The brand "Douglas Fir" plywood is known as the "wood of 1,000 uses." This plywood undergoes a series of laboratory and field tests. The Douglas Fir Plywood Association has helped establish and maintain Tacoma as the plywood center of the world, by setting up a industry maintained quality control laboratory here. View of U. S. Senator, Harry P. Cain (right) with a DFPA representative at the annual DFPA conference, being held at the Winthrop Hotel on May 13, 1949.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Plywood; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Legislators--Washington--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979;

Tacoma was celebrating the annual Jefferson-Jackson Day with a dinner party at the Winthrop Hotel; Tennessee Senator Estes Kefauver would be speaking at the event. Left to right: George Sheridan of Tacoma, State Chairman of the Jefferson-Jackson Day affair; Senator Estes Kefauver; and Harry Henson, Executive Secretary of the Democratic State Committee (T.N.T., 5/1/49, p. A-14).

Receptions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Legislators--Tennessee--1940-1950; Dinner parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Events--Tacoma--1940-1950; Men--Clothing & dress--1940-1950; Jefferson-Jackson Day (1949 : Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Westinghouse Appliance Show at Winthrop Hotel, Westinghouse Electrical Supply Company, Betty Dahl. This view of appliances by Westinghouse on display at the Hotel Winthrop include drinking fountains, standing roasters, a two-burner hot plate, electric irons, coffee pots, toasters, a mixer and waffle irons. Electric blankets and a heat lamp sit on the floor by the floral arrangement.

Westinghouse Electric Co. (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Appliances;

Westinghouse Appliance Show at Winthrop Hotel, Westinghouse Electrical Supply Company, Betty Dahl. Westinghouse also displayed electric blankets, vacuum cleaners with all the attachments needed to clean your home, clothes washers and water heaters.

Westinghouse Electric Co. (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Appliances; Blankets; Vacuum cleaners; Water heaters; Washing machines;

Westinghouse Appliance Show at Winthrop Hotel, Westinghouse Electrical Supply Company, Betty Dahl. This portion of the Westinghouse display features radios and record players. Two console models, one in a dark wood cabinet and one in light wood, are seen on the left. Smaller players flank an easy chair; and portable players and radios are lined up on shelves. Westinghouse referred to the popularity of radio thrillers aired at that time in their advertisements for their radios, "It's a crime not to hear it" and "Listen to the evidence, your ear will prove it."

Westinghouse Electric Co. (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Radios; Phonographs;

Sportsmen's Club of Tacoma and Tacoma Athletic Commission were sponsoring a Sportsmen Show. Stands were set up for four days at the Winthrop Hotel. The show featured anything a sportsman could want or need. View of fishing tackle demonstration at Winthrop Hotel, photo ordered by McCune-Merifield, manufacturers agents based out of Seattle, Washington. Warter's Hardware and Clifton's Sporting Goods stands in background (T.N.T., 5/19/48, p. 12).

Demonstrations--Tacoma; Fishing & hunting gear; Sporting goods; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Audiences--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); McCune-Merifield (Seattle);

Bob Dickinson and his Orchestra have recorded for Victor and Columbia. They have played at St. Francis in San Francisco, California, and the Davenport in Spokane, Washington. They will be opening at the Winthrop Hotel's Wedgwood Room in late June of 1948. View of Margie Smith, vocalist, Bob Dickinson and six members of his Orchestra at the Wedgwood Room in the Winthrop Hotel (T. Times, 6/18/48, p. 8).

Hotel employees--Tacoma; Orchestras--Tacoma--1940-1950; Musicians--Tacoma--1940-1950; Musical instruments--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Dickinson, Bob; Smith, Margie;

Banquet at Winthrop Hotel, honoring National Commander for the Amvets. Left to right view, Adeline Pozega, Second Vice-Commander of the Parkland Amvets Post No. 3, Frank E. Dixon, First Vice-Commander of the Department of Washington Amvets, unidentified woman, and Edgar C. Corry, National Commander for the Amvets. Commander Corry was the guest of honor at the banquet (T. Times, 5/12/48, p. 3).

Patriotic societies--Tacoma; Banquets--Tacoma; Banquet halls--Tacoma; Couples--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Amvets Club (Tacoma);

In 1948, three women Amvets members discuss world events over drinks and cigarettes. They were with a group of one hundred and thirty Amvets attending a banquet at the Winthrop Hotel. The guest of honor was National Commander Edgar C. Corry who spoke on the topic "Peace Through National Preparedness." (T. Times, 5/12/48, p. 3).

