May Day at Annie Wright Seminary. May Queen Kai Wonderly waits with her senior attendant and small royal attendants on the grassy lawns of Annie Wright for the processional to begin on May 18, 1968. The petite youngsters are dressed in white with one carrying the queen's crown and another the scepter. Each year one senior girl was chosen as May Queen although the entire school participated in the festival. Kai is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Wonderly; Mr. Wonderly was the operations manager of St. Regis Paper Co. Photograph ordered by Annie Wright Seminary. (TNT 5-26-68, D-10, 11)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1960-1970; Private schools--Tacoma; May Day--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma--1960-1970; Wonderly, Kai; School children--Tacoma--1960-1970; Students--Tacoma--1960-1970;

A classroom of bright eyed youngsters, students at the Annie Wright Seminary, smile for the camera on February 29, 1960. The eighteen girls and their teacher, Miss Hartwell, are doing a bit of light reading on this sunny morning. Classes were kept small at this private school with total enrollment approximately 300 and staff of 55. Holding the Alvin the Chipmunk doll is Nancy Bond at near right with Jamie May next to her. Blond Leilee Weyerhaeuser is seated behind Nancy. Other girls identified in the classroom were Jill Stone, Penny Rumbaugh, Mimi Wiborg and Ann Dickman. (Identification provided by a reader)

School children--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1960-1970; Private schools--Tacoma; Teachers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Bond, Nancy; May, Jamie;

Although Annie Wright Seminary had been at this location, 827 Tacoma Ave. No., only since 1924; it was in the process of celebrating its Diamond Jubilee in October of 1958 when this picture was taken. The first class of 93 girls entered Annie Wright in the fall of 1884 in the school's first building at Tacoma & Division Avenues. Annie Wright experienced financial troubles due to decreased enrollment in the 1930's and increased expenses during the early part of WWII; the school was nearly forced to close in 1943. Headmistress Ruth Jenkins and the Board of Trustees were given 48 hours to raise enough money to pay the most outstanding debts. Friends, alumnae and students rallied to save the school. Annie Wright Seminary continued to expand with a new wing added in 1957. In 2002, the school had pupils from seven states and eight countries and was planning to add a 10.3 million three story addition. (The Shield:1959, TNT 9-30-02, B-1)

Aerial photographs; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Private schools--Tacoma;

Every year, the student body and faculty of Annie Wright Seminary welcomed back spring with a May Day Festival. A senior girl was chosen to reign over the festivities as Queen, with other upper class girls as the court. Lower school (primary) girls acted as attendants. The girls pictured here in their May Day regalia on May 9, 1959 are, left to right, Muffet Gilfin, scepter bearer; Joan Anderson, herald; Terry Weyerhaeuser, crown bearer; Sally Dimant, page; Belinda McLean, flower girl and Rita Smith, flower girl. (yearbook "The Shield" 1959, TNT 5/7/1959, pg. D-7) )

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Private schools--Tacoma; School children--Tacoma--1950-1960; Festivals--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gilfin, Muffet; Anderson, Joan; Weyerhaeuser, Terry; Dimant, Sally; Smith, Rita; McLean, Belinda;

Annie Wright Seminary May Day activities. Queen and court with procession of young girls approaching between two lines of students. Large crowd and school building in background. Caption: "May Day 1937 - The Annie Wright Seminary".

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

Annie Wright Seminary annual doll bazaar. The Doll Bazaar, held in the Great Hall, is part of the girls' holiday mission work. The upper school designs the exhibits which are judged for beauty, originality and individuality. Special awards are given for best dressed and best character. Seven girls create a Southern plantation scene on a table top with dolls and painted backdrops. Mrs. Wilson was in charge. (T.Times 11/29/1938, pg. 9, 12/5/1938, p. 9)

Private schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma; Dolls; Bazaars--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Annie Wright Seminary opera leads. Ten girls in formal gowns on stage, with blocks lettered to spell out "LOVE" in foreground. (T. Times)

Private schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Operas & operettas--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Annie Wright Seminary, Art Gallery. Exhibit of still life paintings, flowers, etc. (filed with Argentum)

Painting; Private schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940;

Annie Wright Seminary annual Field Day, May of 1935. Girls play Field Hockey behind the school. (filed with Argentum)

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

Annie Wright Seminary May Day activities, May 1, 1935. Processional, many girls in dresses, building in background and May Pole tied with ribbons in foreground. (filed with Argentum)

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

Annie Wright Seminary May Day activities, May 1, 1935. Processional, two rows of little girls in short dresses flanking Royal Court in long gowns and hats. School building in background. (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. (filed with Argentum)

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

Annie Wright Seminary May Day activities, May 01, 1935. Barefoot girls in long dresses dancing on lawn. (filed with Argentum)

