Pacific Coast Fire Chiefs Convention. Man in driver's seat of fire engine parked by Winthrop Hotel. The Pacific Coast Fire Chiefs Convention was held in Tacoma during late July of 1940 with chiefs visiting from Washington, Oregon, California, Montana, Idaho and other western states. The unidentified gentleman behind the wheel of the fire engine may have been one of the many firemen in attendance.

Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The Pacific Coast Fire Chiefs Convention was held in late July of 1940. The roof of the Winthrop Hotel was a favorite spot for photographing large groups as the downtown skyline made a memorable view. Men on roof of Winthrop Hotel, city and port in background.

Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Cityscapes;

Over 100 firemen posed for a formal group photograph on the roof of the Hotel Winthrop in late July of 1940. From July 31 through August 3rd the 47th annual convention of the Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs was held in Tacoma. Emory N. Whitacker, Tacoma Fire Chief, was convention host to chiefs from Washington, Oregon, California, Montana, Idaho and other western states. With wives, guests, and concessionaires, the convention was expected to bring some 1,500 visitors to Tacoma. The Murray Morgan Bridge (11th St. Bridge), the City Waterway (now the Foss Waterway), and several of the prominent buildings on A Street including the Tacoma Building and the Perkins Building can be seen in the background.

Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Cityscapes; 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma); City Waterway (Tacoma); Tacoma Building (Tacoma); Perkins Building (Tacoma);

Pacific Coast Fire Chiefs Convention. Men with flag on roof of Winthrop Hotel, Washington Building in background. Photograph taken on July 23, 1940.

Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs (Tacoma); Flags--United States; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

ca. 1926. Lesson in Friendship by Tacoma Knights of Pythias at the Crystal Ballroom of the Winthrop Hotel. The fraternal order was founded in 1864 by Justus H. Rathbone on the principles of friendship, charity and benevolence, or "FCB" the letters inscribed on the triangles that make up the group's emblem. One of the main themes in the group's ceremonies is the fast friendship of Damon and Pythias. (filed with Argentum)

Knights of Pythias, Commencement Lodge #7 (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Tacoma Credit Women were active members throughout the Tacoma community. They sponsored and hosted events for service men through the United Service Organization Travelers Aid Society. View of Tacoma Credit Women, members of the Tacoma Retail Credit Association.

Women--Organizations--Tacoma; Women--Social life--1940-1950; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Group portraits; Tacoma Retail Credit Association (Tacoma);

More than 600 members of the Washington State Junior Chamber of Commerce attended the state convention held in Tacoma at the Winthrop Hotel. The Junior Chamber of Commerce would be electing new officers for this year; and they designated Spokane as next year's site for the state convention. The convention consisted of several meetings and programs and would wrap up with a Saturday night banquet at the Top of the Ocean restaurant. View of members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce at the Winthrop Hotel (T.N.T., 4/23/49, p. 1).

Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Conference rooms--Tacoma; Hotels--Tacoma; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Junior Chamber of Commerce (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

American Institute of Architects, Southwest Washington Chapter, in the Wedgewood Room at the Winthrop Hotel. Most Tacoma and Seattle architects are pictured here, some with spouses. In the foreground of the picture, left to right, are Si Nelson, Percy Ball, Rod O'Hiser, Marshall Perrow, James Wilson and future mayor Gordon Johnston. Seated on the right side of the room, directly under the palm tree wall decoration are Hubert and Betty Bisson. Mr. Bisson was an architect, and later associate, for the well-known Tacoma firm of Lea, Pearson & Richards. Mr. Bisson worked for them for over 20 years until his death in 1971. He designed many of Tacoma's banks and schools for the firm. (for more detailed name information, please see name chart accompanying picture in Richards files) (Additional information provided by a reader)

American Institute of Architects, Southwest Washington Chapter (Tacoma); Architects; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Bisson, Hubert; Bisson, Betty; Johnston, Gordon N.; Nelson, Silas E.; Ball, Percy G.; O'Hiser, Rod; Perrow, Marshall; Wilson, James;

Cooks and Waiters Union, Local 61, Cabaret Ball at Crystal Ballroom of the Winthrop Hotel. (filed with Argentum)

Labor unions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cooks, Waiters, Waitresses & Bartenders Union Local No. 61 (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

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

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);

