May Day festivities, Annie Wright Seminary. One of the biggest social activities at Annie Wright was that annual rite of spring, May Day. A May Day queen would be crowned in the midst of performances and activities for parents and students. The queen was traditionally a senior and her maid of honor a junior. These girls appear to be middle school age students, dressed in matching polka dot skirts. They will possibly be performing for the festivities, using the umbrellas. (TNT 5/20/1956, pg. D-1)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Private schools--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma--1950-1960;

May Day festivities, Annie Wright Seminary. The young girls in the front wear dark sweaters, white blouses and either dark skirts or pants. They appear to be dancing the hokey pokey or the bunny hop in front of the ivy covered walls. The piano accompanist can be seen behind the railing. The woman to the left leaning against the railing in the picture hat is possibly Headmistress Ruth Jenkins. (TNT 5/20/1956, pg. D-1)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Private schools--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Some of the hi-jinks of the annual Annie Wright Seminary's Dad's Day. Five upper class girls in matching dark blouses and white shorts and one brightly attired Dad perform a high kick routine to the delight of uniformed girls, their Dads and Headmistress Ruth Jenkins, at the bottom right of picture. Families were invited to the school for this special annual event and activities were planned for the students and their Dads.

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

Pacific Lutheran College's May Festival. Eight formally attired couples perform a circle dance. The student orchestra looks on, as does the grandstand seating as the couples, some with hands on hips, put their best foot forward in the dance. The program for May Festival included a demonstration of folk art, such as dancing, from the countries of Lithuania, Sweden, Russia, German, Spain and the U.S. The entertainment also included music played by the band with vocal accompaniment. (The 1956 yearbook "Saga")

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Festivals--Parkland--1950-1960; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1950-1960; Folk dancing--Parkland--1950-1960;

Pacific Lutheran College's May Festival. Eight couples perform a folk dance. The entertainment included a demonstration of folk art from Lithuania, Sweden, Russia, Germany, Spain and the U.S. The women are dressed in skirts with contrasting ribboned stripes at the bottom, short vests, white blouses and flower chains in their hair with cascading ribbons. The men are dressed in white shirts and pants with string ties and bright tied scarves at the waist. (The 1956 yearbook "Saga", TNT 4/29/1956, pg. D-2)

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Festivals--Parkland--1950-1960; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1950-1960; Folk dancing--Parkland--1950-1960;

With a shot from varsity track coach Jim Walsh's starting pistol, Lincoln High School speedsters Jerry Elmore, Jeff Terry and Bill Elmore are off their starting blocks for a 100 yard dash in April of 1956. Fellow track members look on from the sidelines. Coach Walsh, in his first year at Lincoln, and Chuck Gilmur, the field coach, had a rough year in 1956. With a team of mostly sophomores and juniors, Lincoln won 1 meet and lost 6. (1956 yearbook, The Lincolnian)

Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Track athletics--Tacoma--1950-1960; Running races--Tacoma--1950-1960; Runners (Sports)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Running; Elmore, Jerry; Terry, Jeff; Elmore, Bill; Walsh, Jim; Coaches (Athletics)--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Lincoln High School reserve track team picture for the yearbook "The Lincolnian." Pictured are bottom row, left to right, Loren Donahue, Don Smith, John Kouklis, William Wilbur. Top row, left to right, Melvin Johnson, Duane DeForest, Dave Jackman, George Pettitt, Dick Elliott, Jim E. Jones. The athletes were called over from a practice to pose for this April, 1956, photograph, on the old cinder track. During his first year as varsity track coach, Jim Walsh, former New Jersey State College athlete, headed up a team consisting mostly of sophomores and juniors. With the assistance of field coach Chuck Gilmur, Walsh tried to bring his team up to speed. Unfortunately, out of 7 track meets, the team won 1 and lost 6. (The 1956 Lincolnian) (Additional information provided by a reader)

Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Track athletics--Tacoma--1950-1960; Donahue, Loren; Smith, Don; Kouklis, John; Wilbur, William; Johnson, Melvin; DeForest, Duane; Jackman, Dave; Pettitt, George; Elliott, Dick; Jones, Jim E.;

Dupont School, picture is labelled baseball team, but team members are wearing basketball uniforms with team jackets. By the fifties, Dupont district drew about 95% of its students from Fort Lewis. The students attended school in Dupont K-9 and attended Clover Park High School for their last three years of study. The boy sitting on the floor second from left has been identified as Ron Ratliff and the one in the second row in the dress shirt as Richard Ludeman. (information provided by a classmate)

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

Professor Gunnar Malmin, Director of Pacific Lutheran College's Choir of the West, stands at the base of the cross composed of choir members in January of 1956. The choir was taking its annual two-week tour through the Pacific Coast states of Washington, Oregon and California where it presented a sacred music-only program. It appeared before many civic organizations and church groups. Besides the tour, the choir also appeared on many radio broadcasts and gave a concert, for the first time, at the state prison. Names of choir members are listed in the 1956 PLC Saga yearbook. Photograph ordered by Pacific Lutheran College. (1956 Saga yearbook, p. 120-alt. photograph)

