The Tacoma Chamber of Commerce recently honored three community leaders at their board meeting held at the Tacoma Club. Richard C. Boyles, currently the president of the Chamber of Commerce, is standing behind the honorees: (l-r) Robert G. Anderson, E.L. Perry and Alexander Sergienko. Mr. Anderson is the newly appointed director of Tacoma Public Works. Mr. Perry is the general manager of the Port of Tacoma and Dr. Sergienko is the new superintendent of Tacoma Public Schools. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce. TNT (A) 029b (TNT 7-14-74, D-7)

Tacoma Chamber of Commerce (Tacoma); Chambers of commerce--Tacoma; Boyles, Richard C.; Anderson, Robert G.; Perry, E.L.; Sergienko, Alexander;

1971 Richards color stock footage featuring the Washington Building in the downtown business district. The Bank of California's red neon sign and the United States flag are prominently displayed on top of the 17-story Washington Building at 1019 Pacific Ave. The Bank of California was a much smaller building nearby. Other neighbors include Seldens furniture store and the Tacoma Building.

Washington Building (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980; Flags--United States; Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Seldens, Inc. (Tacoma); Tacoma Building (Tacoma);

The staff of Puget Sound Collections, Inc., shown at work on May 3, 1971. Frank B. Rossiter, president, is standing with arms folded. Other personnel are either searching the card catalogs and file cabinets or seated at their desks. Standing are: Carol Dodge (foreground) and Melody Ashley. Seated (front to back) are: Vicki Edling, Lois Taylor, Shirley Curley, Katherine Klatt and Dean Majors. Puget Sound Collections, Inc., dealt with commercial accounts. The firm was located at 1301 Washington Building on Pacific Avenue. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound Collections, Inc. (Additional information provided by readers)

Puget Sound Collections, Inc. (Tacoma); Rossiter, Frank; Dodge, Carol; Ashley, Melody; Edling, Vicki; Taylor, Lois; Curley, Shirley; Klatt, Katherine; Majors, Dean; Office workers--Tacoma--1970-1980; Office equipment & supplies;

Washington Building. The venerable Washington Building is still located in downtown Tacoma at So. 11th & Pacific Ave. Initial construction was in 1919 for the Scandinavian-American Bank but was halted when the bank failed. It was finally completed in 1925 for the Washington-California Co. At 17-stories, it was the "second tallest in the entire Northwest" at the time. Located in the heart of the commercial district, the striking structure had a large red neon sign indicating the presence of its neighbor, the Bank of California. Other businesses in the vicinity included Peoples department store across the street and Selden's furniture store next door. A $700,000 cooling and heating system was installed in August of 1970 in the Washington Building. The system was set to begin operations on or about September 15, 1970. The 400-ton-capacity cooler was installed under the building and the 2-ton cooling tower on the roof. Photograph ordered by the Washington Building. (article on cooling system - TNT 8-16-70, A-18)

Washington Building (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980; Peoples (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1970-1980; Seldens, Inc. (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Washington Building. This color photograph of the Washington Building was believed to have been taken from the viewpoint of the Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association building on August 6, 1970. The red neon Bank of California sign on top of the Washington Building stands brightly out amidst the gray landscape. One side of the 17-story structure faces 11th St.; at that time 11th St. was a one-way street only, heading uphill. Other notable buildings in the vicinity included Peoples department store across the street; Seldens furniture next door, and the Tacoma Building. A sliver of the Bank of California with the Commerce Savings & Loan banner is visible. Color photograph ordered by the Washington Building.

Washington Building (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980; Seldens, Inc. (Tacoma); Peoples (Tacoma); Tacoma Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Washington Building. View of the Washington Building, 1019 Pacific Ave., believed to have been photographed from the top of the Perkins Building in August of 1970. From this angle, the distant Art-Deco styled Medical Arts Building (now Municipal Building) can be seen along the right-center edge. The Rust Building, another well known Tacoma landmark, is slightly up the hill at 950 Pacific. Seldens furniture store is in the right lower corner. A small section of the Bank of California, whose large red neon sign rested on top of the Washington Building, can be spotted at the lower right edge. Photograph ordered by the Washington Building.

