Under the direction of Gordon O. Gilbertson, the Pacific Lutheran College Concert Band during the 1956-57 school year performed many concerts, both at school and at neighboring locations, as well as providing added spirit to basketball and football games. The band is pictured here in the Music & Chapel building on January 17, 1957. Photograph ordered by Pacific Lutheran College.

Bands--Parkland--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;

Gordon Gilbertson directed both the 27-piece orchestra and the 48-member concert band at Pacific Lutheran College in 1958. He is standing to the extreme left of the January 14, 1958, photograph, next to the bass player. The PLC Concert Band added to the spirit at football and basketball games with cheerful, colorful tunes. They also performed at the Rainier State School, McNeil Island, and the First Presbyterian Church in Seattle. Occupants of Eastern Washington, Idaho and Oregon were privileged to hear the concert band during its nine day tour. The band concluded its year with participation in the graduation ceremonies. Names of band members are listed in the 1958 SAGA yearbook. Photograph ordered by Pacific Lutheran College. (1958 SAGA yearbook, p. 97)

Bands--Parkland--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Gilbertson, Gordon;

The Concert Chorus at Pacific Lutheran College posed for the camera seated in an open fan shape in the Music-Chapel on April 9, 1958. The men all sported tuxedoes while the women were primarily dressed in evening gowns. According to the student yearbook, the SAGA, the popularity of the group was increasing rapidly in the Seattle-Tacoma area. The chorus performed several times on Fort Lewis, at various churches, and at chapel exercises on campus. They were honored to be the first choral group to sing at the new Central Lutheran Church in Tacoma. The Concert Chorus, under the direction of R. Byard Fritts, concluded its year by recording music for the sound track of a technicolor movie to be released by the United Good Neighbors. (1958 SAGA yearbook, p. 94)

Choirs (Music); Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;

Too cool for swimming now that it is November, but Pacific Lutheran College students can still enjoy the presence of the new outdoor swimming pool. The pool was presented to P.L.C. students by President and Mrs. S.C. Eastvold on May 28, 1958. The Eastvolds were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary and their 15th anniversary at P.L.C. The swimming pool is adjacent to three women's dorms. It is 20 feet wide, 40 feet long, and nine feet deep at the diving end. Its heating system is powered by propane gas and the pool has a chlorinating system with water changes every 6-8 hours. Surrounded by a chain link fence, use of the swimming pool is restricted to students and staff. Photograph ordered by McCarty Co. of Washington, an advertising agency in Seattle. (TNT 5-29-58, p. 13) TPL-9354

Swimming pools--Parkland; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;

Aerial view of newly completed Pacific Lutheran University administration building taken in early October, 1960. Designed by architects Lea, Pearson & Richards, the two-story U-shaped modern structure was dedicated on October 14, 1960. It had 55,000 square feet of floor space. Initially called the Tacoma-Pierce Administration Building, it was later re-named after Philip E. Hauge, Dean of the University who had spent 45 years with the school. (TNT 10-12-60, C-10)

Aerial photographs; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1960-1970; Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland) --1960-1970;

Students at Pacific Lutheran University enjoy a sunny fall day in 1960 as they chat in front of the new Administration Building. In contrast to the Gothic style buildings on campus, the Lea, Pearson & Richards-designed structure has a very modern look with flat roof, multiple windows with blinds, and overhang to protect students from the elements. Pacific Lutheran College officially became Pacific Lutheran University on September 1, 1960. The school celebrated the 70th anniversary of its founding during the weekend of October 14, 1960, when the new Administration building was dedicated. (TNT 10-13-60, C-1)

Universities & colleges--Parkland--1960-1970; Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland)--1960-1970;

A variety of photographs were taken of the Pacific Lutheran University campus in early October, 1960, by the Richards Studio, showing new facilities and improvements. The photograph above shows the Jacob Samuelson Chapel in the new Administration Building, a multipurpose room used for devotional meetings, closed circuit TV lectures, and recitals. It utilized an innovative notion--multiple television sets mounted on walls to provide students with a clearer view of professorial lectures broadcast from the school's own new studio. The chapel was a gift from Mr. Samuelson's estate. (TNT 10-13-60, C-6)

Universities & colleges--Parkland--1960-1970; Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland)--1960-1970; Televisions; Pianos; Lecture halls--Parkland;

Photographed on the stage of Pacific Lutheran University's Eastvold Chapel are members of the Tacoma Youth Symphony on February 27, 1966. Dr. Paul B. Oncley of Seattle was the group's conductor; he was also the associate conductor of the Thalia Symphony. The young musicians performed during the 1965-66 season. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Youth Symphony. (TNT 11-14-65, D-19) TPL-10474

Tacoma Youth Symphony (Tacoma); Youth orchestras--Tacoma--1960-1970; Musicians--Tacoma--1960-1970; Oncley, Paul B.;