The new officers for the Spinster Club pose on the roof of the Winthrop Hotel. The Medical Arts Building can be seen in the background. The Spinster Club was a social club composed of prominent young Tacoma girls. The officers for the coming year were, left to right, Lea Mills (president), Ann Baillargeon (vice pres.), Virginia Austin (secretary) and Valdene Hazelton (treasurer.) (T. Times 3/15/1941, pg. 5)

Spinster Club (Tacoma); Mills, Lea; Baillargeon, Ann; Austin, Virginia; Hazelton, Valdene;

Three Tacoma chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution (the Mary Ball, Virginia Dare and Elizabeth Forey) enjoyed a delicious luncheon in the Hotel Winthrop's Crystal Ballroom when they honored Washington State Regent, Mrs. Starr Sherman of Walla Walla, on October 27, 1941. Seated above were Mrs. C.C. Mellinger, Mary Ball chapter regent, Mrs. Sherman, and Margaret Long, Elizabeth Forey chapter regent with the others in the photograph not identified. Mrs. Sherman was making an official visit to Tacoma and would later pay similar visits to Grays Harbor and Chehalis as well as northern chapters around the Sound. (T.Times 10-28-1941, p. 9-article only; T.Times 10-30-1941, p. 19-alt. photograph)

Daughters of the American Revolution (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Melllinger, C.C.--Family; Sherman, Starr--Family; Long, Margaret;

From November 17-23, 1941, communities across America celebrated the second annual National Art Week. The Tacoma Art Association observed the celebration by sponsoring an exhibit of local artists at the former location of the Helen Davis dress shop in the Hotel Winthrop. An unidentified clubwoman was photographed opening the door to the exhibit, which featured a variety of art including water colors, oils, charcoal, pastels, wood carvings, photography and handicrafts. Local artists were able to enter their works free of charge, and the public was invited to view the show for free and purchase the works of the artists. (T. Times 11/14/1941, pg. 19; 11/18/41, pg. 8; 11/19/41, pg. 18- all story only)

Tacoma Art Association (Tacoma); Art exhibitions--Tacoma;

Annual meeting of the American Legion, Edward B. Rhodes Post's Last Man Club, Hotel Winthrop, on December 3, 1941. Three empty chairs are draped with American flags and 19 men sit and stand by them. The draped chairs are in honor of Club members who have died. The Club was organized December 5, 1938 by World War I veterans who were past Commanders of the Post. A bottle of 1917 Hennessey Five Star cognac was set aside for the last surviving member to drink a toast to his comrades. The first to die was Tacoma Mayor Dr. John Siegle on April 13, 1939. The sole survivor was Capt. Chester Chastek. By February of 1992, he had outlived all his fellow club members. He died February 23, 1997 at the age of 97.

American Legion Club (Tacoma); Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flags--United States; Last Man Club (Tacoma);

The fourth annual meeting of the American Legion's Last Man Club was held at the Winthrop Hotel in December, 1941. Sixteen men pose with three flag draped chairs. The draped chairs are in honor of the Club members who have died, past Commanders E.A. Rich, Dr. J.C. Siegle (first to die on 4/13/39) and George A. Allen. The Club was organized on 12/5/38 by WWl veterans who had also served as Commanders of the Edward B. Rhodes Post of the American Legion. As each Commander stepped down from office, he was invited to join if he was a WWI veteran. A bottle of cognac, autographed by all members, was set aside for the last surviving member to drink a toast to his comrades. The Last Man was Capt. Chester Chastek. He became the sole survivor on February 16, 1992 after the death of Paul O. Brown. He retrieved the bottle of cognac after its 54 years of repose in a Puget Sound Bank safe deposit box but did not drink it. He had never had a drink in his long life and refused to break his record. (T.Times 12-2-41-article)

American Legion Club (Tacoma); Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flags--United States; Last Man Club (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Stamp Club met for a banquet in the Winthrop Hotel's Bayview room on May 31, 1969. A scroll was displayed, believed to be signed by charter members of the club, as well as a book entitled " A History of Stamp Taxes and a Catalogue of Revenue Stamps of the Phillipines" by Arnold Warren. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Stamp Club.

Tacoma Stamp Club (Tacoma); Scrolls (Visual works); Books;

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;

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);

On June 5, 1937, over 1,000 Shriners gathered in Tacoma for a spring reunion. They kicked off the get together with a parade. A long line of Shriners waited behind their drill leader for the parade to begin. Winthrop Hotel and Roxy theater on Broadway are in background.