Washington Building (Tacoma); Medical Arts Building (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Seldens, Inc. (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1970-1980; Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Located at the busy intersection of So. 11th & Pacific in downtown Tacoma's business district is the imposing 17-story Washington Building. To the photograph's left are the Commerce Savings & Loan Association and the Bank of California. A large red neon sign noting the presence of "Bank of California" is also on the rooftop of the Washington Building. Remodeling is occurring at Selden's Carpet & Floor Coverings, located behind the Washington Building on South 11th St., as the home center is completing modernization. The 1910-era Tacoma Building is the large structure on A Street close to Selden's. Photograph ordered by the Washington Building Co. BU-10,894

Washington Building (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1960-1970; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Seldens, Inc. (Tacoma); Tacoma Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Washington Building. Situated at the corner of 11th & Pacific, the imposing Washington Building, built in the style of the Chicago School, stands 17 stories high. A large red neon sign installed on the top of the building advertised its neighbor, the Bank of California. As their signs advertised, United Mutual Savings Bank and Household Finance had offices in the Washington Building. The left side of the photograph shows the Rust Building, 950 Pacific Ave., also built in the 1920's. Beyond the Rust Building, on Tacoma Ave. So., is the County-City Building. The Medical Arts Building, on Market St., is the large Art-Deco structure on the right side of photograph. Photograph ordered by Washington Building Co.

Washington Building (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1960-1970; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Medical Arts Building (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);

ca. 1963. The giant red neon Bank of California sign on top of the Washington Building could be seen from five miles away in April of 1963. It used more than half a mile of high-intensity 60 milli-amp hot tubing and a newly designed pressure pump. The sign was created by the Heath Sign Company which had been established in 1948. The Bank of California National Association was adjacent to the taller Washington Building on Pacific Avenue. The neon sign was scheduled to be formally lit up on Saturday, April 27, 1963. (TNT 4-24-63, A-22)

Electric signs--Tacoma--1960-1970; Washington Building (Tacoma); Bank of California National Association--Associated objects;

Mallon Motor Company, staff banquet held at the Tacoma Club celebrating the dealership's receipt of Ford Motor Company's "4 Letter Award" for the 1955 model year. The award was presented each year to the dealer that qualified in the following classifications: sound finances, management efficiency and completely modern facilities. The dinner was hosted by Robert Mallon who served as Master of Ceremonies. Tommy Mallon, the President of Mallon Motors, is seated to the far right of the picture; to his left is Abel Rigney, Mallon Sales Manger; to his left is J.C. Hogue, Ford's Field Manager; standing directly behind Mallon is C.J. Powell, Ford's District Sales Manager. The man standing third from the right in the back row has been identified as Harold Nutley. (TNT 3/11/1956, pg. A-6)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Mallon Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Mallon, Thomas; Rigney, Abel;

Philip H. Fisher received a four-year scholarship of $300 annually to the University of Washington based on his scholastic record in August of 1952. The scholarship was provided by Fred C. Shanaman, president of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company, to a son or daughter of a company employee. Congratulating Philip at the Tacoma Club are, L-R, Fred C. Shanaman, Philip H. Fisher, Harry S. Fisher, Philip's father, and Kenneth C. Jones, superintendent of Federal Way High School where Philip was a student. (TNT, 9/12/1952, p.A-8)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--People; Shanaman, Frederick Charles, 1901-1982; Men--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Fisher, Philip H.; Fisher, Harry S.; Beitzel, George B.;

Informal group of eight men dining at the Tacoma Club on November 27, 1950. Ordered by Henry Foss, far right. Others in photograph were not identified.

Foss, Henry O., 1891-1986; Tacoma Club (Tacoma);

An unidentified employee of Pacific Forest Industries demonstrates the use of a collapsible shipping crate. These wooden containers saved space and were reusable. Pacific Forest Industries was an exporting firm located in the Washington Building at 1019 Pacific Avenue.

