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;

Actor Steve Brodie carefully drapes the sash proclaiming Dona Wenger to be the 1969 Miss Home Show around the seated blonde bank teller on March 6, 1969. One of Miss Wenger's first duties as queen of the annual Home Show was this photo session with Mr. Brodie at the Winthrop Hotel. She is a former speech and drama student at the University of Washington and collects dolls, charms and postcards. While a senior at Curtis High School, she reigned as the queen of the senior ball. (TNT 3-7-69, p. 3; TNT 3-24-69, p. 27)

Wenger, Dona; Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1960-1970; Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma); Brodie, Steve; Actors--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Western Hotels Inc. had allocated money to modernize and improve the Winthrop facilities. They were planning to redecorate and refurbish many of the public facilities, including the lobby, dining room, Crystal and Junior ballrooms, private dining rooms and the presidential suite. View of hotel laundry room, laundry and housekeeping workers are ready to make everyone's stay more enjoyable, photo ordered by Botsford, Constantine and Gardner, an advertising agency based out of Seattle.

Hotel employees--Tacoma; Hotels--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Fisher's style show. The model, Gail Haberling, is wearing one of the new styles for Easter 1948. The floral, one-piece dress has 3/4-length sleeves and a square neckline. The hat has an upward curving brim with spotted netting over the face. The model carries dark gloves and handbag to match the dark hat and platform shoes. The show was held at the newly opened Wedgewood Room at the Hotel Winthrop and presented by Fisher's Department Store. (T.Times, 2/20/1948, p.11)

Haberling, Gail; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Fashion shows--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fashion models--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dresses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hats--1940-1950;

Fisher's style show. Two models show new dresses for the bride and bridesmaid. The bride's dress, modeled by Gail Haberling, is floor length with long sleeves and a sweetheart neck-line. The fabric has a low sheen which looks especially lovely with the calla lilies she is carrying. The veil is finger-tip length with a crescent shaped headdress. The bridesmaid wears a floor length dress with off-the-shoulder triple-ruffle neckline with a net insert to the neck, elbow-length gloves and a no-brim headdress. (T.Times, 3/5/1948, p.13)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Fashion shows--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fashion models--Tacoma; Wedding costume--1940-1950; Gloves; Veils--Tacoma--1940-1950; Headdresses;

The Winthrop Hotel was designed by W. L. Stoddard and Roland E. Borhek; it was built by F. A. Pratt and A. I. Watson. It first opened in May 1925 and was named after Theodore Winthrop, explorer and writer. In 1940 they began offering residential apartments on the top floors of the hotel. Exterior view of the Winthrop Hotel; photo ordered by Pioneer Incorporated, a printing, lithography and stationary business.

Hotels--Tacoma; Business districts--Tacoma; Signal lights--Tacoma; Pedestrians--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Pioneer, Inc. (Tacoma);

Capital District of the Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs held their 1950 Christmas Show at the Hotel Winthrop. The show featured simulated doors to provide a background for a variety of door decorations for the home and window scenes were also shown as well as a table arranged for Christmas dinner. A separate feature was a Christmas workshop which offered all manner of wreaths, swags, table decor, hand-made candles, cones, pine and other Christmas greens to the public. (TNT, 12/8'/1950, p.C-10)

Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Flower shows--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The banquet meeting of the Washington Retailers' Club convention, March 19-20, 1951, in the Wedgewood room at the Winthrop Hotel. The convention was attended by the 30 Washington state member clubs, totaling over 200 high school age prospective retailers, who attended meetings to hear experienced businessmen discuss sales, merchandising and advertising methods.The banquet on Monday evening was the highlight where Eugene Ruffner, executive of the J.C. Penney Co., spoke on the subject "Opportunities for the student in retailing." The high school study program was intended to give interested students the opportunity to attend classes in the morning and then get on the job training at Tacoma stores. The program was offered in conjunction with Tacoma's vocational school program and most members were high school seniors. Mayor John Anderson is second from right on the front row. (TNT 3/15/1951, pg. B-12 & TNT 3/20/1951, pg. 10)

Anderson, John H.; Washington Retailers Club (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The Comus Club dance committee met in February 1951 to plan its annual Sweethearts Ball. The romantic soiree was held in the Winthrop Hotel's Wedgewood Room on February 17, 1951. Mr. and Mrs. Russ Michael, who chaired the event, and other members of the dance committee are dressed in formal attire with the women wearing fresh gardenias in their hair. From left to right are: Richard Bevington, Mrs. Richard Bevington, Mrs. Russ Michael, Russ Michael, Betty (Mrs. Charles) Wolf, Fred Marr, Mrs. Fred Marr and Charles Wolf. Valentine's Day theme with hearts and arrows was repeated in decorations about the room. (TNT 2-20-51, p. 8)