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Roxy Theatre (Tacoma);

On June 5, 1937, as a function of the Shrine spring reunion in Tacoma, the Afifi Temple held a Ball and banquet at the Winthrop Hotel. Shriners and their wives were the guests. Here the photographer was setting up camera to take photographs of people in the receiving line.

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Shriners' Ball and banquet at the Winthrop Hotel on June 5, 1937. Two photographers, one a Shriner, taking photographs of couples on the dance floor.

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1930-1940;

On June 5, 1937, as a function of the Shrine spring reunion in Tacoma, the Afifi Temple held a Ball and banquet at the Winthrop Hotel. Shriners and their wives were the guests. Here the photographer was setting up camera to take photographs of people in the receiving line.

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Dr. Hinton D. Jonez (back row, 2nd from left) holds the bottle of cognac that will go to the last survivor of the Past Commanders' Last Man Club of the Edward B. Rhodes Post No.2, American Legion. Each year the post membership feted the post commanders at a banquet. The banquet for November 1945 was held in the Army and Navy Room at the Hotel Winthrop. The six flag draped chairs represent the six past commanders who had died before 1945. Names listed. (T.Times, 11/28/1945, p.7)

American Legion Club (Tacoma); Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flags--United States; Jonez, Hinton D.; Last Man Club (Tacoma);

The Wauna Club's November 11, 1946, ball was hosted with a county fair theme. The ball was held at the Crystal Ballroom at the Hotel Winthrop. L-R, Dale Kiehl, Mada Rieflin, Chick Kiehl (chair for the dance committee), and Bill Rieflin (president of the Wauna Club) stand beneath a sign, "Welcome Wauna County Fair". (T.Times, 11/2/1946, p.16)

Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Wauna Club (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950; Couples--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dance parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Kiehl, Dale; Kiehl, Chick; Rieflin, William; Rieflin, Mada;

Last Man Club, American Legion, November 30, 1946. Eighteen men stand behind six empty chairs draped with American flags during their annual meeting held at the Hotel Winthrop. The Last Man Club was formed by World War I veterans who were also past Commanders of the Edward B. Rhodes Post of the American Legion in December of 1938. A bottle of 1917 cognac was reserved for the sole survivor to drink a toast to his fallen fellow members.

American Legion Club (Tacoma); Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flags--United States; Last Man Club (Tacoma);

In 1948, three women Amvets members discuss world events over drinks and cigarettes. They were with a group of one hundred and thirty Amvets attending a banquet at the Winthrop Hotel. The guest of honor was National Commander Edgar C. Corry who spoke on the topic "Peace Through National Preparedness." (T. Times, 5/12/48, p. 3).

Patriotic societies--Tacoma; Banquets--Tacoma; Banquet halls--Tacoma; Smoking--Tacoma; Cigarettes; Matches; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Amvets Club (Tacoma);

Banquet at Winthrop Hotel, honoring National Commander for the Amvets. Left to right view, Adeline Pozega, Second Vice-Commander of the Parkland Amvets Post No. 3, Frank E. Dixon, First Vice-Commander of the Department of Washington Amvets, unidentified woman, and Edgar C. Corry, National Commander for the Amvets. Commander Corry was the guest of honor at the banquet (T. Times, 5/12/48, p. 3).

Patriotic societies--Tacoma; Banquets--Tacoma; Banquet halls--Tacoma; Couples--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Amvets Club (Tacoma);

In January of 1949, Tacoma's "March of Dimes" campaign was beginning their annual solicitation for funds for the nationwide fight against infantile paralysis. View of Tacoma Fire Department's new 100 foot ladder giving access to the Winthrop Hotel's seventh floor, where Scotty Miles, member of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, will accept one of the first donations for the "March of Dimes" campaign (T. Times, 1/15/49, p. 1).

Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; Poliomyelitis--Prevention; National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (Tacoma); March of Dimes (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma);

The "March of Dimes" was starting their fundraising campaign, "Mile O' Dimes", in January of 1949. All special events for the organization were under the direction of Norton Gordon. View of Tacoma Fire Department's new 100 foot ladder extending to the Winthrop Hotel's seventh floor where climber Fireman Scotty Miles, a member of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, will accept one of the first donations for the "March of Dimes" campaign (T. Times, 1/15/49, p. 1).

Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; Poliomyelitis--Prevention; National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (Tacoma); March of Dimes (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Miles, Scotty; Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma)