• The Winthrop Hotel, the Pantages Theater, the Washington Building and the Bostwick Block are the buildings at the base of Mount Rainier, whose top is lost in the clouds. circa 1930.
• Printed on front: Mount Tacoma, "50 Miles from Business District". Tacoma, Washington

Circa 1925.

Circa 1908.

Circa 1949.

Circa 1925.

Circa 1950.

Circa 1925.

Circa 1935.

Circa 1925.

Ruth DuCharme and Orville Fuller posed in January of 1926 surrounded by Bill Winder (extreme left) and his Hotel Winthrop Orchestra. The pair was taking part in the Southwest Washington Championship Ho-down Ballroom Charleston competition which kicked off on January 23, 1926. The contest was sponsored by the Rialto Theater and the Hotel Winthrop and took place over 4 weeks. It featured dancers from Tacoma, Aberdeen, Chehalis, Centralia and Olympia. Winners were decided by popular applause. When all the shouting was over, Mrs. DuCharme and Mr. Fuller were the Tacoma champions. This was the first big ballroom Charleston contest to be held locally. (TNT 1/22/1926, pg. 8) TPL-466

Contract bridge expert Ely Culbertson visited the Tacoma Bridge Club on May 1, 1936, at the Winthrop Hotel. Mr. Culbertson is standing directly in front of the hanging framed picture. He was nearly 45 at the time and had been a key figure in the international popularization of contract bridge in the 1920s and 1930s. Photographer Chapin Bowen was present during this visit; he is standing far left. TPL-6687

ca. 1973. 1973 Richards stock footage. The former Winthrop Hotel gets a good scrubbing by Allied Mobile Powerwash in 1973 as powerful streams of water remove dirt and grime from its exterior. This view is of the Winthrop's back. A glimpse of the Pantages Theater is on the extreme left edge. The Winthrop ceased operations as a hotel in August of 1971 and was converted into senior/elderly housing in 1973.

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Cleaning--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1973. 1973 Richards stock footage. An Allied Mobile Powerwash truck is parked outside the Winthrop in 1973 as it prepares to clean the exterior of the former landmark hotel. The Winthrop, built in 1925, had closed its doors in early August of 1971. It was converted into senior/elderly apartments to be opened in August of 1973.

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Cleaning--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Posed on the rooftop of the Winthrop Hotel with the towering Medical Arts Building prominently in the background are officers of the Department of Washington and Alaska, of the Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War, 1861-65. They were holding their 57th annual convention at the Winthrop from June 7-10, 1970. Believed to be in attendance was Mrs. Fayette Bell of Los Angeles, the organization's national president. Also believed to be pictured above was Mrs. John McDougall of Seattle, department president who presided over the convention's meetings. Among activities held during the convention was a memory banquet where a scholarship would be awarded to a college student who was a descendant of a Civil War veteran. Photograph ordered by the Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War,1861-65. (TNT 5-24-70, E-6 article)

Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War, 1861-65; Meetings--Tacoma--1970-1980; Medical Arts Building (Tacoma);

Students from Fife High School take over the dance floor of the Crystal Ballroom in the Winthrop Hotel to "Shake, rattle and roll" on April 18, 1970, for their annual Junior-Senior prom. About 50 couples attended the spring function with girls dressed in long formals with corsages and boys in suits and ties adorned with boutonnieres. Photograph ordered by Fife High School.

Rock & roll dancing; Dance--Tacoma--1970-1980; Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1970-1980; Students--Fife; Fife High School (Fife); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Dining at the Three Keys. A young couple enjoy the elaborate food preparation at their table while dining at the elegant Three Keys restaurant, Winthrop Hotel, on October 30, 1970. The tuxedoed head waiter carefully monitors the flaming dish. The Winthrop's main dining room had been re-named the Three Keys in 1963 to stand for the three keys to fine dining: excellent service, precisely prepared foods, and properly aged wines. Color photograph ordered by Jay Rockey Public Relations, Seattle.

