Flowers and ferns on display, courtesy of the Tacoma Garden Club, at the Winthrop Hotel, on May 25, 1929. This was the fifth annual spring flower show sponsored by the group. G26.1-118

Flower shows--Tacoma--1920-1930; Exhibitions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The third annual 'mum show held at the Hotel Winthrop on November 12, 1929, showcased fall flowers from many Tacoma firms including the above lovely display of chrysanthemums from Tschunko, "House of Flowers." Tschunko's, located at 5001 Pacific Avenue, had been in business there since 1906. G26.1-117 (TNT 11-9-29, p. 3-article; TNT 11-12-29, p. 14-article)

Chrysanthemums--Tacoma; Flower shows--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Tschunko's House of Flowers (Tacoma); Florist shops--Tacoma--1920-1930;

This column has been labeled #38 to be used in the construction of the Winthrop Hotel, Tacoma's new showcase. Built on the site of the old Chamber of Commerce Building, the eleven story hotel had been funded by 2300 citizens, making it truly the "citizen's hotel." It would open in May of 1925.

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma)--Construction; Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930; Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Construction - Winthrop Hotel. This steel column has been labeled #5 and would be used in the building of the Winthrop Hotel at 9th & Broadway in 1924. The column is believed to have been manufactured by the Star Iron & Steel Co. of Tacoma.

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma)--Construction; Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Interior of Kokura restaurant. The next major improvement to the Winthrop Hotel would be the Kokura restaurant in the summer of 1964. Named after Tacoma's sister-city, Kokura, Japan, it would serve only authentic Japanese food prepared and served by Japanese. Located on the Broadway level of the Winthrop, there was seating for 40. Shoji screens would divide the dining areas, providing both privacy and atmosphere. As a glimpse into a dining room shows, customers would sit on thick padded cushions placed on tatami mats. Stone lanterns and simplistic naturalistic decor would add to the serene environment. Photograph ordered by the Winthrop Hotel. (TNT 5-10-64, B-10)

Kokura Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970; Dining rooms--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

This is what the exterior of the Kokura Restaurant looked like in October of 1964. It had opened during the past summer in the Winthrop Hotel with its entrance on Broadway. The restaurant specialized in fine Japanese cuisine served in an atmosphere reflecting its origins. Kokura was named in honor of Tacoma's city-sister in Japan. It would remain open until about 1970 when the hotel was sold.

Kokura Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

These participants at the 20th annual West Coast conference of the Women's Traffic & Transportation Club appear to be having fun during their three-day February convention at the Winthrop Hotel. All attention seems to be focused on the beribboned walking box with "antennae" and shimmering legs. Tacoma Mayor A.L. Rasmussen welcomed conferees to the evening's banquet. Photograph ordered by the Women's Traffic & Transportation Club of Tacoma. (TNT 2-18-68, D-1, D-11)

Meetings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Costumes;

Employees of Columbia Breweries enjoyed their annual Christmas banquet on December 18, 1952. It was held in the Wedgwood Room in the Winthrop Hotel. View of crowded dining room; it appears that guests were enjoying roast beef dinners.

Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

A large group of well-dressed women gathered on March 24, 1963, for the charter installation of the second Tacoma chapter of the American Business Women's Association at the Winthrop Hotel. Vice-president Mrs. Theodore Kagarice and president Mrs. H.W. Akam display the ABWA banner. The ABWA was formed nationally in 1949 with the aim of bringing together businesswomen of diverse occupations and offering support in professional development and career advancement. (TNT 3-26-63, p. 12)

Meetings--Tacoma--1960-1970; American Business Women's Association (Tacoma);

The chef at the Winthrop Hotel's Sabre Room was armed with bow and arrow and apparently had plenty of support from four unidentified women dressed in "Robin Hood" costumes in this March 10, 1962, photograph. Each woman clutched a sabre, blade pointing downward. The Sabre Room, created by internationally known restaurateur Trader Vic, opened in 1949. It was designed to look like an old-English tap room and featured an authentic tavern menu, including roast beef cooked in rock salt, barbecued ribs, steak and kidney pie and trifle for desert.

