"Flashlight Drawing" - photogram of a female with elongated nose and neck, full lips. (Virna Haffer Collection)

"The Unknown" - photogram. Probably created during the 1960s when Virna Haffer transitioned to camera-less photographic processes, particularly photograms. (Virna Haffer Collection)

"Wheat" - Triticum (aestivum) - photogram of wheat with disc of light (sun) (Virna Haffer Collection)

ca. 1929. "Male Beauty" - soft focus male nude (back view) printed in sepia tone (Virna Haffer Collection)

"Poetry of the ages in one little bay" - trees reflected in water (Virna Haffer Collection)

Brightly lit head of man with deep dark-set eyes and black background. Area below the sharply etched cheekbones is in darkness. Forehead and nose area highlighted. (Virna Haffer Collection)

ca. 1929. Digitized for use by Frye Museum/jg. This is entitled "Kwei Dun" and was a bromoil print which resembled a painting. This is believed to be a portrait of Chinese finger painter Kwei Dun who arrived in Seattle in 1924 to study art and architecture at the University of Washington. (Virna Haffer Collection) (Bullock: A Turbulent Lens, p. 107)

U.S.O. #2, 713-15 Commerce St., circa 1946. During World War II, although black and white soldiers fought side by side, the United States Army was still segregated. In Tacoma, African American service men and women had their own USO Club at 713-15 Commerce. It was dedicated on September 4, 1942 and closed late in March of 1947. The Kaufman-Wolff building where it was located had previously housed the Soldiers and Sailors Clubhouse during World War I. USO #2 was enlarged in 1944 by adding an annex in the building to the north of the original club. The enlarged structure provided the following facilities: dark room, music room, hobby room, game room, showers, sleeping accommodations, library and snack bar. It was operated by the YMCA and staffed primarily by volunteers. (brochure from Recognition Ceremony USO Number Two on 3/30/1947; photograph by F.L. Powell of Tacoma).

On October 22, 1945, this group of unidentified individuals were photographed seated around a table after what appears to be a dinner at the USO #2, 713-15 Commerce St. (photograph by F.L. Powell of Tacoma)

On Sunday February 3, 1946, a dinner was held at the Tacoma USO #2, 713-15 Commerce St., honoring the 5th anniversary of USO operation. The United Service Organizations, or USO, was incorporated in New York Feb. 4, 1941 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who believed it was important for private citizens to take responsibility for the on-leave recreation needs of service members. One of the guests of honor for the Tacoma celebration was Mayor Harry Cain, standing center, who attended with his wife Marjorie, last woman seated left. Seated to the right of Mayor Cain was Mr. Arthur Hayes, chairman of the club's operating committee. The other individuals at the table were unidentified. (TNT 2/3/1946, pg. A-7, 2/4/1946, pg. 1: photograph by F.L. Powell of Tacoma)

The performance by the 70 piece Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Pacific Northwest, under the direction of Dr. Francis Aranyi, was one of the highlights of the USO Music Festival held July 28, 1946 at Point Defiance. The festival was held in the natural amphitheater at the entrance to the park. The concert drew over 7,000 listeners. It was also broadcast over the Mutual Network by KMO. (TT 7/27/1946, pg 2 and 7/28/46, pg 1; TNT 7/27/46, pg.1 and 7/29/46, pg. 1& 2) Photo by F.L. Powell, YMCA, Tacoma)

An unidentified majorette performs with the Seattle Elks Band at the USO Music Festival at Point Defiance Park on July 28, 1946. The band was one of many performers in the concert attended by over 7,000. (TT 7/27/1946, pg 2 and 7/28/46, pg 1; TNT 7/27/46, pg.1 and 7/29/46, pg. 1& 2; Photo by F.L. Powell, YMCA, Tacoma)

ca. 1947. Orson Welles (standing), noted performer and director of stage, screen and radio, conferred with an unidentified African American pianist in this undated photograph. Two women in hats looked on from the drawing room beyond. The occasion was possibly in March of 1947, when Mr. Welles spoke to 5,000 persons in the Armory as a guest of the Tacoma Jewish Association in observance of Brotherhood Week.

This undated photograph was taken in front of the snack bar at the USO No. 2 in Tacoma. At the head of the table was Arthur Hayes and at the end closest to the camera was Helen B. Stafford, local civic activist. USO No. 2 opened at 713 Commerce Street in September 1942 to serve Tacoma's African American servicemen and closed in March 1947. This location also served servicemen during World War I as the Army-Navy Club.

