Microsoft mogul Bill Gates' parents' wedding. The happy couple cut their wedding cake after the Seattle ceremony. Both William Henry Gates, Jr. and Mary Maxwell Gates came from extremely successful families. Mary's great grandfather James Willard Maxwell moved to Washington in the late 19th century where he served as President of a bank, two terms as Mayor and was elected to the State Legislature. When he moved to Seattle before World War I, he became a prominent banker. Mary Maxwell grew up with some of the most important and famous families in the Pacific Northwest. Bill Jr. grew up in Bremerton, also in a well to do family, and became the City Attorney for Bremerton before entering the Seattle law firm of Skeel, McKelvy, Hanke, Everson and Uhlmann. Mary became a school teacher until the couple started their family and later served on corporate boards including United Way, University of Washington and First Interstate Bancorp. ("Bill Gates" by Adam Woog, "Bill Gates, Billionaire Computer Genius" by Joan D. Dickinson and "Smart Money, The Story of Bill Gates" by Aaron Boyd)

Weddings--Seattle--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Grooms (Weddings)--1950-1960; Maxwell, Mary; Gates, William Henry; Wedding costume--1950-1960;

Shirley Mae Henricksen and Stanley Morrell Taylor were married July 9, 1951, at the Central Lutheran Church. Shirley is shown with her attendants at the altar. (TNT, 7/11/1951, p.16)

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Wedding costume--1950-1960; Lutheran churches--Tacoma; Altars--Tacoma; Henricksen, Shirley Mae--Marriage; Central Lutheran Church (Tacoma);

These two young girls who are wearing identical dresses are shopping for flowergirl's dresses. They are, L-R, Betsy Currier, 4 years old, and Nora McNerthney. They were to be the flower girls at the June 16th wedding of Miss Virginia McNerthney and George Richner. (TNT, 5/9/1951, p.C-10)

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Journalism--Tacoma--1950-1960; Shopping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Girls--Tacoma--1950-1960; Currier, Betsy; McNerthney, Nora; Dresses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Children--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Anne Catherine Baker, daughter of John S. and Florence M. Baker, is seen wearing her wedding gown and standing in front of an elegant sofa in one of the upstairs bedrooms in her parents home. She and Lt. William Collingwood Johnston were married April 21, 1951, at Visitation Church. Anne chose a gown of imported white Chantilly lace and a fingertip length veil of illusion. Her bouquet was of eucharist lilies, stephanotis and blush pink gardenias. She had attended the Helen Bush School in Seattle and was a graduate of the Eastman School of Music. Lt. Johnston, U.S. Army, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Johnston of South Haven, Michigan. He was a graduate of Michigan State College and was aide-de-camp to General Leroy H. Watson, commanding general at Fort Lewis. (TNT, 4/22/1951, p.D-2)

Weddings--Lakewood--1950-1960; Baker, Anne--Marriage; Brides--1950-1960; Wedding costume--1950-1960; Baker, John S.--Family; Living rooms--Lakewood--1950-1960; Baker, John S.--Homes & haunts;

Marilyn Giesy and Leonard Eugene Estes on their wedding day June 30,1951 at the First Baptist Church. 700 guests were present at their candlelight ceremony in the sanctuary. The bride was the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Archie Giesy and the groom was the son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Leonard Estes. The bride's five attendants were dressed in Nile green organdy embossed with lilly of the valley and carried bouquets of pink and orchid sweet peas. The bride wore a gown of ivory slipper satin with a yoke of Alencon lace and a Peter Pan satin collar. The gown had a full circular skirt with a court length train. The bride wore a bonnet of shirred net trimmed with pink rosebuds and lilly of the valley, with a fastened fingertip veil of imported French illusion. She carried a bouquet of stephanotis and pale yellow sweetheart roses with a white orchid topping a white prayer book. The couple made their home in Portland, where the groom was continuing his studies at the University of Oregon dental school. (Bride featured in TNT wedding layout 5/9/1951, pg. C-9, wedding article TNT 7/1/01, pg. D-4)

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Grooms (Weddings)--1950-1960; Giesy, Marilyn; Estes, Leonard Eugene;

Donna Evodie Waite and Richard Leland Knipe sign their marriage certificate in front of Rev. Carl Rydell and witnesses. They were married earlier at First Lutheran Church on August 25, 1951. Mrs. Peter N. Stojack was her sister's matron of honor. Best man was Chevy Chase of Sunnyside, Washington. Donna is the daughter of Mrs. Anne V. Waite of San Francisco and Maj. Gilbert Waite of Germany. Richard is the son of Mr. and Mrs. L.T. Knipe. (TNT, 8/26/1951, p.D-3; 9/2/1951, p.C-4)

