Anna Roosevelt Boettiger (seated center), daughter of President and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, at a May, 1937, Junior Women's Club luncheon in her honor at the Winthrop Hotel. To her left is her secretary Rosemary Meagher, to her right is Sally Sicade.

Halsted, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt Dall Boettiger, 1906-1975; Boettiger, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt Dall, 1906-1975; Public speaking--Tacoma; Sicade, Sally; Meagher, Rosemary; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Junior Women's Club (Tacoma);

Beatrice (Mrs. Harry) Houdini, dressed in a long white coat and hat, photographed at the Hotel Winthrop where she is a guest. She is standing beside an elaborate table on which an ornate potted palm has been placed. Mrs. Houdini was visiting in Tacoma after attending the convention of the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians in Seattle the prior week. As Harry Houdini's assistant for 42 years, she was the only living person who knew all the secrets of his famous tricks and she wasn't giving any away. Houdini had not been able to perform his greatest trick after death, the communication to his wife of a prearranged word and message psychically from the "Beyond." Mrs. Houdini planned the "Seance to end all seances" for October 31, the 10th anniversary of his death. Psychics would be linked by radio coast to coast in a psychic circle to wait for the message, but none came. (T. Times 7/14/1936, pg. 3)

Magicians; Houdini, Harry--Family; Houdini, Beatrice;

ca. 1926. Lesson in Friendship by Tacoma Knights of Pythias at the Crystal Ballroom of the Winthrop Hotel. The fraternal order was founded in 1864 by Justus H. Rathbone on the principles of friendship, charity and benevolence, or "FCB" the letters inscribed on the triangles that make up the group's emblem. One of the main themes in the group's ceremonies is the fast friendship of Damon and Pythias. (filed with Argentum)

Knights of Pythias, Commencement Lodge #7 (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Lou Henry (Mrs. Herbert) Hoover, Honorary Vice- President of the Girl Scouts, greets a line of Scouts during a ceremony in the Crystal Ballroom of Tacoma's Hotel Winthrop. She appears to be holding back a smile at an eager young Scout. Mrs. Hoover addressed the crowd and presented a coveted "Golden Eaglet" award. ALBUM 1.

Presidents' spouses; Hoover, Lou Henry, 1875-1944; Girl Scouts (Tacoma);

ca. 1920. View of 9th and Broadway taken from the roof of the Medical Arts Building. Night scene showing the Winthrop Hotel (773 Broadway), left, and an illuminated Pantages Theater (901 Broadway) building.

Aerial photographs; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930; Pantages Theater (Tacoma);

Publicity for Army-Air Corps baseball game, taken at Winthrop Hotel. Frank Gillihan of the Y.M.B.C., McChord Field Morale Officer Capt. R.L. Bell, Mayor Harry P. Cain and 41st Division Morale Officer Capt. Cal Butterworth hold a friendly conversation on September 2, 1941. Mr. Gillihan had just succeeded in selling Mayor Cain a ticket to the September 9th match between the Army All-Stars and McChord Bombers. The Young Men's Business Club were the sponsors of the event. The Army team would go on to defeat McChord 3-2 in the pouring rain. (TNT 9-5-41, p. 17, 9-10-41, p. 11)

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Gillihan, Frank J.; Butterworth, Cal; Bell, R.L.;

The new officers for the Spinster Club pose on the roof of the Winthrop Hotel. The Medical Arts Building can be seen in the background. The Spinster Club was a social club composed of prominent young Tacoma girls. The officers for the coming year were, left to right, Lea Mills (president), Ann Baillargeon (vice pres.), Virginia Austin (secretary) and Valdene Hazelton (treasurer.) (T. Times 3/15/1941, pg. 5)

Spinster Club (Tacoma); Mills, Lea; Baillargeon, Ann; Austin, Virginia; Hazelton, Valdene;

Eleanor Wilson McAdoo, second from left, daughter of the late President Woodrow Wilson, visited Tacoma on June 10, 1942 for a War Bond rally at Jason Lee School. She was pictured with Mayor Harry Cain (left), an unidentified woman and Pierce County War Bonds chairman Leon Titus (right) at the Winthrop Hotel. Mrs. McAdoo held the lengthy title of Regional Advisor of Women's Activities of the War Savings Stamps and Bonds Staff, operating under the Treasury Dept. in Washington D.C. During World War I, she had served in a similar position, with a shorter title, Chairman of the Liberty Loan Drive, under her father. In Tacoma, she spoke on opportunities for women to help raise funds for the current war. At the meeting, a Tacoma and Pierce County Chapter of the Women's League for War Savings was formed. (T. Times 6/9/1942, pg. 2; 6/11/42, pg. 11)

