On August 12, 1955, Mayor Harold Tollefson christened a new Trailways bus at the Trailway Bus Depot, 114-116 So. 8th St. The unidentified members of an all girl accordion band, in satin skirts with matching beanies and slippers, looked on in varying states of surprise. Three of the accordions had advertisement on them for the "Vista Liner." The luxury Continental Trailways "Vista Liner 100" bus being unveiled at the station on 8th and Pacific Ave. The fleet of new liners was being placed in service on Trailways' Evergreen routes from Seattle to San Diego and Los Angeles to San Francisco. The term "Vista Liner" refers to the raised rear deck with skylights for full enjoyment of passing scenery. The bus features contour seating with adjustable headrests, FM background music, springs to absorb road shock and facing seats with card tables. (TNT 8/10/1955, pg. B-1) TPL-8354

Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Mayors--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buses--Tacoma; Bus terminals--Tacoma; Accordions;

Mayor John H. Anderson meets with Elder Osgood of the Seventh Day Adventists and several others for a publicity picture on March 26, 1953. There are several large white cans marked "SDA Disaster Kit", holding emergency supplies for household use in case of disaster, while Mayor Anderson displays an American Red Cross medical kit. DeWitt Osgood is the pastor of the Central Seventh Day Adventist Church. His and other Seventh Day Adventist churches worked together to assemble these emergency kits; bandages, antiseptics, splints, dressings, and water purification tablets were some of the supplies contained in each kit. (TNT 3-22-53, A-15)

Anderson, John H.; Osgood, DeWitt; Disaster relief--Tacoma;

Members of 80 veteran's organizations braved record heat on Memorial Day 1956 to hear an address by U.S. Senator Warren G. Magnuson, Washington Democrat, at Mountain View Memorial Park in Lakewood. "Maggie" defeated Lt. Col., and Tacoma Mayor, Harry P. Cain for the Senate seat vacated by Homer T. Bone in 1944 and served 6 terms, losing in 1980 to Slade Gorton. Senator Magnuson sat on powerful committees while in office, including Commerce, Interstate & Foreign Commerce, and Appropriations. He was a war veteran, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy during WWII and claiming membership in the Amvets, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. A graduate of the University of Washington and the University of Washington Law School, Senator Magnuson resumed the practice of law following his political loss of 1980; he died in Seattle on May 20, 1989. ALBUM 4.

Magnuson, Warren G., 1905-1989; Legislators--Washington--1950-1960;

On June 7, 1956, the original artwork of the 1956 Tacoma telephone directory was presented to the City of Tacoma by an unidentified representative of Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. Mayor John Anderson (left) graciously accepted the framed gift. ALBUM 14.

Mayors--Tacoma--1950-1960; Anderson, John H.; Paintings; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma);

Mayor John Anderson (left) accepts from an unidentified representative of Pacific Telephone & Telegraph the original artwork for the cover of the 1956 Tacoma telephone directory. Illustrated are familiar local sights including Mt. Rainier, downtown Tacoma, ships at dockside and even two fishermen trying their luck. The actual directory cover would be somewhat modified as seen in D99640, image 2. ALBUM 14.

Mayors--Tacoma--1950-1960; Anderson, John H.; Paintings; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1959. Imposing entrance of the new County-City building, an soaring glass and aluminum structure designed by A. Gordon Lumm. Lumm was the controversial selection of the County Commissioners as architect. His selection raised the ire of the local architects as he was the only one who did not participate in the free preliminary work performed by the architects' society. Bids for the construction of the original design came in 3 1/2 million higher than available funds. Voters approved an additional $3,700,00 in a bond issue to make up the difference. The building was finally constructed according to the original design and dedicated on April 10, 1959. (TNT 4/7/1959, pg. B1+)

County-City Building (Tacoma);

