Tacoma hosted the state lodge and temple convention of the Knights of Pythias fraternal organization which opened on Sunday, October 5, 1969, at the Winthrop Hotel. Eight unidentified lodge members posed on October 6th on the rooftop of the Winthrop. Three of the men are wearing special ornate medallions. The Tacoma Knights of Pythias, Commencement Lodge #7, joined members of the Washington Temple and Tacoma Temple, Pythian Sisters at the convention. National Chancellor Commander Otto R. Shuman was the honored guest of the Commencement Lodge. Photograph ordered by the Knights of Pythias, Commencement Lodge #7. (TNT 10-3-69, A-14- article)

Knights of Pythias, Commencement Lodge #7 (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1960-1970; Meetings--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);

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;

Standard Brands of Sumner held a banquet at the Winthrop Hotel on November 21, 1951, to honor those employees who had worked there for 25 years. Company officials presented a watch and a certificate for long service to Arthur S. Learman, a new member of the Quarter Century Club.

Standard Brands, Inc. (Sumner); Learman, Arthur S.; Group portraits--1950-1960; Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Events--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Masquerade party given by Joyce Myles on December 26, 1950 in the Winthrop Hotel's Wedgwood Room. Four people dressed in costume, one as frontiersman, another as Indian maiden. Room has Classical window inset with stained glass, palm trees painted on wall. Joyce Myles had invited many of her college friends to this fun event. (TNT 12-30-1950, p. 4- alt. photos)

Masquerades--Tacoma--1950-1960; Costumes; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The Comus Club held a Sweethearts Ball in February of 1951at the Winthrop Hotel. Standing from left to right are: unidentified, Richard Bevington, Fred Marr, co-dance chairman Russ Michael, Betty (Mrs. Charles) Wolf, unidentified, Mrs. Fred Marr and Charles Wolf. Seated are co-dance chairman Mrs. Russ Michael and Mrs. Richard Bevington. The ball was a much anticipated annual event. (TNT 2-20-51, p. 8-alt. photograph)

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

The Ladies' Musical Club sponsored a concert by Hildegarde, a New York supper club singer who was on a concert tour across the continent, at Temple Theater. She would perform a 2 1/2 hour concert with her 12-piece orchestra. Her program included not the classics but favorites such as, "The Last Time I Saw Paris". She traveled with 35 evening costumes packed in specially built 6-foot trunks but would only be wearing two for her Tacoma appearance. She is seen here looking from the window of her room at the Hotel Winthrop. Tacoma's City Hall can be seen through the window. (TNT, 4/18/1951, p.12)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hildegarde; Singers;

Eddie Peabody, his banjo and two unidentified Camp Fire Girls at the Winthrop Hotel promoting the mint sale fund raiser. Edwin Ellsworth "Eddie" Peabody was a well known vaudeville star and was in Tacoma at this time as a performer with the Shrine Circus.

Peabody, Eddie; Camp Fire Girls (Tacoma); Fund raising--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banjos; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Northwest Florists were meeting in Tacoma for their 25th annual convention; Tacoma's Hotel Winthrop was converted into a beautiful garden. The florists would be participating in a salmon derby and visiting a greenhouse at Vashon Island. View of Austin Stover (center), incoming President of the Northwest Florists' association, with other unidentified officers of the Northwest Florists' association (T.N.T., 9/08/49, p. 28).

Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Delegations--Tacoma; Florists--Tacoma; Flower shows--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Northwest Florists (Tacoma); Stover, Austin;

The Northwest Florists were holding their 25th annual meeting in Tacoma's Winthrop Hotel. During the annual meeting, the group elects new officers and discusses important issues in the world of flowers and horticulture. The group would be participating in the weekend salmon derby on Commencement Bay. View of Austin Stover (right), incoming President of the Northwest Florists' association, with an unidentified man (T.N.T., 9/08/49, p. 28).

Flowers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Delegations--Tacoma; Florists--Tacoma; Flower shows--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Northwest Florists (Tacoma); Stover, Austin;

The Hotel Winthrop, a multi-storied brick building, was the site of many community events at the Crystal Ballroom, Wedgwood Room and the Roof Garden, among other hotel amenities. The hotel also had suites available for permanent residents. Interior view of the lobby, view of the modern telephone booths; photo ordered by Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company. TPL-9268

Telephone booths--Tacoma--1940-1950; Telephone companies--Tacoma; Telephone industry--Tacoma; Hotels--Tacoma; Lobbies--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma);

Banquet in Army-Navy Room for Buick Motor Company Distributors, Mueller-Harkins, Rudy Mueller. Buick dealers and salesmen of Southwest Washington previewed the new Buick Special at the Mueller-Harkins Motor Company. Afterwards the group met for a luncheon meeting where they were addressed by Buick factory officials. (TNT, 8/5/1949, p.18)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Group portraits; Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma);

Northwest Florists were having their 25th annual convention; florists from Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, British Columbia and other areas were gathering at Tacoma's Winthrop Hotel for four days of meetings. View of Floralife, Incorporated exhibit; florist products, including: flower dyes, flower cement and flower food, are displayed (T.N.T., 9/4/49, p. 1 & 5).

Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Exhibit booths--Tacoma; Flower shows--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Northwest Florists (Tacoma); Floralife, Inc. (Chicago, Ill.);

Alden Woodworth (center) was photographed handing a Quit Claim Deed to Tacoma Mayor John H. Anderson in early February of 1951, at a meeting of the Young Men's Business Club held at the Winthrop Hotel. The deed was for the land at the east approach of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge where a memorial to Tacoma's war dead was planned. It was a project worked on by the Y.M.B.C. for many years. Also seated next to Mr. Woodworth is Bremerton mayor L. Hum Kean. Standing, from left to right: Mayor of Gig Harbor, Harold H. Ryan; Kitsap County Commissioner Verd Nichols; Y.M.B.C. memorial committee chairman Arthur Paulsen; Mrs. Ruth E. Peeler of the State Parks commission; Jack Roberts of the Public Works commission and Y.M.B.C. president Peter Pelegruti. ALBUM 14 (TNT 2-4-51, A-6)

Mayors--Tacoma--1950-1960; Anderson, John H.; Woodworth, Alden; Ryan, Harold H.; Nichols, Verd; Paulsen, Arthur; Peeler, Ruth E.; Roberts, Jack; Roberts, John S.; Pelegruti, Peter; Young Mens Business Club (Tacoma); Memorial Park (Tacoma);

The wedding of Shirley Claire Fields and Jack Schneidermann in the Wedgewood Room at the Winthrop Hotel. A single ring ceremony was performed by Rabbi Bernard Roseberg under a canopy of white stock and greens flanked by candelabra. The bride, the daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. Hyman S. Fields, wore an ivory satin gown with a yoke of net and venice lace with a long train and an illusion veil. She carried a bouquet of orchids and stephanotis. The groom was from Coos Bay, Oregon and was the son of Mrs. David Schneidermann. The matron of honor was the recently married Mrs. Alvin L. Fields, sister-in-law of the bride, who wore the same bridal gown at her wedding. The Junior Bridesmaid was Dorothy Fields and the Bridesmaids were Helen Gold, Mona Kleiner and Nancy Brown. The Best Man was Harold Schneidermann. The bride was a graduate of Stadium High School and received her degree in Sociology from the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Washington. She was a member of Alpha Epsilon Phi. The groom was a Business Administration graduate from the University of Oregon and a member of Sigma Alpha Mu. The Schneidermanns honeymooned in Los Angeles and Palm Springs, Ca. (TNT 4/22/1951, pg. D-4)

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Grooms (Weddings)--1950-1960; Wedding costume--1950-1960; Fields, Shirley Claire; Schneidermann, Jack; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

ca. 1955. The Winthrop Hotel, circa 1955. The hotel, designed by W.L. Stoddard, architect, and Roland Borhek, associate architect, had its grand opening on 5/16/1925. The hotel was named in a Tacoma Ledger newspaper contest. The winning name was submitted by George L. Dickson. It was named after explorer and writer Theodore Winthrop, author of "The Canoe and the Saddle," which helped popularize the Northwest. The building was eleven stories and 110 feet high. In 1973, it was converted into apartments. In 1955, it was home to the Sabre Room and the Daffodil Room.

Hotels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Five unidentified members of the Pacific Coast Division of the American Pulp & Paper Mill Superintendents Association performed a "space age" skit involving a hodgepodge of space visitors and robots at their annual conference held at the Hotel Winthrop, 773 Broadway, in December of 1955. Following panel and group discussions on sulphate pulping, sulphite pulping, and papermaking, the delegates ended their annual meeting with an informal banquet in the Crystal Ballroom and a dance in the Wedgewood Room. (Photograph ordered by American Pulp & Paper Mill Superintendents Association.) (TNT 12-4-55, B-11)

Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Costumes; Robots; Signs (Notices); American Pulp & Paper Mill Superintendents Association (Tacoma);

Pacific Telephone and Telegraph, a group of 13 men sit around a table at the Winthrop Hotel with bound notebooks in front of them. Back row, third from left, is Reno Odlin, President of Puget Sound Bank. Odlin was a member of the eight man Regional Advisory Board of business leaders mapping out new projects for the company. They proposed a $400,000 construction project for Tacoma. The project included new equipment for the Market and Proctor offices, an expansion program for the Waverly office and alteration of the downtown long distance facilities. Similar projects were proposed for Seattle, Bremerton, Sumner and Shelton. Seated in the center at the head of the table is Mark Sullivan, president of PT&T and standing at the far right is George M. Dean, vice president and general manager of the Washington-Idaho district of PT &T.(TNT 3/22/1956, pg. A-10)

Telephone companies--Tacoma; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979;

The splendid chandeliers and sconces of the Winthrop Hotel provided an elegant setting for the Capital District, Washington Federation of Garden Clubs' show on December 6, 1954. A Christmas motif was evident; the majority of arrangements on display were small tabletop decorations. A few tall firs were added to complete the tableau. This may have been an annual event sponsored by the federation.