Undated photograph of the Matrons Club. The woman seated front left is Helen Beck Stafford, one of the founders of the group. Dr. Stafford moved to Tacoma in 1926 to marry Wendell P. Stafford on New Years Eve. Even though she had taught for a few years in Kansas schools, Tacoma school personnel directors refused to hire a black teacher. She stayed at home and cared for her husband and daughter. She and several other women who stayed home to rear their children would get together for a social outlet. In 1927, they formally organized the Matrons Club. The women who attended the meetings often brought their children along and the children would play together. (TNT 2/22/1982- NWR clipping file) (photograph by Liberal Engraving Co., 907 1/2 Commerce)

George F. Cram and Company
1 map; 34 x 51 cm. From page 292-293 of Cram's unrivaled atlas of the world. Relief shown by hachures. Shows counties, cities and railroads. Scale ca. 1:1,300,000 On verso: portion of "City of Portland, Oregon." In lower margin: 292, 293. Index on verso.

Chicago : Rand McNally.
1 map : col. ; 48 x 66 cm. State capitals and County seats identified by symbols. A key to Railroads is located in the lower left. Shows Railroads and Steamship lines. Includes index of cities with a population of 1,000 or more. At top: "Library atlas of the world." Relief shown by hachures and spot highlights. Scale 1 in. = 15 miles [ca. 1:950,400].

ca. 1979. Unidentified duplex in Tacoma, circa 1979.

Duplexes--Tacoma;

ca. 1979. Manhole cover in concrete, engraved with "Bell System" for the telephone system.

Manhole covers;

ca. 1979. Fawcett Ave., circa 1979, looking north. The last three buildings seen clearly on the left are, left to right, the Auditorium Building (1308-10), the Ford Building (1302) and the ornate turrets of the Samson Hotel (1152-56.) In 1979, the Auditorium and Ford buildings had been remodeled into one structure known as Crescent Hall. The more modern structure in the foreground of the left hand side of the picture is the Carpenters Building, 1322 Fawcett, which housed several Labor Union offices.

Auditorium Building (Tacoma); Ford Building (Tacoma); Samson Hotel (Tacoma); Cityscapes--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1979. The skyline in 1979 was adorned with the ornate turrets of the Samson Hotel, 1152-56 Fawcett Ave. It was built in 1889 and designed by F.A. Sexton, architect. The Hotel was converted to apartments in 1928. After several fires, the building was demolished in 1989. The site, in 2007, is a vacant lot.

Samson Hotel (Tacoma); Apartment houses--Tacoma;

ca. 1979. View of lower Pacific Ave., 1300 block, in 1979. On the left is the Tacoma Magazine Center, specializing in adult material, at 1346 Pacific. On the right is the J& M Tavern at 1344 Pacific. Both businesses were located in the Cogswell & Meath Building built in 1908; Darmer & Cutting, Architects. The building was demolished around 1986 in a attempt to clean up lower Pacific Ave.

Building deterioration--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Magazine Center (Tacoma); J & M Tavern (Tacoma);

ca. 1979. View of lower Pacific Ave., 1300 block, in 1979. On the left is the Tacoma Magazine Center, specializing in adult material, at 1346 Pacific. On the right is the J& M Tavern at 1344 Pacific. Both businesses were located in the Cogswell & Meath Building built in 1908; Darmer & Cutting, Architects. The building was demolished around 1986 in a attempt to clean up lower Pacific Ave.

Building deterioration--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Magazine Center (Tacoma); J & M Tavern (Tacoma);

ca. 1979. Union Station, circa 1979. Station opened in 1911 and is on the City, State and National registry.

Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1979. Door padlocked; pop art poster of Mick Jagger on door window, partial street number 1?07. Chairs sit on the tables inside, seen through glass windows.

Doors & doorways--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1979. Union Station, circa 1979. Station opened in 1911 and is on the City, State and National registry.

Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1979. Union Station, circa 1979. Station opened in 1911 and is on the City, State and National registry.

Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1979. Union Station, circa 1979. Station opened in 1911 and is on the City, State and National registry.

Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1979. Union Station, circa 1979. Station opened in 1911 and is on the City, State and National registry.

Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1979. Area around Union Station, circa 1979. Station opened in 1911 and is on the City, State and National registry.

Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1970-1980;