1926, pg. 11)

School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Washington School (Tacoma); Costumes;

Stanley Grade School under construction in September of 1925 at South 17th and Grant Avenue. At the end of November of 1925, 300 students from southend schools, Lincoln, Longfellow and Irving, moved into the spacious new school built to accomodate 480. The school, designed by architect G.W. Bullard, had twelve classrooms and was built for approximately $90,000. It was two stories with a basement and built solidly of brick. The school was named after George A. Stanley, Central School principal for 27 years and one of the Northwest's leading educators. In June of 1983, the main part of the school was declared unsafe in case of an earthquake and the school was officially closed. (WSHS- negative A855-0) (TNT 9/3/1925, pg. 17; TNT 11/27/1925, pg. 13)

Stanley Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Willard School "May Fete". Children giving a performance on school lawn. A May Pole can be seen on the left. (filed with Argentum)

Willard School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; May Day--Tacoma; Rites & Ceremonies--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma;

A Cappella choir at Lincoln High School, organized by Music Instructor Margaret Rawson Goheen, in print dress left, which grew from 18 to 60 members in three years. All names listed in Times article. (T. Times 10-22-1937, p. 3) (WSHS)

Lincoln High School (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Choirs (Music); Goheen, Margaret;

Bellarmine Cadet Exercises. In the foreground are four JROTC students with flags, two military officers and a civilian while others look on. The cadet exercises occurred on May 5, 1938 at Bellarmine High School. Also on that date promotions in the ROTC unit were announced, ranging from privates first class to cadet captains. (T.Times 5-5-38, p. 12-article on promotions)

Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Private schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Reserve Officers Training Corps. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Flags--United States;

College of Puget Sound graduation exercises. Three men dressed in caps and gowns stand on the steps of one of the college buildings on graduation day. The man in the center is Dr. Edward Todd, college president. The college was celebrating its 50th anniversary and beginning a capital improvement campaign, geared at enlarging the campus.

College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1930-1940; Universities & colleges--Tacoma--1930-1940; Todd, Edward H., 1863-1951; College presidents--Tacoma;

Ground breaking ceremony for the new women's dormitory at the College of Puget Sound. Ceremony attended by, left to right, Mrs. Belle Reeves, secretary of state, Tacoma Mayor George Smitley, D.J. Young, vice president of the Chamber of Commerce, and Dr. Edward H. Todd, college president. Mrs. Reeves, representing all women at the college, scoops out the first shovel of dirt; while Dr. Todd wields the mattock. The women's dormitory will house 40 and cost $50,000. It is the first building to be financed in the anniversary campaign to raise 1 million dollars for new construction and endowment. (T.Times, 2/16/1938, p.1; TNT 2/16/1938, pg.1)

College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Reeves, Belle; Universities & colleges--Tacoma--1930-1940; Todd, Edward H., 1863-1951; College presidents--Tacoma;

College students pile into an old jalopy on their way to the College of Puget Sound's first annual C.P.S. picnic. The topless automobile with spoke wheels is being cranked by one of the students. CPS students and faculty took the afternoon off April 28, 1938 to stage their first annual picnic on campus. Classes were dismissed at 2:30p.m. and were replaced with a tug-of-war, softball, volleyball, horseshoes, lunch, a community sing and dancing under the stars. (T. Times, 4/29/1938, p. 1)

College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Picnics; Automobiles;

College of Puget Sound students vie for first team up to bat at the first annual C.P.S. picnic on April 28, 1938. The baseball tradition involves a member from each team placing their hands around the neck of the bat; the last to reach the top wins. Students and faculty took the afternoon off to enjoy two hours of games, including softball, volleyball and horseshoes, lunch and finally dancing under the stars. (T. Times, 4/29/1938, p. 1).

College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Picnics; Baseball--Tacoma--1930-1940;

College of Puget Sound students play leap frog at the first annual C.P.S. picnic on April 28, 1938. Classes were dismissed at 2:30p.m. so that students and faculty could enjoy some outdoor fun and fellowship. (T. Times 4/29/1938, p. 1).

College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Picnics; Games;

College of Puget Sound students tossed horseshoes in an avid game enjoyed at the first annual C.P.S. picnic on April 28, 1938. Lois Kuhl pitched for a ringer. Surrounding her were Bill Wood (kneeling,) Dean John D. Regester, Lillian Hendrickson, Betty Worden and Mary Louise Erickson. Students and faculty threw away the books and took the afternoon off to enjoy outdoor games, lunch, a group sing and dancing. (T. Times, 4/29/1938, p. 1).