Choirs (Music); Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Malmin, Gunnar J.; Students--Parkland--1950-1960;

ca. 1955. Framed here in a darkened arch, the combination chapel/music/speech building was the religious and cultural center of the Pacific Lutheran College in Parkland. The groundbreaking for the $750,000 structure was in 1949 and the building was dedicated in May of 1952. Dr. S.C. Eastvold was President of the College. The three story building was built of concrete faced with brick, designed by Lea, Pearson and Richards to harmonize with the new library, science and Student Union buildings. It lay to the west of Old Main, forming a quadrangle with the Science Hall, library and Old Main. It held a large chapel/auditorium that seated 1200 with a oversize stage of 36 x 72 ft., a smaller devotional chapel directly under the 150 ft. spire that held 75, radio and speech studios, 17 piano and 2 organ practice rooms, several music studios, a music library and a small stage. In 1967, it was renamed Eastvold Chapel in honor of the retiring President who oversaw much of the growth of PLC. TPL-8607

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

ca. 1955. Pacific Lutheran College's "Old Main," renamed Harstad Hall in honor of school founder Rev. Bjug Harstad in 1960. PLC was founded in 1890 by Rev. Harstad. Construction on Old Main began in 1891 and the building was opened for use in 1894. At that time, tuition was $1.00 a week and the six story building on the Parkland prairie 40 minutes from Tacoma (by street car or railroad) was the whole school. It housed dormitories, classrooms, library, chapel, offices and the dining hall and kitchen. Over the years, the building has undergone changes. Its famous ivy was removed in 1950 because it was damaging the building. The cafeteria was moved in 1955 to the Student Union and the offices and classrooms moved in 1960 to the new administration building. The entire building was converted to men's dormitory rooms.

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

ca. 1955. Framed in a darkened doorway, the Tudor/Gothic library of the Pacific Lutheran College in Parkland can be seen in the distance. Planned in 1937, when the school had an enrollment of 700 and was a Christian Junior College and Normal School headed by Dr. O.A. Tingelstad, the building was dedicated May of 1939. It was designed by the Architectural firm of Heath, Gove & Bell and Architect E. J. Bresemann. The total cost was $104,000. PLC undertook all development at this time on a debt free basis. Therefore, the reading room and offices were not completed until 10 years later in 1948. Severely cramped by the enlarged student body, the library was replaced in 1967 by Mortvedt Library. The dearly loved original building was remodeled and took on new life as Xavier Hall, housing the social sciences and geology departments.

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

ca. 1955. The Administration Building, "Old Main," now Harstad Hall, at Pacific Lutheran College. The College was founded in 1891 by Rev. Bjug Harstad and construction began on Old Main. The building was ready for occupancy and the school open for students in 1894. Tuition at that time was $1.00 per week and the school stood on an empty prairie. Through the years, each graduating class planted ivy to climb up the buildings sides until it was covered. In 1950, the English ivy was removed because it was damaging the building and the building was given a modernizing face lift. The building now houses a mens dormitory.

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

ca. 1955. Franklin Pierce High School, Parkland, showing gym floor. Built in 1953, the address was listed originally as 11002 Portland Ave. The school is listed in the phone book as being located at S. 112th & Portland Ave. This appears to be a multipurpose room with a curtained stage at one end, a gym floor and bleachers that fold out from the side walls.

Franklin Pierce High School (Parkland); Public schools--Parkland--1950-1960; Gymnasiums--Parkland--1950-1960;

ca. 1955. This appears to be a more intimate coffee shop atmosphere on the campus of Pacific Lutheran College in 1955. Students could place their orders at the nearby counter and then relax alongside the large plate glass windows. This photograph was taken in the evening as students enjoyed their ice cream sundaes, pie and milk. The coffee shop, located in a spacious room in the new College Union Building overlooking Wheeler St., seats 90 persons. Photograph ordered by Pacific Lutheran College. (TNT 12-18-55, A-19, TNT 2-5-56, B-6) TPL-9321

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

ca. 1955. Pacific Lutheran College's Memorial Gymnasium. Although already in the planning stages, its construction became a necessity when the old gym burned to the ground in June of 1946. The new gymnasium, designed by Lea, Pearson & Richards, was dedicated December of 1947. It was built of reinforced concrete. The interior was 134 x 142 feet and held 3,500 (or 2,500 spectators in bleachers with a 50 x 90 foot playing floor.) The building also had classrooms and dressing rooms and showers for men and women. A 46 x 50 foot addition was available for use by the Varsity football team. The cost of the gym was $250,000 and was built debt free.