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Grooms (Weddings)--1950-1960; Wedding costume--1950-1960; First Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Marriage certificates--Tacoma; Waite, Donna--Marriage; Knipe, Richard; Rydell, Carl E; Clergy--Tacoma;

Miss Pat Kaperick admires a silver tea set while shopping for bridesmaid's gifts. She is selecting lasting gifts for the bridesmaids who will join in making her wedding a wonderful memory. (TNT, 5/9/1951, p.C-6)

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Journalism--Tacoma--1950-1960; Silverware; Trays --Tacoma; Coffeepots; Teapots; Kaperick, Pat;

Marianna Catherine Van Rooy and Robert James Mattecheck were married June 9, 1951, at St. Patrick's Church. A reception was held afterwards at the Tacoma Country and Golf Club. Marianna was the daughter of Marie (Mrs. Clemens W.) Van Rooy and Robert was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mattecheck of McMinnville, Oregon. Marianna was attended by seven bridesmaids: Mrs. Marcus Woods, Josephine Risalvato, Sue Souix, Mary Jane Van Rooy, Marilyn Van Rooy, Dolores Hrvatin and Molly Mattecheck. There were two flower girls, Katie Van Rooy and Penny Mattecheck. (TNT, 6/10/1951, p.D-2)

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Van Rooy, Marianna Catherine--Marriage; Risalvato, Josephine; Souix, Sue; Van Rooy, Mary Jane; Van Rooy, Marilyn; Mattecheck, Molly; Hvratin, Dolores; Wedding attendants; Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma)--1950-1960;

Kappa Sigma fraternity's float "definitely stole the show," according to the News Tribune, during the 1951 Daffodil Parade. The fraternity from the College of Puget Sound provided smiles and laughter with a satire of the City Council and the current problems with vice conditions. "Council members' equipped with pistols waved to the crowd as "Senator Kefauver" shook his broom over their antics. Mayor John Anderson, the "Big John" so noted, joined in the crowd's laughter. (TNT 4-8-51, A-1-article; A-9-alt. photo.)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1951 : Tacoma); Kappa Sigma Fraternity (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960;

This daffodil-covered "zoo" depicting a jungle theme was just one of the 70 floats entered in the 1951 Daffodil Parade. On top of the cage were two young ladies in leopard-spotted strapless dresses while inside the cage, petting a lion created out of daffodils, is another young lady in a two-piece zebra-striped bathing suit. Crowds estimated at 100,000 lined downtown streets, fire escapes and peered out of office buildings to view the 1 1/2 hour procession. The float is pictured on Pacific Avenue passing the California Oyster House (930 Pacific) and Norman R. Smith's Men's Clothing (928 Pacific). (TNT 4-7-51, p. 1-article on parade)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1951 : Tacoma); California Oyster House (Tacoma); Norman R. Smith's (Tacoma);

Decorated with hundreds, if not thousands of golden daffodils, the Jordan Baking Co. float proceeded down Pacific Avenue during the 18th annual Daffodil Festival Parade on April 7, 1951. It was photographed passing the Washington Hardware Co. (922-24 Pacific) and the Stationers, Inc. (926-28). Aboard was a display of the company's familiar wrapping and a subtle reminder of the freshness of its products. Jordan's was believed to be the state's largest independent bakery and had won numerous awards for its bread. Its "Fresh As A Daisy" float won second place in the parade's Commercial Division. (TNT 4-8-51, A9-alt. photo)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1951 : Tacoma); Jordan Baking Co. (Tacoma); Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma); Stationers, Inc. (Tacoma);

Waving to the crowds lined up on Pacific Avenue for the 1951 Daffodil Festival Parade are three Elks officials motoring along in a convertible decorated in blossoms. Driving is secretary Erling O. Johnson and in the back seat are Harold Duncan at left and Lloyd L. Wynans, right. Mr. Wynans was the current Exalted Ruler of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174. Mr. Duncan, as Leading Knight, was to succeed Mr. Wynans as Exalted Ruler later in the year.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Convertible automobiles--Tacoma; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1951 : Tacoma); Johnson, Erling O.; Duncan, Harold; Wynans, Lloyd L.; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);

The Packard Bell float motored merrily along Pacific Avenue past the Washington Hardware Co. store on April 7, 1951, in the 18th annual Daffodil Festival Parade. An unidentified woman smilingly displays a handful of daffodils to the teeming crowds. A Packard Bell television set aboard the float has the photograph of the 1951 Daffodil Queen, Elaine Chipps of Puyallup, on the screen. Packard Bell was celebrating its 25th anniversary in 1951.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1951 : Tacoma); Packard Bell Co. (Tacoma); Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma);