McAdoo, Eleanor Wilson; Wilson, Woodrow--Family; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Titus, Leon E.; War bonds & funds; World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma;

Johnny Sheffield, "Boy" in the "Tarzan" films, attends to his studies with tutor Fletcher Clark at the Winthrop Hotel. Sheffield was in Tacoma for an appearance to sell War Bonds. Fletcher Clark was the former teacher of child star Mickey Rooney. (TNT 6/16/1942)

Sheffield, Johnny; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clark, Fletcher; Tutoring; Teachers;

Actress Lana Turner arrives at the Winthrop Hotel in Titus Motor Company's 1923 Lincoln Touring during her visit to Tacoma for a War Bond rally. Mayor Harry P. Cain is to her left. The woman in sunglasses holding a white hat is her mother, Mildred Turner. Miss Turner, a popular actress, would be appearing at the dedication of the new Liberty Center downtown to personally autograph bond applications made during the noon ceremony. Big bond purchasers would be the recipients of kisses from Miss Turner. The bond drive was to be a huge success with over $120,000 sold in 24 hours.

Turner, Lana, 1920-1995; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lincoln automobile; Actresses;

Exterior view of the Winthrop Hotel, ca. 1939. Neon sign for the Roxy (Pantages) on right. Tower of the old City Hall building in background left. (filed with Argentum)

Hotels--Tacoma; Business districts--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Exterior view of the Winthrop Hotel, ca. 1939, from Commerce St. (filed with Argentum)

Hotels--Tacoma; Business districts--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Crowd at banquet honoring Norwegian Crown Prince Olav and Princess Martha at the Winthrop Hotel on May 23, 1939. Waitresses in traditional black and white uniforms serve guests at round banquet tables. (Filed with Argentum)

Olav V, 1903-1991; Rulers--Norway; Visits of state--Tacoma; Banquets--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Harold D. Hayward, in the center of the front row, holds the autographed bottle of 1917 Hennessey Five Star cognac that will go to the survivor of the Last Man Club. The members of the Club were World War I veterans and past Commanders of the American Legion, Edward B. Rhodes Post No.2, since its organization in 1919. The second annual meeting, pictured, was held Dec. 4th, 1939 and following meetings scheduled for the first Monday of December each successive year. The flag draped chairs represent deceased members of the Last Man Club. Dr. John C. Siegle, Mayor of Tacoma, was the first to pass on after the club was formed in December of 1938 and the other flag was for Dr. E. A. Rich, who died before the club's inception. Present at the meeting are, back row, left to right: Earl Clifford, A.C. Bjornstad, George A. Allen, Dr. Henry Minton, Charles F. Davidson and Howard Carothers. Middle row: Robert Goldberg, Lee Carter, Robert B. Abel, Leo Barton and Herbert Ward. Seated: Dr. Hinton D. Jonez, Frank T. Callender, Hayward, L.E. Wilkeson and Albert R. Whitman. Capt. Chester Chastek (not pictured) became the sole survivor on Feb. 16, 1992 after the death of Tacoma resident Paul O. Brown. He was 92. He later died Feb. 23, 1997 at the age of 97. He retrieved the bottle from its safe deposit box at Puget Sound Bank, but abstained from the farewell toast. He was a teetotaler. (T. Times 12/5/1939, pg. 10; TNT 2/18/1992, pg. 1)

American Legion Club (Tacoma); Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1930-1940; Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Flags--United States; Jonez, Hinton D.; Last Man Club (Tacoma);

Harry P. Cain, in evening clothes, chats with two military officers in formal uniforms and two ladies in gowns during the November 18, 1939, Reserve Officers' Ball at the Winthrop Hotel. Mr. Cain, a Reservist since 1925, was a candidate for mayor at the time. He would be elected mayor in March, 1940. After war was declared, Mayor Cain would be on active duty from 1943-1945 in Europe. ALBUM 12.

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Uniforms;

1939 Junior Women's Club Dance at the Winthrop Hotel. Man in suit with bow tie graciously retrieves coats from coat checker for four women dressed in formal gowns.

