In January of 1936, an unidentified Central School Safety Patrol guard decked out in a new, bright yellow poncho and rain hat holds back a large group of children with his stop sign pole. By 1936, the Tacoma school safety patrol had overseen the street crossings for seven straight years without a single accident. To honor the guards' vigilance, they were given new uniforms that matched their yellow stop signs. (TNT 1/31/1936, pg. 1)

School children--Tacoma; Tacoma School Patrol (Tacoma); Central School (Tacoma);

In April of 1939, the All-City Elementary School Orchestra posed in front of a massive doorway at Central School. The young musicians came from area schools and were between the ages of 9 and 12. The group had formed in February and rehearsed on Saturdays. They were under the direction of Delwyn B. Jones, assisted by N. Walter Anderberg and Leslie Potter. (filed with Argentum) (T. Times 5/12/1939, pg. 2- names in caption)

Children playing musical instruments; Youth orchestras--Tacoma--1930-1940; Central School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940;

A class in singing is being held at Central School in January of 1941. The instructor, on the right, plays the accompaniment on the accordion while the choir, in front, leads the singing. Singers in the choir are, front row, Donna Emeott, Janey Harris, Keuzo Moriguchi, David Gimlett, Fred Raphael, and Keiko Fugii. Second row: Stewart Gilbreath, Joyce Powers, Kay Swanson, Barbara Guilmette, Barbara Putnam and Carol Stratton. Musical instruction was a key feature at the school with training given in singing, rhythm, sight reading, piano, strings, band and orchestra instruments. An effort was made to match the student with the right instrument. (T. Times 1/17/1941, pg. 13)

Central School (Tacoma); Music education--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In the 1940s, Tacoma's Central School had a strong emphasis on music. Instruction was given in singing, sight reading, piano and virtually all band and orchestra instruments. Joseph Lento, pictured with guitar in January of 1941, taught a class on how to play guitar, ukulele, and banjo. Every Monday morning at 8:30 his "pick string" students met in the school's basement playroom for an informal concert. Musicians usually numbered 20-25, while audiences could reach over 100. (T. Times 1/17/1941, pg. 13-article & alt. photograph)

Central School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Music education--Tacoma--1940-1950; School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lento, Joseph; Teachers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ukuleles;

ca. 1979. Tacoma Central School, 601 So. 8th St. (Now houses administrative offices.) Central School was built in 1912 and designed by the architectural firm of Heath and Gove.

Central School (Tacoma);

Four marble players at Central School exchanging marbles. Left to right: Sun Chow Ling, Vertis Barrett, Earl Carroll and Carl Jackson. The quartet was practicing for the Tacoma Times All City marble championship meet. (T. Times, 5/3/43, p.3)

Children playing with marbles--Tacoma--1940-1950; School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Central School (Tacoma);

Central School. 1B Class. (T.Times) [Also dated 04-17-1943]

Elementary schools--Tacoma; Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Central School (Tacoma); Children cooking--Tacoma--1940-1950; School children--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The lunch room at Central School, April of 1943. The first graders are studying a unit on making good choices for nutrition and also on preparing nutritious foods. (t. Times 4/24/1943, pg. 5)

Elementary schools--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Central School (Tacoma);

Instead of dyeing Easter eggs in April of 1943, Central School's first grade class learns to cook while the country is at war. Barbara Johnson points to the recipe on the blackboard which indicates the amount of hot water needed to make hot cocoa. Allyn Pollock and Roland Morris are attentive to her instructions and are ready to proceed with preparing the meal. (T.Times, 4/24/1943, p.5)

Elementary schools--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Central School (Tacoma); Children cooking--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On April 20, 1943, Simone Bland (right) tied Bennie Deschington's apron so that he could help prepare lunch for Miss Mildred Vaught's first grade class at Central School, 601 So. 8th St.. Miss Vaught was teaching her students basic cooking skills and nutrition in a unit based on the theme "Helping to win the war by keeping well." (T.Times 4/24/1943 p.5)

