The culmination of the festivities on May day at Annie Wright School, located at 827 Tacoma Avenue North, is the winding of the May Pole. In this photograph from 1935 the school's younger pupils dance around the pole to the approving gaze of upper classmen, friends and relatives. Originally known as Field Day, the May Day celebration included music, dance, sports and the crowning of the May Queen; it is one of the most treasured traditions of the school. In 1935 Marian Guyles was crowned May Queen.

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; May Day--Tacoma; May poles--Tacoma;

Annie Wright Seminary Field Day, also known as May Day, 5/1/1935. Girls leaving pitch after playing Field Hockey.

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Field hockey; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

A young man with a tennis racquet, tentatively identified as Weyerhaeuser acquaintance Bob Taylor, poses on a path at Annie Wright Seminary, near the area where 9 year old George Weyerhaeuser was kidnapped on May 24, 1935. The path was possibly used by the kidnappers. The Weyerhaeuser kidnapping was the second most famous in the nation and Tacoma's most sensational crime. It had everything to make newspaper headlines, a handsome grade school boy and a moneyed family desperate for his return. The retiring Weyerhaeusers however spoke only to the police and moved secretly so that publicity did not prevent George from being released. By June 1, 1935, George had been released. The first set of suspects was arrested within weeks, a former Puyallup couple named Harmon and Margaret Waley, and they identified the third suspect, William Dainard, who was arrested almost a year later. (T. Times 5/26/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding months.)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

Automobile parked outside entrance between hedges at Annie Wright Seminary, the area where George Hunt Weyerhaeuser was kidnapped on May 24, 1935. The heavy hedges undoubtedly provided cover to the people abducting the boy. George had left Lowell School just before noon to walk the five or so blocks to the Seminary where he would meet his sister and the young people would be driven home for lunch by the family chauffer. (T. Times 5/25/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding months)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

Steps and hedge at Annie Wright Seminary, one of the possible locations for the abduction of George Weyerhaeuser on May 24, 1935. He was kidnapped from the grounds of seminary, near the tennis courts, as he walked at noontime from Lowell Elementary to meet his sister at the seminary and travel home for lunch. The boy was held for $200,000 in ransom. (T. Times 5/26/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding months.)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

1936 Annie Wright Seminary Field Day. Girl performing somersault off diving board into indoor swimming pool. Other girls watch.

Private schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Events--Tacoma; Swimming--Tacoma--1930-1940; Swimming pools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Diving--Tacoma--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Diving--Tacoma;

The Annie Wright Seminary Junior Prom, held Saturday April 17, 1937 in the Great Hall at the school. The dance had a Dutch theme and was scheduled to honor the senior class before their graduation in June. Three couples were photographed wearing formal attire and standing in front of a fireplace. The room was embellished with elaborate decorations. Pictured left to right are Robert Cowden, Barbara Bogan, Betty June Howe, Clinton Campbell, Elizabeth Post and Gordon Ketring. (T.Times 4/24/1937, pg. 9)

Private Schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Dance parties--Tacoma--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Annie Wright Seminary May Day activities. Girls in dark hooded costumes dancing in circle around witch. Large crowd and school building dominate the background.

Private Schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma; May Day--Tacoma;

Annie Wright Seminary May Day activities. Parents and friends gathering for May day performance. Rows of wooden folding chairs have been placed on the lawn by the school building.

Private Schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma; May Day--Tacoma;

Annie Wright Seminary May Day activities. Pages and queen procession walking through divided line of students. Photographer, wearing a beret, is positioning a large format box camera. Spectators and building in background.

Private Schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma; May Day--Tacoma; May poles--Tacoma;

Annie Wright Seminary May Day activities. Procession of young women, wearing long, formal dresses and carrying floral bouquets, walking between divided lines of students.