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

Seven Up Bottling Co. A breakfast for twenty featuring the bubbling soda. 7UP's slogan at this time was "You like it, it likes you." The breakfast was part of the meetings scheduled around the 37th annual convention of the Washington Bottlers of Carbonated Beverages held in Tacoma at the Winthrop Hotel. The three day run of meetings had its kickoff on Sunday, 2/7/1954, with a reception and smorgasbord at the hotel. Over 250 bottlers and their families were expected to attend. (TNT 2/7/1954)

Washington Bottlers of Carbonated Beverages (Wa.); Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Carbonated beverages;

The Daffodil Room at the Winthrop Hotel provides a less formal luncheon and dining area. Semi-circular booths line the left side of the room while a long bench with seats on both sides runs through the center of the room with tables and chairs on either side of it. A counter with swivel seats can be seen in the right-hand corner. Tables are provided in the rear of the room. The draperies and the carpet have a daffodil pattern to match the theme of the room. Chandeliers provide lighting.

Hotels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Scottish Bagpipers and Scotty Nyles at the Winthrop Hotel. Three members of the band, wearing Scottish attire, stand with an unidentified man wearing a suit.

Costumes--Scottish; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Students from Fife High School are grouped against one end of the Wedgwood Room at the Winthrop Hotel during their junior prom held on May 4, 1951. The young women wear floor-length gowns and the young men wear suits and ties. Ordered by the Tribune. (TNT, 5/14/1951, p.4)

Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fife High School (Fife); Dance parties--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Western Distributors featured Lucky Lager and Miller High Life Beers at their booth during the Washington State Tavern Association convention. The convention trade show opened in the Hotel Winthrop's Crystal Ballroom and continued throughout the two full days of the convention. (TNT, 10/18/1952, p.A-6)

Washington State Tavern Association (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma; Beer--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The theme for the El Choclo Club's annual masquerade ball for 1952 was Tin Pan Alley. Members came dressed in costumes resembling musical hits as convicts, hoboes, characters from the Arabian Nights, tap dancers and other personalities. The ball was held in the Crystal Ballroom of the Winthrop Hotel. (TNT, 10/25/1952, p.14)

Costumes; Masquerades--Tacoma--1940-1950; Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1950-1960; El Choclo Club (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The Presidential Suite at the Winthrop Hotel was used for a sales meeting for Marchant Calculators employees on November 13, 1958. Each table has at least one calculator on it. Employees are shown busily reconciling figures and assorted paperwork. Marchant Calculators was located at 2330 E. 11th St. and managed by Seymour L. Johnson, Jr. Photograph requested by Marchant Calculators.

Marchant Calculators (Tacoma); Calculators;

Winthrop Hotel executive William R. Conant, Sr., and Sonia Fowler (now Sonia Gray) watch as their kimono-clad waitress in the Kokura Restaurant pours a small cup of tea on July 13, 1964. The Kokura was the Winthrop Hotel's latest major improvement, an authentic Japanese restaurant located on the Broadway level. Named after Tacoma's sister-city in Japan, the Kokura served only Japanese food. To add to the atmosphere, the chef and waitresses were of Japanese descent. Customers entered the Kokura through a torii, an orange-red gate, and were directed to small private dining rooms separated by shoji screens. Tables were low and customers sat on padded cushions resting on tatami mats, much as they would in Japan. Bamboo-covered walls and hanging paper-like lighting fixtures added to the dining experience. The Kokura closed in 1971. (Photograph ordered by the Winthrop Hotel.) (TNT 5-10-64, B-10, TNT ad 10-14-64, A-8) TPL-9851

Kokura Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970; Dining rooms--Tacoma--1960-1970; Waitresses--Tacoma; Kimonos; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Conant, William R.; Fowler, Sonia;

Exterior of the Kokura Restaurant. Located on the Broadway level of the Winthrop Hotel, the Kokura restaurant opened in the summer of 1964. It featured the finest Japanese cuisine which was prepared and served by those of Japanese descent. The restaurant was named after Tacoma's city-sister, Kokura, Japan. The Winthrop would later be sold in 1970 and rooms converted to senior housing. TPL-5021

Kokura Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Five of Tacoma's business and civic leaders clasped hands in a show of camaraderie at the Winthrop Hotel on December 10, 1964. Henry Foss (far left), Joshua Green, the 95-year-old Peoples National Bank Chairman of the Board (second from left) and Reno Odlin (second from right) were among those pictured. 240 leading bankers and businessmen from as far away as San Francisco met to honor Reno Odlin, the newly-elected president of the American Bankers Association. Mr. Odlin, Chairman of the Board of Puget Sound National Bank, was the first banker from the Pacific Northwest elected to serve in this position. Photograph ordered by Cole & Weber Advertising. (TNT 12-6-64, B-20, TNT 12-11-64, p. 1)

Foss, Henry O., 1891-1986; Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979; Green, Joshua; Bankers--Tacoma;