College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Picnics; Sports; Horseshoe pitching--Tacoma--1930-1940; Horseshoes; Kuhl, Lois; Wood, Bill; Regester, John D.; Hendrickson, Lillian; Worden, Betty; Erickson, Mary Louise;

Annie Wright Seminary May Day activities, May 1, 1935. Processional, many girls in dresses on lawn, audience in folding chairs. (filed with Argentum)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; May Day--Tacoma;

Annie Wright Seminary May Day activities, May 1, 1935. Little girls in short dresses dancing on lawn. The dance is a modern one, utilizing white scarves.

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; May Day--Tacoma;

The culmination of the festivities on May day at Annie Wright School, located at 827 Tacoma Avenue North, is the winding of the May Pole. In this photograph from 1935 the school's younger pupils dance around the pole to the approving gaze of upper classmen, friends and relatives. Originally known as Field Day, the May Day celebration included music, dance, sports and the crowning of the May Queen; it is one of the most treasured traditions of the school. In 1935 Marian Guyles was crowned May Queen.

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; May Day--Tacoma; May poles--Tacoma;

Annie Wright Seminary Field Day, also known as May Day, 5/1/1935. Girls leaving pitch after playing Field Hockey.

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Field hockey; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

A young man with a tennis racquet, tentatively identified as Weyerhaeuser acquaintance Bob Taylor, poses on a path at Annie Wright Seminary, near the area where 9 year old George Weyerhaeuser was kidnapped on May 24, 1935. The path was possibly used by the kidnappers. The Weyerhaeuser kidnapping was the second most famous in the nation and Tacoma's most sensational crime. It had everything to make newspaper headlines, a handsome grade school boy and a moneyed family desperate for his return. The retiring Weyerhaeusers however spoke only to the police and moved secretly so that publicity did not prevent George from being released. By June 1, 1935, George had been released. The first set of suspects was arrested within weeks, a former Puyallup couple named Harmon and Margaret Waley, and they identified the third suspect, William Dainard, who was arrested almost a year later. (T. Times 5/26/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding months.)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

Steps and hedge at Annie Wright Seminary, one of the possible locations for the abduction of George Weyerhaeuser on May 24, 1935. He was kidnapped from the grounds of seminary, near the tennis courts, as he walked at noontime from Lowell Elementary to meet his sister at the seminary and travel home for lunch. The boy was held for $200,000 in ransom. (T. Times 5/26/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding months.)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

Hawthorne School 6A class photographed in June of 1937. The ten students smile into the sunshine on the steps of their school, built in 1913 from a design by Heath and Gove. The school was razed in 1981.

Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hawthorne School (Tacoma);

ca. 1927. The cast of "Not So Fast, " the all college play, in front of a brick wall at the College of Puget Sound in 1927. The play was written by Charles Westervelt. Pictured left to right are Torrey Smith, Robert Leatherwood, Audrey-Dean Albert, Wendell Brown, Edith Jones, Elizabeth Welton, Sam Pugh, and Leonore Bloomfield. Although most of the College's play casts were members of the Drama Club, the all college play had open auditions. (1927 C.P.S. annual, "Tamanawas," pg. 47) (WSHS)

College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Universities & colleges--Tacoma--1920-1930; Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Drama clubs--Tacoma--1920-1930;

6A class and teachers on porch of Horace Mann School in January of 1927. This Horace Mann School was built in 1901 in the southend of Tacoma from a design by C.A. Darmer, architect. It was demolished after the new school was built in 1953. (WSHS)

Horace Mann School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1927. In 1927, first grade scholars sit at their desks in McKinley School showing off their handmade alphabet cards. The walls behind are adorned with student art work, including images of "Mount Tacoma," the name preferred in the early years by most Tacomans for our beloved Mount Rainier. This eight room McKinley schoolhouse was erected in 1908 at 3702 McKinley. Additions were made in 1910 and then the school remained virtually the same until 1954. In 2005, the school is still one of several elementary schools serving the McKinley Hill neighborhood. TPL-8776 (Argentum and 8 x10 print)

McKinley School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Irving School 6A class in June of 1927. Irving, named after author Washington Irving, was one of three schools built around 1890, the result of a bond issue. It was declared unsafe 3 years after this picture and closed in 1930. The school was razed in 1934. (WSHS)

Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Irving School (Tacoma);

Sheridan School 6A Class in June of 1927. The children pose in front of 1908 school structure designed by Frederick Heath. The school was named after Civil War general Philip H. Sheridan. This structure was demolished in the 1990's. (WSHS)

School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Sheridan School (Tacoma); Education--Tacoma; Group portraits;

Minuet at Washington School in May of 1927. Eight boys and eight girls in Colonial era costume. (WSHS)

School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Washington School (Tacoma); Costumes;

ca. 1927. Furnace steam pipes at St. Joseph's Hospital for Harre & Farrell, Engineers. (Argentum)

St. Joseph's Hospital & School of Nursing (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1920-1930; Furnaces--Tacoma--1920-1930;