ca. 1937. Exterior elevation of the Rust Building, a multi-story office building, at So. 11th Street and Pacific Avenue. The Rust Building is named for its builder William R. Rust. It was designed by the architectural firm of Sutton, Whitney and Dugan. The twelve story building opened in 1920. Since 1986, it has been known as the Seafirst Center. For Johnson-Cox, printers, for school annuals. (Image also numbered 8A3 image 2 in Argentum)

Business districts--Tacoma; Office buildings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rust Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1937. Full view of the Rust Building on 11th Street between Commerce and Pacific Avenue. Sandstone clad steel frame 12-story business block for William R. Rust by Sutton, Whitney and Dugan, Architects, 1920. It was known as the Townsend building from 1929- 1931. It was remodeled by Seafirst bank in 1986 and renamed the Seafirst Center.

Business districts--Tacoma; Office buildings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rust Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1937. Corner view of Rust Building showing Bone-Dry Shoe Store. Banners in windows for Removal Sale, "Forced to vacate, all prices reduced."

Business districts--Tacoma; Office buildings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rust Building (Tacoma); Bone Dry Shoe Store (Tacoma); Shoe stores--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1937. Bone-Dry Shoe Company store in the Rust Building from 11th Street. Signs advertise "Removal Sale" and "Forced to Vacate." Fidelity Building in background. Storefront for First United Mutual Savings Bank next door. (filed with Argentum)

Office buildings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rust Building (Tacoma); Bone Dry Shoe Store (Tacoma); Shoe stores--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1935. City Loan Company, interior, located in the Rust building, Room 408. The City Loan Co. made smaller loans, such as salary or furniture loans. Harry R. Rinker was the manager in 1936. The photograph shows office cubicles where customers can discuss their affairs in semi-privacy with loan officers. (WSHS)

City Loan Co. (Tacoma); Offices--1930-1940; Business enterprises--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The Condon Co. was one of the first advertising agencies in Tacoma. It was founded in 1916 by John Condon, Roscoe A. Smith is now the President. In 1943 they went through a complete expansion, preparing for an increase in business once the war was over. View of "Little Chef" electric stove, top burner and oven dials, electric cord is plugged in, and it appears the stove has storage compartments, photo ordered by Condon Co.

Stoves--Tacoma; Ovens; Appliances; Advertising agencies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Advertisements--Tacoma; Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

The three Tacoma women being saluted were on their way to boot camp in this photograph from June 1944.(l to r) Pvt. Edna Patricia Fisher, Pvt. Pauline May Hall, Pvt. Betty Jean Miller are shown in the Marine Corp recruiting office on the 7th floor of the Rust Building at 950 Pacific Ave. The recruiting officer was Sgt. Barbara Baker. The inductees will be leaving shortly for Camp Lejeune, New River, North Carolina. (T. Times, 6/10/44, p. 4).

Marines (Military personnel); World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma; War posters; Women--Military service;

Five pictures of Navy recruiting station. Women were doing their part with the armed forces in Tacoma. View of unidentified woman who is enlisted in the Navy WAVES, Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service, at the Naval Recruiting Station in Tacoma (T. Times, 9/2/44, p. 1).

Women--Military service; World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma; United States Naval Recruiting Station (Tacoma);

Frances Garfton was a freelance interior decorator in Tacoma. Frances shared office space with her husband, Arthur E. Grafton Jr., in the W. R. Rust Building. Frances Grafton had done work in the Arthur Murray Dance Studios. Picture of chair, photo ordered by Frances Grafton, Interior Decorator.

Interior decoration; Interior decoration firms--Tacoma; Chairs; Grafton, Frances W.;

Frances Garfton was a freelance interior decorator in Tacoma. Frances shared office space with her husband, Arthur E. Grafton Jr., in the W. R. Rust Building. Frances Grafton had done work in the Arthur Murray Dance Studios. Picture of table, photo ordered by Frances Grafton, Interior Decorator.

Interior decoration; Interior decoration firms--Tacoma; Tables; Grafton, Frances W.;

The six-person staff of General Insurance Company of America posed in their Rust Building office on March 19, 1928. E.T. Stewart was manager of the firm. G37.1-199

General Insurance Company of America (Tacoma)--Employees; Offices--Tacoma--1920-1930; Office workers--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1934. The Rathskeller, beer parlor, owned by Lyle Lane. New establishment showing modern counter, and mirrored walled above cabinets. The establishment was located on the ground floor of the Rust Building, 950 Pacific Ave. (WSHS)

Restaurants--Tacoma; Bars--Tacoma; Barrooms--Tacoma; Alcoholic beverages; Rathskeller (Tacoma);

ca. 1934. The Rathskeller, beer parlor, owned by Lyle L. Lane. New establishment opened at end of Prohibition on the ground floor of the Rust Building. Modern-style wood booths with abstract pattern floor covering. The beer parlor is empty at 11:25 a.m.

Restaurants--Tacoma; Bars--Tacoma; Barrooms--Tacoma; Alcoholic beverages; Rathskeller (Tacoma);

This night view taken at the corner of Commerce and 11th Street South shows the storefront of the Bone Dry Shoe Store which occupied two floors of the Rust Building for shoe sales and repairs. Motto: "Bone-Dry Shoes outwear them all." First United Mutual Savings Bank, right, another Rust Building tenant.

Office buildings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rust Building (Tacoma); Bone Dry Shoe Store (Tacoma); Shoe stores--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Commerce Street storefront window of Bone Dry Shoe Store, which occupied two floors of the Rust Building for shoe sales and repairs. Display features fishing creels and rods. Sign: "Campers and Outdoor Sportsmen Bone-Dry Shoes will keep your feet Warm and Dry in all Weather".