Governor Albert D. Rosellini with a group of Pierce County Democrats at a testimonial dinner for the governor. Ethel Rosellini, the governor's wife, is flanked by her husband (R) and State Attorney General John J. O'Connell. Standing are P.C. Democratic party chairman George Sheridan and John McCutcheon, county prosecutor and the evening's master of ceremonies. The Fellowship Hall dinner replaced the usual Jefferson-Jackson day fund raiser and was planned so that the governor could make a direct report to Pierce County residents regarding the progress of his administration. Albert Rosellini was born to immigrant parents in Tacoma in 1910. An attorney, he was elected to the State Senate in 1938 and championed liberal causes including juvenile justice reform and transportation improvements. His first term as governor saw the modernization of the mental health system, increased aid to colleges and universities, creation of a separate justice and prison system for juveniles, merit system for state employees and establishment of the Department of Commerce and Economic Development. He made effective use of the state's first televised debates between gubernatorial candidates and defeated State Supt. of Public Instruction Lloyd Andrews in his re-election bid. Attempting a third consecutive term, he lost the 1964 elections to Republican State House leader, Dan Evans. Subsequent tries for the King County Executive and governor were not successful. In 1988, the state renamed the Evergreen Floating Bridge, the world's longest floating bridge, for the governor who pushed its construction. ALBUM 10. (Seattle/King Co. HistoryLink.org; TNT 5-4-58, A-7, TNT 5-10-58, p. 1)

Governors; Rosellini, Albert D.; Rosellini, Ethel; O'Connell, John J.; Sheridan, George; McCutcheon, John;

April 10, 1959, saw the dedication of the new County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Avenue South. The 9 1/2 million dollar project was finally completed after years of delay. Although voters had approved its construction in November of 1952, it took until July of 1956 for building to start. A large number of business people, politicians, civic leaders and everyday Tacomans attended the ceremony. In the background, the doomed old Pierce County Courthouse awaited its demolition. It would make way for parking for the new facility.

County-City Building (Tacoma); Dedications--Tacoma--1950-1960; Building dedications--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Crowds--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Governor Albert D. Rosellini addresses his audience outside the new County-City Building during dedication ceremonies in April, 1959. Seated in the group behind the governor are members of the police, service organizations, and councilmen, including Mayor Ben Hanson, in the second row, and John Anderson, third row. Wearing a crown in the front row is Pat Baldwin, the Queen of Anchorage Alaska's Fur Rendevoux, in Tacoma for the Daffodil Festival's Salute to Alaska. To her right is the 1959 Daffodil Queen Carol Mills.

Rosellini, Albert D.; Governors; County-City Building (Tacoma); Dedications--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hanson, Ben; Anderson, John H.; Baldwin, Pat; Mills, Carol;

On September 13, 1968, Mayor A.L. Rasmussen extended his congratulations to the Central Area Progressive Improvement Association for their new status as the non-profit sponsor of FHA-assisted low-income home sales. Wallace Walker, Sr., president of the association (at left), is pictured grasping the hand of Mayor Rasmussen at the association's headquarters, 922 So. K St. (now Martin Luther King Jr. Way). Andrew Hess, Federal Housing Administration regional director, is on the extreme right. The Central Area Progressive Improvement Association would purchase older homes, rehabilitate them, and sell them to low-income families. The families would be responsible for repaying FHA loans at 3% interest. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma-Pierce County Opportunity & Development, Inc. (TNT 9-14-68, p. 7+ - alt. photograph & article)

Rasmussen, Albert Lawrence; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Walker, Wallace; Hess, Andrew; Central Area Progressive Improvement Association (Tacoma);

Governor Albert D. Rosellini and his three daughters (l to r) Lynn, Janey, and Sue Ann were all ready in July of 1964 to go doorbell ringing with other Democratic candidates in the 29th District. He was seeking a third term as governor. Despite Lyndon Johnson's national landslide, the Republicans captured Washington's governor's office when Dan Evans, an engineer and Republican State House Leader, ran a strong campaign to unseat the incumbent. Mr. Rosellini entered the King County Executive race in 1969 and challenged Mr. Evans' bid for an unprecedented third consecutive term in 1972, but he was unsuccessful in both attempts. After his retirement from politics, Governor Rosellini resumed his former occupation of attorney. ALBUM 10. (TNT 7-19-64, p. 2)

Governors; Rosellini, Albert D.; Rosellini, Albert D.--Family; Rosellini, Lynn; Rosellini, Sue Ann; Rosellini, Janey; Fathers & children--Tacoma; Political campaigns;

Mayor Ben Hanson, in catcher's crouch, posed with Tacoma Giants general manager W.D. "Rosy" Ryan (wearing mitt) and officials of the Harmony Chapter #18, Disabled American Veterans, on February 4, 1960. Ernie Roberts, Western Washington chief of staff for the DAV, was clutching a Mickey Mantle Louisville slugger. Baseball memorabilia, including a Giants uniform, was on display in cases behind the men. Mayor Hanson and Mr. Ryan pledged their support for the Disabled American Veterans convention coming to Tacoma in July of 1960, while Robert Stelzer and Loyd E. Ireland looked on. Mr. Ryan also indicated that veterans would receive every consideration for jobs at the new Ben Cheney Stadium and concessions. Photograph ordered by Ernie Roberts. (TNT 2-8-60, p. 3)

Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hanson, Ben; Ryan, W.D.; Roberts, Ernie; Stelzer, Robert; Ireland, Loyd E.; Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Disabled veterans; Veterans;

ca. 1960. 1960 Richards stock footage- the County-City Building, taken from Tacoma Avenue South. This twelve story central structure towers 167 feet above the street level. The court wing sits to the left and the law enforcement wing to the right. The glass and aluminum building was dedicated in April of 1959 and built from a design by architect A. Gordon Lumm. The building is still in use and the central structure looks much the same, however the side wings have been remodeled and greatly expanded.

County-City Building (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma;

Newly-elected Mayor A.L. "Slim" Rasmussen shares a plaque with an unidentified woman; there is a large metal key mounted on the wooden plaque with a description beneath, "Tacoma All America All Electric City." Rasmussen defeated 3-term mayor Harold Tollefson in the November general elections. At that time he was a machinist-inspector at the Northern Pacific Railroad roundhouse and had served 22 years in the state legislature. Photograph ordered by Tacoma-Pierce County Economic Opportunity.

Rasmussen, Albert Lawrence; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Plaques--Tacoma; Keys (Hardware);

Moments prior to the official ribbon cutting dedicating the inaugural halfway house for the Tacoma Narcotics Center, Senator Warren G. Magnuson addressed the waiting crowd. He stated that "this center can be the hope that lights the end of the tunnel for many who have been caught in the spiral of drug abuse." Initial $534,000 funding of the project was obtained from the Office of Economic Opportunity; however, Senator Magnuson feared that budget cuts might impact severely additional funding past September, 1968. He pledged his continuing support of the project. Seated near Senator Magnuson were Tacoma Mayor A.L. "Slim" Rasmussen and City Manager David Rowlands on one side and project director Robert Roberton, the center's Advisory Board chairman George Hess, and George W. Johnson, executive director of the sponsoring Opportunity Development, Inc., on his other side. (TNT 4-14-68, A-10, TNT 4-17-68, A-4) ALBUM 4.

Magnuson, Warren G., 1905-1989; Legislators--Washington--1960-1970; Public speaking--Tacoma; Dedications--Tacoma--1960-1970; Rasmussen, Albert Lawrence; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Rowlands, David; Roberton, Robert; Hess, George; Johnson, George W.;

On July 9, 1968, Governor Dan Evans, right, paid a visit to the free summer camp, administered by the Tacoma-Pierce County Opportunity & Development, Inc., at Camp Murray. He was pictured speaking to Harold Moss (in profile), who would become Tacoma's first black mayor in 1994. George W. Johnson, executive director of the Opportunity & Development Inc., stood between them. (Photograph ordered by the Tacoma-Pierce County Opportunity & Development, Inc.)

