ca. 1934. A circular bed planted heavily with tulips at Western States Hospital. The photograph was taken for bulb farmer George Lawler, who leased the bed.

Tulips; Western State Hospital (Lakewood); Mental institutions--Lakewood--1930-1940;

Laundry facilities at Western State Hospital. This large piece of machinery may be a presser as one of the uniformed women employees is seen folding a sheet. A small pile of sheets is already stacked on a nearby table. Smaller pressing units can be seen along the back walls. Photograph ordered by American Laundry Machine Industries, Seattle.

Laundry--Lakewood; Western State Hospital (Lakewood);

Western State Hospital in 1961 apparently had a large laundry staff to handle the needs of hundreds of patients. Several women in white shoes and uniforms are using various American Formatic machines. One machine called the American Formatic Sleeve Finisher has part of a shirt dangling from it while others are in use. Photograph ordered by American Laundry Machine Industries, Seattle.

Laundry--Lakewood; Western State Hospital (Lakewood);

Institutional kitchen at Western State Hospital in Lakewood. For F.S. Lang Manufacturing Company. (Argentum)

Mental institutions--Lakewood; Asylums--Lakewood; Institutional care--Lakewood; Western State Hospital (Lakewood); Stoves--1920-1930; Kitchens--1920-1930;

View of Western State Hospital in the 1920s. TPL-7068

Western State Hospital (Lakewood); Mental institutions--Lakewood--1920-1930;

View of the front of Western State Hospital in the 1920s. TPL-7069

Western State Hospital (Lakewood); Mental institutions--Lakewood--1920-1930;

Barns at Western State Hospital. The hospital opened in 1871 in buildings that formerly were used as Fort Steilacoom. In 1886, the hospital was officially recognized as the "Western Washington Hospital for the Insane," shortened to Western State in 1915. The hospital maintained both a farm and animals almost from the beginning. Much of the labor was supplied by patients, in return the farm supplied most of the food used by the hospital. The farm closed in 1959. TPL-7079

Barns--Lakewood--1920-1930; Western State Hospital (Lakewood); Mental institutions--Lakewood--1920-1930;

View across field of main buildings at Western State Hospital. TPL-7080

Mental institutions--Lakewood--1920-1930; Western State Hospital (Lakewood);

Cows on Western State Hospital land. These are believed to be Holsteins, capable of producing plenty of milk for hospital patients. Each cow with its distinctive black and white markings is hitched to a post. The hospital's herd was started in 1914 from blue ribbon prize winners who had been blacklisted from commercial diary production due to tb. By 1926, the year of this photograph, the herd was free of tb. The cows, as well as the hospital's poultry, swine, and gardens, were under the care of Western State's patients and staff. The many cars parked nearby in the above August 27, 1926, photograph may have belonged to county cattlemen who had come to Western State to see the hospital's fine stock. They also examined stables and equipment in addition to inspecting the hospital's purebred stock. There was currently a campaign in Pierce County for the improvement of breeding stock and the use of purebred bulls. (TDL 8-28-26, p. 3-article)

Cows--Washington; Western State Hospital (Lakewood);

Headstones for Col. William H. Wallace and his wife in the old Fort Steilacoom Post cemetery. Cemetery is on the grounds of Western Washington State Hospital but is not the hospital cemetery. Located between hospital buildings, it predates the hospital. Photograph was taken in January of 1934. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Headstones for Col. William H. Wallace and his wife in the old Fort Steilacoom Post cemetery on the grounds of Western Washington State Hospital as photographed in January of 1934. Worn down by the passage of time, the headstones of the former territorial governor of Washington (1861-63) and his wife along with others were located on a site between hospital buildings. Their resting places preceded the hospital. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Copy of architect's drawing of scientific research and library center building at Western State Hospital, Times, Buzz. Bids for construction of this facility proposed for a research center at Western State Hospital for the study of diseases affecting the nerves and brain would be called by the middle of March 1948. The cost was estimated between $300,000 - $400,000. The center was to work in conjunction with the new medical research school at the University of Washington. Heath, Gove and Bell Architects had offices at 1119 Pacific Avenue, Room 1611-12. Jack Ballew was Director at Western State Hospital at this time and W.N. Keller, M.S. was Superintendent. (TNT, 2/25/1948, p.1)

Western State Hospital (Lakewood); Mental institutions--Lakewood--1940-1950; Architectural drawings; Heath, Gove & Bell Architects (Tacoma);