ca. 1914. This is possibly H. Staley and his unidentified "mechanician" aboard car #21, believed to be a Studebaker, preparing for the Montamara Festo races in early July of 1914. Driver Staley captured 4th place and $150 in the Inter-City Century, a 100-mile race held at the Tacoma Speedway on July 3rd. (TDL 7-4-14, p. 5-list of drivers; Tacoma Sunday Ledger 7-5-14, p. 16-results)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Automobile racing drivers;

Encouraged by 16,000 screaming racecar fans, three cars rush to the finish line in the "Golden Potlatch," one of two races run on July 5th, 1913 at the Tacoma Speedway. The race was 200 miles, 58 laps of 3.516 miles each, run on a dirt track and open to Class "E" non-stock cars with a winner's purse of $3,500. Earl Cooper and his white Stutz won the race in 1913 after "Terrible Teddie" Tetzlaff dropped from the lead with a broken cam shaft. Cooper's time was 2:49:32. 1913 was a victorious year for Cooper; he won 7 of 8 major road races and claimed his first national championship. The Tacoma Speedway racetrack had opened in July of 1912, financed by a group of Tacoma businessmen led by Arthur Pritchard, President of the Tacoma Automobile Association. During its years of operation, 1912-1922, most of racing's greats sped around the track, which was rated one of the three best in the United States. TPL-5481, Speedway Glass- 020 (TDL 7/6/1913, pg. 1, www.historylink.org, www.hickoksports.com)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920;

Terrible Teddy Tetzlaff and his "mechanician" in his Fiat #33 on the dirt racetrack at Tacoma Speedway during the July 1913 Montamara Festo program. Mr. Tetzlaff was the holder of the Montamarathon trophy in 1912, the first year of the track's existence. TPL-3164

Tetzlaff, Teddy; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Fiat automobile;

Early racing superstar Earl Cooper poses at the July 1913 Montamara Festo races at the Tacoma Speedway behind the wheel of his Stutz "8," "the most winingest" race car in the country. On July 5th, Cooper won the 200 mile "Golden Potlatch" race in Tacoma with a time of 2:49:32 and an average speed on 71 mph. He later also won the 250 mile Montamarathon. 1913 was one of his best years in racing. He won 7 of 8 major road races, winning his first National Championship (to be followed by Championships in 1915 and 1917.) Born in 1886, Earl Cooper started out as a mechanic and throughout his career took a methodical and scientific approach to racing, as opposed to the daredevils that populated racing at this time. He worked closely with his mechanics and helped develop hydraulic brakes and pressure lubrication. He raced off and on until 1928 and managed racing teams after his driving retirement. He died in 1965 at the age of 79. Cooper joined the Stutz team in 1912. The Stutz had originated in 1910 when Harry C. Stutz established Stutz Auto Parts Co. to manufacture his engineering design, the transaxle. He built a car fitted with one and entered it in the first Indy 500 in 1911. It came in 11th. He then set up the Ideal Motor Co. (renamed Stutz Motor Car Co. in 1913) to manufacture the car. Its most famous model, the Stutz Bearcat sportscar, was introduced in 1912 to compete with the Mercer Raceabout. The company was finished by the Great Depression and ceased production in 1934, dissolving in 1939. SPEEDWAY-019, TPL-5479 (T. Tribune 7/6/1913, pg. 1; www.canadiandriver.com; www.hickoksports.com)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Cooper, Earl; Stutz automobile; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Automobile racing drivers;

Charles Webster Latta drove the #3 Interstate during the 1913 Golden Potlatch trophy race on the Tacoma Speedway on July 5, 1913. He is pictured above with his unidentified "mechanician." Race car drivers at that time were accompanied by their "mechanicians" or machinists while on the race course. Mr. Latta started in position #3 for the 200-mile race, behind defending champion "Terrible Teddy" Tetzlaff who had the pole position. The race was for 58 laps of 3.516 miles each. Out of the nine entries, Mr. Latta finished third while at times running fourth and fifth. Although "Wild Bob" Burman was favored to defeat Teddy Tetzlaff for top honors, Earl Cooper in his white Stutz captured the first prize of $1800 in a time of 2 hours, 49 minutes and 32 seconds. (The Tacoma Tribune also called Mr. Latta, "C.N. Latta," rather than Charles Webster Latta.) TPL-9865 (T.Tribune, 7-2-13, p. 2-article; T.Tribune 7-5-13, p. 1-results)