Small boys with big axes accompany the Boys Club entry in the 1951 Daffodil Parade. A tractor is pulling a large cart containing a daffodil-covered Blue Ox and his famous associate, Paul Bunyan. Crowds estimated at 100,000 packed the downtown streets of Pacific (shown above) and Broadway for the 18th annual Daffodil Festival Parade. Many families also got a good view of the 1 1/2 hour procession of floats, bands and other marching units, through office building windows including Washington Hardware Co.'s.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1951 : Tacoma); Boys Club (Tacoma); Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Kiwanis Club's entry in the 1951 Daffodil Parade provided a somber note to the festivities in its "Freedom is not Free" theme. WWII was still a fresh memory and the country was now engulfed in the Korean War. A nurse is flanked by a sailor and soldier who stand with their weapons, overlooking a coffin and cross in a field of daffodils. Judges awarded this entry third place in the Service Club division. (TNT 4-7-51, p. 1-article)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1951 : Tacoma); Kiwanis Club (Tacoma);

Making a slow and careful turn onto Pacific Avenue is the prize-winning float from the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co., entitled "Springtime." Graced with two large robins and enormous butterfly wings and dressed in green, yellow and maroon colors, the float won the Sweepstakes Award in the 1951 Daffodil Festival parade.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1951 : Tacoma); Spectators--Tacoma--1950-1960; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company's 1951 Daffodil Parade float carried three lovely young ladies representing springtime. The float was a tribute to "Springtime" with two robins in the front, a flowering arbor, and giant butterfly wings. It was the Sweepstakes Winner that year.

Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1951 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

Float #30, entitled "Springtime," won the Sweepstakes Award in the 1951 Daffodil Festival parade. The float had two large robins in the front and enormous butterfly wings at the rear with a young lady as part of its "body." Two other young misses carry metal watering cans as they pose next to a flowering arbor. This float was the creation of the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co.

Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1951 : Tacoma); St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

Float #37 in the 1951 Daffodil Parade had as its theme, "Safety First." A small house, created out of daffodils and topped with shrubbery, was escorted by both a woman "fireman" and a smiling "devil." It was parked outside the Oxygen Sales & Service Co., sellers of oxygen and welding products.

Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Parade (1951 : Tacoma); Oxygen Sales & Service Co. (Tacoma);

Many of the Tacoma professional and amateur artists who belonged to the Pacific Gallery Artists displayed their work at the third annual Tacoma Paul Bunyan Home Show which opened at the College of Puget Sound Fieldhouse on April 30, 1951. Shown with some of the paintings that were shown are: (seated) Mrs. Juanita Savisky, holding her painting "Mount Rainier"; and standing (l to r) Mrs. Anna Hall, holding "Cliff Dwellers of New Mexico" by John Allard; Mrs. Jo Buhre; and Mrs. Rosalie Walker, holding Mrs. Buhre's painting "Poppies". (TNT, 4/27/1951, p.C-9)

Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma); Exhibitions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pacific Gallery Artists (Tacoma); Paintings; Artists--Tacoma--1950-1960; Savisky, Juanita; Hall, Anna; Buhre, Jo; Walker, Rosalie;

The Honolulu Conservatory of Music's float from the 1951 Daffodil Parade. Two men sit in the front seat. Two young women are seated above the back seat, one holding an accordion and one with a guitar. Large music staves have been added to the front of the car which has been covered with daffodils and outlines of notes.

Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1951 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Accordions; Guitars;

A convertible has been decorated by Art's Glass & Upholstery for the 1951 Daffodil Parade. The crowd was estimated at 100,000 this year. There were 97 entries in the parade with 70 floats and nearly 30 bands and marching units. The parade celebrated the arrival of spring and the bulb industry in the county. Pierce County was the largest bulb producing county in the United States at this time. (TNT, 4/3/1951, p.1)

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1950 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Art's Glass & Upholstery Shop (Tacoma);

St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company sponsored the "Sweepstakes Winning" float in the 1951 Daffodil Parade. It featured two robins in front, two young ladies next to an arbor, and an enormous butterfly with an unidentified woman as the "body." It is seen here as it passed in front of Washington Hardware's retail facility with the Sports Shop next door.

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1951 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma);

The Honolulu Conservatory of Music's float from the 1951 Daffodil Parade is seen as it progresses along the street.