Pacific Lutheran College had just dedicated their new $200,000 Science Hall in 1947. Classes were now being taught in the building, which had modern, fully equipped labs available in the classrooms. The new building enabled students to get hands on experience in the science field. View of students in a classroom with microscopes and lab tables, the instructor is Verner L. Johnson (standing, left), Master of Science, Biology. Professor Johnson spent two years at PLC from 1946-48 following his release from service at Fort Lewis. He went on to receive a Ph.D. in zoology at Washington State College (later named Washington State University) in 1953 and joined the faculty at the school's College of Veterinary Medicine the same year. Verner L. Johnson passed away in 1964. (Saga, 1948) (Additional information provided by a reader) TPL-10189

Universities & colleges--Parkland; Laboratories--Parkland; Classrooms--Parkland; Science--Parkland; Students--Parkland--1940-1950; Scientific equipment--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1940-1950; Johnson, Verner L.;

Students are seen studying at the rows of tables at the Pacific Lutheran College library in April of 1950. Open beams lead towards the large windows at the far end of the room. The library, designed by Tacoma architect Emanuel J. Bresemann, was dedicated in 1939. TPL-9330

Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Libraries--Parkland; Educational facilities--Parkland; Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--Buildings; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Studying--Parkland;

The exterior of "Old Main" at Pacific Lutheran College (later University) has been cleaned of ivy in 1950. In other years the administration building was covered thickly with ivy. Pacific Lutheran University was founded in 1890 by a group of mostly Norwegian Lutherans from the Puget Sound area. They were led by the Reverend Bjug Harstad, who became PLU's first president. Although founded as a university, the institution functioned primarily as an academy until 1918, when it closed for two years. It reopened as the two-year Pacific Lutheran College, after merging with Collumbia College, previously located in Everett. Spokane College merged with PLC in 1929. Four-year baccalaureate degrees were first offered in education in 1939 and in the liberal arts in 1941. TPL-9332

Students--Parkland; Educational facilities--Parkland; Education--Parkland; Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--Buildings; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;

Pacific Lutheran College. The exterior of the Student Union Building showing the grounds and part of a garden with a sun dial. A few students are enjoying the sunny spring day.

Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Educational facilities--Parkland; Education--Parkland; Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--Buildings; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;

Three women students are shown in one of the women's dormitory rooms at Pacific Lutheran College in the spring of 1950. Two desks are set into an alcove near the window. A flowered curtain covers the closet. One of the women is reading on one of the beds and another is leaning on one of the dressers against the far wall. The floor is covered with checked linoleum tile and sprinklers are shown along the ceiling. A comfortable wicker rocking chair is positioned nearby.

Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Educational facilities--Parkland; Education--Parkland; Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;

1951 construction work on the exterior of the new chapel-music-speech building at Pacific Lutheran College. Brick veneer is being laid by men working from scaffolding. Scaffolding is still in place around a steeple that has been added above the roof. Architect John Richards explained that the design of the rooms in the building were unusual. The walls and ceilings were not true, or straight. The ceiling in some rooms slanted up, in others it slanted down. The same was true of the walls. The purpose of this was to break up the reverberation of sound waves. (TNT, 7/22/1951, p.C-12)

Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--Buildings; Building construction--Parkland--1950-1960; Progress photographs;

Men are smoothing on one of the three layers of plaster on the ceiling and high along one of the walls in the new chapel-music-speech building at Pacific Lutheran College in July of 1951. Acoustical plaster was used on two walls of each room, above the dado, or wainscoating; and on a strip across the middle of the ceiling. The structure incorporated the latest engineering features designed to cut noise to a minimum. Students in one of the seventeen 6-foot by 10-foot practice rooms should seldom hear sounds coming from practice rooms on either side of them. The building also had seven studios, a band room, choir room and radio studio. (TNT, 7/22/1951, p.C-12)

Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--Buildings; Building construction--Parkland--1950-1960;

On July 19, 1951, workmen were cutting and installing one-inch blankets of insulation in the band room at the new chapel-music-speech building at Pacific Lutheran College. The J-M system of sound isolation was being used to control sound waves which are transmitted by structural vibration. Light weight and specially constructed floors, walls and ceilings were entirely divorced from the building structure by means of felted isolators. The floating interior had no rigid contact with the outer solid structure of the building. The felt cushioned isolators took up the sound impulses which otherwise would be transmitted throughout the structure. (TNT, 7/22/1951, p.C-12)

Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--Buildings; Building construction--Parkland--1950-1960;

ca. 1952. Interior exposure in Pacific Lutheran College music department's new music building, circa 1952. Room with tile floor, oriental carpet, chair by door and grand piano with cover.

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Pianos; Rugs;

Practice rooms in the new chapel-music-speech building at Pacific Lutheran College. The door to one of the rooms is open showing a piano ready for use. A few special tiles with musical notes have been added among the other tiles used in the floor in the hallway. Photograph was taken in March of 1952.

Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Pianos;

ca. 1952. Music room with four different heights of raised platforms for musicians in a semi-circle. Wood flooring. Photograph taken circa 1952 at Pacific Lutheran College.

