An injured patient clasps his hands as he lies in traction at Tacoma General Hospital on December 6, 1968. The unidentified man, dressed in hospital gown and partially covered with a blanket, is face down in a circular metal contraption. This device may help in alleviating or eliminating bed sores. Photograph ordered by the law firm of Binns, Petrich & Mason.

Sick persons; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma);

Charlotte Cunningham, head nurse at the Tacoma General Hospital's nursery, holds the brand new daughter of Ben and Marian Cheney on December 9, 1955. Baby Piper is swaddled in a warm blanket and has her eyes closed. Sepia photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971--Family; Cheney, Piper; Cunningham, Charlotte; Infants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Nurses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior Tacoma General Hospital. The Tacoma General Hospital has had a long history of service to the local community. Built in 1914 by J.E. Bonnell contractors and designed by Heath & Gove, the multi-storied hospital now at 315 Martin Luther King Jr Way has undergone many changes. First named after Fannie Paddock, wife of Episopal Bishop John Paddock, the hospital was first built on North Starr St., the second Fannie Paddock hospital was located on South "J" and finally had its name changed to Tacoma General in 1912 along with a new hospital. New wings were added in subsequent years. View of then "K" Street entrance to Tacoma General was taken in October, 1954. (Martin: Tacoma: A Pictorial History, p. 29)

Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Mayor Ben Hanson presented Dr. Saburo Tomita, director of the Kokura, Japan, Hospital, with a key to the city on September 28, 1961, in front of Tacoma General Hospital. Kokura is Tacoma's sister city. Dr. Tomita delivered a letter of greeting and gift from Kokura Mayor Nobuo Hayashi and in return, received a key to the city from Mayor Hanson. From L-R are Sylvia Sass and Dr. David H. Johnson of the Sister City Committee, Dr. Tomita, Dr. Sumiho Wada, Mayor Hanson and Thomas Takemura. Dr. Tomita had toured Tacoma General the previous day and had visited Mountain View General Hospital on the 28th. (TNT 9-28-61)

Hanson, Ben; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tomita, Saburo; Foreign visitors--Japan; Keys (Hardware); Sass, Sylvia; Johnson, David H.; Wada, Sumiho; Takemura, Thomas;

Mrs. Genevieve (William) Hartle rests in her hospital bed after giving birth to triplets, a girl and two boys, born during the midnight hours of November 13 and 14, 1937, at Tacoma General Hospital, the first set in many years. Waunita Marie, 3 lb. 7 oz., was the first born, shortly before midnight on November 14th. William Henry, the heaviest at 4 lb. 7 oz., arrived a few minutes after midnight on the 15th followed by his brother, Warren Edward weighing in at 4 lb. 2 oz. The two lightest siblings were placed in incubators. Mr. and Mrs. Hartle were apparently shocked at the multiple births; they already had one daughter, age 3. William Hartle was a truck driver; the Hartles lived in a rural part of Tacoma. First pictures of the triplets were released on November 18, 1937, and appeared on the Tacoma Times front page. (T.Times, 11-15-37, p. 1, 11-18-37, p. 1).

Hartle, Genevieve; Mothers & children--Tacoma--1930-1940;

On November 18, 1937, Patricia Bush, a nurse at Tacoma General Hospital, was photographed while holding William Henry Hartle, one of the triplets born to Mrs. William (Genevieve) Hartle on Sunday November 14th around midnight. There had only been one other set of triplets born at Tacoma General and that was years before 1937. The first of the triplets, a girl later named Waunita (at right), was born at 11:23 Sunday night and weighed 3 lb. 7 oz. She was followed by two boys, William Henry 4 lb. 7 oz. and Warren Edward (at left) 4 lb 2 oz. The two smallest babies were kept in incubators; William was in a cloth-covered bassinet. All three of the triplets survived. They and their older sister Dorothy were still living in Washington state in August of 2000. (T.Times 11/15/1937 p.1 & 11/18/1937 p.1).

Hartle, William--Family; Triplets; Hartle, William Henry; Hartle, Warren Edward; Hartle, Waunita Marie; Bush, Patricia; Nurses--Tacoma; Incubators;

In October of 1926, three Junior League women show a passage in a book to an older gentleman in a wheelchair while a nurse looks on. The man is covered with a blanket stamped "Tacoma General Hospital." The book has been removed from a rolling cart used to transport the books from room to room for selection. One of projects of the Junior League was a traveling library maintained at Tacoma General Hospital. Two times a week, members of the library committee, chaired by Mrs. Frank Buckley (believed to be pictured center of the back row), visited the hospital and took the specially constructed set of shelves on wheels loaded with books from room to room. (WSHS) (TDL 10/22/1926, pg. 1- story, diff. picture)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Books; Wheelchairs; Junior League (Tacoma);

ca. 1925. In 1925, the East Wing of the Tacoma General Hospital was under construction. The building is shown in this photograph from So. 4th St. The addition was designed by the firm of Sutton, Whitney & Dugan. It was completed in 1926. (WSHS)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma);

16 members of the graduating class of nurses from Tacoma General Hospital posed for a group portrait on the grounds of the hospital in June of 1925. They would bid farewell to the hospital training school on June 18th in ceremonies held at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Pictured in the upper row, left to right, are Sophia Anderson, Elizabeth Appelman, Mary L. Putnam, Eva V. Athow, Minnie E. Sternagle, Helen Needham, Marie W. Hack and Johanna L. Jansen. Seated are, left to right, Helen MacChapin, Nina A. Walker, class salutatorian Alice Carrick, Gladys H. Bright, Edythe Hansen, Gladys E.Strickland, Dora B. Winslow, and Nellie G.R. Frostad. Not pictured were class valedictorian Dorothy Kyne and Grace K. Smith. The Tacoma General Hospital School of Nursing was one of the oldest in the nation and was in existence from 1895 to 1980. During that extended period of time, the school graduated over 2,200 registered nurses. (TNT 6/10/1925, pg. 3; multicare.org) (WSHS)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Nurses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma General Hospital School of Nursing (Tacoma);

ca. 1926. Many nurses in uniform standing in front of Tacoma General Hospital, circa 1926. (filed with Argentum)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Nurses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma General Hospital School of Nursing (Tacoma);

ca. 1925. The graduating class of nurses, circa 1925, posed on the lawn in front of the entrance to the Tacoma General Hospital. They are wearing starched white aprons over their short sleeved uniforms and nurse's caps. Miss Minnie V. Hill, the Superintendent of Nurses, is seated in the center of the front row. Pictured sitting are, left to right, Eva Athow, Nina Walker, Edyth Hansen, Gladys Wright, Miss Hill, Johanna Johnson, Minnie Sternagle, Gladys Strickland and Sophia Anderson. Standing, left to right, are Alice Carrick, Helen Chapin, Marie Hack, Dora Winslow, Helen Needham and Nellie Frostad. (TNT 5/12/1925, pg. 15) (WSHS- negative A840-0)

Nursing--Tacoma; Group portraits--1920-1930; Nurses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hospitals--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Hill, Minnie;

ca. 1934. Tacoma General Hospital (Fannie C. Paddock Memorial), Class of 1934. Group of graduating nurses. (Argentum)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Nurses--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma General Hospital School of Nursing (Tacoma);

ca. 1933. Tacoma General Hospital, ca. 1933; therapeutic pool inside the hospital. In August of 1929, the physiotherapy department opened a swimming pool for children suffering from infantile paralysis (polio.) The tiled pool was 10 foot by 9 foot and thirty to forty inches deep. Water temperature was maintained between 92 and 94 degrees. The overhead track had ropes and springs that supported the children while in the water. Nurses and assistants were photographed helping children with treatment in the pool. Physical therapy was often performed in a warm water pool to reduce the strain on muscles. (WSHS) ("A House of Mercy" by Mildred Bates, RN)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Nurses--Tacoma--1930-1940; Physical therapy--Tacoma;

ca. 1933. Tacoma General Hospital School of Nursing. View of classroom. In 1933, Tacoma General offered a three year course of study; on completion, students would be registered nurses (R.N.) The school was established in 1895, and closed in 1980. The school graduated 2200 nurses during its years of operation. (WSHS)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Nurses--Tacoma--1930-1940; Classrooms;

ca. 1933. Tacoma General Hospital School of Nursing empty classroom, circa 1933. The Tacoma General school of nursing was established in 1895, and closed 85 years later in 1980. (WSHS)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma);

ca. 1933. Tacoma General Hospital School of Nursing. Woman pouring coffee for three nurses seated around a table. The coffee urn has an electric cord plugged into it. (WSHS)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Nurses--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1933. Tacoma General Hospital. Large room with square columns covered with wood paneling. Rattan chairs and Mission-style rocking chair. (WSHS)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma);

ca. 1933. Tacoma General Hospital; Laboratory circa 1933. Three medical technicians using microscopes and typewriter to examine and record information on lab samples on counter. (WSHS)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Nurses--Tacoma--1930-1940; Laboratories--1930-1940;

ca. 1933. Tacoma General Hospital; Laboratory circa 1933. Beakers and tubes on shelves and counters on laboratory cabinets. (WSHS)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Laboratories--1930-1940;

ca. 1933. Tacoma General Hospital School of Nursing. Six nurses gathered around upright piano in living quarters. (WSHS)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Nurses--Tacoma--1930-1940; Pianos;

ca. 1933. Tacoma General Hospital. Three nurses using microscopes to view test samples. Glass cabinets filled with beakers and other lab equipment. (WSHS)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Nurses--Tacoma--1930-1940; Laboratories--1930-1940;

ca. 1933. Tacoma General Hospital. Nurses preparing food trays in kitchen area. (WSHS)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Nurses--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1933. Tacoma General Hospital. Four-bed ward. Metal frame beds with neatly folded covers and pillow. Walls and ceiling painted with high-gloss enamel paint. (WSHS)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma);

ca. 1933. Tacoma General Hospital, circa 1933. Doctor or radiologist and nurses working in X-ray room with patient on table. One piece of equipment has a large dial and the other is a camera and screen mounted on a steel frame. X-rays were accepted as a medical practice in the 1920s. (WSHS)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Nurses--Tacoma--1930-1940; Radiography--1930-1940; Radiologists--1930-1940;

In April of 1936, two nurses welcome a girl entering the Tacoma General School of Nursing for training. One nurse is shaking the woman's hand. The Tacoma General School of Nursing was established in 1895, and closed 85 years later in 1980. In 1936, the hospital was still recovering from the Depression. It had 126 employees, plus the students. However, hospital usage was up, necessitating the reopening of the north end of the second floor. Plus, the American Nurses' Association had adopted the eight-hour work day in the 1930's, meaning that more trained nurses were now needed. (filed with Argentum) ("A House of Mercy" by Mildred Bates, RN)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Nurses--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma General Hospital School of Nursing (Tacoma);

Tacoma General Hospital School of Nursing, circa 1936. Seven nurses studying and writing in note books in the library. The hospital ran its own school for nurses from 1895-1980, requiring three years of study to become a Registered Nurse. The hospital benefited from the student nurses, who performed much of the hospital's work as part of their training. (filed with Argentum)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Nurses--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma General Hospital School of Nursing (Tacoma);

Tacoma General Hospital. Six women having afternoon tea. (filed with Argentum)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Tea parties--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1936. Doctors and attendants in Tacoma General Hospital operating room, circa 1936. Large windows and skylights supplied natural light; which, along with the operating lights, flooded the operating table. Several large tanks, right, supplied oxygen and probably gaseous anesthesia. A curved stand held operating instruments and several bowls sat on stands. By the mid 1930's, the new Heidbrink anesthetic machine and uniform sterilization of instruments and equipment had reached Tacoma. (filed with Argentum)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Operating rooms--Tacoma--1930-1940; Surgery--Tacoma--1930-1940; Physicians; Medical personnel--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Bedroom with twin beds, possibly in the Tacoma General Hospital nurses' quarters, circa 1936. For 85 years, from 1895-1980, Tacoma General ran its own nurse training program. The nurses studied for three years, emerging as Registered Nurses. In its years of operation, Tacoma General graduated 2200 nurses.(filed with Argentum)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma);

On Friday evening, January 8, 1937, twenty five students in the Tacoma General nursing program took the first step toward graduating as nurses. The women are lined up preceding their "capping ceremony." The ceremony signifies that they have completed a probationary period of study and have been accepted as student nurses. The procession in the nurse's home at the hospital is being led by Miss Sutherling, head of the education department, and her assistant, Miss Harvey, in capes and caps. The students carry lighted candles, a symbol of the light they will bring to others, in honor of Florence Nightingale, "The Lady with the Lamp" and the founder of modern nursing. The students will receive their full graduation honors in May of 1939. (TNT 1/8/1937, pg. 2; TDL 1/8/1937, pg. 4- names in caption) (filed with Argentum)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Nurses--Tacoma--1930-1940;