Office buildings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rust Building (Tacoma); Bone Dry Shoe Store (Tacoma); Shoe stores--Tacoma--1930-1940; Window displays;

Part of a series for Bone Dry Shoe Manufacturing Company and Store. Display window of men's dress shoes with sign: "Pre-Showing of Smart Holiday Styles". Shoe signs: "The Clipper $3.85", "The Riverside $4.45", "The Century $4.45", and others.

Office buildings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rust Building (Tacoma); Bone Dry Shoe Store (Tacoma); Shoe stores--Tacoma--1930-1940; Window displays;

On June 20, 1940, soldiers crowd around the desk at the USO Center in the Rust Building. They are patiently waiting to sign up for beds. As soldiers on weekend leave from Fort Lewis during the war years poured into Tacoma; area churches, the mission and local homeowners set up makeshift dormitories to make sure they were not having to spend the night on the street.

World War, 1939-1945--Military life--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

On June 20, 1942, smiling volunteers take soldiers' reservations for available beds. This was a typical scene at the USO center in the Rust Building on Saturdays during the war years. Temporary weekend dormitories were set up at area churches, homes and the Mission. For 35 cents a soldier could get a bed; a hot breakfast would cost 20 cents more. TPL-1974 (TNT 7/5/1942, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Military life--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

The Washington State Dairy Council elected a "Dairy Queen" who would help educate the community on the dairy industry. View of children enjoying cookies and milk after learning about the dairy business.

Dairy products industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dairying--Tacoma; Washington State Dairy Council (Tacoma); Eating & drinking--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On August 22, 1944, these six young women went to the Navy recruiting station in the Rust Building, at 950 Pacific Ave., and joined the WAVES, Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service. Taking the oath of allegiance from Ensign Betsy Abbott are: (l to r) Shirley Rasmussen, Audrey Purchase, Peggy Olson, Betty Day, Florence Olson and Shirlee Beardempl. They will leave in October for the U.S. naval training school at New York City. Two of the enlistees each had two brother already serving in the armed forces. (T. Times, 8/23/44, p. 8). TPL-983

Women--Military personnel--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma; Oaths--Tacoma;

Edna Donahue (center) and Eva Mahoney (right) were the winners in the Tacoma WAVE contest in September of 1944. Sponsored by local friends of the navy the unique contest was conducted to acquaint eligible women with the urgent need for their service in the navy. The two winners each received a war bond from WAVE recruiter Eleanor Frank at the Tacoma recruiting station. Mrs. Donahue, the first prize winner, had a son in the Navy V-12 program at the University of Washington. Miss Mahoney, the second place winner, had two sisters serving in the WAVES. (T. Times, 9/6/44, p. 10).

Women--Military service; War bonds & funds; United States Naval Recruiting Station (Tacoma); Donahue, Edna; Mahoney, Eva; Frank, Eleanor;

This photograph of the Rust Building, at the corner of South 11th and Pacific, was taken in October of 1950, thirty years after it was built. Lundquist-Lily men's clothiers, Thom McAn shoes, Regal Shoe Company and C.P. Fawcett jewelers were located in the storefronts along Pacific Avenue. The neon sign advertising the name of the building can be seen on top of the 12- story building. The new F.W. Woolworth building can be seen behind the Rust Building on the far left side of the photograph. In 2003 it was renamed The Commerce Center. TPL-9495

Office buildings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rust Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma;

This is believed to be a portrait of William Wallace Mount, former assistant U.S. attorney and Tacoma corporation counsel. By 1947, Mr. Mount was a partner with Wayne W. Keyes in the Keyes & Mount Law Office with offices in the Rust Building. Mr. Mount was born in Sprague, Washington, the son of State Supreme Court Justice Wallace Mount. He obtained his law degree from the University of Washington in 1916, served during WWI, and then became a King County deputy prosecutor. Mr. Mount was an assistant U.S. attorney in charge of the local office from 1921-1925. He was appointed by the Tacoma City Council to be the corporation counsel in 1930. Mr. Mount held membership in many civic and fraternal organizations including the board of governors of the Washington State Bar Assn., member of the American Bar Assn.'s House of Delegates, Tacoma Club, Tacoma Country & Golf Club, Rhodes American Legion Post. He passed away in Olympia on July 27, 1971, at the age of 80. (TNT 7-29-71, A-14-obituary)

Mount, William Wallace; Lawyers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Eyeglasses;

Employees of the Commonwealth Title Co. gather around a modern metal desk set containing new IBM equipment on January 17, 1958. The men appear to be waiting for the young woman who is holding a pile of papers, perhaps prior to passing them out. There is at least one IBM typewriter on the extended desk, and possibly two. The metal swivel chair would enable the secretary to have more than one document ready to type. Photograph ordered by IBM.

Office equipment & supplies; Typewriters; Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; International Business Machines (Tacoma); Commonwealth Title Co. (Tacoma);

Victor Kaufman of The Condon Co. examines advertising for the plywood industry while at his desk in the Rust Building. Another man gestures with his pencil on a booklet indicating "National Fir Plywood Promotion Puts the Runners on Base...ready to score sales for you!" There is also a folder on Mr. Kaufman's desk labeled "14 TV Spots for use by Retail Lumber Dealers." Photograph taken on April 2, 1954; copy ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Advertising--Tacoma--1950-1960; Advertising agencies--Tacoma; Kaufman, Victor; Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);