Champ car. Leo Dobry was a racing enthusiast. He not only had the "City of Tacoma" built to exacting specifications by the Kurtis-Kraft plant, South Gate, California, but he also had a trailer with windows to tow the race car. In May, 1948, the race car is seen hitched to a Chevy pickup truck, ready for probable transport to the Indianapolis 500 over Memorial Day. The Champ car was much larger and more powerful than a midget. It ran the 500 twice, finishing sixth in 1948 and qualifying outside the front row in 1949 before mechanical problems forced it out of the race. (T.Times, 4/27/1948, p.1) TPL-5445

Dobry, Leo; City of Tacoma (Race car); Racing automobiles--1940-1950; Automobile racing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chevrolet trucks; Trailers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

A student, taking part of her final driving test on June 2, 1948, maneuvered her car through an obstacle course set up by Driver's Education instructors Frank P. Jones and Lloyd C. Hague (two men at left) inside the Stadium Bowl next to Stadium H.S.. Driver's education started in September 1947 at Stadium High School and a year and a half earlier at Lincoln High School. A total of 45 students from both school had completed the driver's course by the end of the 1947-48 school year. (T. Times, 6/4/48, p. 2).

Driver education--Tacoma; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Teachers--Tacoma; Automobile driving--Tacoma; Examinations--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Stadium High School (Tacoma);

Interior view of shaft alley in the "Scarlet Queen" tuna clipper, this is a typical shaft alley produced by Tacoma Boatbuilding Company. The tuna clipper's shaft alley is the distribution center for bait water, brine circulation and refrigeration control. The electric cables, steering controls and propulsion shafting all passes through the shaft alley (Tacoma Boatbuilding Co., Inc. Catalog 1954). TPL-8963

Fishing boats--Tacoma; Control rooms--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Scarlet Queen built by Tacoma Boatbuilding Company was the largest tuna clipper built in the world, at least 25 feet larger than any other tuna clipper. The "Scarlet Queen" would be fishing for tuna in the Pacific Ocean, it had recently gone on its trial run in Tacoma's Commencement Bay. This vessel was owned by Arne Strom, co-owner of Tacoma Boatbuilding Company and Cecil Drake of San Diego, California (T. Times, 6/14/48, p. 1). TPL-8962

Fishing boats--Tacoma; Paintings; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Interior view of switchboard in the "Scarlet Queen" tuna clipper, the control and distribution panels are custom made to fit the needs of each individual ship. The switchboards are compact, the "Scarlet Queen" has multiple units including an A.C. unit. Tacoma Boat's electrical division works with their customers to provide the most efficient switchboards (Tacoma Boatbuilding Co., Inc. Catalog 1954). TPL-8964

Fishing boats--Tacoma; Switchboards--Tacoma; Control rooms--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Garden Club's flower show asked that all materials entered must be from the exhibitor's garden, except for modern settings, rock gardens and shadow boxes. This year's theme was "Designs for Outdoor Living", prizes were awarded for the winners in the different categories. View of women admiring the entries for dinner centerpieces (T. Times, 5/14/48, p. 6).

Gardening--Tacoma; Flower shows--Tacoma; Exhibitions--Tacoma; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma; Flowers --Tacoma; Wells Hall of Christ Episcopal Church (Tacoma); Tacoma Garden Club (Tacoma);

The Christ Episcopal Church Choir Guild was having a tea party at Emma Allen's home, located at 803 South Union Avenue, on May 27, 1948. The Church Choir Guild officers and the tea party hostess were meeting at the Allen home prior to the party for a garden preview. Interior view of the Allen home, left to right, Lucille Smith, Caryl B. Reynolds, Mary F. Rue and Emma Allen. The women are all wearing hats. (T.N.T., 6/1/48, p. 4).