Three Keys (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1970-1980; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Waiters--Tacoma--1970-1980; Cookery--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Thirty young Tacoma/Pierce County college-age debutantes were introduced to society at the third annual Red Rose Cotillion in December of 1968. The formal ball was held at the Winthrop Hotel under the auspices of the Unique Social & Community Club. Dressed in white evening gowns and holding bouquets of American Beauty red roses, they smiled before the large gathering of proud family and friends. Names of the 30 young collegians were listed in the News Tribune article dated December 22, 1968. Betty Brown, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willie J. Brown, was chosen queen of the ball. Photograph ordered by the Unique Social & Community Club. (TNT 12-22-68, D-4)

Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1960-1970; Unique Social & Community Club (Tacoma); Debutantes--Tacoma--1960-1970; Evening gowns--Tacoma--1960-1970; African Americans--Social life--1960-1970; Roses--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Red Rose Cotillion. 30 young debutantes pose under the elaborate chandelier in the Winthrop Hotel's Crystal Ballroom on December 20, 1968. They were being introduced to society under the auspices of the Unique Social & Community Club. Dressed in white evening gowns and holding bouquets of American Beauty red roses, they smile before the large gathering of proud family and friends. Names of the 30 young collegians were listed in the News Tribune article dated December 22, 1968. Betty Brown, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willie J. Brown, was chosen queen of the ball. Photograph ordered by the Unique Social & Community Club. (TNT 12-22-68, D-4)

Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1960-1970; Unique Social & Community Club (Tacoma); Debutantes--Tacoma--1960-1970; Evening gowns--Tacoma--1960-1970; African Americans--Social life--1960-1970; Roses--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

These elegantly dressed young men with their spotless white gloves were escorts for the 30 women making their debut into society at the Red Rose Cotillion on December 20, 1968. The beautifully decorated room was the Crystal Ballroom in the Winthrop Hotel, 773 Broadway, scene of many formal balls and events. The Unique Social & Community Club held this Christmas-time cotillion, dubbed the "Red Rose" since the debutantes all carried bouquets of long stem American Beauty red roses, to formally introduce the young women to society. Names of the escorts were listed in the News Tribune article dated December 22, 1968. Color photograph ordered by the Unique Social & Community Club. (TNT 12-22-68, D-4)

Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1960-1970; Unique Social & Community Club (Tacoma); African Americans--Social life--1960-1970; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

These ladies are members of the Women's Traffic & Transportation Club who were attending the 20th annual West Coast conference held at the Winthrop Hotel, February 23-25, 1968. The Tacoma chapter was hosting the three-day convention. The function of the club is to study and discuss traffic and transport matters. The Hooper Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 1959 to further the education of women in the field of traffic and transportation; the 1966-67 scholarship winner would be presented at the conference. Photograph ordered by the Women's Traffic & Transportation Club of Tacoma. (TNT 2-18-68, D-1, D-11)

Meetings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Women's Traffic & Transportation Club;

Entertainment at the Women's Traffic & Transportation Club convention. These dancers show off the latest dance steps at the 20th annual West Coast convention of the Women's Traffic & Transportation Club held at the Winthrop Hotel February 23-25, 1968. 130 delegates from 13 clubs were expected to be in attendance. Photograph ordered by the Women's Traffic & Transportation Club of Tacoma.

Meetings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Entertainers--Tacoma--1960-1970;

What's a convention without some skits? These intrepid women participated in a costumed skit during the Women's Traffic & Transportation Club's 20th annual West Coast convention held at the Winthrop Hotel in late February, 1968. The Tacoma branch of the national club served as hosts for the convention. Mrs. Terrance Lazzari was general chairman of the event. Photograph ordered by Women's Traffic & Transportation Club of Tacoma.

Meetings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1960-1970; Costumes;

These participants at the 20th annual West Coast conference of the Women's Traffic & Transportation Club appear to be having fun during their three-day February convention at the Winthrop Hotel. All attention seems to be focused on the beribboned walking box with "antennae" and shimmering legs. Tacoma Mayor A.L. Rasmussen welcomed conferees to the evening's banquet. Photograph ordered by the Women's Traffic & Transportation Club of Tacoma. (TNT 2-18-68, D-1, D-11)

Meetings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Costumes;

Six unidentified peppy cheerleaders flashed big smiles as they prepared to lead cheers in early February, 1969, at the Weyerhaeuser Co. festivities held at the Winthrop Hotel. The girls are believed to be from the University of Washington. Weyerhaeuser's Big "W" homecoming ran several days at both the Winthrop and at the University of Puget Sound. Nearly 100 sales managers from the wood products group met to discuss sales and marketing strategies and recap a very profitable 1968 year of business for Weyerhaeuser. Photograph ordered by Weyerhaeuser Co. (TNT 2-2-69, B-8)