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

Annie Wright Seminary Field Day, also known as May Day, Mary 1, 1935. Girls playing Field Hockey. (filed with Argentum)

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

The drive between the hedges at the Annie Wright Seminary. This road led downhill from Tacoma Ave. between the seminary grounds and the tennis court property. The seminary grounds were the location of the abduction of 9 year old George Weyerhaeuser on May 24, 1935. He was kidnapped near the tennis courts and whisked away in a waiting car. Between the time of his abduction on May 24th and his release on June 1st, he was held in two pre-dug pits prepared for his capture and in a rental house closet at 1509 W. 11th Ave. in Spokane. (T. Times 5/26/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding months.)

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

Annie Wright Seminary Field Day. Field hockey game in progress. Commencement Bay and Browns Point in background.

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

Annie Wright Seminary 1936 May Day activities. Queen Burdette Craig and her court on school steps. Photographer adjusting movie camera on tripod. (T. Times 5/18/1936, pg. 1)

Private Schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; May Day--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Craig, Burdette;

Annie Wright Seminary May Day 1940 activities. Mary Kent Hewitt, Queen, in bamboo chair with her Court in garden beside building. (filed with Argentum)

Private schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Holidays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hewitt, Mary Kent; May Day--Tacoma; Rites & Ceremonies--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma;

Annie Wright Seminary was in the middle of their 61st school year when this photograph was taken in March of 1946. Annie Wright was predominantly a private school for girls, but a few boys were allowed at the elementary school level. View of school children in their classroom working on arts and crafts, a teepee is visible in the background.

School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Classrooms--Tacoma; Private schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Children playing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tipis--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

Annie Wright Seminary offered a variety of school classes and extracurricular activities. They had an exceptional drama department, speech programs, student council and many other options. Social events were regularly planned for the students. View of students practicing musical numbers, while gathered around a piano.

Uniforms; Pianos; Singers; Music ensembles--Tacoma; Private schools--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

Annie Wright Seminary received full support from Tacoma community members in 1941 when they were experiencing financial hardships. View of nineteen students in their uniforms getting their picture taken on the Annie Wright grounds.

Uniforms; Students--Tacoma; Private schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

Annie Wright Seminary. Two women and a teenage girl are taking part in the Women at Work event. They are standing in a classroom for young children. One of the women is showing a wooden rocking horse.

Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Teenagers; Private schools--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Ray Ridge Motors. A rear view of a new 1947 Lincoln Continental including the driver's side. The rear wheel wells are skirted and the spare tire is encased in a special cover at the rear of the automobile. The rear bumper is highly reflective and a rear lamp is seen just behind the spare tire. The automobile is parked outside Annie Wright Seminary.

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lincoln Continental automobile; Private schools--Tacoma;

Annie Wright Seminary's May Day Festival was one of the most anticipated spring time events. The May Day festival included dances by the students, under the direction of Nancy Jane Bare, and a beautiful flag ceremony with the singing of the school's Alma Mater. The Athletic Association was hosting the annual banquet at Paddock Hall. View of students during the flag ceremony (T. Times, 5/12/48, p. 6).

Students--Tacoma; Private schools--Tacoma; Uniforms; May Day--Tacoma; Rites & Ceremonies--Tacoma; Flagpoles--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

The Reverend Canon Arthur Bell, Chaplain, (left) and The Right Reverend Stephen Fielding Bayne, Jr., President of Annie Wright Seminary's Board of Trustees are photographed outside the chapel at Annie Wright Seminary on March 18, 1952. Annie Wright is a private school, established in 1884. ("The Shield," school yearbook, 1952)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Bell, Arthur; Bayne, Stephen Fielding; Clergy--Tacoma--1950-1960; Chapels--Tacoma; Raynor Chapel (Tacoma);

Group of boys from Charles Wright School playing in snow at Annie Wright Seminary.

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Private schools--Tacoma; Charles Wright Academy (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boys--Tacoma--1950-1960; Children playing in snow--Tacoma;

Candlelit wedding ceremony of Nancy Barbara Hull and William Douglas Hagans in the Raynor Chapel at Annie Wright. The bride and groom face each other, flanked by their single attendants, in front of an intimate crowd to repeat their marriage vows.

Hull, Nancy Barbara; Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Wedding costume--1950-1960; Grooms (Weddings)--1950-1960; Hagans, William Douglas; Raynor Chapel (Tacoma); Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960;

Annie Wright upper-level students in costume for the 1952 May Day celebration.

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Private schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Festivals--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Dads' Day at Annie Wright Seminary. Large group of families and students sitting on wooden bleachers at the school watching the Dads baseball game.

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Private schools--Tacoma; Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960;