A Red Cross worker is pictured above flanked by eight women "soldiers" in tall hats, all with index fingers pointing upward. They were participating in the opera Mam'zelle Taps which was performed on stage at Stadium High School March 5-7, 1925, by members of the school's boys' and girls' glee clubs. It was the 13th annual musical production. Although the opera was set during wartime, it was played on a humorous note with the required happy ending. (1925 Tahoma, p. 66-67-articles)
Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Operas & operettas--Tacoma--1920-1930;
A classroom full of children at Roosevelt Elementary School watch attentively as an adult male, possibly the teacher, conducts a lesson on pedestrian safety in April of 1925. He is holding up a large illustration of two boys who have apparently hitched a ride on the back of a wagon and are in the process of leaping off, right in the path of an oncoming train or trolley. Photograph taken on behalf of the Tacoma Railway & Power Co.
School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Roosevelt Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Classrooms--Tacoma--1920-1930;
Construction continues on the James P. Stewart Intermediate School, 5010 Pacific Avenue, in May of 1925. Scaffolding surrounds the multi-storied structure which cost over $400,000. Tacoma's school population had been increasing and six intermediate schools were planned to alleviate overcrowding. Stewart Intermediate was the second to be completed, after Jason Lee. The school, designed by architect Roland Borhek and built by John Biehn & Co., contractors, was originally called the South Central Intermediate School. By the time the school was opened in September of 1928, the name had been changed to honor Tacoma's first school teacher, James P. Stewart. The school is still being used today with a slight name change to the James P. Stewart Middle School. G47.1-082; BU-11,440 (TNT 5-16-25, p. 20)
Stewart Junior High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930; Progress photographs;
This photograph of the Jason Lee Intermediate School (Middle School) at 602 North Sprague was taken several months after the school was officially dedicated. Designed by Roland E. Borhek, the gothic revival style school opened for classes in September of 1924. Originally named West Intermediate school, the name was soon changed to Jason Lee to honor an early Northwest missionary and pioneer of that name. The school, which recently underwent a $27 million restoration, is built on the site of the old College of Puget Sound campus at Sixth and No. Sprague. ("For the record" by Winnifred L. Olsen)
Public Schools--Tacoma; Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma);
The graduating class of Edison School posed in a park for this photograph taken in June of 1925. Edison School was built in 1892 and was located at 3110 So. 58th. The school was condemned after the 1949 earthquake. (WSHS)
School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Edison Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930;
Morton M. McCarver Intermediate School as it appeared in September of 1925 prior to opening. Tacoma's third intermediate school was ready for occupancy on Nov. 2nd. It was designed to house 1,000 students, although the initial enrollment was only 600. It served the graduating students of Irving, Lincoln and Longfellow Elementary Schools. It was part of the plan to arrange Tacoma Public Schools in a 6-3-3 year ratio, representing years in elementary, junior and high schools. The school had 34 classrooms, a large library, two gymnasiums, a spacious auditorium and the largest cafeteria in the school system. Elementary classes were added in 1938 when Lincoln School closed and its students and staff were moved to McCarver. As minorities moved into Tacoma over the next 20 years and concentrated in the Central and Hilltop areas, the student population at McCarver became disproportionately African American despite the "open enrollment" effort to encourage minorities to attend other junior high schools. In 1968, the School Board discontinued junior high classes at McCarver to facilitate desegregation. ("For the record, a history of Tacoma Public Schools, 1869-1984" by Winnifred L. Olsen) (TNT 9/3/1925, pg. 17; TNT 10/29/25, pg. 1)
Public schools--Tacoma; McCarver Junior High School (Tacoma);
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;
Stewart Intermediate School under construction in 1925. The school was designed by Roland Borhek, architect, and was originally designated as the South Central Intermediate School. It opened in September of 1925 as the James P. Stewart school, honoring Tacoma's first school teacher. It was the second of six planned intermediate schools provided for under a special bond passed in October of 1923. On completion, Tacoma would educate on a 6-3-3 plan (6 years at elementary, 3 at intermediate, 3 at high school.) The plan was designed to prevent overcrowding and reduce expenses. Stewart is still in use today with additions in 1964, 1974 and 1983. (WSHS- negative A854-0) (TNT 9/3/1925, pg. 17)
Stewart Junior High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930;
ca. 1925. View of Tacoma North End, circa 1925, featuring Annie Wright Seminary, Sutton, Whitney and Dugan, Architects, 1924. Houses in neighborhood, Commencement Bay in background. Taken from hill at about G Street. (filed with Argentum)
ca. 1925. Interior of Raynor Chapel at Annie Wright Seminary, circa 1925. Beamed ceiling, stained glass window, rows of pews. Building by Sutton, Whitney and Dugan, Architects, 1924. The chapel was erected by the Raynor Alumnae Chapter of the Seminary in honor of Mrs. Amanda Raynor, vice president of the school from its opening in 1884 till 1908. The stained glass memorial window was donated by Jesse Thomas in honor of his wife. The altar was a gift of the Tacoma Rotary Club. (TDL 1/18/1925, pg. 10) (Argentum)
ca. 1925. Annie Wright Seminary. Interior view of dining hall, circa 1925. In 1925, the dining hall was located on the first floor of the Paddock Wing. Room with beamed ceiling and wooden columns, round tables with tablecloths. Building by Sutton, Whitney and Dugan, Architects, 1924. (Argentum)
ca. 1925. Annie Wright Seminary, circa 1925. Interior view of library showing fireplace, book stacks, girls studying at round tables. Building by Sutton, Whitney and Dugan, Architects, 1924. (filed with Argentum)
ca. 1925. Lincoln High School and the original Lincoln Bowl. The original "bowl" was constructed in 1920 and located directly behind the school. The school itself opened in 1914 supplying Tacoma's east and south ends with a local high school.
Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Athletic fields--Tacoma--1920-1930;
ca. 1925. Group of male students in front of Lincoln High School, ca. 1925. The young men in the front wear Lincoln High letter sweaters. (Same group as A1060 image 0) (WSHS)
Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1920-1930;
ca. 1925. Annie Wright Seminary under construction. The Tudor Gothic building was designed by Sutton, Whitney & Dugan, architects. The Seminary first opened in 1884 at 611 Division Street. The school on Tacoma Ave No., which opened to students in the Fall of 1924, appears barren without its lush green lawns and landscaping. (WSHS- negative A852-0)
Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Private schools--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930;
ca. 1925. A copy of an old photograph of a woman playing tennis at Annie Wright Seminary. Ordered by Mrs. Frances C. Russell, director of public relations at Annie Wright Seminary. This photographic copy was made May 8, 1950.
6A Class at Franklin School. The original school was built in 1889 and named after Benjamin Franklin. The pictured building replaced the old school in 1910 with additions in 1914. The architects were Heath & Twichell. It was demolished in 1997. (WSHS)
Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Franklin School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1920-1930;
Sherman School 8-B class photographed in January of 1926. This northend school was built in 1891 from a design by Pickles & Sutton, architect. It was, as were several other Tacoma schools, named after a Civil War general, Union officer William Tecumseh Sherman. It was built on land purchased from Allen C. Mason. The school was used for 63 years before it was demolished in 1953, when a new school was built. (Olsen, "For the Record.") (WSHS)
Sherman School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Group portraits; Education--Tacoma;
McKinley School graduating class in January of 1926 posed in front of the school. This eastside school was built at this location on McKinley Hill in 1908. In 2006, it is still operating in this facility. (WSHS)
McKinley School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Education--Tacoma;
6A Class posed in front of Stanley School in January of 1926. Stanley School was built in 1925 and served students who had previously attended Lincoln, Longfellow and Irving. It was named after George A. Stanley, Central School Principal for 27 years. He helped develop the District's new Junior High system and headed their teacher training program from 1896-1901 at Central. (WSHS)
School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Group portraits; Stanley Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930;
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);
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;
6A Class at Horace Mann School posed in front of the school in January of 1926. This southend school was constructed in 1901 and named after noted American educator Horace Mann. Horace Mann revolutionized education in the US, establishing the first school for teacher training and promoting "public" education for all. This structure was demolished after the new Mann Elementary was built in 1953. (WSHS)
Horace Mann School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930;
Graduation class at Hawthorne School on steps of school building in January of 1926. Hawthorne was one of the oldest schools in Tacoma, starting as East school in 1885 in a former store. Its enrollment peaked in the early 1900's when it was the district's 3rd largest school. As more schools opened in the east and south portions of the city, enrollment declined. This smaller school was opened in 1913 at 28th and E. F St. It was closed in 1963 and demolished in 1981 to make way for the Tacoma Dome. (WSHS)
Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hawthorne School (Tacoma);
Graduating class at Rogers School in January of 1926. This building was constructed in 1908 and was named after John R. Rogers, the Washington governor who fathered the law that guarantees a free public education to all children in the state. Rogers closed in 2002. (WSHS)
School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Rogers School (Tacoma); Group portraits; Education--Tacoma;
In March of 1926, Stadium High School initiated its own branch of the national "Longfellows" Club. Members had to measure in at over six feet in height to join. The new club attracted a group of approximately 50 young men who posed in front of Stadium High School at 111 North "E" Street. (WSHS; A-1488 same photo without lettering)
Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Longfellows Club (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1920-1930;