Dance parties--Tacoma--1930-1940; Junior Women's Club (Tacoma); Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940; Coats; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

On March 30, 1940, the Girls Advertising Club played hostess at a gala "Pot O' Gold" dance in the Roof Garden of the Hotel Winthrop. Portrait of three men and two women, all unidentified, at the dance. All three well-dressed men are wearing daffodil boutonnieres in their lapels. The two women, seated, are holding flowers, possibly daffodils. Advertisements behind them for Brown & Haley, Avon and GE. (T. Times 4/6/1940, pg. 4- different photos, same series)

Women--Clothing & dress--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Girls Advertising Club (Tacoma);

Several members of the Women's Auxiliary of the Young Men's Business Club (Y.M.B.C.) met in the Winthrop Hotel's presidential suite in October of 1940 to plan the decorations for the upcoming annual autumn party. That year a "Harvest Hop" cabaret dance would take place in the Crystal Ballroom of the Winthrop Hotel on November 9th with proceeds benefiting the Jessie Dyslin Boys Ranch, a favorite project of both the women's auxiliary and the Young Men's Business Club. For the last ten years both spring and fall benefits went toward support of the Dyslin Ranch. From left to right were: Mrs. Jerry Geehan, Jr., Mrs. Amos Booth, Mrs. Thor C. Tollefson, Mrs. Samuel L. Crippen and committee chair Mrs. Richard Feix. They discussed decorations comprised of autumn leaves, golden pumpkins and berried pyracantha. Jerry Geehan, Jr., president of the Y.M.B.C., would serve as the evening's master of ceremonies. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger 10-27-1940, 2-B-alt. photo)

Committees--Tacoma--1940-1950; Young Men's Business Club, Women's Auxiliary (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Geehan, Jerry--Family; Booth, Amos--Family; Tollefson, Thor C., 1901-1982--Family; Crippen, S.L.--Family; Feix, Richard--Family;

It's "thumbs up" at the Canadian Legion Reunion Banquet at the Hotel Winthrop. Canadian and British aviators were the honored guests. Canada entered the war against German in 1939, only a few days after England. The "thumbs up" showed support of the war effort. The Royal Canadian Legion is the largest veterans organization in Canada and maintains branches in the U.S. and Germany. The man in the center of the rear row is reported to be C.A. (Pat) Erskine, Irishman.

Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Canadian Legion (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Fisher's style show. The model, Patricia Clarke, shows a two piece suit to a table of women still seated at their lunch table. The suit shows the fashionable lower hem length. The jacket has large, decorative buttons and an extra decorative flap at the shoulder. The model wears a dark hat with veil and carries a dark handbag and gloves. The show took place at the newly opened Wedgewood Room at the top of the Hotel Winthrop. The style show drew several hundred women to view the Fay Fray styles from Fisher's. (T.Times, 2/20/1948, p.11)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Fashion shows--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fashion models--Tacoma; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The Tacoma Chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartets was having their annual meeting at the Hotel Winthrop. The Tacoma Chapter is part of a national organization which includes President Harry Truman among its distinguished members. View of Barbershop members who attended the annual meeting, 40 men were expected to attend (T. Times, 4/10/47, p. 10).

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma; Barbershop quartets; Singing--Tacoma; Meetings--Tacoma; Society for the Preservation & Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartets (Tacoma);

Dr. Hinton D. Jonez (back row, 2nd from left) holds the bottle of cognac that will go to the last survivor of the Past Commanders' Last Man Club of the Edward B. Rhodes Post No.2, American Legion. Each year the post membership feted the post commanders at a banquet. The banquet for November 1945 was held in the Army and Navy Room at the Hotel Winthrop. The six flag draped chairs represent the six past commanders who had died before 1945. Names listed. (T.Times, 11/28/1945, p.7)

American Legion Club (Tacoma); Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flags--United States; Jonez, Hinton D.; Last Man Club (Tacoma);

October, 1945, portrait of Tacoma boxer Freddie Steele, former United States and National Boxing Association middleweight champion. In a professional career that started when he was 15 in 1927, Freddie Steele only lost 5 of 133 bouts. He lost his title to Seattle's Al Hostak at that city's Civic Stadium on July 26th, 1938, and later became an actor in films. At the time of this October 2, 1945, photograph taken at the Winthrop Hotel, Freddie Steele was on the last leg of a nationwide tour to promote "The Story of G.I.Joe," a motion picture based on the experiences of war correspondent Ernie Pyle. Steele's role of a tough army sergeant had garnered praise from many critics. A group of old-time friends joined the former boxer at a luncheon arranged by John Hamrick theaters' manager, Will Conner. ALBUM 9. (T.Times 10-3-45, p. 11, TNT 10-3-45, p. 14)