Latta, Charles Webster; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Interstate automobile;

Waldren Flying Machine Hoquiam This three-wheeled flying contraption was piloted by a Mr. Waldren in Hoquiam on the 4th of July in 1910. Among those standing near the "flying machine" was John A. ("Jack") Croston, who is believed to be second on the right of the pilot. Mr. Croston operated a garage and Chevrolet agency at 1135 Tacoma Avenue South, across the street from the Tacoma Public Library, during the years 1917-19. Copy of photograph made on February 19, 1928. TPL-2688; G71.1-141

Airplanes--Hoquiam; Croston, John A.;

ca. 1909. Copy of page from Seamen's ledger made on behalf of the Community Chest on February 9, 1922. Entries in the ledger date from November 2, 1908 to November 1, 1909 and list names, hometowns, and ships of visitors to the Seamen's Institute. The Seamen's Church Institute served thousands each year. Its purpose was to bring cheer and compassion to visiting sailors. The Seamen's bethel in Old Town was built by Chaplain R.S. Stubbs in 1886. It was subsequently moved to St. Luke's Parish House prior to July of 1906 and moved again in 1920 to the Municipal Dock. Sailors were able to enjoy, without charge, reading, billiards, showers, and chapel. It was a beneficiary of the Tacoma Community Chest. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 3-12-22, 10-E; TDL 3-14-22, p. 5-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger 2-5-28, 4-A-article on the Seamen's Church Institute)

Recording & registration--Tacoma; Seamen's Church Institute (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1900. This photograph of Wright Park, taken around 1900, accompanied an article entitled "Do You Remember" in a 1922 News Tribune. The newspaper had been running a nostalgic series of pictures of events and places of times past. In this view of Wright Park, taken from the east side of the park looking westward, the park appears a little sparse with many of the trees little more then saplings. Several people are using the rustic bridge to cross Bird Lake. The houses beyond the park are on South I Street between Division and 3rd. Most were already gone by 1922; the bridge was still there but had been reconstructed. The Tacoma-Pierce County Blood Bank now stands where several of these houses once stood. G41.1-123; TPL-987 (TNT 3-9-22, p. 11)

Wright Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1890. This portrait, taken around 1890, is of the Foss boathouse, the first boathouse in Tacoma. The 16 x 30 structure was built by Andrew Foss to house his growing family. His industrious wife, Thea, began the family business here. The Foss family had arrived from Norway in 1889. While Andrew took what work he could find, Thea used the family fortune, $5, to buy a used rowboat and Foss Tug and Launch Co. was begun. At this time in 1890, the boathouse was located on the City Waterway (where Consumers Central Heating Co. and the City's Steam Plant would build in the 1920s.) The photograph was taken about three months before the birth of Henry Foss. Standing at the top of the landing are Andrew and Thea Foss and their daughter Lillian D. Foss. John Edmond is in the first boat on the water. In the second boat are Wedell Foss and Arthur Foss, only small children but already helping their parents out. The remaining folks are customers who rented the boats for five to ten cents a day. There was no Eleventh Street bridge at this time and in the back of the boathouse on the hill can be seen the old city jail at 12th and A St. (TNT 3/25/1922, pg. 14) G14.1-001; TPL-960

Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma); Foss, Andrew; Foss, Thea; Foss, Andrew--Family; Rowboats; Boathouses--Tacoma--1890-1900;

Race car driver Roscoe Sarles. This photograph was possibly taken in 1920 when Roscoe Sarles brought his #5 Monroe to the Tacoma Speedway for the 225-mile race on July 5th. This was the first appearance in Tacoma for Mr. Sarles. He ended up fifth in a star-filled field that year, earning $1200. Roscoe Sarles returned to the Speedway in 1921 and 1922, finishing second in 1921. His ride was a Duesenberg for both events. Mr. Sarles died in September of 1922 in a collision at the Kansas City Speedway. He was 30 years old.