Patriotic societies--Tacoma; Banquets--Tacoma; Banquet halls--Tacoma; Smoking--Tacoma; Cigarettes; Matches; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Amvets Club (Tacoma);

In 1947 1,600,000,000 square feet of plywood was produced in the Pacific Northwest. Plywood firms in Tacoma are: Buffelen, Wheeler-Osgood, Northwest Door, Oregon-Washington Plywood, Puget Sound Plywood, and Donald W. Lyle Plywood Company; the first three mentioned plants also manufacture doors. View of plywood presentation, DFPA representative is showing the strength and durability in the plywood panels.

Plywood; Molded plywood; Signs (Notices); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Warter's Hardware was located at 3907 Sixth Avenue, they had hardware and sporting equipment to fill every sportsman's needs. View of display at the Sportsmen's Show at the Winthrop Hotel, the display features new Schwinn World Bicycles, Lauson Sport King Outboard Motors, a large display of Remington Winchester firearms and a bear rug in background (T.N.T., 5/20/48, p. 27).

Sporting goods stores--Tacoma; Sporting goods--Tacoma; Bicycles & tricycles--Tacoma; Rifles; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Warter's Hardware (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Audience at Parker Lecture, Winthrop Hotel, Paul P. Parker. A view of the Crystal Ballroom at the Hotel Winthrop while Paul P. Parker is addressing a large audience of mostly men. He has written "To all the Richards lovely people" across the upper left corner.

Parker, Paul P.; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Audiences--Tacoma--1940-1950; Public speaking--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Alden Woodworth (center) was photographed handing a Quit Claim Deed to Tacoma Mayor John H. Anderson in early February of 1951, at a meeting of the Young Men's Business Club held at the Winthrop Hotel. The deed was for the land at the east approach of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge where a memorial to Tacoma's war dead was planned. It was a project worked on by the Y.M.B.C. for many years. Also seated next to Mr. Woodworth is Bremerton mayor L. Hum Kean. Standing, from left to right: Mayor of Gig Harbor, Harold H. Ryan; Kitsap County Commissioner Verd Nichols; Y.M.B.C. memorial committee chairman Arthur Paulsen; Mrs. Ruth E. Peeler of the State Parks commission; Jack Roberts of the Public Works commission and Y.M.B.C. president Peter Pelegruti. ALBUM 14 (TNT 2-4-51, A-6)

Mayors--Tacoma--1950-1960; Anderson, John H.; Woodworth, Alden; Ryan, Harold H.; Nichols, Verd; Paulsen, Arthur; Peeler, Ruth E.; Roberts, Jack; Roberts, John S.; Pelegruti, Peter; Young Mens Business Club (Tacoma); Memorial Park (Tacoma);

Standard Brands of Sumner held a banquet at the Winthrop Hotel on November 21, 1951, to honor those employees who had worked there for 25 years. Company officials presented a watch and a certificate for long service to Arthur S. Learman, a new member of the Quarter Century Club.

Standard Brands, Inc. (Sumner); Learman, Arthur S.; Group portraits--1950-1960; Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Events--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The Daffodil Room at the Winthrop Hotel provides a less formal luncheon and dining area. Semi-circular booths line the left side of the room while a long bench with seats on both sides runs through the center of the room with tables and chairs on either side of it. A counter with swivel seats can be seen in the right-hand corner. Tables are provided in the rear of the room. The draperies and the carpet have a daffodil pattern to match the theme of the room. Chandeliers provide lighting.

Hotels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Western Distributors featured Lucky Lager and Miller High Life Beers at their booth during the Washington State Tavern Association convention. The convention trade show opened in the Hotel Winthrop's Crystal Ballroom and continued throughout the two full days of the convention. (TNT, 10/18/1952, p.A-6)

Washington State Tavern Association (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma; Beer--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The theme for the El Choclo Club's annual masquerade ball for 1952 was Tin Pan Alley. Members came dressed in costumes resembling musical hits as convicts, hoboes, characters from the Arabian Nights, tap dancers and other personalities. The ball was held in the Crystal Ballroom of the Winthrop Hotel. (TNT, 10/25/1952, p.14)

Costumes; Masquerades--Tacoma--1940-1950; Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1950-1960; El Choclo Club (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Scottish Bagpipers and Scotty Nyles at the Winthrop Hotel. Three members of the band, wearing Scottish attire, stand with an unidentified man wearing a suit.

