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);

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 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);

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);

Wauna Club dance on Roof Garden at Hotel Winthrop; event was held on April 22, 1939. Four women are holding gifts, pottery water pitchers. L-R are Mrs. Allan M. Hudson, Mrs. F.R. Griffiths, Mrs. Tim Kimball, Mr. and Mrs. James Healy, Mrs. Carroll C. Carlson and Elmer G. Hagen. (T. Times, 4-29-39, p. 7).

Wauna Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940;

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);

Two couples at the Co-Ed Club dance. Fritz Haines, Roberta Cohoon, and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Miller pose in formal wear at the April 21, 1939, Co-Ed Club dance. Behind them is a large emblem hung by wires. The event was held in the Crystal Ballroom of the Hotel Winthrop. (T.Times, 4-29-39, p. 7)

Co-Ed Club (Tacoma); Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Haines, Fritz; Cohoon, Roberta; Miller, Harry;

Wauna Club dance at Winthrop Hotel. Enjoying the "Hia-Wauna" party on January 27, 1940 were Mr. and Mrs. Harold Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. Herman Brandes. The couples are dressed in formal attire for this special evening. (T.Times 2-3-1940, p. 4)

Wauna Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Johnson, Harold; Johnson, Harold--Family; Brandes, Herman; Brandes, Herman--Family;

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;

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;

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);

The Daughters of America Drill Team poses on the roof of the Winthrop Hotel. They are dressed in white skirts and blouses, with wrist length capes folded back to reveal a bright satin lining. Their caps, reminiscent of those of veteran's groups, are perched at an angle on their heads. They also wear a ribbon on the left side of their blouse.

Daughters of America (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

One of the most anticipated social events for the younger set in 1938 was the "Club of Hearts" yearly formal ball held in the Winthrop Hotel's Crystal Ballroom on December 26, 1938. Helen Feek, Lorraine Ronquist, Sheryl Nyman, and Marcelle Patrick smilingly glance back over their shoulders to have their picture taken. The young ladies are all wearing lovely evening gowns and corsages. (T. Times, 12/31/1938, p. 4).)

Club of Hearts (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Feek, Helen; Ronquist, Lorraine; Nyman, Sheryl; Patrick, Marcelle; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The Crystal Ballroom at the Hotel Winthrop was the site of the November 25, 1938, College of Puget Sound Sigma Mu Chi fraternity and Kappa Sigma Theta sorority formal dance. One couple sitting on edge of table catch-up on events with another couple who is just arriving. Streamline formals seem to have been popular that year as well as marcelled hairdos. (T. Times, 12-3-38, p. 9).

Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1930-1940; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Sigma Mu Chi Chapter (Tacoma); Kappa Sigma Theta (Tacoma); Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Wauna Club dance on the Roof Garden at the Hotel Winthrop. Several people stand under a rainbow arch. The women are holding gifts of pottery. Woman in striped skirt is Mrs. Carroll C. Carlson. (T. Times, 4/29/1939, p. 7)

Wauna Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Wauna Club dance in the Roof Garden at Hotel Winthrop. Mr. and Mrs. Walter J. Frankland and Dr. and Mrs. James Gourley engage in pleasant conversation in the lounge on April 22, 1939. The formal affair called for tuxedos and gowns. (T. Times, 4-29-39, p. 7).

Wauna Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Couples--Tacoma--1930-1940; Frankland, Walter J.; Gourley, James;

Harold D. Hayward, in the center of the front row, holds the autographed bottle of 1917 Hennessey Five Star cognac that will go to the survivor of the Last Man Club. The members of the Club were World War I veterans and past Commanders of the American Legion, Edward B. Rhodes Post No.2, since its organization in 1919. The second annual meeting, pictured, was held Dec. 4th, 1939 and following meetings scheduled for the first Monday of December each successive year. The flag draped chairs represent deceased members of the Last Man Club. Dr. John C. Siegle, Mayor of Tacoma, was the first to pass on after the club was formed in December of 1938 and the other flag was for Dr. E. A. Rich, who died before the club's inception. Present at the meeting are, back row, left to right: Earl Clifford, A.C. Bjornstad, George A. Allen, Dr. Henry Minton, Charles F. Davidson and Howard Carothers. Middle row: Robert Goldberg, Lee Carter, Robert B. Abel, Leo Barton and Herbert Ward. Seated: Dr. Hinton D. Jonez, Frank T. Callender, Hayward, L.E. Wilkeson and Albert R. Whitman. Capt. Chester Chastek (not pictured) became the sole survivor on Feb. 16, 1992 after the death of Tacoma resident Paul O. Brown. He was 92. He later died Feb. 23, 1997 at the age of 97. He retrieved the bottle from its safe deposit box at Puget Sound Bank, but abstained from the farewell toast. He was a teetotaler. (T. Times 12/5/1939, pg. 10; TNT 2/18/1992, pg. 1)

American Legion Club (Tacoma); Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1930-1940; Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Flags--United States; Jonez, Hinton D.; Last Man Club (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);

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;

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)

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);

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;

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 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;

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

Four young ladies smilingly gaze over their shoulders at the camera prior to entering the Club of Hearts yearly formal ball held at the Winthrop Hotel on December 26, 1938. From left to right are: Helen Feek, Lorraine Ronquist, Sheryl Nyman and Marcelle Patrick. This is the same image as D7769, image 5, only cropped.

Club of Hearts (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Feek, Helen; Ronquist, Lorraine; Nyman, Sheryl; Patrick, Marcelle; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Club of Hearts annual yuletide dance. Three unidentified couples gather in front of a Christmas tree at the Winthrop Hotel for one of the most popular affairs of the season.. (T. Times, 12/31/1938, p. 4)

Club of Hearts (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Christmas trees; Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940;

November, 1938, College of Puget Sound Sigma Mu Chi fraternity and Kappa Sigma Theta sorority formal dance at the Hotel Winthrop. Merritt Nelson, Florence McLean, Betty Noble, and Weymar Rosso converse during intermission. This was the first joint dance given by a sorority and a fraternity located at the College of Puget Sound and the first formal dance held in several years. (T. Times, 12-3-38, p. 9)

Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1930-1940; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Sigma Mu Chi Chapter (Tacoma); Kappa Sigma Theta (Tacoma); Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1930-1940;