Exterior of James Sales Elementary School. James Sales Elementary was named after the first white child born in the Tacoma area on October 23, 1853. His parents were William and Eliza Sales, mill-hand at Nicholas Delin's mill and cook, respectively. The Sales later took a claim in the Puyallup Valley. The James Sales Elementary School was designed by local architects Lea, Pearson & Richards. The school was a very contemporary brick building with a multitude of windows that allowed plenty of natural light. Photograph ordered by Lea, Pearson & Richards. (Morgan: South on the Sound, p. 34)

James Sales Elementary School (Parkland); Public schools--Parkland--1950-1960; Lea, Pearson & Richards (Tacoma);

Pacific Lutheran College students Naomi Rasmussen (left) and Lois Ronell are studying in the tidy room they shared in the school's new women's dormitory in October, 1954. Drapes on the large window are open to let in natural light and provide a beautiful view of a large tree-filled lot. Each girl seems to have a bed, bookcase, and possibly separate desks. Large cuddly stuffed animals rest on top of their beds. Computers and refrigerators are conspicuous by their absence.The new South Hall dormitory was home to 129 women in the fall of 1954. It had many amenities such as two decorated lounges complete with televisions and a grand piano, four small kitchen units, complete laundry service and study rooms. Mrs. Clara Nelson was housemother. (TNT 10-13-54, C-2, 1955 Saga yearbook)

Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Studying; Bedrooms; Stuffed animals (Toys); Bulletin boards; Rasmusson, Naomi; Ronell, Lois;

Exterior James Sales Elementary School. The local architectural firm of Lea, Pearson & Richards designed the James Sales Elementary School as a modern brick one-story school with many windows. The school was located on 112th Street in Parkland, part of the Franklin-Pierce School District. It was named after James Sales, first white child born in what is now the Tacoma area in 1853. Photograph ordered by Lea, Pearson & Richards.

James Sales Elementary School (Parkland); Public schools--Parkland--1950-1960; Lea, Pearson & Richards (Tacoma);

Exterior James Sales Elementary School. A close-up view of the main entrance to the James Sales Elementary School was taken on October 31, 1954. Designed by local architects Lea, Pearson & Richards, the school was built mostly of brick as a one-story unit. A modern entryway with multi-paned windows and small porch would greet the children of the school. The name of the school is clearly stated in large letters close to the entrance. The James Sales Elementary School was located in Parkland and was a part of the Franklin Pierce School District. It was named after James Sales, first white child born in the Tacoma area in 1853. Photograph ordered by Lea, Pearson & Richards.

James Sales Elementary School (Parkland); Public schools--Parkland--1950-1960;

Exterior of Horace Mann Elementary. The November 24, 1954, sepia photograph of Mann Elementary School resembles a painting more than an actual photograph. Nearly fifty years later, the school looks much the same as it did in 1954. Named after noted American educator Horace Mann, the southend school was first built at South 54th and "I" Streets in 1901. The present school was constructed a short distance away at South 52nd and "K"and dedicated in 1953. Additions were made in 1967 and further improvements are in the works in 2002-03 to accomodate displaced students from Seward Elementary. Photograph ordered by Jensen & Mills, Architects. (Olsen: For the Record, p. 83)

Horace Mann School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1954. Dupont School basketball team. DuPont is a community southwest of Steilacoom between Fort Lewis and the Nisqually Reach in northwest Pierce County. It is on the site of Fort Nisqually, a Hudson's Bay trading post, but was named for E. I. du Pont de Nemours Company, a manufacturing leader in explosives. It was, in the beginning, a company town peopled by those who worked in its factories. By the 1950's, Dupont district drew 95% of its students from Ft. Lewis. This appears to be the school's younger team, attired in uniforms and team jackets.

School children--Dupont; Dupont School (Dupont); Basketball players--Dupont; Basketball--Dupont;

ca. 1954. This large brick Tudor/Gothic structure is believed to be the library on the campus of Pacific Lutheran College in Parkland. Two students are perched reading on the low brick wall next to the front steps. Pacific Lutheran had undergone great expansion of both facilities and student enrollment in the late forties and early fifties.

