A young model enjoys an appetizing snack as she lounges on an extended sofa in a September 13, 1954, photograph. The plates of food are placed on a four legged TV table whose ends are tilted upward. The TV table, made out of wood, was built at the right height for someone sitting in front of it or for use as a miniature coffee table. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Plywood; Tables; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
By the mid-1950's more and more people were becoming accustomed to "do-it-yourselfing" and the Douglas Fir Plywood Association encouraged them to use plywood for their building projects. Stores were devoting space to handyman supplies; pictured in July, 1954, is an unidentified model with displays of new Douglas Fir Plywood Handy Panels. These panels, at 2 ft. by 4 ft., were smaller then full size plywood sheets. They were easy to handle, select and use. They were clearly marked for size, grade and price. Plans were available to build your own storage units or versatile chests and often the work could be completed within a weekend. Stores were eager to help the customer who wanted to save money by doing the work himself. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (Handy Panels ad, Popular Science, December 1952, p. 248)
Plywood; Merchandise displays--1950-1960; Signs (Notices); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Do-it-yourself work--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Home portrait of the Weyerhaeusers. The couple pictured in this sepia photograph is John Philip ("Phil") and Helen Weyerhaeuser. They were enjoying a family gathering at their Thorne Lane residence on July 6, 1954. Phil Weyerhaeuser led the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company from 1933 to 1956, a span of time which included the changes brought about by the Great Depression and World War ll. He believed that the best way a forest products company could operate would be to own its own timberlands. Phil Weyerhaeuser passed away on December 8, 1956. The 1956 Weyerhaeuser Timber Company annual report was dedicated to him; he was lauded as "a man of exceptional vision, kindliness and executive talents. It was he who activated the philosophy of managing forest lands for perpetual growth and harvest. His influence in the industry and the American community will be felt for generations to come." (Twining, Charles E., Phil Weyerhaeuser, Lumberman)
Home portrait of the Weyerhaeusers. This sepia photograph of the large Weyerhaeuser clan was taken on July 6, 1954. Seated in the center of the picture are John Philip ("Phil") Weyerhaeuser, Jr., and wife Helen surrounded by children and grandchildren. Phil Weyerhaeuser was instrumental in leading the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company for over twenty years. His son, John Philip ("Flip") Weyerhaeuser, III, and family were visiting from St. Paul, Minnesota, and had spent two weeks at the Weyerhaeuser family home in American Lake. Another son, George, and family were also present for the gathering; they had traveled from Eugene, Oregon. (TNT 7-11-54, D-2)
Weyerhaeuser, John Philip--Family; Group portraits;
Douglas Fir Plywood Association created laboratories to maintain high quality standards of its plywood; plywood was constantly being tested for durability and to detect any flaws. View of sheets of plywood in the D.F.P.A. warehouse undergoing testing. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Plywood; Product inspection--Tacoma; Testing--Tacoma;
An employee of the Douglas Fir Plywood Association appears to be monitoring gauges while doing product testing at the association's laboratory in March, 1954. Douglas Fir plywood was undergoing constant testing for durability and to maintain quality control. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Plywood; Product inspection--Tacoma; Testing--Tacoma; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Workers are laying plywood in apparent preparation for testing by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association's laboratory in March, 1954. Nearly all sections of plywood have been fastened with only a few sheets left to attach. Plywood was constantly being tested to assure consumers and the industry that all standards were being met.
Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Testing--Tacoma; Product inspection--Tacoma;
United States Plywood Corp.'s logging operation at Kosmos, Wa., eight miles southeast of Morton in south central Lewis County. A tall timber is circled by ropes and pulleys. A piece of large hoisting machinery can be seen. The ropes possibly helped bring down the trees down safely when the timber was cut.
Plywood; Lumber industry--Kosmos--1950-1960; United States Plywood Corp. (Seattle);
United States Plywood Corp.'s logging operation at Kosmos, Wa., eight miles southeast of Morton in south central Lewis County. A close up of the timber with ropes and pulleys used to move timber. Covered areas and shacks are at the base of the timber, including a large tank.
Plywood; Lumber industry--Kosmos--1950-1960; United States Plywood Corp. (Seattle);
The extensive timber area owned by United States Plywood Corp. at Kosmos, Washington serves as the background for a personality shot of Mr. Jess Hurd who was photographed on March 2, 1954. Kosmos was once the headquarters for the logging operations of U.S. Plywood Corp. on the Cowlitz River, eight miles southeast of Morton in south central Lewis County. U.S. Plywood expanded in the post war years, acquiring plants at Mapleton, Ore., Anderson, Ca., two plants in the buy out of Associated Plywood Mills, Inc. and a veneer peeling plant at Kosmos, Wa. Their extensive timber holdings at Kosmos supplied the raw wood for their plywood plants. (Corrected identification provided by a reader)
Plywood; Lumber industry--Kosmos--1950-1960; United States Plywood Corp. (Seattle); Hurd, Jess;
Plywood used for diecutting base at Ridgeway Lithographing Co., ordered by the DFPA (Douglas Fir Plywood Association.) Lithography is a process of printing from a plane surface, such as a smooth stone or metal plate, where the image to be printed is ink-receptive and the blank areas are ink-repellant.