Evans, Daniel J., 1925-; Governors; Johnson, George W.; Moss, Harold; Tacoma-Pierce County Opportunity & Development, Inc. (Tacoma); American Lake (Wash.); Camp Murray (Wash.);

ca. 1927. Legislative Building. Great curving walkways connected the Legislative Building with other parts of the Olympia complex. This view of the massive building focuses on the large expanse of sidewalks and includes the sight of three 1920s automobiles parked at the foot of the wide steps. Apparently after much discussion of the campus' landscaping, the clearance, grading, paving, and planting was mostly completely by 1930. (Johnston: Washington's Audacious State Capitol and Its Builders)

Legislative Building (Olympia); Sidewalks--Olympia;

Mayor M.G. Tennent (extreme left with hat) and a contingent of football fans were on hand to greet the Gonzaga University football team at Union Depot on November 10, 1926. 22 "Bulldogs," led by coach "Clipper" Smith plus a manager and trainer, posed for a group portrait before traveling by car to the Winthrop Hotel. The Gonzaga team would face a local independent team comprised of Tacoma Athletic Commission athletes at Stadium Bowl for an Armistice Day game. The college students were heavy favorites and would indeed go on to defeat the Tacomans 41-0. (TDL 11-11-26, p. 7; TDL 11-12-26, p. 8-article)

Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tennent, Melvin Green; Football players--Tacoma--1920-1930; Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Union Station (Tacoma);

Wendell Willkie, 1940 Republican Presidential nominee, looks up at an unidentified past national commander of the American Legion, while in Tacoma on February 11, 1944. Seated on the right in photograph is Washington Governor Arthur B. Langlie. Mr. Willkie was in town to speak at the Pierce County Republican Club's Lincoln Day dinner and at the Rhodes American Legion Post.

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Guests--Tacoma--1940-1950; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Governors; Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Republican nominee for President, Wendell Willkie, spent a brief hour in Tacoma during his 1940 whistle-stop tour. He is pictured acknowledging the crowds at the Northern Pacific Railroad shops in South Tacoma on September 23, 1940.

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Political campaigns; Presidential elections;

Presidential candidate Wendell Willkie stands in his open car while waving to the crowds gathered at the Northern Pacific Railroad shops in South Tacoma. Mr. Willkie, the Republican nominee, was challenging Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the 1940 elections. Although he was swamped in the Electoral College vote, Mr. Willkie's total of 22 million popular votes was only five million less than Mr. Roosevelt's.

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Political campaigns; Presidential elections;

Mayor Harold Tollefson points out an interesting picture in his photo album to a Japanese visitor from Tacoma's sister city, Kitakyushu, on February 5, 1965. The young man is believed to be a student. Linn Johnson, a University of Puget Sound letterman, shares a smile with the mayor and his visitor. Johnson had spent a month in Japan in the spring of 1964 as a student at Kitakyushu University. He and returning college student Nobuyuki Fujimoto boarded the vessel Sanyo Maru in Bellingham for the trip to Japan. Fujimoto, possibly the young man above, had spent eight months at the University of Puget Sound. (TNT 3-19-64, A-6)

Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Johnson, Linn; Photograph albums;

Mayor Ben Hanson presented Dr. Saburo Tomita, director of the Kokura, Japan, Hospital, with a key to the city on September 28, 1961, in front of Tacoma General Hospital. Kokura is Tacoma's sister city. Dr. Tomita delivered a letter of greeting and gift from Kokura Mayor Nobuo Hayashi and in return, received a key to the city from Mayor Hanson. From L-R are Sylvia Sass and Dr. David H. Johnson of the Sister City Committee, Dr. Tomita, Dr. Sumiho Wada, Mayor Hanson and Thomas Takemura. Dr. Tomita had toured Tacoma General the previous day and had visited Mountain View General Hospital on the 28th. (TNT 9-28-61)

Hanson, Ben; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tomita, Saburo; Foreign visitors--Japan; Keys (Hardware); Sass, Sylvia; Johnson, David H.; Wada, Sumiho; Takemura, Thomas;

Mayor Harold Tollefson, photo album resting on one knee, admires a beautifully attired Japanese doll on November 19, 1965. This may have been the doll presented to the mayor on July 22, 1965, by seven Kitakyushu students visiting Tacoma. The two women in the picture have not been identified. Mayor Tollefson had visited Kobe, Japan, in November, 1963, as part of the Japanese-American Conference of Mayors & Chamber of Commerce Officials and had sent progress reports to the News Tribune. Harold Tollefson would serve three terms as Tacoma's mayor.

Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Dolls; Photograph albums;

In September of 1962 Mayor Harold Tollefson (far right) was photographed with three members of Tacoma's Sister City committee. He was showing them the People to People Citation that Tacoma received at the 1962 American Municipal Association congress that was held that year in Philadelphia. The citation was awarded to Tacoma for its Sister City program and its "excellent manner in promoting goodwill." From left to right are Sister City committee members Thomas Takemura, Sylvia Sass and Dr. John Moore. (TNT 8-22-62)

Awards; Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Takemura, Thomas; Sass, Sylvia; Moore, John;

Mayor Gordon Johnston is pictured on September 18, 1970, kneeling before an Alaska Airlines stewardess. She has one hand on his shoulder and is reading from a framed plaque. TRUEBLOOD 1984

Mayors--Tacoma--1970-1980; Johnston, Gordon N.; Flight attendants;

On March 9, 1926, Tacomans voted a new "tennent" into the Mayor's office when M.G. Tennent defeated four time Mayor Angelo G. Fawcett by a wide margin of 5,235 votes. At that time, the election had the heaviest vote ever cast in Tacoma with Tennent elected by the largest vote ever given a candidate for the office of Tacoma Mayor. The newly elected Mayor Tennent was photographed on the front steps of his home with his dog. Elderly Mayor Fawcett could not compete with the younger, more progressive Tennent. Mayor Tennent would serve two consecutive terms before being defeated himself by Harry P. Cain. TPL-1493 (TNT 3/10/1926, PG. 1)

Four-time Tacoma mayor Angelo Vance Fawcett, right, turns over the reins of city government to new mayor Melvin G. Tennent on June 7, 1926. A. V. "Fighting" Fawcett was defeated by M. G. "Smilin'" Tennent in the election of March, 1926. By June, there was a new "Tennent" in City Hall. Fawcett was preparing to retire to his home at Greene Park after over 30 years of nearly continuous service and activity in city and county politics, including terms as Mayor 1896-97, 1910-11, 1914-19 and 1922-26. He introduced Tennent at the first meeting of the new city council by stating that he hoped and believed that Tennent would make a good mayor. Tennent, in response, extolled the retiring mayor and said that he would always be welcome to come back to the city council and give his advice. (TNT 6-7-26, p. 1) Bowen 26376 TPL-6320,

On October 29, 1924, a group of city and railroad officials met in Mayor A.V. Fawcett's office in (Old) City Hall, 625 Commerce St., to sign Belt Line contracts. The municipal carline was now the industrial belt line, effective November 1st. Mayor Fawcett is seated at far left; also seated are City Attorney E.K. Murray and chairman Ernest Dolge of the traffic bureau. Among others present was the mayor's son, and future mayor, Val Fawcett, second man standing in rear at left. The sole woman in the group is city clerk, Genevieve Martin. (other officials are listed in the Tacoma Daily Ledger article, 10-30-24, p. 4) TPL-10461

Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fawcett, Angelo Vance; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Municipal officials--Tacoma--1920-1930; Contracts; Martin, Genevieve; Dolge, Ernest; Murray, E.K.;

Newly-elected Mayor A.L. "Slim" Rasmussen poses with two women at the County-City Building on November 29, 1967. Rasmussen had defeated incumbent Harold Tollefson in the recent general election. Photograph ordered by Tacoma-Pierce County Economic Opportunity.

Rasmussen, Albert Lawrence; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970;