Clark residence, interior for D.F.P.A. A workman completes sanding the joint between two sheets of plywood on an interior wall. Plywood was used in home construction for its insulative qualities on both ceilings and walls. The Douglas Fir Plywood Association, headquartered in Tacoma, represented the entire fir plywood industry and promoted plywood nationally. (T.Times, 1/9/1946)

Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Two students play ping-pong in the Chapter Room at Kappa Sigma House. The walls have been covered with knotty-pine paneling. This fraternity became the first at the College of Puget Sound to employ a permanent house mother in 1950. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Tom Sias.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Table tennis--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1950-1960; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Kappa Sigma (Tacoma);

Douglas Fir Plywood Association. Two men stand by a display for K-Veneer and its uses. Numerous new plywood products were exhibited such as surfacings for panels and combination products, some manufactured from sawdust and other substances previously considered waste. (T.Times, 6/11/1947, p.1)

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

DFPA. "Another Custom Built Home by Harry R. May", progress photograph (D32206-7). Joseph and Carol Weston began this addition to their residence in March of 1948. The basic structure has been completed, the chimneys added, the roof is nearing completion and the sides are enclosed by plywood. One exterior wall is being finished with a large bank of windows.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Weston, Joseph--Homes & haunts; Dwellings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Progress photographs;

Roadside fireworks stand, DFPA, Hal Dixon. Two men are erecting a temporary stand for selling fireworks in June of 1949. The walls are made of sheets of plywood. A small, permanent structure is behind them with large signs advertising wholesale fireworks, Zebra and Boa brands. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Fireworks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Plywood; Construction--Tacoma--1940-1950;

A man is adding another dial to a piece of plywood holding other measuring devices at a cold storage facility. He is drilling holes using an electric drill. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Tom Sias.

Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

The interior of one of the classrooms at Lowell School showing the visual aid furniture. Elementary school students sit on the floor to watch while a young teacher displays paintings from an easel made of plywood. Artwork is also displayed on the wall behind the easel. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. TPL-8334

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma); Classrooms--Tacoma; School children--Tacoma--1950-1960; Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Teachers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Easels;

This unidentified young woman was busy cleaning and inspecting 16 mm films at Central School in November of 1951. She sat at a film winder within easy reach of film canisters on a rack made of plywood. Each film used in a classroom had to be cleared and checked for damage after each use. The rack has three deep shelves, the top two made with a deep V to hold the round film canisters upright, and rollers for easily moving the canisters from racks against the wall throughout the facility. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Central School (Tacoma); Audiovisual materials; Motion pictures;

Two men are sliding a panel with several strips of siding into the humidity chamber at the plywood lab while a third man is setting the control panel for the correct test conditions. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Testing--Tacoma; Product inspection--Tacoma; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Research facilities--Tacoma; Plywood Research Foundation (Tacoma);

Studio set-up of hand board chips and shreds. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Plywood displays for the Douglas Fir Plywood Association. A cabinet is viewed from above topped with an assortment of power tools, hand tools and plywood trim pieces. These are the materials and tools used in a woolworking display captured in this photographic series (D89928.) This cabinet would be perfect for the home handyman to store his tools and small materials or for the hardware store to shelve small items. The DFPA, located in the Fuller building in Tacoma, was constantly promoting its product and its myriad uses. The plywood industry exploded in the Northwest thanks to this dedicated self promotion.

Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Drills (Equipment); Hammers; Woodworking--Tacoma;

The Douglas Fir Plywood Association's (DFPA) annual meeting in 1955. The Golden Jubilee Convention was held in Portland, Oregon, celebrating 50 years of the plywood industry from its inception in 1905 to 1955. Over 12,000 plywood manufacturers and distributers attended the meeting. One of the highlights was the unveiling of the Plywood Memorial at the Forestry building in Portland. The Memorial was designed around the original sheet of plywood manufactured in 1905 for display at the Lewis and Clark International Exposition in Portland.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Portland); Exhibition buildings--Portland; Exhibitions--Portland; Plywood;

Interiors of new DFPA office in Fuller building. Originally the home of W.P. Fuller & Co., the building was leased by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association in 1953 and remodeled for their headquarters. Plywood, the building material made of sheets of veneer glued together in multi plys, was the favored building material of the construction industry. This was mostly due to the self promotion of the Association, which was supported by member mills. The Association also sponsored research at its lab at 1214 A St. and standardized plywood and graded it for quality. TPL-8397

Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; Office workers--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Workers are laying plywood in apparent preparation for testing by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association's laboratory in March, 1954. Nearly all sections of plywood have been fastened with only a few sheets left to attach. Plywood was constantly being tested to assure consumers and the industry that all standards were being met.

Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Testing--Tacoma; Product inspection--Tacoma;

Ordered by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association; plywood being used in the construction of a commercial "chicken house." Plywood is being attached to the exterior of the beams to form the curved roof of the chicken house. The entrance area and a ventilation window can be seen. This is the back of the house. This is possibly the Fife farm of the Guy Conine family. The family raised poultry in three chicken houses, one conventional and two of the quonset hut design. They raised Van Tress hybrid crosses, Washington Whites and Lancaster Whites. The laminated beam construction of the two quonset hut variety eliminated the need for posts for support. All feeding and watering was automatic. (TNT 10/28/1956, pg. B-6)

Plywood; Construction; Poultry houses; Poultry industry;

The busy mail room of the Douglas Fir Plywood Association. A large mailer is being prepared. Some women fold the materials to be mailed and others stuff the envelopes. One of the jobs of the association was the promotion of the plywood product and the industry itself. One of the association's main sources of self promotion was the U.S. mail and the company maintained a large mail room to meet its demands.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; Office workers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Correspondence;

Pencil behind his ear, a worker ponders the placement of a sheet of plywood on forms already in place. One large sheet is already been nailed on. The man needs to stand on a wooden plank to reach the forms as the building's foundation is already set and the ground excavated. Each plywood sheet is labeled "Plyscord" and stamped in numerous places informing buyers that this genuine fir plywood has undergone stringent testing for quality. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Plywood; Building construction; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

A young model enjoys an appetizing snack as she lounges on an extended sofa in a September 13, 1954, photograph. The plates of food are placed on a four legged TV table whose ends are tilted upward. The TV table, made out of wood, was built at the right height for someone sitting in front of it or for use as a miniature coffee table. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Plywood; Tables; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Architects in the firm of Jensen & Mills examine a small display of Douglas Fir Plywood Association promotional material in their Jones Building office on November 19, 1954. The plywood association always stressed the stringent quality controls utilized in approving plywood for numerous uses. The DFPA label on plywood meant that customers could count on the association standing behind its product. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Advertising--Tacoma--1950-1960; Jensen & Mills (Tacoma);

Two workmen monitor testing on a piece of plywood at the Douglas Fir Plywood Association's test lab at 1214 A St in Tacoma. The DFPA had two labs, one in Tacoma and one in Eugene, to test and improve the plywood product. The machinery doing the testing is 8 feet wide and 15 feet high and is being operated by two men. It appears to be measuring the pressure on the plywood.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Plywood; Testing--Tacoma--1950-1960; Product inspection--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Two members of Douglas Fir Plywood Association appear to be discussing the merits of a golf club in early June, 1958. The Association was holding its 22nd annual meeting, that year in Gearhart, Oregon, with a golf tournament as part of the activities. New officers of the association would be elected during the three-day conference. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Golf--Oregon--Gearhart; Golfers--Oregon--Gearhart;

A miniature model of a plywood making work room on display at the Douglas Fir Plywood Association Circus. Dolls are exhibited processing the lumber into plywood.

Exterior shot of the Douglas Fir Plywood Association Circus. A banner outside displays the words "Plywood Jubilee" and "Free Show." A mural along the from of the structure depicts a magician turning a tree into plywood.

In March of 1952 an unidentified man was photographed tearing off an entry blank for the $20,000 "Room-for-Improvement" contest sponsored by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association. Contestants could win up to $4,000 by filling out an official entry form. Each contestant had to explain what remodeling project he wanted to complete and why plywood would be the best material to use. To win, the entry had to include both a written description of the project and before and after draws. The highest prize of $3,000, with a possible bonus of $1,000, was for the best plan to "Add-a-Room." Every contestant received an official entry form and a folder of home improvement ideas - all using plywood.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Contests--Tacoma;

Interior view of Coast Sash & Door Company showing men building church windows. Coast Sash & Door had been in business on the Tideflats since 1924. Photograph ordered by the Plywood Association. (filed with Argentum)

Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Coast Sash & Door Co. (Tacoma); Windows;

Installation of sheathing at home of Joe Weston, Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Edith Link. A view in March of 1948 of the exterior of Joseph and Carol Weston's residence where a new addition is being added to the existing structure. Joe was a supervisor at DFPA. Douglas Fir Plywood Association was eager to show the potential uses of plywood.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Weston, Joseph--Homes & haunts; Dwellings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Douglas Fir Plywood Association. Four men have gathered to look at a display board of process samples at the one-day conference of the Douglas Fir Plywood Association held June 10, 1946, at the Elks Temple auditorium. Some 150 leaders of the plywood industry were assembled at this conference. (T.Times, 6/11/1947, p.1)

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Detail of plywood testing at St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber warehouse. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Dave Countryman.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Plywood; Product inspection--Tacoma; Testing--Tacoma--1950-1960; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A young woman is seen using the film cabinets made from plywood at Central School. Shallow drawers hold small cans of film while larger motion picture cans are files on shelves behind her. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Central School (Tacoma); Audiovisual materials; Motion pictures;

Men are checking the conditions in the humidity chamber at the Douglas Fir plywood lab. A plywood board is filled with dials and levers for controling the conditions while performing tests on new products. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Testing--Tacoma; Product inspection--Tacoma; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Research facilities--Tacoma; Plywood Research Foundation (Tacoma);