Comus Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Dance parties--Tacoma--1950-1960; Michael, Russell H.; Michael, Russell H.--Family; Bevington, Richard; Bevington, Richard--Family; Wolf, Charles; Wolf, Betty; Marr, Fred; Marr, Fred--Family;

Models posed on the ramp at the Tacoma Day Nursery's benefit luncheon and style show in the Hotel Winthrop's Crystal Bellroom. L-R, are Mrs. Lawrence Metter, wearing a French-inspired navy taffeta and white organdy gown; J. Mercedes (Mrs. Frederick) Haines, Jr., in Chinese blue; and Miss Helen Kresge, wearing daisy-splashed gray. Proceeds would go to the Tacoma Day Nursery. (TNT, 4/20/1951, p.C-4) TPL-9340

Women--Tacoma--1950-1960; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; Evening gowns--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Fashion shows--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fashion models--Tacoma; Tacoma Day Nursery (Tacoma); Fund raising--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Scottish Bagpipers and Scotty Nyles at the Winthrop Hotel. The entire pipe and drum band pose for their group portrait wearing their specific uniforms. The pipers wear white spats, carry a cape over their shoulders and the pockets of their jackets are decorated with white piping. The drummers wear lighter colored jackets with white belts and cross-pieces. One of the drummers wears an animal skin down his front to soften the weight of the largest drum. Three men in the center of the front row, possibly the drum majors, wear somewhat darker jackets, berets and dark socks.

Costumes--Scottish; Bagpipes; Drums; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The Stardust Dance Club held their final dance of the season, an aloha party, in May 1951 with "A Trip to Hawaii" as their theme. Cocktails and dancing were presented at the Wedgwood Saloon at the Winthrop Hotel. Ordered by the Tribune. (TNT, 5/20/1951, p.D-4)

Stardust Dance Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dance parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Evening gowns--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Broiled steak dinner set up at Winthrop. The Hotel Winthrop was well known for their delicious meals. This photograph shows an elegant place setting with a New York cut sirloin steak with french fried potatoes, garden salad and toasted garlic rolls on display. Additional items on the table include a small pitcher of cream, bowl of sugar, salt and pepper shakers, and gravy boat. This particular dinner special cost a hungry diner $3.50 in 1950.

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Table settings & decorations; Silverware; Meat;

New officers of Order of Runeberg, Wedgewood Room. The western district Order of Runeberg held their biennial convention in Tacoma in August, 1950. Newly elected officers pose smilingly in the Hotel Winthrop's Wedgewood Room. There were 75 official delegates to the convention and 118 visitors, with over 60 from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Eureka. The Order of Runeberg is named for Johan Ludvig Runeberg, a noted Finnish poet. His poems and essays, based on Swedish culture, have been compared with Goethe and Shakespeare. (TNT 8-11-50, p. 5, 8-15-50, p. 14, TNT 8-16-50, p. 6)

Order of Runeberg (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Mary Van Trio was apparently appearing in the Sabre Room at the Winthrop Hotel in mid-April, 1958. They were a dance orchestra. View of Mary Van Trio includes an accordionist, guitarist and presumably Mary Van herself. The Sabre Room, originally opened by Trader Vic in a gala celebration in 1949, had been completely remodeled in 1955. It retained its Old World atmosphere in the design by Seattle's Arthur Morgan & Associates. This may have been the first time that dancing was available in the Sabre Room. There was no cover or minimum for the Friday and Saturday night appearances by the Mary Van Trio. Photograph ordered by the Winthrop Hotel. (TNT Ad 5-2-58, p. 14)

Mary Van Trio (Tacoma); Music ensembles--Tacoma--1950-1960;Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Ben Perham smilingly shows off the watch he was given at the annual banquet of the Pacific Northwest Conference of Savings & Loans Associations held on May 24, 1954. Mr. Perham was the former chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco; the watch was presented to him by Gerrit VanderEnde for his sixteen years of service to the federal institution. Mr. Perham now is the president of a food distributing company in Yakima. View of Ben Perham on left and Gerrit VanderEnde on right, Mr. VanderEnde is the president of Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan in Tacoma. (TNT 5-23-54, C-16, TNT 5-25-54, p. 11)

Awards; Clocks & watches; Perham, Ben; VanderEnde, Gerrit;

Elevated view of Tacoma's downtown and industrial area. Photographs taken on September 2, 1954, from Room 716 of the Winthrop Hotel show a cluster of downtown Tacoma businesses, the 11th Street Bridge, and a portion of the industrial area in the distance. Tacoma Savings & Loan, the Tacoma Hotel, Lincolnshire Hotel and Security Building (formerly Provident Building) can be clearly seen. Smokestacks billow as Tacoma's lumber and chemical mills operate with full staff. Large billboards, placed on the rooftop of the Lincolnshire Hotel, provide advertising information for consumers interested in liquor, fruit and electrical equipment.