Private Schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma; May Day--Tacoma; May poles--Tacoma;

Annie Wright Seminary Christmas Doll Bazaar held December 4, 1937. The Senior girls have arranged baby dolls in an old shoe; the theme is based on the nursery rhyme "Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe." Standing L to r: Margaret McGinnis, Shirley Robbins, Frances Young; kneeling, Ann Murray and Martha Turner. The seniors received an award of merit for their dolls and exhibit. Left corner torn on photograph. (T. Times, 12/11/37, p.7)

Private Schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma; Bazaars--Tacoma; Dolls; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Young, Frances; McGinnis, Margaret; Murray, Ann; Robbins, Shirley; Turner, Martha;

ca. 1925. Annie Wright Seminary under construction. The Tudor Gothic building was designed by Sutton, Whitney & Dugan, architects. The Seminary first opened in 1884 at 611 Division Street. The school on Tacoma Ave No., which opened to students in the Fall of 1924, appears barren without its lush green lawns and landscaping. (WSHS- negative A852-0)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Private schools--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Annie Wright Seminary annual doll bazaar. Eight girls around table with dolls, sign "8th Grade". The exhibit theme is a school classroom. Some dolls appear to be Madame Alexander dolls. Mrs. Wilson was in charge. (T.Times Society, 12/5/1938, p. 9)

Private schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma; Dolls; Bazaars--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Ready for a game of tennis on the courts of Annie Wright Seminary in March of 1939 are Delta Delta Delta sorority sisters Jacklyn Outouse and Virginia Davis. The Tri-Delts attend the University of Washington and are home on spring break.

Tennis--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Outouse, Jacklyn; Davis, Virginia; Delta Delta Delta (Tacoma);

Annie Wright Seminary 1940 May Day activities. Mary Kent Hewitt, Queen in bamboo chair, surrounded by her Royal Court. Flag bearer at far left. The Queen's Court included maid of honor Elizabeth Ann Love, pages Anne Mueller and Patricia Davis, heralds Dick Pessemier and Patricia Pinches, flower girls Madeline Merrill and Judith Ann Whitney, scepter bearer George Bianchi, crown bearer Janit Schimke and train bearers Sharon Connor and Ann Rowland. (T. Times, 5/11/1940, p. 5-article).

Private schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Holidays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hewitt, Mary Kent;

May Day at Annie Wright Seminary. May Queen Kai Wonderly waits with her senior attendant and small royal attendants on the grassy lawns of Annie Wright for the processional to begin on May 18, 1968. The petite youngsters are dressed in white with one carrying the queen's crown and another the scepter. Each year one senior girl was chosen as May Queen although the entire school participated in the festival. Kai is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Wonderly; Mr. Wonderly was the operations manager of St. Regis Paper Co. Photograph ordered by Annie Wright Seminary. (TNT 5-26-68, D-10, 11)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1960-1970; Private schools--Tacoma; May Day--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma--1960-1970; Wonderly, Kai; School children--Tacoma--1960-1970; Students--Tacoma--1960-1970;

A classroom of bright eyed youngsters, students at the Annie Wright Seminary, smile for the camera on February 29, 1960. The eighteen girls and their teacher, Miss Hartwell, are doing a bit of light reading on this sunny morning. Classes were kept small at this private school with total enrollment approximately 300 and staff of 55. Holding the Alvin the Chipmunk doll is Nancy Bond at near right with Jamie May next to her. Blond Leilee Weyerhaeuser is seated behind Nancy. Other girls identified in the classroom were Jill Stone, Penny Rumbaugh, Mimi Wiborg and Ann Dickman. (Identification provided by a reader)

School children--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1960-1970; Private schools--Tacoma; Teachers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Bond, Nancy; May, Jamie;

Although Annie Wright Seminary had been at this location, 827 Tacoma Ave. No., only since 1924; it was in the process of celebrating its Diamond Jubilee in October of 1958 when this picture was taken. The first class of 93 girls entered Annie Wright in the fall of 1884 in the school's first building at Tacoma & Division Avenues. Annie Wright experienced financial troubles due to decreased enrollment in the 1930's and increased expenses during the early part of WWII; the school was nearly forced to close in 1943. Headmistress Ruth Jenkins and the Board of Trustees were given 48 hours to raise enough money to pay the most outstanding debts. Friends, alumnae and students rallied to save the school. Annie Wright Seminary continued to expand with a new wing added in 1957. In 2002, the school had pupils from seven states and eight countries and was planning to add a 10.3 million three story addition. (The Shield:1959, TNT 9-30-02, B-1)

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