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. Manhole in unidentified paved area, circa 1979.

Manhole covers;

ca. 1979. Auditorium Building, 1308-10 Fawcett Ave., circa 1979. After a remodel in 1931 that combined the structure with the Ford Building next door, it was known as the Crescent Ballroom.

Auditorium Building (Tacoma); Building deterioration--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1979. Graffiti on an unidentified wall, circa 1979; includes the epitaph "Nixon in 1984," interesting because President Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 when faced with impeachment. The '84 election was between Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale.

Graffiti--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. 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. A pedestrian shields themselves from the drizzle with an umbrella as they cross 12th St. at the intersection of 12th & Pacific Ave., heading toward the Tacoma Art Museum on the corner, at 1123 Pacific Ave. The 1921 structure, designed by Sutton, Whitney & Dugan architects, had formerly housed the National Bank of Washington. The Art Museum left in 2003 for its new modern home and the building has had a succession of owners.

Tacoma Art Museum (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma;

ca. 1979. Mural on side of 734-36 Pacific Ave, ca. 1979. It has a violent subject, with what appear to be mobsters shooting pedestrians.

Murals--Tacoma--1970-1980; Cityscapes--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1979. Manhole in unidentified paved area, circa 1979.

Manhole covers;

ca. 1979. Row of pedestal sinks in an unidentified public restroom, probably at Union Station, circa 1979.

Public comfort stations; Rest rooms;

ca. 1979. Brick wall with consecutive numbers painted on it, white washing or plaster, weed filled vacant lot, Tacoma circa 1979.

Cityscapes--Tacoma--1970-1980; Building deterioration--Tacoma--1970-1980; Weeds;

ca. 1979. Mosaic tile work in front of the lot where the Maple Leaf Hotel was formerly located, 1546-48 Broadway. The Maple Leaf was last listed under that name in 1911; the building was demolished in 1957.

Maple Leaf Hotel (Tacoma); Mosaic pavements--Tacoma--1979-1980;

ca. 1979. On the right is the intersection of Pacific Ave. and So. 19th St., circa 1979. This is now the location of the University of Washington Tacoma campus grand staircase. The building in the center of the photo is the Garretson-Woodruff-Pratt Building. The structure was built in 1890 and was home to the Peoples Store (1890's) and Sears (1920's), as well as other businesses. Today it is also part of the University of Washington's Tacoma campus.

University of Washington (Tacoma); Garretson-Woodruff-Pratt Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1979. Sidewalk leading up along the side of the C. St. Cafe and the rear of the cafe, circa 1979.

C St. Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1979. Broken window, circa 1979.

Windows--Tacoma;

ca. 1979. Unidentified brick warehouse with equipment, circa 1979.

Warehouses--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1979. Unidentified brick warehouse with equipment, circa 1979.

Warehouses--Tacoma--1970-1980;

"Norman" - undated portrait of Norman Randall, with well lit face floating in black cowl. Norman Randall, Virna Haffer's third husband, was an engineer and artist. Haffer never remarried after his death in 1950. (A Turbulent Lens: The Photographic Art of Virna Haffer, p. 61- information on Mr. Randall)

"Kay with Silver Shawl" - undated portrait of person in shawl

ca. 1960. This self portrait of photographer Virna Haffer was made circa 1960. Apparently she had greased her face with vasoline and then patted her face with paper. Her profile emerges from a black background with eyes seemingly shut tightly. (Virna Haffer Collection) (Bullock: A Turbulent Lens, p. 40)

"Bird on Cherry branch" - Photogram of bird lit from back by disc of light (sun) (Virna Haffer Collection)

"Mask" - photogram (Virna Haffer Collection)

"Ancestors" - photogram of skeletal remains (Virna Haffer Collection)

"Fox Glove or Digitalis" - photogram (Virna Haffer Collection)

"Nineteen Twenty Seven" - female nude holding drape across front of her body. This is possibly a self-portrait of Virna Haffer. She wore her dark hair heavily banged and cut short during the late 1920s. (Virna Haffer Collection)

ca. 1929. Digitized for use by Frye Museum/jg. This painting-like piece is listed as "Kwei Dun" according to the book "A Turbulent Lens." A black and white version can be seen at series VH, image KWEI. The circa 1929 portrait was made of Chinese finger painter Kwei Dun who had traveled to Seattle to study art and architecture at the University of Washington. (Bullock: A Turbulent Lens, p. 107)

During World War II, the US military was still segregated. Despite the fact that they fought side by side, servicemen of color were not allowed in the whites only USO clubs. In Tacoma, a group of prominent religious, community and civic leaders addressed this problem by opening USO #2 at 713-15 Commerce St. and dedicating it for the use of African American servicemen and women. This photograph is of an unidentified violinist and accompanist performing at USO #2.

Volunteer Senior Hostesses at the USO #2 posed around a refreshment table, circa 1946, at an unidentified event at the club located at 713-15 Commerce St. Pictured in the standing row were, at far left, Lila Brown; second from left, Ethel Butler; fourth from left, Maude Leonard; fourth from right, Louise Beck; far right, Helen Beck Stafford. Minnie Harris is seated, partially hidden, in the second row. The remainder of the women are unidentified. Mrs. Leonard served on the Operating Committee of the club; she also volunteered over 5,000 hours during its years of operation. (brochure from Recognition Ceremony USO Number Two on 3/30/1947; photograph by F.L. Powell of Tacoma)

In this photograph from around 1946, eight volunteer Senior Hostesses posed around a refreshment table for an unidentified event held at the USO #2 located at 713-15 Commerce Street. Pictured left to right: Lila Brown, Ethel Butler, Helen Beck Stafford, Maude Leonard, unidentified, Louise Beck, unidentified and Minnie Harris. (brochure from Recognition Ceremony USO Number Two on 3/30/1947; photograph by F.L. Powell of Tacoma)

This undated photograph appears to have been taken at the USO club #2, the Tacoma club reserved for servicemen and women of color. Second from left was Tacoma Mayor C. Val Fawcett (acting 1943-45, elected 1946-50) and on the far right is Rabbi Bernard Rosenberg of Temple Beth Israel.