Elementary schools--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Central School (Tacoma); Children cooking--Tacoma--1940-1950; School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bland, Simone; Deschington, Bennie;

Central School 1B Class. First graders learn to cook. Duane Carter, left, and Edward Mantell, right, wearing aprons, check the contents of a pan sitting on top of a hot plate. The hot plate is on a table with an empty milk bottle, a can of Nestle's cocoa and measuring cup. The boys are making cocoa, with materials supplied by the Dairy Council. (T.Times, 4/24/1943, p. 5)

World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Central School (Tacoma); Children cooking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Carter, Duane; Mantell, Edward

In October of 1947, the Tacoma Community Chest began their annual fund raising campaign to raise the money necessary to help provide free medical and dental check-ups for the children in Tacoma. The Community Chest provided doctors and dentists who visited the schools throughout Tacoma. This young fellow being examined at Central School does not seem inclined to "open wide" for the dentist.

Dentistry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dental equipment & supplies; Dental hygiene--Tacoma; Health care facilities--Tacoma; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Central School (Tacoma);

Guth Lighting fixtures, Room 11, Central School, Edwin Guth Co. A view of the interior of Room 11, Central School, when the teacher and students are gone, featuring the florescent lights and fixtures. The blackboards line three walls of the classroom. Students have individual seats spaced closely together and the teacher has two small tables in the front. An American flag hangs near the door to the hall way.

Central School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Classrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950; Blackboards; Chairs; Electric lighting--Tacoma; Edwin T. Guth Co.; Light fixtures;

This unidentified young woman was busy cleaning and inspecting 16 mm films at Central School in November of 1951. She sat at a film winder within easy reach of film canisters on a rack made of plywood. Each film used in a classroom had to be cleared and checked for damage after each use. The rack has three deep shelves, the top two made with a deep V to hold the round film canisters upright, and rollers for easily moving the canisters from racks against the wall throughout the facility. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Central School (Tacoma); Audiovisual materials; Motion pictures;

Printed on front: Central School, Tacoma, Wash.

ca. 1935. School boy patrol at Central School, circa 1935. In a Tacoma school safety program initiated in 1929, responsible students were selected to assist their fellow students in safely crossing busy streets. The chest crossing belt and the hand held stop sign designated a student as a patrol member and were considered badges of honor. (Photograph courtesy of the collection of William T. Case)

School safety patrols--Tacoma--1930-1940; School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Central School (Tacoma); Case, William L.;

On August 31, 1936 two unidentified workmen delivered fifty new typewriters to the Central School building at 601 South 8th Street - just in time for the new school year, which began September 1st. The typewriters were ordered from Stationers, Inc. at 926 Pacific Avenue. The "new" Central School opened in 1913, and was used as a school building until 1968 when it was converted to the Districts administrative headquarters.

Central School (Tacoma); Delivering--Tacoma; Typewriters; Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Rhythm class in drumming at Central School. Four small children study the intricacies of drumming on March 6, 1942, while under the steady gaze of their teacher. Central School, located at 601 South 8th St., emphasized music education for its small pupils.

Central School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Music education--Tacoma--1940-1950; School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Teachers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Howard Goold, Tacoma Public Schools superintendent, accepts a $1000 check from George Childs, auditor for the Young Men's Business Club, on March 25, 1940 at Central School. The check was for funds raised by the YMBC and Tacoma public schools to send 40 selected musicians to the National Music Educators Music Festival in Los Angeles March 30-April 6th. From left to right are: George Childs (seated); Louis Wersen, supervisor of music for Tacoma schools; Superintendent Howard Goold and Milt J. Evans, chrm. of the YMBC "On to Los Angeles" committee. (T.Times 3-27-1940, p. 1-cropped photograph; TNT 3-27-1940, p. 1-alt. photo)

Young Men's Business Club (Tacoma); Shaking hands--Tacoma; Central School (Tacoma); Checks; Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; Goold, Howard R., 1886-1971; Wersen, Louis; Childs, George F.; Evans, Milton J.;