Pacific Forest Industries (Tacoma); Crates--Tacoma;

The actual use of a collapsible shipping crate is demonstrated by an unidentified employee of Pacific Forest Industries on July 26, 1950. The crate is constructed to break down flat to maximize storage space. Pacific Forest Industries is an exporting business located in the Washington Building at 1019 Pacific Avenue.

Pacific Forest Industries (Tacoma); Crates--Tacoma;

A view of the game room at the Tacoma Club. Square tables with four chairs around each are set on a floor decorated with alternating colors of linoleum tile. The walls are covered with knotty-pine paneling. The windows are covered with venetian blinds and flowered draperies. Earl Reynolds.

Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Recreation rooms--Tacoma; Clubs--Tacoma;

The interior of the Tacoma Club showing tables set with white table cloths and tableware. A mural of trees in bloom covers the upper part of the back wall. Ordered by Earl Reynolds.

Banquet halls--Tacoma; Table settings & decorations; Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Murals--Tacoma;

The interior of a lounge at the Tacoma Club is shown with sofas, easy chairs, several lamps and tables for easy conversation or reading. The floor is covered with a bold-patterned carpet and the windows are covered with venetian blinds and floral draperies. Ordered by Earl Reynolds.

Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma; Lounges--Tacoma; Furnishings; Chairs; Sofas; Tables;

Over 80,000 taxpayers from the Washington-Alaska district had already filed their Federal Income tax forms for 1948 by January of 1949. By filing before the 17th, you could expect an early tax return. The last date you could file was March 15th. Ruth Meyer sorted through stacks of mail that were opened with a cutting knife operated by Earl Chambers. (T.Times, 1/30/1949, p18)

Internal Revenue Service (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Correspondence; Income taxes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Office workers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Office equipment & supplies; Meyer, Ruth; Chambers, Earl;

Roy Woods (left) and Joe McGovern stand on a platform outside the 17th floor of the Washington Building at 1019 Pacific Ave. in this photograph from September 1948. The Earl Painting Company, owned and managed by Earl Gallmeyer, had been contracted to paint the sashes and frames of the 900 windows in the 237 foot building. (T.Times, 10/11/1948, p.5)

Washington Building (Tacoma); Buildings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Earl Painting Co. (Tacoma); Painting--Tacoma--1940-1950; Architectural elements--Tacoma; Capitals (Columns)--Tacoma; Cornices--Tacoma; Pilasters--Tacoma; Sash windows--Tacoma;

Northwest Door Company was one of the leading plywood companies in Tacoma, they manufactured plywood panels and doors. Herman E. Tenzler was the President of Northwest, the plywood plant was located at 1203 East D Street. View of Ken Pryor, salesman for Northwest Door Company, at his desk in office number 916 in the Washington Building.

Sales personnel--Tacoma; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Plywood; Northwest Door Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Pryor, Kenneth G.; Washington Building (Tacoma);

Family night at the Tacoma Club. Members and their wives enjoy each other's company around the table: L-R, Lucille B. (Mrs. R. Franklin) Thompson; Edward B. King, a mortician with Buckley-King; Margaret K. (Mrs. Henry G.) Shaw; R. Franklin Thompson, President of the College of Puget Sound; Anna S. (Mrs. Edward B.) King; and Henry G. Shaw, president of Shaw Supply Company. Photo taken for Ernie Knight, Tacoma News Tribune.

Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Thompson, Lucille B.; Thompson, R. Franklin, 1908-1999; King, Anna S.; King, Edward B.; Shaw, Margaret K.; Shaw, Henry G.; Eating & drinking--Tacoma;

On March 15, 1948, last minute tax filers flocked to the fourth floor of the Washington Building at 1019 Pacific Avenue for help from the Internal Revenue Service with their Federal income tax returns. March 15th was the filing deadline, and the IRS set up tables in the hall outside their offices to deal with the crowd. An estimated 700,000 returns arrived for processing from Washington and Alaska. (T.Times, 3/16/1948, p.1) Paul Sandegren

Income taxes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tax payers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clerks; Internal Revenue Service (Tacoma);

Pilgrim candidates representing five high schools and sponsors at the Tacoma Club, Times, Mrs. McDonald. The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) honored five outstanding Tacoma high school students as Pilgrimage candidates at a luncheon at the Tacoma Club. The Pilgrimage candidates would submit an essay on American history and government. The winner of the state contest would be given a trip to Washington, D.C. The young women are wearing corsages. Corrine Engh from Clover Park High School is seated on the left. Beverly Highland from Sumner High School is seated, second from the right. Barbara Cope from Orting High School is standing fourth from the left. Freda Schuler from Fife High School and Doris Beardsley from Lincoln High School are standing, fourth and third from the right. Another candidate, Margaret Hanson from Stadium High School, was unable to attend the luncheon. Two of the regents are Kathleen P. (Mrs. Cyril V.) Lundvick and Mrs. W.B. Gregg, standing, second and third from the left. (T.Times, 3/22/1948, p.5; TNT, 3/11/1948, p.20))

National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The Tacoma Club had just elected new officers for 1948, Bert Sweeting was retiring as President and B. E. Buckmaster had just been elected new President. The new club officers would hold their meetings and club activities in the newly remodeled and carpeted facilities located in the Washington Building. Interior view of the Tacoma Club with new carpeting from Selden's.

Banquet halls--Tacoma; Table settings & decorations; Floor coverings; Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma); Tacoma Club (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Club had just elected new officers for 1948, Bert Sweeting was retiring as President and B. E. Buckmaster had just been elected new President. The new club officers would hold their meetings and club activities in the newly remodeled and carpeted facilities located in the Washington Building. Interior view of the Tacoma Club with new carpeting from Selden's.

Banquet halls--Tacoma; Table settings & decorations; Murals--Tacoma; Floor coverings; Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma); Tacoma Club (Tacoma);

The Internal Revenue Department was sorting and checking through the U. S. income tax return forms and payments that were submitted, meeting the March 15th deadline. Employees had to separate the payments from the return forms and check over all forms submitted. Citizen meeting the deadline would not be subject to government penalties. View of U. S. Internal Revenue Staff in Tacoma (T. Times, 3/17/47, p. 9).

Correspondence; Income taxes--Tacoma; Civil service--Tacoma; Government employees--Tacoma; Internal Revenue Service (Tacoma);

Condon Co. was an advertising company, Roscoe A. Smith is the President and Victor Kaufman is the Vice-President. The Condon Co. was working on an advertising campaign for Mobilgas. Mobilgas sign on Washington Building, view of downtown Tacoma buildings, Rust building on left side with the Medical Arts Building (now Tacoma Municipal Building) in the left background.

Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cityscapes; Office buildings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Medical Arts Building (Tacoma); Petroleum industry; Advertisements;

Condon Co. was an advertising company, Roscoe A. Smith is the President and Victor Kaufman is the Vice-President. The Condon Co. was working on an advertising campaign for Mobilgas. Close-up view of neon Mobilgas sign on Washington Building. TPL-8460

Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business districts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Office buildings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Petroleum industry; Advertisements;

Wallace E. Difford, Managing Director of the Douglas Fir Plywood Association retired after 8 years of service in the organization and over 30 years in the plywood business. He was presented with a pocket-watch at a banquet held at the Tacoma Club. View of four unidentified men at the banquet in honor of Mr. Difford, photo ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association (T. Times, 6/28/46, p. 18).

Retirements--Tacoma; Commemoration--Tacoma; Difford, Wallace E.; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Electrical Products Consolidated manufactured signs. They also manufactured street lights in the downtown Tacoma area. View of Mobilgas sign above the Washington Building, lights through building windows.

Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Electric lighting--Tacoma; Electrical Products Consolidated (Tacoma); Mobilgas;