ca. 1959. Aerial of Annie Wright Seminary in the North End of Tacoma. The heavily wooded area to the right is Garfield Park. The school is bounded by this park, Tacoma Ave North and No. 10th. Commencement Bay can be seen in the background of the picture. The school moved to this Gothic building in 1924 and remains there today. The girls' school offered grades Kindergarten through high school. In 1959, the college preparatory school had 300 students. It opened in 1884 with a total of 46 students under the guidance of founder Rt. Rev. John Adams Paddock. 1958-59 was the Seminary's Golden Jubilee, celebrating 75 years of achievement. (TNT 4/7/1959, pg. C-14)

Private schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boarding schools--Tacoma; Parks--Tacoma; Cities & towns--Tacoma; Neighborhoods--Tacoma; Aerial photographs; Aerial views; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--Buildings; Garfield Park (Tacoma);

Sixteen youngsters pose outside Annie Wright Seminary in March, 1963, for annual class pictures. These were members of the K-5 kindergarten group as eight little boys are included. Annie Wright accepted boys in this age group but girls only in later grades. L-R listed from the 1963 Annie Wright yearbook: First row: Nicholas Malden, William Rabe, Paul Rush, Caroline Wiborg, Rebecca Scott, Valerie Graves, Ann Rhea, Steven Crounse. Second row: Courtney Reid, Katherine Hokanson, George Buell, John Holl, Rodney Rosenthal, Jan Savini, Scott Dickman, Greta Simonson. (1963: The Shield, p. 29)

School children--Tacoma--1960-1970; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1960-1970; Private schools--Tacoma;

ca. 1964. Students at Annie Wright Seminary. Small classes were the norm at Annie Wright. These 13 little girls were in the lower school at Annie Wright. Dressed in school uniform and saddle shoes, they posed for their Class 2 picture in early 1964 in the school library. According to the Shield yearbook, they were: (L-R) Katherine Wilson, Deborah Owen, Thea Wickstrom, Laura Jones, Wendy Sanford, Lisa Weyerhaeuser, Susan Ellison, Margaret Ann Swain, Christina Gratzer, Jaynee Crepin, Lorie Long, Elaine Cashar, and Elizabeth Merrill. With the group was Mrs. J.C. Chapman. Photograph ordered by Annie Wright Seminary. (1964 Shield, p. 10)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1960-1970; Private schools--Tacoma; School children--Tacoma--1960-1970; Uniforms;

Dance at Annie Wright Seminary. Annie Wright students and their dates clasp hands and parade in circles under flower garlands during their Junior Prom on April 30, 1966. This is possibly the "Grand March." The girls are dressed in long evening gowns with many wearing elbow-length gloves. The boys have tuxes or suits; all seem to have flower boutonnieres. The large room is believed to be the school's Great Hall. Photograph ordered by Annie Wright Seminary.

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1960-1970; Private schools--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1960-1970; Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Circa 1930.

Raynor Chapel. This is an interior view of Raynor Chapel at Annie Wright Seminary in March of 1925. A narrow wood pathway leads between the rows of wooden pews to the alcove containing the altar with stained glass window above. An open beamed ceiling accentuates the heavy use of wood inside the chapel. Raynor Chapel was erected in honor of Mrs. Amanda Raynor, vice-president of the school for many years. Jesse Thomas donated the stained glass window in memory of his wife. The Tacoma Rotary Club presented the school with the altar as a gift. (See A1034, image 1, for additional view of the chapel's interior)

Private schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Raynor Chapel (Tacoma);

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;