In January 1941, the music activities at Central School, 601 So. 8th Street, included this class for learning guitar, ukulele, and banjo. Joseph Lento is teaching: (l to r) front row - Ruth St. Clair, Eleanor Nelson, Betty Lou Fyke, and Jean Perella; middle row - Beverly Chistopherson, Jimmie Hutton, David Mottley, Kenneth Kennett, and Jane Maddon; back row - Billy Crom, Rosamond Fraser, Kay Fraser, Euleen Isaacson. Every Monday morning at 8:30 am the "pick string" students met in the school's basement playroom for an informal concert. At Central School they endeavored to provide every child an opportunity to learn to play some instrument or to sing. Instruction was given in singing, sight reading, piano and virtually all the band and orchestra instruments. The "pick string" instruments were those that did not use a bow, such as the banjo, guitar, mandolin and ukelele.(T. Times 1/17/1941 p. 13)

Central School (Tacoma); Music education--Tacoma--1940-1950; Guitars; Ukuleles;

Central School, the first day of school. The school principal, L.P. Rosch, greets three sisters who are new to Central School. L-R, Christine Jackson, 2nd grade, Leanne Jackson, 1st grade, and Celie Jackson, 4th grade. (T.Times, 9/4/1946, p.1) TPL-6411

School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Central School (Tacoma); Rosch, L.P.; School principals--Tacoma; Jackson, Christine; Jackson, Leanne; Jackson, Celie;

A young woman is seen using the film cabinets made from plywood at Central School. Shallow drawers hold small cans of film while larger motion picture cans are files on shelves behind her. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Central School (Tacoma); Audiovisual materials; Motion pictures;

The first grade students in Miss Mildred Vaught's class at Central School gather at a table to study their cookbooks during the lesson on "Winning the war by keeping well." The children studied cooking and nutrition, while also practicing reading, writing, math, hygiene and good manners. (T. Times 4/24/1943, pg. 5)

Elementary schools--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Central School (Tacoma); Children cooking--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Four young marble players at Central School practice for the Tacoma Times City Marble Championship. The winner received a $25 war bond. Left to right: Sun Chow Ling, Carl Jackson, Earl Carroll and Vertis Barrett. (T. Times, 5/3/43, p. 12)

World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Children playing with marbles--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Public School District's Central School building was originally built in 1883. When that building was demolished in 1914, the new Central School building had already been built two years earlier in 1912 at 601 South 8th Street. Interior view of classrooms, desks are lined up in rows and blackboard in background, at Central School building; new "Columbia" lighting fixtures installed by General Electric Supply Corporation.

Electric lighting--Tacoma; Light fixtures; Desks; Blackboards; Electrical apparatus industry--Tacoma; Classrooms--Tacoma; Central School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; General Electric Supply Corp. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Public Schools were remodeling and modernizing many of their schools and administration building in the 1940s; they were also constructing new schools, which would allow them to serve the Tacoma community better. Interior view of classrooms in Central School building, desks are lined up in rows, blackboard and George Washington print in background; new "Columbia" lighting fixtures installed by General Electric Supply Corporation.

Electric lighting--Tacoma; Light fixtures; Desks; Blackboards; Electrical apparatus industry--Tacoma; Classrooms--Tacoma; Central School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; General Electric Supply Corp. (Tacoma);

Central School was built in 1912, Heath & Gove were the architects for the eight-story English Gothic structure; F.H. Goss was the contractor. Central School formally opened the fall of 1913 as an elementary school. View of two unidentified people looking at the Bobby Reynolds statue in October of 1949. (T.N.T., 10/15/49, p. 4)

Commemoration--Tacoma--1940-1950; Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sculpture--Tacoma; Reynolds, Bobby--Statues; Central School (Tacoma);

A packed classroom of children gaze at a new radio at Central School on September 19, 1930. TPL-3232; G46.1-051

Central School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Radios;