Gardening--Tacoma; Flowers--Tacoma; Garden parties--Tacoma; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma; Tea parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tea--Tacoma; Allen, Emma --Homes & haunts; Allen, Emma; Hats--1940-1950; Smith, Lucille; Reynolds, Caryl B.; Rue, Mary F.;

General Mills supervisors, Mr. Meinecke, Sperry Flour Division. Eight men from the Sperry Flour plant in their work clothes and one men in a business suit in this photograph taken on May 3, 1948. All but one of them wears a hat. At the far left is John W. Geddis. Mr. Geddis was a management trainee in 1948 which involved rotating through various training and supervisory assignments. He later became head of all General Mills Production and Distribution west of the Rocky Mountains. (Additional identification & information provided by a reader)

General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); Flour & meal industry--Tacoma; Mills--Tacoma; Employees--Tacoma--1940-1950; Geddis, John W.;

Portrait of Howard R. Smith taken on June 15, 1948. Mr. Smith was president for several years of the Tacoma Athletic Commission. The T.A.C. was sponsoring a two-day golf tournament in June at the Tacoma Country & Golf Club. Publicity photograph of Howard R. Smith wearing a suit, tie and french cuff shirt with cuff links; he is smoking a cigarette.

Golf--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Smith, Howard R.; Smoking--Tacoma;

Twenty seven students were graduating from Annie Wright Seminary, and eighteen members of Class VIII were graduating to the High School Division in June of 1948. Commencement exercises were being held in Keator Hall and Raynor Chapel. Rt. Reverend Lane W, Barton, Bishop of Eastern Oregon, would deliver the commencement address, and Rt. Reverend Steven F. Bayne Jr., President of School Board of Trustees, would present the diplomas; music would be provided by the vested choir. View of Annie Wright graduating students (T.N.T., 6/3/48, p. 6).

Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Religious services--Tacoma; Benedictions--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Private schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Raynor Chapel (Tacoma);

Mrs. Emil Indrebo is showing children how a spinning wheel works at Fern Hill Elementary School in May of 1948. The children are helping her with the machine; the little girl on her right side is holding carders which comb the wool, and Roger Indrebo, Mrs. Indrebo's son, at left is holding roving. The woman is not wearing a shoe on the foot she uses to pedal with; the children seem interested in learning how to spin yarn using the spinning wheel. (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Indrebo, Emil--Family; Indrebo, Roger; School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Spinning--Tacoma; Spinning machinery; Spinning apparatus; Sewing equipment & supplies; Fern Hill School (Tacoma);

The Bechtel Corporation from California was the company working on the General Mills Sperry Division flour mills expansion project. The project was approved in 1947 and was expected to be completed in 1948. Exterior view of Sperry plant, Bechtel sign advertising their services is on top of office building. The safety signs indicates building construction is in progress.

Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma; Construction industry--Tacoma; Engineering--Tacoma; Remodeling--Tacoma; General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); Bechtel Corp. (Tacoma);

Oscar Franson, 70 year old caretaker for the Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club, seen with his lawn mower in May 1948. Mr. Franson began as grounds keeper at the club in 1914. One of the oldest private tennis clubs in the West, the Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club was founded in 1890. The club's first permanent clubhouse was erected at their current location at 502 Borough Road in 1905. A new clubhouse built in 1968 replaced the original structure.

Lawn mowing--Tacoma; Sports & recreation facilities--Tacoma; Tennis--Tacoma; Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club (Tacoma); Franson, Oscar;

Wheeler Osgood was a leader in the lumber industry, they manufactured doors and plywood panels. The company has been doing business in Tacoma for many years, they are one of the oldest businesses in Tacoma. In 1947 Wheeler Osgood was considering expanding their facilities, no changes had yet started, although the exterior of plant had been painted in October of 1947. Exterior view of Wheeler Osgood Company facilities.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Plywood; Building materials industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Wheeler, Osgood Co. (Tacoma);

View of Arts and Crafts Bungalow style house located at 3716 South K Street before repairs were made, the siding, basement, foundation and roof need to be redone, possibly some repainting. The lawn and garden area needs some maintenance as well. Arts and Crafts style houses are some of the most commonly found in Tacoma. Photo ordered by South Tacoma Appliance and Roofing Company.

Maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Houses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Neighborhoods--Tacoma; Roofs--Tacoma; Remodeling--Tacoma; South Tacoma Appliance & Roofing Co. (Tacoma);

View of Arts and Crafts Bungalow style house located at 3716 South K Street after repairs and remodeling. The roof has been reshingled, new siding, the porch has been opened up more by removing the trellis that framed the doorway, the column is more visible now. The bushes by the doorway were removed, the lawn and garden area has been cleaned up. Photo ordered by South Tacoma Appliance and Roofing Company.

Maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Houses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Neighborhoods--Tacoma; Roofs--Tacoma; Remodeling--Tacoma; South Tacoma Appliance & Roofing Co. (Tacoma);

Manitou School group. A group portrait of one of the school classes at Manitou School. There are thirteen girls and sixteen boys.The School Board was faced with tough questions in 1911. How to provide for a school population that was increasing at the rate of nearly 1,000 new students per year? Voters approved a special levy on May 6, 1911, for several new elementary schools and a new high school. A portable was secured for the Manitou neighborhood and in September, Sara Cochrane began teaching the first three grades in the one-room building. (For the Record, a History of Tacoma Public Schools, 1869-1984, by Winnifred L. Olsen) Format 5" x 8"

Manitou Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; School children--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Telenews Theatre was originally built in 1914, it was first known as the Colonial Theater. The theater was renamed several times, in 1945 it became the Telenews Theatre. View of people (right side) lined up to see the "White Zombie" and "The Lash of the Penitentes", movie posters advertising the movies, and cardboard cutouts of the "White Zombie" and Grim Reaper from "The Lash of the Penitentes" are next to the movie usher.

Marquees--Tacoma; Motion picture posters; Motion pictures; Horror dramas; Motion picture audiences--Tacoma; Motion picture theaters--Tacoma; Telenews Theatre (Tacoma);

The Daughters of Pioneers of Washington were holding their convention at the Winthrop Hotel in May of 1948. Margaret Smith (left) and Mrs. T. A. Lund were the hostesses. Margaret is wearing a wedding gown worn by her mother and later worn for her own wedding. The gown is made of white wool challis with lace inserts. Mrs. Lund is wearing a gay nineties black lace and velvet over two chiffon petticoats gown. View of Margaret Smith (left) and Mrs. T. A. Lund wearing pioneer costumes at the Winthrop Hotel, portrait of George Washington in background (T. Times, 5/13/48, p. 11).

Meetings--Tacoma; Smith, Margaret E.; Lund, T. A.--Family; Costumes; Wedding clothing & dress; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Daughters of Pioneers of Washington (Tacoma);

Ida B. (Mrs. George E.) Franz was a very enterprising woman. She was photographed at home, 1021 No. L St., in May of 1948 at the sewing machine. She was constructing aprons, with the finished product hanging on the line behind her. While she applied herself to her craft, her infant child played quietly with toys, and the telephone, beside her. The aprons were probably intended for sale at the Tacoma Shopping Mart, a dry goods retail center at 2821 Pacific Ave., owned and operated by Mrs. Franz.

Mothers & children--Tacoma; Families--Tacoma; Sewing machines; Sewing--Tacoma; Aprons--Tacoma; Franz, Ida B.--Homes & haunts; Tacoma Shopping Mart (Tacoma);

Annual baby contest at Mason Methodist Church was sponsored by the Young Married Couples Club. Baby judging was based on "Most Surprising Characteristics" and would be done by Myrna Miller, Harry Burns, and Reverend J. Henry Ernst. Special gifts would be awarded to the contest winners, and all participants would receive baby gifts. View of contest participants and parents (T. Times, 5/22/48, p. 3).

Mothers & children--Tacoma; Infants--Tacoma; Families--Tacoma; Contests--Tacoma; Mason Methodist Church (Tacoma); Young Married Couples Club (Tacoma);

Viola Reynolds is the widow of Gardner Reynolds and lived at 1203 Sixth Avenue, Apartment 1. Mrs. Reynolds is wearing her coat over her clothing and a feathered bonnet in this photograph dated May 6, 1948.

Older people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Widows; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hats--1940-1950; Reynolds, Viola C.; Reynolds, Gardner--Family;

May Day celebration. Queen Ardys Bredvold is seated in the center of her many attendants. She was crowned queen of the May festival at Pacific Lutheran College. Queen Ardys and her attendants are shown on a raised dais decorated with spring flowers and an arch of flowers behind her.

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1940-1950; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1940-1950; Rites & ceremonies--Parkland--1940-1950; Celebrations--Parkland--1940-1950; Bredvold, Ardys; Evening gowns--Parkland--1940-1950;

May Day celebration. Queen Ardys Bredvold is seen with her attendants at Pacific Lutheran College. Ardys has been crowned queen of the May festival. Her coronation took place in the new gymnasium at the college. The young women in the front hold a long ribbon that formed the edges of the walkway the queen took to reach her throne on the dais.

