Northbound view of Tacoma Avenue South in the fall of 1952, showing newly completed Main Branch of the Tacoma Public Library and older Carnegie Library with impressive dome. The library's third-floor deck overlooks the Charles Geiger Building (formerly housing the Lein & Selig drugstore). It appears to now have the Sunshine Apartments on the top floors. Leeder's Grocery, Tacoma Meats, City Dye Works, the Carpenters Building and on the So. 8th St. block, Central School, are lined up on the same side of the street as the new library. The Geiger Building and businesses adjacent to it would be demolished later in the decade for the construction of the new County-City Building. The Main Library would be extensively remodeled in the late 1980's.
Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Charles Geiger Building (Tacoma); Central School (Tacoma); Carpenters Building (Tacoma); City Dye Works (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);
A view of the children's area on the second floor in the new addition to Tacoma Public Library's Main Branch. A huge stone fireplace is seen against the far wall. Special reading tables with slanted tops and benches have been added for children. The librarian's desk is seen on the left. Ordered by Hendricksen & Kent, plastering contractor. Zonolite acoustical plastic ceilings, crack-free and fireproof, were installed by the Tacoma firm of Hendricksen & Kent; "sound controlled" for patrons' reading pleasure. (TNT 10-31-1952, C-4- Advertisement)
Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma; Fireplaces--Tacoma;
A close-up view exterior of the new addition to the Tacoma Public Library shows the smooth stone surface with the name of the library and the seal of the City of Tacoma along the top.
Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma; Seals;
ca. 1952. Two unidentified library employees are transporting books the old-fashioned way--by hand, as they help in getting the new Tacoma Public Library Main building ready for opening in 1952. Library materials were moved from the old Carnegie building to the new facility next door while the interior was still under construction.
Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees; Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Books;
ca. 1952. Books in the 700's are being placed in the wooden book shelves at the new Tacoma Public Library, 1102 Tacoma Avenue South, in preparation for its November 1952 opening. Two unidentified employees are busy sorting items in the garden and art field from a nearby cart. Books, magazines, newspaper and other items had to be transported from the old Carnegie building to the new Main Library building next door.
Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees; Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Books;
Nine teenage girls are seated at a table with leaves decorating the table runner in front of them in this photograph from September of 1952. They each have their hands folded in front of them and wear white blouses.
Clarence A. and Hulda Throdahl celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary in October 1952. The Throdahls were married in St. James, Minnisota, November 14, 1902. They had resided in Tacoma since 1908. Clarence was on the administrative staff at the College of Puget Sound. He and his wife lived at 6128 Tacoma Avenue South. (TNT, 11/14/1952, p.C-9)
President Harry S.Truman speaks at the Tacoma Armory during the 1952 fall campaign. Daughter Margaret and Rep. Hugh Mitchell, Democratic Candidate for Governor, watch from platform along with other invited dignataries. Press tables in front of platform. TPL-8051
Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972; Visits of state--Tacoma; Presidents; Truman, Margaret; Mitchell, Hugh; Political campaigns; State Armory (Tacoma); Press--Washington; Public speaking--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Dorothy Ann Eichhorn and Spencer Kenyon Hopkins, Jr., were married September 26, 1952, at St. Luke's Memorial Church. Dorothy is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank P. Eichhorn of Puyallup and Spencer is the son of Spencer and Jean Hopkins of Tacoma. Dorothy wore a gown of Chantilly lace and satin with a fitted bodice and full skirt. Her veil was caught to a sweetheart lace cap. She carried a bouquet of white carnations and green orchids with ivy streamers and she wore a strand of pearls that belonged to the bridegroom's mother. (TNT, 10/12/1952, p.D-7)
Wedding costume--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Eichhorn, Dorothy Ann--Marriage; Episcopal churches--Tacoma; St. Luke's Episcopal Church (Tacoma);
Marilyn Bickel and Michael Courtney were married October 4, 1952, at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Sumner. The bride wore a gown of brocaded satin. Nearly 300 guests attended the ceremony and reception held later in the church social hall. (TNT, 10/17/1952, p.C-6)
Weddings--Sumner--1950-1960; Wedding costume--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Bickel, Marilyn--Marriage; St. Andrew's Catholic Church (Sumner); Altars--Sumner; Wedding attendants;
Leona V. Ostrander and S/Sgt. Fred J. Novetti were married September 5, 1952, at Chapel 1, McChord Field. Chaplain Val Strander officiated. Irvin and Susan Sysum of Tacoma served as best man and matron of honor. The bridegroom was formerly of Monterey Park, Callifornia. He was serving with the U.S. Air Force. Mrs. Novetti was employed at McChord Field. (TNT, 10/4/1952, p.C-3)
The interior of the remodeled Canteen at Veteran's Administration Hospital. A gift shop has been added in the quanset-hut style building with film, clocks, and suitcases on the right and magazines and mens' clothing on the left.
American Lake Veterans' Hospital (Lakewood); Military hospitals--Lakewood--1950-1960; Gift shops--Lakewood;
Remodeled Canteen Building at Veteran's Administration Hospital. Interior of Quanset Hut type building showing dining area with vinyl and chrome chairs and laminated plastic and chrome pedestal tables.