St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Co., for the Condon Co. Advertising Agency. A man stands at an assembly table with the packing of a box of plywood fanned out. The box contains Plyaloy Siding, an exterior plywood product. The "Tree Life Forest Products" logo belongs to St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. Other boxes contain Knotty Pine plywood,Textured One-Eleven, Moire and Select Cabinet Stock.
St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Plywood; Clapboard siding;
New DFPA offices in the Fuller Building as pictured on September 18, 1953. This appears to be the mailroom. The Douglas Fir Plywood Association's headquarters in Tacoma was the center of the industry's national promotion of fir plywood. The cost of this promotion was over 2.5 million a year, much of it spent in postage. The DFPA was the highest volume customer of the Tacoma Post Office. TPL-8393
Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; Office workers--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Interiors of new DFPA office in Fuller building. Originally the home of W.P. Fuller & Co., the building was leased by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association in 1953 and remodeled for their headquarters. Plywood, the building material made of sheets of veneer glued together in multi plys, was the favored building material of the construction industry. This was mostly due to the self promotion of the Association, which was supported by member mills. The Association also sponsored research at its lab at 1214 A St. and standardized plywood and graded it for quality. TPL-8397
Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; Office workers--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Interiors of new DFPA office in Fuller building. Originally the home of W.P. Fuller & Co., the Douglas Fir Plywood Association leased and remodeled this office building in 1953. They remained here until the 80's. From this location, the DFPA directed their national program of promotion, research and quality control. Around 1983, the building was remodeled by Bantz Trace Associates and renamed the Commencement Bay building. It houses office space and the Cliff Street Lofts. TPL-8394
Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Interiors of new DFPA office in Fuller building. Switchboard operator & a man waiting with a briefcase for an appointment. The Douglas Fir Plywood Association was originated and financially supported by member and subscriber mills. Its purpose was threefold; to aggressively promote plywood as a building material, to fund research on improving and diversifying the product and for quality control of the product. This self regulation sparked the biggest industry growth in the Northwest of all times. TPL-8395
Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Interiors of new DFPA office in Fuller building. Office workers at desk and counter, "Mr. Ritchie's" office in the background. The Douglas Fir Plywood Association began in 1938 when the original member mills banded together to promote and standardize their product. Under the able guidance of W.E. ("Diff") Difford, the handful of mills became an industry. By the forties, plywood boomed in housing and became the handiest building material ever devised. The Association later changed its name to the American Plywood Association, as more types of wood came to be used in the production of plywood. TPL-8396
Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; Office workers--Tacoma--1950-1960;
St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Company milled lumber used by 20th Century Construction Company in building DeLong School. View from off-site of building under construction with rough framing and roof beams in place.
St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Company milled lumber used by 20th Century Construction Company in building DeLong School. Interior view of office building or house. Plan for school on panel; signs leaning against wall describing concrete subfloors.
St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Company milled lumber used by 20th Century Construction Company in building DeLong School. Worker placing lumber on top of wood beams. Early construction phase.
St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Company milled lumber used by 20th Century Construction Company in building DeLong School. View of wood beams in early construction phase.
Twenty logging trucks, photograph ordered by International Harvester. The trucks are fueled by propane and owned by Cotten Brothers in Spanaway, Washington. International Harvester sold and serviced large trucks. Here the trucks are posed in front of a large propane tank.
Ordered by International Harvester, a single logging truck. The truck is fueled by propane and owned by Cotten Brothers in Spanaway, Washington. The truck is posed in front of a large propane tank labelled "Propane, the modern motor fuel." The back portion of the truck where the logs are usually loaded has been unhooked and now sits on the bed of the truck. International Harvester sold and serviced large commercial trucks.
Large piece of equipment, the "Challoner 790", for auction at Wheeler Osgood factory liquidation. The door manufacturer closed its doors in 1952 and liquidated all assets. Certain former employees of the plant announced that they intended to form a co-operative to acquire and operate the factory, after the new owners announced their intention to liquidate. This move was opposed by the Lumber and Sawmill Worker's union and never came to fruition. Other companies that looked at the plant included Boeing, who were looking for a warehouse for its Seattle factory. The building was finally scheduled for demolition when no sale went through and burned down during the process in July of 1959. (TNT 2-26-1952, pg. 1)
ca. 1952. The Cheney Studs baseball team brings new meaning to the term "farm team" by playing on an actual farm, with spectators sitting on a low barn or shed roof. The players wear the striped uniform with the stud logo over the heart. The stud logo is in reference to the 8 ft. 2x4 manufactured by Ben Cheney's company called a Cheney stud, credited with standardizing architecture in the U.S. In addition to the batter, a catcher and umpire can be seen. TPL-7911
Plywood was used for sheathing and concrete forms during construction at the new Custer School. The school was designed by Lea, Pearson & Richards. The building was dedicated September 30, 1953. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Reinforced concrete construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Custer School (Lakewood);
An operator for Douglas Fir Plywood is recording the results of a test performed on small plywood samples.
Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Testing--Tacoma; Recording & registration--Tacoma; Research facilities--Tacoma; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
An operator for Douglas Fir Plywood stamps each sheet of plywood in a stack with "EXT-DFPA" denoting the grade and quality of plywood. The Douglas Fir Plywood Association stood behind the designations they developed to assure quality of the products distributed by their members.
Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma)--Products; Plywood;
Workmen are moving a section of plywood form into position in preparation to pouring a reinforced cement wall. Carstens Packing Company can be seen over the forms in the distance. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Reinforced concrete construction--Tacoma--1940-1950;