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1940-1950; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1940-1950; Rites & ceremonies--Parkland--1940-1950; Celebrations--Parkland--1940-1950; Bredvold, Ardys; Evening gowns--Parkland--1940-1950;

Publicity shots at Permanente Metals, Bill Gorman. One of Permanente's employees sits at his desk checking lists of figures and order forms. A map of the United States hangs on the wall behind him. Clip boards of additional data also hang on the wall along with schedules. A telephone sits to his right on the desk. The man is wearing a sports jacket, a sweater vest and a tie. He also wears a large ring on his left hand. A pencil protrudes from his jacket pocket. TPL-4555

Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma)--Employees; Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Employees--Tacoma--1940-1950; Paperwork; Maps; Telephones;

Publicity shots at Permanente Metals, Bill Gorman. A view of one of the switchboard operators at the Permanente plant in Tacoma and the switchboard panel. She is wearing a headset to enable her to use both hands when operating the cords on the switchboard. A telephone dial is seen beyond her right arm and other office machinery is in the background. The young woman is wearing a two piece suit, a white blouse and a plaid scarf. Permanente acknowledged the high value of each employee in their annual reports. TPL-4555

Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma)--Employees; Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Telephone switchboards--Tacoma--1940-1950; Telephone operators--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The United States Post Office was celebrating the 30th Anniversary of airmail service. The nations first scheduled airmail route was established on May 15, 1918. Thee first airmail shipment covered 218 miles, between Washington D. C. and New York. Airmail shipments have increased in Tacoma, in 1926 there were 42 letters per day, today there are more than 25,000 letters per day. View of postal employee Norman Meeds weighing Pana Halkides package, a five cents an ounce sign for airmail is between them (T. Times, 5/21/48, p. 5).

Post offices--Tacoma; Postal service employees--Tacoma; Postal service rates; Consumers--Tacoma; Packaging; Air mail service--Tacoma; United States Post Office (Tacoma);

People turned out in great numbers for the appearance of President Harry S. Truman per the crowd scene on South 9th Street at Broadway and Saint Helens Avenue near the Music Box theatre. It was Mr. Truman's first visit to Tacoma as president and he took the time to speak to the large crowd estimated at 9,000. The President led a long distance attack on the Republican-controlled Congress for its failure to go along with his pricing, housing and farm recommendations. He called it a "special interest Congress." President Truman and his entourage can barely be seen on the stand covered with bunting. ALBUM 1. (TNT 6-9-48, p. 1, TNT 6-10-48, p. 1, TNT 6-11-48, p. 1)

Presidential elections--Tacoma; Presidents--United States--Election--1948; Salutations--Tacoma; Crowds--Tacoma;

Harry S. Truman paid his first visit to Tacoma as President on Thursday June 10, 1948. He spoke from a platform erected in the center of the triangle at 9th and Broadway before an estimated crowd of 9,000. After speaking, he left for Olympia where he was to be the guest of Governor Mon Wallgren. Senator Warren G. Magnuson greets President Truman and Governor Wallgren who are seated in a 1948 Cadillac convertible near the speaker's stand. ALBUM 1.

Presidents; Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972; Visits of state--Tacoma; Governors; Wallgren, Mon C., 1891-1961; Magnuson, Warren G., 1905-1989;

President Harry S.Truman, Tacoma Mayor Val Fawcett and Washington Governor Mon Wallgren on South 9th Street near Saint Helens Avenue. President Truman and Gov. Wallgren were old acquaintances; Mr. Truman had stumped the state in 1944 along with Mr. Wallgren. President Truman was in Washington for a event-packed two days. He would visit Olympia, Bremerton, Seattle and Tacoma, addressing audiences with his long distance attack on the Republican-controlled Congress and its failure to adopt his pricing, housing and farm recommendations. In addition, he planned to view the disastrous Columbia River flood damage via air. (TNT 6-9-48, p. 1, TNT 6-10-48, p. 1, TNT 6-11-48, p. 1)

Presidents; Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972; Visits of state--Tacoma; Governors; Wallgren, Mon C., 1891-1961; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965;