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Music stands;

A practice room in the new chapel-music-speech building at Pacific Lutheran College as photographed in March of 1952. Some of the larger instruments for an orchestra have been left in the room behind the chairs and music stands: timpani, snare drums, chimes, sousaphones, and a bass violin. A piano stands on the floor below three steps for the other musicians to perform.

Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Drums; Pianos; Music stands; Percussion instruments; Violins;

Pacific Lutheran College was proud of the new combination chapel/music/speech building that would be the religious and cultural center of the campus. At a cost of $625,000, it contained a 1,238 seat auditorium, music facilities, and a radio studio. A small devotional chapel, seating 75 people, was on the third floor.

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--Buildings; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;

The Choir of the West at Pacific Lutheran College in 1953 had over sixty members. They face directly toward the camera with the conductor, Frederick L. Newnham, in the foreground. Choir members are wearing black gowns with monogrammed stoles. The choir provided music for many radio programs and special school services in addition to their many concerts. Their two week annual tour included performing in North Dakota. Photograph ordered by Professor Newnham. (1953 Saga, p. 96)

Choirs (Music); Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Conductors; Newnham, Frederick L.;

500 women attended the Evangelical Lutheran Church convention from the Pacific District in early June, 1953. A large number of them posed for this group portrait in front of the new music/chapel/speech building at Pacific Lutheran College on June 9, 1953. Perhaps some of the meetings may have occurred in the new building as the auditorium was designed to hold over 1,000 people. Mrs. Harold J. Leraas was the local convention chairman for the conference that occurred on June 8-10, 1953. Photograph ordered by Mrs. A.W. Rumstad. (TNT 6-5-53, p. 24)

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Religious meetings; Group portraits;

Pacific Lutheran College "Choir of the West" with Professor Gunnar J. Malmin, Director of Music and Choir of the West Conductor. The choir wears traditional robes with a monogrammed stole. The Choir of the West toured the area and performed on the radio. They sang a classical repertoire. Prof. Malmin took over as director of the choir in 1937. He was noted for his work with religious music. (1954 PLC yearbook, The Saga- see yearbook for names)

Choirs (Music); Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Conductors; Malmin, Gunnar J.; Choir of the West (Parkland);

A group portrait of the elegantly dressed Pacific Lutheran College Chorus on stage was taken on April 1, 1954. The men are dressed in tuxedos while the women are wearing floor length evening gowns. In the center of the photograph at the piano is the conductor, Professor R. Byard Fritts. The 70 member choir was well known for their beautiful voices and performed often with appearances in the Christmas Concert, Capitol rotunda in Olympia, Omnibus of the Arts, Drama-Music Festival, and the Commencement Recital. (The Saga, 1954, p. 85)

Group portraits; Choirs (Music); Evening gowns--Parkland--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Fritts, R. Byard;

ca. 1954. Groups of students chat on the campus of Pacific Lutheran College in 1954 outside the new North Hall dormitory. The presence of long coats and sweaters may mean that it was taken in the fall. North Hall, along with the South Hall dormitory for women, was completed in fall, 1954; it housed 120 men students, two per room. Both new dorms were very large and made of brick with multiple windows to bring inside the beauty of the outdoors. They were designed by architects Lea, Pearson & Richards and built by Bennett-Campbell, general contractors, at a total cost of $1,150,000. The men enjoyed the same amenities as the women: two large lounges, several smaller ones and a complete self-service laundry. A busy social and spiritual life was planned by dormitory officers. (1955 SAGA yearbook, p. 109, TNT 10-13-54, C-2) TPL-9348

Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland); Dormitories--Parkland;

ca. 1954. Students are clustered close to the very modern brick South Hall dormitory for women on the campus of Pacific Lutheran College, in a 1954 photograph. Clothing styles have changed since then but the art of socializing has not. The students are taking advantage of a lovely day to converse with one another. The dormitory opened for the first time that year and was home to 129 students. The facilities included two lovely lounges with televisions and a grand piano, four small kitchen units, complete laundry service and two small lounge-study rooms. View of the south side of South Hall dormitory; dorm had four stories. Extending from the building is the lounge and recreation area; there is a sun deck on top of the lounge and concrete patio at its base. (1955 SAGA yearbook, p. 108, TNT 10-13-54, C-2)

Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland); Dormitories--Parkland;

Pacific Lutheran College students Naomi Rasmussen (left) and Lois Ronell are studying in the tidy room they shared in the school's new women's dormitory in October, 1954. Drapes on the large window are open to let in natural light and provide a beautiful view of a large tree-filled lot. Each girl seems to have a bed, bookcase, and possibly separate desks. Large cuddly stuffed animals rest on top of their beds. Computers and refrigerators are conspicuous by their absence.The new South Hall dormitory was home to 129 women in the fall of 1954. It had many amenities such as two decorated lounges complete with televisions and a grand piano, four small kitchen units, complete laundry service and study rooms. Mrs. Clara Nelson was housemother. (TNT 10-13-54, C-2, 1955 Saga yearbook)

Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Studying; Bedrooms; Stuffed animals (Toys); Bulletin boards; Rasmusson, Naomi; Ronell, Lois;