Gymnasiums--Parkland; Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--Buildings; Memorial Gymnasium (Parkland); Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;

ca. 1955. Students enjoy tasty meals at one of the dining halls on the Pacific Lutheran College campus in 1955, while lines of people wait to be seated. This may have been taken roughly around Thanksgiving, as trays are filled with plates of turkey, mashed potato, peas, and pumpkin pie. The dining hall appears to be very large with bright overhead lights and plenty of windows. The new dining hall seats 600 persons. Everything is new, including furniture, dishes, silverware, and even trays. Students who board at P.L.C. eat very well on $1.33 a day covering three meals. Photograph ordered by Pacific Lutheran College. (TNT 2-5-56, B-6) TPL-9320

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

ca. 1955. The lovely Miss Marion Gabrielson of Eugene, Oregon, will be crowned 1955 May Queen at Pacific Lutheran College. Her coronation would take place during a program on May 4, 1955, in the college gym. She was a senior nursing education student. She poses here on the campus grounds in front of what is probably the Science Hall. She is dressed formally in an evening gown and holds a bouquet of spring daffodils and forsythia. (TNT 5/1/1955, pg. D-1, 5/5/1955, pg. A-8)

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Gabrielson, Marion; Beauty contestants--Parkland--1950-1960; Evening gowns--1950-1960;

ca. 1955. An exterior view of the Student Union Building at Pacific Lutheran College. This building was constructed in 1947 on the foundation of the gym that was destroyed by fire in 1946. It was designed by Lea, Pearson and Richards, Architects. During its use as the Student Union, it served as the center of student social and extra curricular activities. It contained a bookstore, coffee shop, recreation room, student lounge, auditorium, and stage. It was replaced in 1955-56 by a larger and more modern Student Union and this structure was converted to classrooms.

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

St. Ann's School was dedicated on December 11, 1955. The new parochial school was built next to the church after which it was named. Here Seattle Archbishop Thomas A. Connolly shares a friendly word with one of the school children. Photograph ordered by St. Ann's Parish School.

Church schools--Tacoma; Building dedications--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; St. Ann's Parish School (Tacoma); Priests--Tacoma--1950-1960; Connolly, Thomas A.; School children--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Archbishop Thomas A. Connolly of Seattle smilingly greets the school children of the new St. Ann's parochial school on December 11, 1955. He is surrounded by students, their parents, and beaming nuns. Archbishop Connolly came to Tacoma for the dedication ceremonies for the $240,000 school and convent which were held with a solemn high mass and blessing of the walls and interiors. St. Ann's had eight classrooms for the first eight grades and served 320 students. Photograph ordered by St. Ann's Parish School. (TNT 12-10-55, p.4-article; TNT 12-12-55, p. 16-article)

Church schools--Tacoma; Building dedications--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; St. Ann's Parish School (Tacoma); Priests--Tacoma--1950-1960; Connolly, Thomas A.; School children--Tacoma--1950-1960; Nuns--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Located at the corner of South 70th and "G" Streets in the city's south end, St. Ann's Parish School was dedicated on December 11, 1955. The new parochial school, which had opened in September, was built next to the church after which it was named. Archbishop Thomas A. Connolly of Seattle provided the blessing, which included the flag shown flapping in the breeze as well as crucifixes and the building itself. The modern brick veneer structure was equipped with a multitude of windows to let in the natural light. Designed by architects McGuire and Muri, it had a modern butterfly roof. A pylon rose above the school entrance; it had on it the school name in large letters. The school was built for $162,500 and contained eight classrooms with room for 320 students. Photograph ordered by St. Ann's Parish School. (TNT 10-23-55, A-6, TNT 12-12-55, p. 16)

Church schools--Tacoma; Building dedications--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; St. Ann's Parish School (Tacoma); Flags--United States;

Dedication by bishops and other clergy of St. Ann's Parish School on December 11, 1955. Archbishop Thomas A. Connolly is shown conveying his blessing upon the new parochial school's crucifixes and the American flag. He is flanked by Father J.F. Milner of St. Ann's Catholic Church and Father E.L. Berry, assistant director of the school. The new elementary school was located on the same block as St. Ann's Catholic Church in the southend of Tacoma. Sister Daniel was the school principal with nuns as most of the teachers. The $162,500 school was designed by architects McGuire & Muri; a $74,000 convent for teaching nuns was built at the same time in the vicinity of the school. Photograph ordered by St. Ann's Parish School. (TNT 10-23-55, A-6, TNT 12-12-55, p. 16)

Church schools--Tacoma; Building dedications--Tacoma--1950-1960; St. Ann's Parish School (Tacoma); Priests--Tacoma--1950-1960; Connolly, Thomas A.; Milner, J.F.; Berry, E.L.; Crucifixes; Flags--United States;

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;

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;

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;

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);