Costumes--Scottish; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Students from Fife High School are grouped against one end of the Wedgwood Room at the Winthrop Hotel during their junior prom held on May 4, 1951. The young women wear floor-length gowns and the young men wear suits and ties. Ordered by the Tribune. (TNT, 5/14/1951, p.4)

Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fife High School (Fife); Dance parties--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The wedding of Shirley Claire Fields and Jack Schneidermann in the Wedgewood Room at the Winthrop Hotel. A single ring ceremony was performed by Rabbi Bernard Roseberg under a canopy of white stock and greens flanked by candelabra. The bride, the daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. Hyman S. Fields, wore an ivory satin gown with a yoke of net and venice lace with a long train and an illusion veil. She carried a bouquet of orchids and stephanotis. The groom was from Coos Bay, Oregon and was the son of Mrs. David Schneidermann. The matron of honor was the recently married Mrs. Alvin L. Fields, sister-in-law of the bride, who wore the same bridal gown at her wedding. The Junior Bridesmaid was Dorothy Fields and the Bridesmaids were Helen Gold, Mona Kleiner and Nancy Brown. The Best Man was Harold Schneidermann. The bride was a graduate of Stadium High School and received her degree in Sociology from the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Washington. She was a member of Alpha Epsilon Phi. The groom was a Business Administration graduate from the University of Oregon and a member of Sigma Alpha Mu. The Schneidermanns honeymooned in Los Angeles and Palm Springs, Ca. (TNT 4/22/1951, pg. D-4)

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Grooms (Weddings)--1950-1960; Wedding costume--1950-1960; Fields, Shirley Claire; Schneidermann, Jack; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

ca. 1955. The Winthrop Hotel, circa 1955. The hotel, designed by W.L. Stoddard, architect, and Roland Borhek, associate architect, had its grand opening on 5/16/1925. The hotel was named in a Tacoma Ledger newspaper contest. The winning name was submitted by George L. Dickson. It was named after explorer and writer Theodore Winthrop, author of "The Canoe and the Saddle," which helped popularize the Northwest. The building was eleven stories and 110 feet high. In 1973, it was converted into apartments. In 1955, it was home to the Sabre Room and the Daffodil Room.

Hotels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

American Institute of Architects, Southwest Washington Chapter, in the Wedgewood Room at the Winthrop Hotel. Most Tacoma and Seattle architects are pictured here, some with spouses. In the foreground of the picture, left to right, are Si Nelson, Percy Ball, Rod O'Hiser, Marshall Perrow, James Wilson and future mayor Gordon Johnston. Seated on the right side of the room, directly under the palm tree wall decoration are Hubert and Betty Bisson. Mr. Bisson was an architect, and later associate, for the well-known Tacoma firm of Lea, Pearson & Richards. Mr. Bisson worked for them for over 20 years until his death in 1971. He designed many of Tacoma's banks and schools for the firm. (for more detailed name information, please see name chart accompanying picture in Richards files) (Additional information provided by a reader)

American Institute of Architects, Southwest Washington Chapter (Tacoma); Architects; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Bisson, Hubert; Bisson, Betty; Johnston, Gordon N.; Nelson, Silas E.; Ball, Percy G.; O'Hiser, Rod; Perrow, Marshall; Wilson, James;

Seven Up Bottling Co. A breakfast for twenty featuring the bubbling soda. 7UP's slogan at this time was "You like it, it likes you." The breakfast was part of the meetings scheduled around the 37th annual convention of the Washington Bottlers of Carbonated Beverages held in Tacoma at the Winthrop Hotel. The three day run of meetings had its kickoff on Sunday, 2/7/1954, with a reception and smorgasbord at the hotel. Over 250 bottlers and their families were expected to attend. (TNT 2/7/1954)

Washington Bottlers of Carbonated Beverages (Wa.); Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Carbonated beverages;

Five unidentified members of the Pacific Coast Division of the American Pulp & Paper Mill Superintendents Association performed a "space age" skit involving a hodgepodge of space visitors and robots at their annual conference held at the Hotel Winthrop, 773 Broadway, in December of 1955. Following panel and group discussions on sulphate pulping, sulphite pulping, and papermaking, the delegates ended their annual meeting with an informal banquet in the Crystal Ballroom and a dance in the Wedgewood Room. (Photograph ordered by American Pulp & Paper Mill Superintendents Association.) (TNT 12-4-55, B-11)

Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Costumes; Robots; Signs (Notices); American Pulp & Paper Mill Superintendents Association (Tacoma);

Pacific Telephone and Telegraph, a group of 13 men sit around a table at the Winthrop Hotel with bound notebooks in front of them. Back row, third from left, is Reno Odlin, President of Puget Sound Bank. Odlin was a member of the eight man Regional Advisory Board of business leaders mapping out new projects for the company. They proposed a $400,000 construction project for Tacoma. The project included new equipment for the Market and Proctor offices, an expansion program for the Waverly office and alteration of the downtown long distance facilities. Similar projects were proposed for Seattle, Bremerton, Sumner and Shelton. Seated in the center at the head of the table is Mark Sullivan, president of PT&T and standing at the far right is George M. Dean, vice president and general manager of the Washington-Idaho district of PT &T.(TNT 3/22/1956, pg. A-10)

Telephone companies--Tacoma; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979;

The splendid chandeliers and sconces of the Winthrop Hotel provided an elegant setting for the Capital District, Washington Federation of Garden Clubs' show on December 6, 1954. A Christmas motif was evident; the majority of arrangements on display were small tabletop decorations. A few tall firs were added to complete the tableau. This may have been an annual event sponsored by the federation.

Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs (Tacoma); Flower shows--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The Presidential Suite at the Winthrop Hotel was used for a sales meeting for Marchant Calculators employees on November 13, 1958. Each table has at least one calculator on it. Employees are shown busily reconciling figures and assorted paperwork. Marchant Calculators was located at 2330 E. 11th St. and managed by Seymour L. Johnson, Jr. Photograph requested by Marchant Calculators.

Marchant Calculators (Tacoma); Calculators;

1969 Richards stock footage. A beaming Harold Moss, at the podium, seems to have the head table in stitches at a testimonial dinner honoring City Manager David Rowlands on November 17, 1969. Next to Mr. Rowlands is his wife, Sally, and two sons David Rowlands, Jr. and John. Mr. Moss' wife, Bil, is also seated at the head table next to an unidentified man. Guests seated at round banquet tables in the Winthrop's Crystal Ballroom appear to be enjoying Mr. Moss' remarks. November 17th was Mr. Rowlands' last day as City Manager; he had resigned after 13 1/2 years on the job, the last two marked with tumultuous council meetings. Proceeds from the dinner attended by more than 250 people would go toward launching a David Rowlands Scholarship Fund to help low-income students. The dinner honoring Mr. Rowlands and his family was a joint project of the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce, Tacoma Area Urban Coalition, and Tacoma Urban League. Earlier that day a reception was held at the University of Puget Sound coordinated by the Rowland family's neighbors in which more than 500 people attended to thank Mr. Rowlands for his years of service. (TNT 11-13-69, D-13; TNT 11-18-69, p. 1)

Rowlands, David; Rowlands, David--Family; Rowlands, Sally; Moss, Harold; Moss, Bil; Banquets--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Forty-three young ladies, all dressed in billowing evening gowns, pose under the chandelier in the Winthrop Hotel's Crystal Ballroom on December 27, 1961. The Holiday Cotillion was held under the auspices of the Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club for college-age daughters of prominent Tacoma families. A 12-piece orchestra performed at the event. As the nation's newest cotillion, it was scheduled to appear on a nationally televised documentary narrated by Cornelia Otis Skinner. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club. (TNT 11-23-61, C-17, names in TNT 12-31-61, D-3)

Evening gowns--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club (Tacoma); Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1960-1970; Chandeliers; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

On July 2, 1962, guest lecturer Peter Gowland of California gestured as he demonstrated photographic techniques with an unidentified barefoot model dressed in a two-piece swimsuit during the Professional Photographers of Washington convention. The three-day meeting was held at the Winthrop Hotel and this particular session before about 100 lensmen was held in the hotel's Crystal Ballroom. The woman with microphone at the left is believed to be Alice Gowland, Peter's wife and herself a photographer. Even in 1962 Mr. Gowland was acclaimed as a famous glamour photographer who would go on to create 25 books, develop several large-format camera designs, photograph some of Hollywood's biggest stars and the interiors of many beautiful Los Angeles homes. (www.doubleexposure.com/CoverStory_Gowland.shtml)

Gowland, Peter; Photographers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Meetings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fashion models--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Chandeliers;