Daggers & swords; Bow (Archery); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970; Sabre Room (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Photographers gathered in July of 1962 at the Winthrop Hotel for the Professional Photographers of Washington convention in order to exchange tips of the trade and listen to experts in the field. Guest lecturer Victor Keppler (second from left) is shown working with unidentified photographers in demonstrating how to light clear glass goblets on a glass table. Mr. Keppler was a famous commercial photographer from the East Coast. (TNT 7-2-62, p. 11-article on convention)

Meetings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Photographers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Keppler, Victor; Cameras;

Victor Keppler, well-known national commercial photographer, was a special guest at the Professional Photographers of Washington convention here in Tacoma in July of 1962. He is shown working with a young woman dressed in plaid, believed to be Lynda Pederson of Tacoma who was employed by Morley Studios, 720 Pacific Avenue, at the Seattle's World Fair. In his addresses to convention attendees, he advised his fellow photographers to continually experiment in order to keep ideas flowing and not stagnant. A photographer since the 1920s, Mr. Keppler worked with the nation's largest advertising agencies as well as cover photos for the Saturday Evening Post. He founded the Famous Photographers School in Westport, Conn., in 1961 which attracted such famed photographers as Richard Avedon, Alfred Eisenstardt, and Richard Beattie as guiding faculty. (www.luminous-lint.com/app/photographer/Victor_Keppler/A/)

Meetings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Photographers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Keppler, Victor; Fashion models--Tacoma--1960-1970;

ca. 1973. 1973 Richards stock footage. An Allied Mobile Powerwash truck is parked outside the Winthrop in 1973 as it prepares to clean the exterior of the former landmark hotel. The Winthrop, built in 1925, had closed its doors in early August of 1971. It was converted into senior/elderly apartments to be opened in August of 1973.

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Cleaning--Tacoma--1970-1980;

National Home Shows, Inc., president and promoter Patrick O'Toole appeared a little perplexed at the sight of a recalcitrant leprechaun trapped in the strings of a full-sized Irish harp in March of 1969. Mr. O'Toole was in town for the upcoming Tacoma Home Show, an event that he had been involved with for the past 23 years. He usually made sure that his yearly trip to Tacoma coincided with St. Patrick's Day. The home show, opening on March 25th, was expected to be the "biggest ever in Tacoma," according to Mr. O'Toole. Thousands of discount tickets were available to those eager to see the latest innovations in home and yard decor. Photograph ordered by National Home Shows, Inc. (TNT 3-16-69, B-10)

O'Toole, Patrick; Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma); Harps;

The Tacoma Stamp Club met for a banquet in the Winthrop Hotel's Bayview room on May 31, 1969. A scroll was displayed, believed to be signed by charter members of the club, as well as a book entitled " A History of Stamp Taxes and a Catalogue of Revenue Stamps of the Phillipines" by Arnold Warren. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Stamp Club.

Tacoma Stamp Club (Tacoma); Scrolls (Visual works); Books;

Students from Fife High School take over the dance floor of the Crystal Ballroom in the Winthrop Hotel to "Shake, rattle and roll" on April 18, 1970, for their annual Junior-Senior prom. About 50 couples attended the spring function with girls dressed in long formals with corsages and boys in suits and ties adorned with boutonnieres. Photograph ordered by Fife High School.

Rock & roll dancing; Dance--Tacoma--1970-1980; Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1970-1980; Students--Fife; Fife High School (Fife); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Dining at the Three Keys. A young couple enjoy the elaborate food preparation at their table while dining at the elegant Three Keys restaurant, Winthrop Hotel, on October 30, 1970. The tuxedoed head waiter carefully monitors the flaming dish. The Winthrop's main dining room had been re-named the Three Keys in 1963 to stand for the three keys to fine dining: excellent service, precisely prepared foods, and properly aged wines. Color photograph ordered by Jay Rockey Public Relations, Seattle.

Three Keys (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1970-1980; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Waiters--Tacoma--1970-1980; Cookery--Tacoma--1970-1980;

On February 16, 1936, Lou Henry (Mrs. Herbert) Hoover, wife of the former President and honorary national president of the Girl Scouts, met with the scouts of Tacoma-Pierce County. She presented the Golden Eaglet badge, the highest award in scouting, to Dorothy Bachelor during a ceremony in the Crystal Ballroom of Tacoma's Winthrop Hotel. Helen Cannon (left) and Dorothy Hitchcock of the Mariner ship "Spray" were guards of honor for the ceremony. (T. Times, 2/17/1936, p. 9).

Presidents' spouses; Hoover, Lou Henry, 1875-1944; Girl Scouts (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Bachelor, Dorothy; Cannon, Helen; Hitchcock, Dorothy;

On Saturday, June 5, 1937, over 1,000 Shriners gathered in Tacoma for a Spring reunion sponsored by Tacoma's Afifi Temple. Afifi temple drum major Tom Richards, third from left, posed for a photograph in front of the Winthrop Hotel with "mascot" Marjorie Joy (also known as Marjie Joy) Miller, a Shirley Temple look-a-like, dressed in a drum majorette costume. Other band members identified, order unknown, were Guy Stone and Alex Rabstoff. Mr. Richards was a longtime drum major for the Tacoma Shrine Band and a mayor of Tenino. As an adult, Marjie moved to Hollywood and achieved fame as an actress and dancer under the name Marjie Millar. (T.Times 6/7/1937 p.16)

Drum majors; Drum majorettes; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Miller, Marjie Joy; Actresses; Millar, Marjie; Richards, Tom;

International-style Reserves Officers Military Ball, held February 18, 1939 at the Crystal Ballroom of the Winthrop Hotel. Miss Elsie Lough, of Vancouver, holds court from atop a chair, teasing the officers surrounding her. Enjoying her witty repartee are, left to right, Lt. Fowles of Olympia, liaison officer of the 248th Coast Artillery, Miss Sue Devlin of Tacoma, Capt. Graeme Gibson (dressed in MacKenzie tartan kilts) of the 72nd Seaforth Highlanders, Col. A. W. McMorris of Tacoma, and Robert Sconce. (T. Times, 2/20/1939, p. 1).

Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ball dresses; Military uniforms; Scotland--Clothing & dress; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Devlin, Sue; Gibson, Graeme; Lough, Elsie; McMorris, A.W.; Sconce, Robert E.;

Reserve Officers International Military Ball held February 18, 1939 at the Hotel Winthrop's Crystal Ballroom. Major Harold E. Snider, of Vancouver, B.C., dressed in kilts, and wife as well as Mrs. Nelson Lynde and Colonel A. W. Melchoir, of the Tacoma Reserve Officers group, are shown arriving at Winthrop Hotel for the dance. The ball was to be attended by regular and reserve officers of all military branches in Tacoma, Seattle, Olympia and surrounding cities, as well as select Canadian regiments. Canada was sending officer representatives of the Seaforth Highlanders, British Columbia Hussars and Irish Fusiliers. All of the officers were resplendent in their elaborate dress uniforms. (T. Times, 2/20/1939, p. 1)

Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ball dresses; Military uniforms; Scotland--Clothing & dress; Snider, Harold--Family; Melchoir, A.W.; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

One of the most anticipated social events for the younger set in 1938 was the "Club of Hearts" yearly formal ball held in the Winthrop Hotel's Crystal Ballroom on December 26, 1938. Helen Feek, Lorraine Ronquist, Sheryl Nyman, and Marcelle Patrick smilingly glance back over their shoulders to have their picture taken. The young ladies are all wearing lovely evening gowns and corsages. (T. Times, 12/31/1938, p. 4).)

Club of Hearts (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Feek, Helen; Ronquist, Lorraine; Nyman, Sheryl; Patrick, Marcelle; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The Crystal Ballroom at the Hotel Winthrop was the site of the November 25, 1938, College of Puget Sound Sigma Mu Chi fraternity and Kappa Sigma Theta sorority formal dance. One couple sitting on edge of table catch-up on events with another couple who is just arriving. Streamline formals seem to have been popular that year as well as marcelled hairdos. (T. Times, 12-3-38, p. 9).

Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1930-1940; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Sigma Mu Chi Chapter (Tacoma); Kappa Sigma Theta (Tacoma); Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Marquis Dance at the Winthrop Hotel. Conductor Stan Miskowski leading the Washingtonians, a 7-piece orchestra. Dated April 16, 1938.

Musicians--Tacoma--1930-1940; Orchestras--Tacoma--1930-1940; Conducting--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Dance parties--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Women's fashions shown at the Winthrop Hotel. Unidentified woman wearing a dark dress, hat and pumps is seated on a bench beside a floral display. This is possibly the Young Men's Business Club (Y.M.B.C.) luncheon and fashion show scheduled for March 11, 1938, at the Winthrop. (Also dated 3/8/1938).

Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fashion shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

ca. 1938. Presidential Suite at Winthrop Hotel with dining set for 8 in center and sofa, several chairs, and stools for sitting. Building by W.E. Stoddard and Roland Bohrek, Associated Architects, 1924.

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The Jubilee Princesses smile brightly at the Winthrop Hotel after the preliminary round of selection for the Jubilee Queen, held on June 26, 1939. The resulting six finalists, pictured here, were selected from a field of 26. The winner will be declared Jubilee Hostess Queen and the runner up Miss Pierce County. The remaining four princesses will reign over the four principal features of the celebration: the pageant, air show, water carnival and Mardi Gras festival, also called the "Village of Nations." The girls are, left to right, Elizabeth Johnson, Lucille Courtney, Amy Lou Murray (elected Queen), Kathleen Hurley, Margaret Franich (elected Miss Pierce County) and Venette Maybin. (T. Times 6/27/1939, pg. 1)

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Franich, Margaret; Murray, Amy Lou; Johnson, Elizabeth; Courtney, Lucille; Hurley, Kathleen; Maybin, Venette;

Wauna Club dance on the Roof Garden at the Hotel Winthrop. Several people stand under a rainbow arch. The women are holding gifts of pottery. Woman in striped skirt is Mrs. Carroll C. Carlson. (T. Times, 4/29/1939, p. 7)

Wauna Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940;