Sarles, Roscoe; Automobile racing drivers;

This unidentified smiling driver is seated in a black race car at the Tacoma Speedway. He is believed to have been photographed sometime in the early 1920s, prior to 1923. Instead of the uniforms modern racers wear, this driver is nattily dressed in a striped shirt with rolled up sleeves and dark tie with stickpin. Many of the drivers photographed at the Tacoma Speedway from 1912-22 wore dress shirts and pants while on the track.

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood; Grandstands--Lakewood; Racing automobiles; Automobile racing drivers;

Undated photograph of the Port of Tacoma. Notes labelled "Colby Steel and Engineering Co." Lumber lays on the dock, waiting to be loaded on ships. Photograph is labelled Boland #7.

Port of Tacoma (Tacoma); Piers & wharves--Tacoma; Lumber--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery;

Undated photograph of a ship docked at the Port of Tacoma.

Port of Tacoma (Tacoma);

Copy of sketch of proposed hotel at the site of the Tacoma Theater Building, 9th & Broadway, by architect Roland E. Borhek; copy made 4-15-1925. Mr. Borhek was a well known Tacoma architect with offices in the Puget Sound National Bank building. He had been the associate architect for the Winthrop Hotel design and was responsible for many Tacoma buildings including the Titus Motor Co. structure (built originally for the Pacific Car Co.) at 616-24 Broadway, Jason Lee Intermediate School (6th & Sprague), Stewart Intermediate School (5010 Pacific Ave.), Hickey Apartment Hotel (Walker Apartments) at 405 Sixth Ave., the Auditorium Building (1308-10 Fawcett) and the Hiroshimaya Hotel (15th & Market). Mr. Borhek was to also be architect in charge of the 1930's Fort Nisqually reconstruction at Point Defiance.

Architectural drawings;

Undated photograph, copied by Boland Studios on March 7, 1927, of Matthaei Baking Co.'s first bakery, probably in Kansas City. Two men, one in baker's garb, casually pose in the doorway of the Bakery & Confectionery store. A third man with a derby is on the far left. None of the men were identified. The bakery's windows have breads, cakes and pies on display. Potted flowers and plants rest on a ledge above the store's marquee. G33.1-014

Bakeries; Merchandise displays;

View of the Steilacoom-Longbranch ferry. Copy of photograph made on May 23, 1927, per the request from the Washington Navigation Co. Date of original print is unknown. Ferry is clearly labeled "City of Steilacoom" in several places aboard ship. G66.1-088

Ferries;

Unnumbered race car with unidentified driver and "mechanician" photographed on the Tacoma Speedway post-1913. 1913 was the last year of the track's dirt surface. From 1914 to 1922 cars ran on a board track, pictured here. The dapper driver is wearing a bow tie, striped white shirt and vest. His protective goggles are propped over his cloth/leather headgear. G52.1-007

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood; Automobile racing--Lakewood; Racing automobiles; Automobile racing drivers;

This is a copy of the January 6, 1866, issue of Harper's Weekly, pgs. 8-9, that was photographed by Marvin Boland on February 7, 1932. The article and drawings are of the "Mercer Girls," a sample of the 400 women recruited by Asa Mercer, then president of the Washington Territory University, to emigrate to the Northwest. Washington Territory was sorely lacking females so Mr. Mercer chartered the steamer "Continental" to bring intelligent women from New England and the Midwest so they could be teachers and seamstresses. He had tried this experiment on a smaller scale a few years prior but found that his new teachers quickly married and replacements were not available in the area.