Universities & colleges--Parkland; Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--Buildings;

ca. 1954. Students are clustered close to the very modern brick South Hall dormitory for women on the campus of Pacific Lutheran College, in a 1954 photograph. Clothing styles have changed since then but the art of socializing has not. The students are taking advantage of a lovely day to converse with one another. The dormitory opened for the first time that year and was home to 129 students. The facilities included two lovely lounges with televisions and a grand piano, four small kitchen units, complete laundry service and two small lounge-study rooms. View of the south side of South Hall dormitory; dorm had four stories. Extending from the building is the lounge and recreation area; there is a sun deck on top of the lounge and concrete patio at its base. (1955 SAGA yearbook, p. 108, TNT 10-13-54, C-2)

Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland); Dormitories--Parkland;

ca. 1954. Groups of students chat on the campus of Pacific Lutheran College in 1954 outside the new North Hall dormitory. The presence of long coats and sweaters may mean that it was taken in the fall. North Hall, along with the South Hall dormitory for women, was completed in fall, 1954; it housed 120 men students, two per room. Both new dorms were very large and made of brick with multiple windows to bring inside the beauty of the outdoors. They were designed by architects Lea, Pearson & Richards and built by Bennett-Campbell, general contractors, at a total cost of $1,150,000. The men enjoyed the same amenities as the women: two large lounges, several smaller ones and a complete self-service laundry. A busy social and spiritual life was planned by dormitory officers. (1955 SAGA yearbook, p. 109, TNT 10-13-54, C-2) TPL-9348

Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland); Dormitories--Parkland;

ca. 1954. The 47 piece Pacific Lutheran College Band, attired in their black and gold uniforms and photographed with their instruments in the Band Room of the Music/Chapel Building. The band was under the direction of Dr. Robert Larson. The band played at all football games as well as performing a number of concerts throughout the year. They played the last concert of the three day Omnibus of Arts, the student cultural festival, with the PLC chorus on the Parkland campus. (1954 PLC yearbook "The Saga," TNT 2/21/1954, pg. D-7- see yearbook for names)

Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Marching bands; Bands--Parkland--1950-1960;

ca. 1954. Dupont School basketball team. This appears to be the school's varsity team. The boys are dressed in team uniforms topped by school jackets. In the 50's, Dupont schools offered grades K-9; students attended Clover Park High School for their last three years of study. The boy kneeling 4th from left has been identified as Scott Drysdale and the one next to the manager as John Sparks. (information provided by a schoolmate)

School children--Dupont; Dupont School (Dupont); Basketball players--Dupont; Basketball--Dupont;

Annie Wright Seminary girls skiing at Mt. Rainier. Photos ordered by the Tacoma News Tribune. In 1954, winter sports attracted around 59,000 enthusiasts to the Paradise area during the prime season of December-April. In 1955, the visitor count for the first 3 months of the winter season was 56,789; an increase of 170 %. 35 % of these guests were bound for the Cayeuse Pass Winter use area, primarily to ski. On weekends and holidays, the park service operated two ski tows, a warming shelter, public toilets, lunch and first aid service. The ski facilities at Paradise were operating for the first time since the severe winter of 1948-49. Rainier never developed as a skiing area, like the surrounding smaller mountains, because the National Park Service forbade the erection of chair lifts or an aerial tramway, feeling that it would negatively impact the natural beauty of the area.

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Private schools--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Skiers; Skiing; Winter sports; Snow;

Annie Wright Seminary girls skiing at Mt. Rainier. Photos ordered by the Tacoma News Tribune. It must have been warm on the mountain this day as the girls pose in sweaters, not parkas. Two of the girls are not even wearing gloves. The ski facilities at Paradise were open for the first time since the severe winter of 1948-49. The quartet of skiers are, left to right, Virginia Hines from Anchorage, Alaska, Sharon McLallen of Vancouver, B.C., Roberta Allen of Hollister, Ca. and Philinda Parry of Twin Falls, Idaho. (TNT 3/6/1955, pg. D-1)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Private schools--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Skiers; Skiing; Winter sports; Snow; Hines, Virginia; McLallen, Sharon; Allen, Roberta; Parry, Philinda;

Annie Wright Seminary girls skiing at Mt. Rainier. Photos ordered by the Tacoma News Tribune. The girls dubiously watch a skier performing a trick on his ski tips. A snow shrouded Paradise Inn is in the background. This is possibly a ski lesson, part of the ski school operated by the Rainier National Park Company.