Steele, Freddie, 1912-1984; Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma boxer Freddie Steele, former middleweight champion 1936-1938, and Lt.Col. Roy Murray at the Winthrop Hotel on October 2, 1945, during a visit to promote the film "The Story of GI Joe." Col. Murray was technical advisor on the film and also played an army chaplain. He bumped into Mr. Steele after filming as he, Col. Murray, was doing recruiting in the Pacific Northwest. Mr. Steele had won critical praise for his role as Sgt. Steve Warnicki, a veteran affected deeply by the trauma of war. Many longtime friends of Mr. Steele including boxing managers Joe Waterman and Jack Connor, were in attendance at the special luncheon held at the Winthrop. ALBUM 9. (T.Times 10-3-45, p. 11, TNT 10-3-45, p. 14)

Steele, Freddie, 1912-1984; Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Murray, Roy;

Tacoma boxer Freddie Steele, former middleweight champion 1936-38, shakes hands with an unidentified man at the Winthrop Hotel during an October, 1945, visit to promote the film "The Story of GI Joe" in which he played a shell-shocked Army sergeant. About twenty longtime friends of Mr. Steele joined him in a special luncheon at the Winthrop which had been arranged by theater manager Will Conner. Tacoma was the last leg of a nationwide tour in which Mr. Steele had been making personal appearances on stage to promote the war-themed film. Arrangements to show the movie in Tacoma were in the works and it was hoped that the former boxer would be able to attend. ALBUM 9. (T.Times 10-3-45, p. 11, TNT 10-3-45, p. 14)

Steele, Freddie, 1912-1984; Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shaking hands--Tacoma;

Exterior of the Hotel Winthrop for North Pacific Bank note. The building is ten stories on the front facing Broadway, made of stone on the lower floors and brick above. At the top is a separate roof line, perhaps a penthouse. The busy street below shows automobiles, pedestrians and a bus. The first floor houses a shoe store, men's apparel. Heading down 9th Street is the entrance to the Coffee Shop and the Fountain Lunch counter.

Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The Wauna Club's November 11, 1946, ball was hosted with a county fair theme. The ball was held at the Crystal Ballroom at the Hotel Winthrop. L-R, Dale Kiehl, Mada Rieflin, Chick Kiehl (chair for the dance committee), and Bill Rieflin (president of the Wauna Club) stand beneath a sign, "Welcome Wauna County Fair". (T.Times, 11/2/1946, p.16)

Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Wauna Club (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950; Couples--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dance parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Kiehl, Dale; Kiehl, Chick; Rieflin, William; Rieflin, Mada;

Westinghouse Appliance Show at Winthrop Hotel, Westinghouse Electrical Supply Company, Betty Dahl. Two combination radio/phonographs encased in beautiful wooden cabinets are shown in this view in a home-like setting. Westinghouse advertised "crystal-clear reproduction of programs and records with Rainbow Tone FM, a Rainbow Dial, Full-width record storage space holds 52 albums or 360 singles".

Westinghouse Electric Co. (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Radios; Phonographs;

Douglas Fir Plywood Association held their annual meeting to discuss the Douglas Fir plywood industry at the Winthrop Hotel. Douglas Fir plywood is the "Wood of 1000 Uses", used in houses, advertising, boats, and many other products. View of "Growth of Douglas Fir Plywood Industry" chart, the chart covers war restrictions imposed in 1942, war restrictions lifted in 1945, DFPA promotion developed in 1935 and intensified in 1938, DFPA forming and advertising.

Charts; Presentation drawings (Proposals); Advertising--Tacoma; Meetings--Tacoma; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Douglas Fir Plywood Association held their annual meeting to discuss the Douglas Fir plywood industry at the Winthrop Hotel. View of "Sales Promotion Projects" chart, media advertising, publicity, literature, direct mail to architects, builders and dealers, and movies are all listed as ways to promote Douglas Fir plywood. DFPA discussed the benefits of turning douglas fir logs into plywood and shared the many research and testing that is continuously taking place to assure quality products.

Charts; Presentation drawings (Proposals); Advertising--Tacoma; Meetings--Tacoma; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);