Billboards--Tacoma--1950-1960; Security Building (Tacoma); Lincolnshire Hotel (Tacoma); Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Bridges--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A bartender waits for business at the bar discretely tucked away in the Winthrop Hotel's Sabre Room on November 2, 1955. A cheerful motto is painted on the bar's wall: "Happy to meet/Sorry to part/Happy to meet again"; the writer's name is Scotty. Two crossed swords on a paneled wall give the room its name. The unique Sabre Room was opened by Trader Vic in September, 1949. The popular dining room would reopen on November 15, 1955; completely redecorated, it still retained its Old World atmosphere. The menu was predominately Old English with plenty of beef. Photograph ordered by the Winthrop Hotel. (TNT 11-15-55, p. 6)

Dining rooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bars--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bartenders--Tacoma; Daggers & swords; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Interior of Sabre Room, Winthrop Hotel. The Sabre Room had been extensively remodeled in 1955 but kept its Old World atmosphere. It featured a predominately Old English menu with plenty of roast prime rib. Flaming shish kebab and English pastries were new dishes added. View of the Sabre Room shows a heavily wooded decor with sturdy beams and an open cooking area. Two crossed swords and a breastplate of armor hang on the wall. Customers could dance to the tunes of the Mary Van Trio on Fridays and Saturdays without worry about feeding the meter; the restaurant allowed two hours of free parking. Dinners ranged from $2.10 upward. This, and other photographs taken that day, were scheduled to be printed in an unidentified magazine. Photograph ordered by the Winthrop Hotel. (TNT 10-14-58, p. 22- Ad)

Dining rooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Daggers & swords; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The National Association of State Savings & Loan Supervisors held their nineteenth annual conference in Tacoma on November 12-14, 1958. The 44 men and women were photographed in the Bayview Room of the Winthrop Hotel. Judging from the number of well-dressed women in the group, they were taking a more prominent role in the banking industry. There were a total of 75 delegates in attendance; they represented every state in the union. It was the first time the association had met in Tacoma. W.C. York of Raleigh, North Carolina, was elected president. Photograph ordered by the National Association of State Savings & Loan Supervisors. (TNT 11-14-58, A-1)

National Association of State Savings & Loan Supervisors (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Clinton S. Reynolds (left), new president of Tacoma Chamber of Commerce, presents outgoing president Charles M. Fogg (center) with a framed check for $1.00, his salary for his tenure as 1954 Chamber President. Looking on at the right is Tom Collins, Kansas City banker and humorist and featured speaker for the event. The presentation was the highlight of the 70th annual Chamber dinner in the Crystal Ballroom of the Winthrop Hotel. A standing room only crowd of 435 attended the event. (TNT 1/20/1955, pg. 1 & A-5)

Tacoma Chamber of Commerce (Tacoma); Fogg, Charles M.; Checks; Collins, Tom; Reynolds, Clinton S.;

The Fircrest Kiwanis Club celebrated charter night with a September 15, 1955, banquet in the Winthrop Hotel's Crystal Ballroom. Dignitaries were seated at the head table and various speeches were given. A large flag is positioned behind the guest speakers, and the Kiwanis Club banner is also prominently displayed. 250 people from various Kiwanis clubs in the Tacoma area met to recognize the new club. The Fircrest Kiwanis already have 54 members. On the far left is Fred G. Rounds, district governor; Herbert Socolofsky, lt. gov., standing in light suit, was toastmaster. (TNT 9-14-55, A-10, TNT 9-16-55, A-11)

Fircrest Kiwanis Club (Fircrest); Rounds, Fred G., Socolofsky, Herbert; Flags--United States; Signs (Notices); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Banners; Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

New marquee being put in place at the Winthrop Hotel. Six men hold the new marquee in place. The sign advertises the hotel as the home of Daffodil Room and the Sabre Room. A panel van parked in front has a sign on it reading "Man of the Year."