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Private schools--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Skiers; Skiing; Winter sports; Snow; Ski lodges;

Annie Wright Seminary girls skiing at Mt. Rainier. Photos ordered by the Tacoma News Tribune. Early form of a ski lift, the skier pulling herself up a rope hand over hand. The Rainier National Park Company maintained two tow ropes for skiers, ski school facilities, and lunch service on Saturday and Sunday at Paradise. The Interior Department had a ban on chair lifts and aerial tramways, feeling that they would mar the scenery at Mount Rainier. The Park Company also offered sanitary facilities, first aid service and a warming room. Almost 59,000 winter sports enthusiasts visited the Paradise area between December and April of 1954. (TNT 1/15/1955, pg. 2)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Private schools--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Skiers; Skiing; Winter sports; Snow; Ski lifts;

Annie Wright students and a faculty member pose in what appears to be the Seminary's library. These girls are busy reading from books and are wearing the traditional sailor style uniforms of the lower classes. This picture was published in the 1955 "Shield," the yearbook for Annie Wright Academy. This are the 5th & 6th classes of the lower school posed around Miss Edgerly, the school librarian. See yearbook for the student names.

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Private schools--Tacoma; Children reading & writing--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Five Annie Wright teachers are feeding a guinea pig that is sitting on the table in what appears to be one of the lower school classrooms. The teachers are, left to right, Mrs. Hatcher, 5 year old kindergarten, Mrs. Harding, 4 year old kindergarten, Mrs. Headley, 5 year old kindergarten, Miss Anderson, assistant in the lower school and Mrs. Post, Charles Wright Academy. ("The Shield," 1955 edition)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Private schools--Tacoma; Teachers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Classrooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pets;

Mrs. Richard Swanson, dressed as a "gypsy" fortune teller, sees a Carnival in the near future for Horace Mann students (l-r) Ann Michels, Richard Butsch, Phyllis Landis and Richard Swanson. The Parent Teacher and Preschool Association of the Horace Mann (Elementary) School at 5211 South K Street sponsored a carnival on Friday afternoon April 22, 1955 at the school. The "Gypsy Jamboree" had a candy shop, a bakery booth, ice cream sandwich bars and a country store. There were also games, a comic book shelf, a garden shop, a fish pond, novelties, a talent show and booths with dolls, toys and fancywork. (TNT 4/18/1955, pg. 12)

Horace Mann School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Michels, Ann; Butsch, Richard; Landis, Phyllis; Swanson, Richard; School children--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fortune telling--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Concert Chorus at Pacific Lutheran College, posed in the Music Building. The students are attired formally, with the girls wearing evening gowns and the boys in tuxedos. The 93 voice chorus was under the direction of R. Byard Fritts (seated.) The choir performed throughout the year, its productions enhanced by the special effects of staging, drama and costuming. ("1955 Saga" see the yearbook for chorus members names.)

Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Singers; Choirs (Music); Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Evening gowns--Parkland--1950-1960; Fritts, R. Byard;

Dupont school's basketball team, the 1955 West Central Juniors Champions. #3 has been identified as John Welker, #9 as Scott Drysdale and #8 as Jerry Conwell. Noted educator Wendell B. Laughbon is standing at far left with principal John Zurflugh in bow tie in the second row. In the fifties, Dupont was a junior high school. Students attended Clover Park High School for the last three years of their study. In the early 70's, the Dupont school (by that time used only as a high school) closed. Weyerhaeuser purchased the old Dupont school property. (" A History of Pierce County, Vol. 1;" identification provided by a schoolmate)

Schools--Dupont--1950-1960; School children--Dupont--1950-1960; Basketball players--Dupont--1950-1960; Laughbon, Wendell B.; Zurflugh, John; Welker, John; Drysdale, Scott; Conwell, Jerry;

Queen Anne Cameron presided over traditional May Day ceremonies at Annie Wright Seminary on May 14, 1955. She is seated in the queen's chair decorated with blossoms while holding a golden scepter, symbol of her reign. Miss Cameron is the daughter of Harold W. Cameron and Mrs. Elford Cameron of Seattle. The queen's mother is also an alumna of Annie Wright. (TNT 5-22-55, D-7)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Private schools--Tacoma; Cameron, Anne; May Day; Festivals--Tacoma--1950-1960; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Dupont school baseball team of 1955, the Tigers. By 1975, the high school had closed and children no longer attended school in their home town. Anderson Island, Steilacoom and DuPont formed one school district, Steilacoom Historical District #1.