Festivals--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1950 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Honolulu Conservatory of Music (Tacoma); Guitars; Accordions;

Pausing on its way out of town is the Jordan Baking Co. float on April 7, 1951. It is most likely heading for Puyallup and environs as part of the 1951 Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival parade. The flower-bedecked float had as its theme "Jordan's Bread Fresh as a Daisy" which won it second place in the Commercial Division. Jordan's, with over 100 employees, was believed to be the state's largest independent bakery and known for their high quality, prize-winning bread. The young ladies on the float are not identified but company owner, Arthur K. Jordan is standing next to the float. The woman next to him may be Mrs. Jordan. (TNT 4-8-51, A-9, alt. photograph)

Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1951 : Tacoma); Jordan Baking Co. (Tacoma); Jordan, Arthur K.;

St. Joseph Hospital's School of Nursing capping exercises at St. Leo's Auditorium. During this ceremony, students qualified for the graduating class of 1953 in the School of Nursing receive their nurse's caps following the completion of a prescribed pre-clinical course. (see picture caption for names receiving caps TNT 3/23/1951, pg. 5)

Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Medical students--Tacoma; Nurses--Tacoma; Nursing--Tacoma; St. Joseph's Hospital & School of Nursing (Tacoma); St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma)--Buildings;

Wedding portrait of Violet Anderson, Anderson-Thompson wedding party, at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Miss Anderson, daughter of the Carl Sixtus Andersons, became the wife of John Darrell Thompson, son of the John William Thompsons, on May 12, 1951 in a double ring ceremony. The bride wore a gown of Chantilly lace with tiers of flower-edged ruffles. The bodice was lace appliqued over satin and the costume was accented by elbow length lace gloves. The veil was waist length illusion attached to a pearl trimmed lace bonnet. The bouquet was of baby gardenias and lilly of the valley. The bridesmaids wore pale green gowns of net over taffeta and carried bouquets of purple and yellow. The reception was held in the church parlor and utilized the same lavender and yellow color scheme as the wedding. Mrs. Thompson attended Lincoln High School and the University of Washington. The groom graduated from Stadium and attended Willamette University and received his degree from the University of Washington.The couple made their first home in Olympia. (TNT 5/13/1951, pg. D-6; shower announcement TNT 5/3/1951, pg. C-18; additional picture in TNT wedding layout 5/9/1951, pg. C-9; wedding picture of couple TNT 5/20/1951, pg. D-4)

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Wedding costume--1950-1960; Anderson, Violet;

Norma Brott and Gilbert Simmons marry in a candlelight ceremony at the First Lutheran Church on Feb. 10, 1951. The bride, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Brott, wore a white satin and lace gown with a train. The long veil of imported Italian lace was trimmed with seed pearls and she carried a bouquet of orchids and white carnations. The matron of honor was Mrs. Richard Johnson, and the bridesmaids were Misses Doris Gardner, Emily Simard and Florence Brooker. The groom was the son of Mrs. Willis Simmons of Long Island, N.Y. Russell White served as best man, and the ushers were Winter Burnett, Richard Johnson and Frank Kirch Jr. The reception was held in the church parlor. The couple made their first home in Bremerton. (TNT 2/28/1951, pg. B-4)

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Grooms (Weddings)--1950-1960; Wedding costume--1950-1960; Brott, Norma; Simmons, Gilbert;

Wedding picture of Marilyn Jean Mann and Edward Stanley Annas at St. Lukes Episcopal Church. The bride wore an azalea pink satin gown with a molded bodice and a stiff collar of chantilly lace, which was also used at the elbows and wristline. The bouffant skirt had a cathedral length train and the bonnet of pink satin had a fingertip veil. The bride carried a bouquet of calla lilies tied with pink velvet ribbon. The lilies were also used as floral displays for the church and reception. Jo Anne Wood was the maid of honor and Mrs. E. Wayne Mann Jr. was the matron of honor. Both women worn gowns of pale lavender taffeta. The bride was attended by four other bridesmaids in darker lavender. Louis Wohlman was Best Man. The bride was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. Wayne Mann Sr. and attended the College of Puget Sound, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi. The groom was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Annas Sr. of Enumclaw and also attended CPS, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma and the Lettermen's Club. The reception was held at the Kappa Sigma fraternity house. (Wedding shower picture & article TNT 3/11/1951, pg. D-7, Wedding TNT 3/25/1951, pg. D-4)

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Mann, Marilyn; Annas, Edward; Grooms (Weddings)--1950-1960; Wedding costume--1950-1960;

Dorothy Mae Norton, of Yakima, and Cpl. George Panich, U.S. Army Military Police, pose after their wedding at the main chapel at Fort Lewis on February 11, 1951. Mrs. Panich, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. N.L. Norton of Yakima, wore a white satin gown with inset lace panels. The Dutch hat styled lace headdress was attached to a waist length veil and she carried a bouquet of pink rosebuds and carnations. The groom was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Marco Panich of Ironwood, Michigan. The couple was attended by PFC and Mrs. Gene R. Michael. The matron of honor wore a yellow organdy gown and matching hat. The reception was held at the quarters of Sgt. and Mrs. Dale Barker. The couple made their first home in Tacoma. The bride and groom pose here with one of their families, the young boys dressed in matching anchor motif shirts. (TNT 2/23/1951, pg. B-8)

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Grooms (Weddings)--1950-1960; Wedding costume--1950-1960; Norton, Dorothy Mae--Marriage; Panich, George;