American Lake Veterans' Hospital (Lakewood); Military hospitals--Lakewood--1950-1960; Gift shops--Lakewood; Snack bars--Lakewood;
Mulligan Pontiac-Cadillac Company sales floor and office. 1952 Cadillac convertible is on view in the showroom. Pontiac assessories are on display, and banners and signs proclaim Cadillac's 50th anniversary, V-8 engines and 1952 Pontiacs. Glassed-in offices are seen in the far corner.
Mulligan Pontiac-Cadillac's service department where Pontiacs and Cadillacs are being serviced. The mechanics' work stations have signs bearing their names with Earl Jansen at the right. A Sun Motor Tester stands between the first two cars. A Green Cross safety banner and advertising signs have been posted and the cashier's counter is in the rear.
This October, 1952, view of C. S. Barlow and Sons' facilities shows the belt fed batching plant. The company handled building materials, sand and gravel, metal sash, and mixed concrete. Here a cement truck is being loaded with cement. The company was proud to have been in operation in Tacoma for seventy years. (TNT, 11/1/1952, p.C-15)
Building materials industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Building materials; C.S. Barlow & Sons, Inc. (Tacoma); Concrete mixers--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;
An unidentified account clerk with the Brown & Haley Candy Company was photographed in October of 1952 transferring sales data from ledger sheets to punch cards using a Remington Rand key punch machine. As Brown & Haley's business grew, they adopted computer technology to keep track of their clients' orders. Remington Rand, which was a competitor of IBM, offered a punch card that contained 90 columns; these cards were incompatible with IBM machines.
New barracks for the new regimental areas at Fort Lewis are under construction. Reinforcing steel from Bethlehem Steel is being used in the concrete walls. The over-all project included a school, utilities, fire station, two large motor pools and other shops. Ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation. (TNT, 11/9/1952, p.C-15) TPL-10392
Fort Lewis (Wash.); Reinforced concrete construction--Fort Lewis; Building construction--Fort Lewis; Barracks--Fort Lewis; Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle);
Exterior of a home in Bellevue built by W. A. Wollander. The one-story wood frame home has brick added to the front. A carport shed on the left is covered by a trellis with a gabled carport roof above it.
Houses--Bellevue--1950-1960; Wollander Homes (Tacoma);
Exterior of one of the homes in Bellevue built by W. A. Wollander showing the front of the house with a carport, driveway, and a shed on left. Two wagon wheels are attached on posts supporting the porch roof, a typical yard decoration in the 1950s.
Houses--Bellevue--1950-1960; Wollander Homes (Tacoma);
A one story home with brick and vertical siding is shown. The roof has a slight pitch with a brick chimney seen near the center of the home. Large floor-to-ceiling windows have been added near the front door. The back side of the house would have a view of the Tacoma Narrows. Ordered by George D. Barclay Company.
Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; George D. Barclay Co. (Tacoma);
Kelly Furniture Company . New maple furniture display room at their 5428 South Tacoma Way location. Maple furniture of colonial style, dominated the 1950s marketplace. Features living room furniture: couches, chairs, tables, magazine rack, rockers, and various lamps.
Kelly Furniture Co. (Tacoma); Merchandise display--Tacoma--1950-1960; Chairs;
Joseph (Joe) and Margery Lovely residence. Two-story house with one level wing on left and balcony above, french doors leading to raised brick area outside. One-story garage on right, sand box and swing in yard.
Lovely, Joseph R.--Homes & haunts; Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
The drapery and curtain department was located on the main floor at Seldens. Priscilla curtains are featured on sample windows along with several figured panels. A bed has been made with a plaid bedspread and matching figured dust ruffle with plaid ruffle.
Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Showrooms--Tacoma; Draperies; Home furnishings stores--Tacoma; Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma);
Park Towers Beauty Salon announced the opening of their remodeled beauty shop and additional quarters in October 1952. A sign announces new equipment, the first of its kind in Tacoma, "Gyroducing for a lovely figure". Erna Harrison, the receptionist at the salon, is seated in a specialized chair, a Gyroducing chair, with her feet up on a massager. The counter below the mirror on the left is filled with trophies won by members of the staff at the salon. Ordered by the Tribune. (TNT, 10/12/1952, p.B-3)
Park Towers Apartments (Tacoma); Park Towers Beauty Salon (Tacoma); Beauty shops--Tacoma; Harrison, Erna;
The window display at George D. Barclay Company has a model of a house in the center with photographs on each side illustrating the different models available, some of the features, prices and remodeling possibilities for growing families. Photographs of available homes line the left wall of the interior.
Real estate business--Tacoma; George D. Barclay Co. (Tacoma);
The Washington State Tavern Association hosted a luncheon for women of the association and members' wives at the Top of the Ocean during the three day convention held in Tacoma. The large group of women are seen in front of and on the covered ramp up to the unique restaurant built in the shape of a ship. A sign advertises: "Smorgasbord Daily". (TNT, 10/21/1952, p.2)
Restaurants--Tacoma; Nightclubs--Tacoma; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Washington State Tavern Association (Tacoma); Women--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The women's rest room in the 1952 addition to the Tacoma Public Library. The modern plumbing fixtures were supplied by the Crane Co. Installation was performed by Tacoma's F.C. Grosser & Co. who was the mechanical contractor on the job. They also installed the heating, ventilation as well as the plumbing for the new addition to the library. Photograph ordered by the Crane Company. (TNT 10-31-1952, C-5-Ad)
Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rest rooms;