Schools--Dupont--1950-1960; Students--Dupont--1950-1960; Baseball players--Dupont;

Eleven members of the Lincoln High School Student Council posed with a large banner on September 9, 1955, urging their classmates to demonstrate their school spirit by purchasing ASB cards for a mere $5.50. These activity cards helped support athletic events, dances, the Lincolnian Newspaper and the Lincolnian yearbook. Lincoln students bought more cards than their Stadium counterparts. As a result Stadium H.S. had to present an assembly on Lincoln's campus in payment for losing the contest. Students identified above are: Jean Bucklin, Lincoln News editor (seated L) and Amie Spencer, Lincolnian editor (seated R). Standing are: Joe Devish, Senior rep.; Sharon Gaisford, Girls Club rep.; Dick Beddoe, Sportsmen's Club rep.; Marilee Andersen, Vice-president; Lee Hauge, Yell King; John Sabol, Junior rep.; Duane Christensen, President; Nancy Reinvik, Secretary; and Loren Hildebrand, Commissioner of Finance.

Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banners--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Student organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Proud members of the Dupont School Patrol and their honored guests pose for a group picture in front of school buildings on October 22, 1955. The multi-cultural school children seem to range from relatively young to early teens. Each is wearing a white sash with badge. School patrols were an important part of the community; they provided protection for children walking to and from school.

School children--Dupont; Dupont School Patrol (Dupont);

Bob Keister appears to be preparing to punt as the Lincoln High School sophomore practices with his varsity teammates on November 1, 1955. Besides lettering in football, Keister also was on the successful Sophomore Blacks basketball team and on the Reserve baseball roster. By the time his career concluded at Lincoln, Keister also lettered in varsity baseball as a pitcher and served as Hi-Y president. (1956 Lincolnian yearbook, p.52, p.63, p. 66; 1958 Lincolnian yearbook, p. 23)

Football players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Keister, Robert;

Royal Magnus takes a stance as the letterman prepares for another season of Lincoln football. Lincoln had another successful year as it rebounded from losing all but three first-stringers to winning the City Title and splitting the Capitol League crown with Olympia High School. Magnus would also participate in the decathlon intramurals, Hi-Y Club, and the Forestry Club. (1956 Lincolnian, p. 53, 71, 117, 120) TPL-8473

Football players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Magnus, Royal;

Preparing for a run, Jim E. Jones cradles the football with both hands as he poses for a November 1, 1955, photograph. Jones was on the varsity squad at Lincoln High School. Lincoln suffered only one loss in the 1955 season which was to the co-titlist Olympia High School Bears. Jim E. Jones also served as the manager of the varsity track team. (1956 Lincolnian yearbook, p. 51, 69)

Football players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Jones, Jim E.;

Halfback Harry Harper has a firm grip on the football in this November 1, 1955, photograph. Harper, of Lincoln High School, was a "clutch" player known for his hard running, jarring blocking and alert defense. He scored 10 touchdowns his senior year and was named to the All-Capitol League first team. He was also honored by the Tacoma Lions Club with their second annual "Outstanding Player" award. He was an instrumental part in Lincoln's 19-0 victory over Stadium on Thanksgiving Day 1955. (1956 Lincolnian yearbook, p. 50, p. 53-54)

Football players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Harper, Harry;

These six young ladies, members of the Gault Junior High School Orchestra, would be participating in the school's talent program on December 8, 1955. From left to right: Anita Johnson, Carillon Shull, Diane Eggleston, Gretchen Kooley, Pam Potucek and Judy Shull. All the musicians have white blouses with small dark scarves, dark skirts and emblems denoting their membership in the school orchestra. (TNT 11-27-1955, D-11)

Gault Junior High School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Musicians--Tacoma--1950-1960; Johnson, Anita; Shull, Carillon; Eggleston, Diane; Kooley, Gretchen; Potucek, Pam; Shull, Judy;

A classroom of beaming young girls greet the photographer on December 8, 1955. This was one of the primary grades at Annie Wright Seminary. The little girls are all wearing uniforms with white collars. Sandra Cheney, daughter of Ben Cheney, is seated on the extreme right, last seat. Sepia photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

School children--Tacoma--1950-1960; Classrooms--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Private schools--Tacoma; Cheney Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Cheney, Sandra;