Marquees--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Standard Brands Inc. The "25 Year Club" annual banquet. Two area residents were inducted into the quarter century club of Standard Brands Inc. at their annual dinner held at the Winthrop Hotel. The two inductees are in the center of the front row holding their certificates of long service. To the left is Emil C. Werner and to his right is Elmer E. Krueger. Both were employed at Fleischmann's Yeast in Sumner. For their 25 years of continuous service, they were presented with gold watches and certificates. Werner resided at 413 8th Ave NW, Puyallup. Werner came to the US in 1906 and worked as a farmer. In 1928, he joined the work force at Fleischmann's. His hobbies were fruit growing and farming. He had 3 daughters, a son and 7 grandchildren. Krueger lived in Sumner Heights. He was a native of Clear Lake, S.D., a WWI veteran and a member of the American Legion. He had two sons, Jerry and LaVon, who were employed at Rainier Plywood in Tacoma. Company executives attending the dinner were Albert R. Fleischmann, vice president and general sales manager, and L. G. Reichhard, vice president of manufacturing. (TNT 11/16/1953, pg. 13)

Standard Brands, Inc. (Tacoma); Group portraits; Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fleischmann's Yeast (Sumner)--Employees;

A large group posed for a portrait in the brilliant sunshine on the rooftop of the Winthrop Hotel in May, 1957. They were part of the Ancient Order of United Workmen convention. The Tacoma Lodge No. 6 would play host to the A.O.U.W. Grand Lodge of Washington with the initiation of 55 candidates, a ball, banquet and other festivities planned. The Master Workman of the Tacoma Lodge was Mrs. Martha Romnes; the A.O.U.W. was an order that served both men and women. The Tacoma Hotel and the 11th Street Bridge can be spotted in the background of this May 16, 1957, photograph. Photograph ordered by the A.O.U.W. (TNT 5-14-57, A-4)

Group portraits; Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Ancient Order of United Workmen Tacoma Lodge No. 6 (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma);

The Washington Federation of State Employees, AFL-CIO, held their 16th annual convention at the Winthrop Hotel on May 18, 1957. Members listened to speakers discussing pertinent issues of adequate wages, a state merit system, and how a state employees union meets the problems of a changing administration. View of speaker and extended microphone at podium; there is a large circular logo "American Federation State County Municipal Employees AFL-CIO" on the back of the podium. A can of Walla Walla green peas is next to a pitcher of water. Photograph ordered by Washington Federation of State Employees. (TNT 5-18-57, p. 4)

Washington Federation of State Employees (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

Dinner honoring 25 year men. Standard Brands, Inc., Mr. George Adams. Veteran employees of Standard Brands, Inc., were honored at a dinner held at the Hotel Winthrop November 8, 1948, for the 25 employees in the Pacific Northwest who had been with the company 25 years or more. The dinner was held in the Army/Navy Room at the Hotel Winthrop. Names listed in the newspaper. (TNT, 11/9/1948, p.19; T.Times, 11/9/1948, p.8)

Standard Brands, Inc. (Tacoma)--Employees; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Group portraits; Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Events--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The Club of Hearts officers were: Lorraine Bottiger, President, W. B. Wingard, Adviser, Sally Waller, Vice-President, Margaret Mathew, Recording Secretary, Patricia Black, Corresponding Secretary, and Joanne Goodrick, Treasurer. View of two unidentified couples standing in the Winthrop Hotel's lobby, telephone booth and Hotel porter station in background (T.N.T., 12/19/48, p. D-5).

Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ball dresses; Telephone booths--Tacoma--1940-1950; Evening gowns--Tacoma; Christmas--Tacoma; Couples--Tacoma; Club of Hearts (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

This photograph from December 1949 of the Sabre Room in the Winthrop Hotel shows the popular Tacoma restaurant three months after its official opening in September. Created by Trader Vic to look like an authentic old-English tap room, the Sabre room was decorated in authentic English style and featured open hearth food service where you could see expert chefs prepare the food. The menu included roast beef cooked in rock salt, barbecued ribs, and steak and kidney pie - desert included trifle. The room could seat 110 persons, including the ladies' cocktail lounge. (TNT, 9/24/1950, p.6)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Lounges--Tacoma; Buffets (Cookery)--Tacoma; Cooks; Waitresses--Tacoma; Bartenders--Tacoma; Bars--Tacoma;

Group of approximately 30 at Winthrop Hotel, Pacific Northwest District of Kiwanis, R. Ralstad. It was reported earlier in the month that Edward A. Lane had been elected president of the North-West Tacoma Kiwanis Club for 1950. (TNT, 11/10/1949, p.C-11)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Kiwanis Club (Tacoma); Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950;