Cheerleading--Tacoma--1960-1970; Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. (Tacoma);

1969 Richards stock footage. Group portrait of City Manager David Rowlands and family and Bil and Harold Moss. Man standing next to Mrs. Moss is not identified. On November 17, 1969, Mr. Rowlands was honored at a testimonial dinner held in the Winthrop Hotel's Crystal Ballroom. He had just completed his last day on the job, resigning after 13 1/2 years as the City of Tacoma's manager. The Tacoma Chamber of Commerce, Tacoma Area Urban Coalition, and Tacoma Urban League jointly sponsored the dinner; a reception was held earlier at the University of Puget Sound in which more than 500 people attended to bid farewell. Proceeds from the dinner and reception would go toward establishing a David Rowlands Scholarship Fund to aid low-income students. (TNT 11-13-69, D-13; TNT 11-18-69, p. 1)

Rowlands, David; Rowlands, David--Family; Rowlands, Sally; Moss, Harold; Moss, Bil; Banquets--Tacoma--1960-1970;

1969 Richards stock footage. A beaming Harold Moss, at the podium, seems to have the head table in stitches at a testimonial dinner honoring City Manager David Rowlands on November 17, 1969. Next to Mr. Rowlands is his wife, Sally, and two sons David Rowlands, Jr. and John. Mr. Moss' wife, Bil, is also seated at the head table next to an unidentified man. Guests seated at round banquet tables in the Winthrop's Crystal Ballroom appear to be enjoying Mr. Moss' remarks. November 17th was Mr. Rowlands' last day as City Manager; he had resigned after 13 1/2 years on the job, the last two marked with tumultuous council meetings. Proceeds from the dinner attended by more than 250 people would go toward launching a David Rowlands Scholarship Fund to help low-income students. The dinner honoring Mr. Rowlands and his family was a joint project of the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce, Tacoma Area Urban Coalition, and Tacoma Urban League. Earlier that day a reception was held at the University of Puget Sound coordinated by the Rowland family's neighbors in which more than 500 people attended to thank Mr. Rowlands for his years of service. (TNT 11-13-69, D-13; TNT 11-18-69, p. 1)

Rowlands, David; Rowlands, David--Family; Rowlands, Sally; Moss, Harold; Moss, Bil; Banquets--Tacoma--1960-1970;

In March of 1969, Patrick O'Toole contemplated the appearance of a spritely bearded leprechaun perched on a full-sized Irish harp at the Winthrop Hotel. Mr. O'Toole, who scheduled his annual visit to Tacoma in March to coincide with St. Patrick's Day, was the president of National Home Shows, Inc. The Tacoma Home Show, coordinated by Mr. O'Toole and the local Homebuilders Assn. of Greater Tacoma, treated Tacomans to the newest innovations in home building, furniture, landscaping and appliances. Photograph ordered by National Home Shows, Inc. (TNT 3-16-69, B-10)

O'Toole, Patrick; Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma); Harps;

National Home Shows, Inc., president and promoter Patrick O'Toole appeared a little perplexed at the sight of a recalcitrant leprechaun trapped in the strings of a full-sized Irish harp in March of 1969. Mr. O'Toole was in town for the upcoming Tacoma Home Show, an event that he had been involved with for the past 23 years. He usually made sure that his yearly trip to Tacoma coincided with St. Patrick's Day. The home show, opening on March 25th, was expected to be the "biggest ever in Tacoma," according to Mr. O'Toole. Thousands of discount tickets were available to those eager to see the latest innovations in home and yard decor. Photograph ordered by National Home Shows, Inc. (TNT 3-16-69, B-10)

O'Toole, Patrick; Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma); Harps;

Ribbon cutting. Snipping a ribbon believed to be decorated with stamps was a gentleman dressed in turn-of-the-century clothing in celebration of Tacoma's centennial week. Assisting him is a woman in that era's full length skirts, long shawl and bonnet. The Tacoma Stamp Club was meeting at the Winthrop Hotel on Memorial Day weekend; a banquet would be held there the following evening. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Stamp Club.

Tacoma Stamp Club (Tacoma); Dedications--Tacoma--1960-1970;