Front of Photo:
Rep. Bill Smitherman, center

Back of Photo:
Bill Smitherman

TACOMA., Washington -- A WINNER -- Bill Smitherman, left, won his race for a seat in the Washington House of Representatives, to become the only Black in that legislative body. His father, Willy Joel Smitherman, right, also ran for a House seat, but lost.
Associated Press Photo

ca. 1886. Several long boats (Indian canoes) rest on the beach at about Fifth and Pacific in Tacoma in this photograph from the mid 1880s. Long boats could transport a whole family with supplies for a season of fishing. This group of boats is probably preparing to head upstream on the Puyallup River where members of the Puyallup tribe worked in the hop fields of the Puyallup Valley. The Puyallups are part of the Puget Sound Salish original peoples. They were hunters, gatherers and fishermen, although they inhabited permanent houses along the riverbanks and along the Sound. Salmon was their main food and figured strongly in their culture. Under the Treaty of Medicine Creek, the tribe ceded much of their territories but retained fishing rights. Rutter Collection TPL-564

Longboats--Tacoma--1890-1900; Indians of North America--Tacoma--1890-1900;

Indians and canoes Rutter G5.1-005

Paulson-Burns wedding photo with attendees gathered around a table holding large punch bowls and kransekake topped with Finnish and American flags.

Saraki-Sagami wedding photo at the altar.

Bride at the Yoshihara-Ikeviri (sp?) wedding with floral arrangements and candles in the background.

Bride and family in formal dress at the Yasuda-Miyamoto wedding with floral arrangements and Buddhist imagery in the background.

Group of men with their fists down on a table at the Yasuda-Miyamoto wedding with a lit cigar resting on a glass of liquor below.

Bride at the Yasuda-Miyamotoa wedding in front of altar decorated with candles, floral arrangements and Buddhist images.

Yasuda-Miyamotoa wedding with the groom and bride in front of the alter engaging with children.

Aki Yotsuuye Funeral photograph with large floral arrangements located inside of a Buddhist temple.

The Yoshihara - Youchura (sp?) Wedding with bride, best maid and two flower girls around ceremonial figures and floral arrangements.

Yasuda-Miyamoto wedding photo of bride and groom cutting the cake with floral arrangements, fruit bowl and 7-Up bottle in the background.

Yoshioka-Mizutani wedding photo with bride and attendee wearing formal dress.

Bride and child at Yoshioka-Mizutani wedding holding floral arrangements. Display of bananas, apples and oranges can be seen in background.

Overhead shot of Yoshihara-Ikejiri wedding with bride and groom walking down the aisle and large floral arrangement in the background.

Yasuda-Miyamoto wedding photo of the couple inside of a vehicle with plaid interior seating.

Native American and European Americans posing at Owens beach in informal as well as traditional dress.

Panorama of the Sons and Daughters of Norway Convention, Trip to Mt. Tacoma (Rainier)

Panorama of the Japanese-American Citizen's League Inaugural Banquet.

Panorama of the Fellowship Club's New Year's Eve Party.

Panorama of a large, formally dressed standing party.

A group of Puyallup Indians with their longboats (canoes) on the Puget Sound around 1886. Behind them can be seen the Northern Pacific Railroad bridge. The Puyallups were primarily fishermen, hunters and gatherers. The local salmon provided their primary food source, but was also a symbol of reverence to the tribe. In the Medicine Creek Treaty of 1854, they ceded many of their territories but retained their fishing rights. Their village at this time was believed to be at the foot of North 15th. KING-014, TPL 2895.

Interview with Pastor Gregory Christopher filmed in 2022 for the documentary project "The Evolution of Collective Wisdom."

Back of Photo:
Norwegian Festival

"Staff member Kevin Coley hugged a drop-in at Nativity House, a Commerce Street haven for the homeless." The Liberty Project revitalizing downtown Tacoma's Lower Pacific will most likely scatter the homeless population. However, according to people and organizations who work with rehabilitating people, it will not end the homelessness issue. It was suggested that the plan involve housing and training for the disadvantaged.

Back of Photo:
Nativity House Worker & "Drop-In"
Larson