Internal migration;

Undated photograph of tank maneuvers at Fort Lewis. Copy made by photographer Marvin Boland on May 18, 1934. G70.1-010

Tanks (Military science)--Fort Lewis;

A copy was made by photographer Marvin Boland on May 18, 1934, of this picture of a tank running over a man-made wood-and-dirt obstacle during maneuvers at Fort Lewis. Date of original photograph is not known. G70.1-018

Tanks (Military science)--Fort Lewis;

Tacoma Speedway pre-1915. The track seems to still be a dirt track which means this unidentified race occurred before 1915, the first year of the new "lattice" board track. At this frozen moment in time, car #4 leads car #3 by several lengths. The grandstands are packed with spectators during probably the Montamara Festo races which occurred during the 4th of July holiday period at the Tacoma Speedway. People on the other side of the track got a very close view of the race along with crewmen for the various drivers. Note the pile of narrow tires that have already been changed or are awaiting changing. The Tacoma Speedway had a short but action packed history from 1912 to 1922. Many world class racers including Barney Oldfield, Teddy Tetzlaff, Grover Ruckstell, Eddie Pullen and Cliff Durant competed for prize money and trophies.

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Sports spectators--Lakewood; Grandstands--Lakewood;

Undated photograph of Canadian-born but American-raised race car driver, Ira Vail. Mr. Vail raced at Indy multiple times but never won. He was a contemporary of famous racers Louis Chevrolet, Ralph Mulford, Barney Oldfield and Ralph DePalma and competed against them in many events. He was most successful on dirt tracks. Mr. Vail drove Hudsons until the company got out of the racing industry in 1917 and used the Leach in at least one Indy. He was mentioned as a potential driver for the 1921 Tacoma Speedway race but Frank Elliott had already been named as the driver of the Leach Special that Mr. Vail would have driven. Later Mr. Vail became a promoter in the New York/New Jersey area where he was held in high regard. Mr. Vail died in 1979, having outlived many of his racing pals. (info from National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum; TNT 6-30-21, p. 1-article on Tacoma race) (Copy of Hughes photograph by Boland Studios)

Vail, Ira; Automobile racing--1910-1920; Racing automobiles;

Undated informal portrait of auto racer Leon Duray. The square-jawed, mustached driver has his goggles resting on his forehead. Born George Stewart and renamed Leon Duray, he raced at Indy eight times between 1922 and 1931, winning the pole position twice. His best finish was sixth in 1925. He later became a car owner whose car finished second at Indy in 1934. (theoldmotor.com)

Duray, Leon; Automobile racing drivers;

Ernie Olson, ace mechanic, smiles broadly in this undated photograph believed to have been taken at the Tacoma Speedway during the short period of time when the racetrack was in existence, from 1912-1922. He is seated in his car dressed in the race style of the day: goggles, cloth or leather headgear and a jacket/uniform opened to show a dark tie and collared shirt. Mechanics in that era rode along with their drivers. TPL-2432 (Identification provided by a reader)

Olson, Ernie; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma; Men--Clothing & dress;

Auto racer Ralph Mulford. This undated photograph of Mr. Mulford was believed to have been taken at the Tacoma Speedway either in 1919, 1920 or 1922 when Mr. Mulford entered the races at the two-mile oval board track. Usually pictured with a large toothy grin, Ralph Mulford was a two-time National Driving Champion in 1911 and 1918 and a popular entry in auto racing due to his propensity for very fast cars and skillful driving. Mr. Mulford outlived many of his racing colleagues, dying at the age of 89 in 1973. TPL-3176

Mulford, Ralph; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Automobile racing--Lakewood;

Undated photograph of the Port of Tacoma, Pier #2. Lumber waits left to be loaded. Cranes rest on the tracks and steamships are docked right. Photograph marked Boland #1.

Port of Tacoma (Tacoma); Piers & wharves--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Ships--Tacoma;

Undated photograph of the Port of Tacoma, Pier #2.

Port of Tacoma (Tacoma); Piers & wharves--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Shipping--Tacoma; Lumber--Tacoma;

Undated photograph of the Port of Tacoma

Port of Tacoma (Tacoma);