Panorama of 85th Annual Communication Most Worshipful Grand Lodge F.&A.M of Tacoma WA. Masonic group standing outside of lodge in uniform with group members occupying stairwell and balcony.

Tacoma Scottish Rite Class Spring Reunion featuring consistories Clarence D. Martin, R.E. Gallot, E.L. Tarnsworth and Albert Rasmussen.

Group of masonic members posing against a rock backdrop.

The bright lights of Lincoln Bowl look down on the thousands of Shriners present for their annual Pacific Northwest Shrine Association convention in 1957. "Shrine-O-Rama" was open to the general public who watched the marching units and listened to the various Shrine bands. ALBUM 15.

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lincoln Bowl (Tacoma);

New members of the Bremerton Elks go over some notes in preparation for their first Elk event. Pictured left to right are Ed Schaeffer, George Prossee, R.N. O'Connor, Exalted Ruler Hector Curnow, James Brenner, Sam Fein and Harry Ketell. Five of the six men hold a sheet of paper that they are studying. Exalted Ruler Curnow takes notes with a pencil and paper. Photograph ordered by the Bremerton Sun. (Bremerton Sun 11/21/1935, pg. 1)

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Bremerton lodge (Bremerton); Fraternal organizations--Bremerton; Membership campaigns--Bremerton;

Knights Templar parade. The Commandery unit of the Seattle Knights, dressed in regalia, marched north on Broadway near 9th Street on May 11, 1936. Knights Templar from all over the state gathered here for the 49th Annual Conclave of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Washington, held May 11-12 at the Masonic Temple. Buildings in background. (T. Times 5/12/1936, pg. 1)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Knights Templar (Tacoma);

On June 5, 1937, as a function of the Shrine spring reunion in Tacoma, the Afifi Temple held a Ball and banquet at the Winthrop Hotel. Shriners and their wives were the guests. Here the photographer was setting up camera to take photographs of people in the receiving line.

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Afifi Shriners of Tacoma in Seattle for marine parade. Night scenes of U.S. Navy Destroyer 209 in the Montlake cut of the Lake Washington Ship Canal in Seattle. Montlake Bridge in open position, shore lined with spectators. (T. Times 7/17/1936, pg. 3)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Naval parades & ceremonies--Seattle; Parades & processions--Seattle--1930-1940; Floats (Parades)--Seattle; Battleships--1930-1940;

ca. 1925. A group of law officers, dressed in uniforms with badges and topped off with straw skimmers, pose in front of the B.P.O.E. (Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks) lodge. The man to the left is possibly Pierce County Sheriff John Bjorklund. The picture is probably related to the celebration of Straw Hat Day circa 1925. (WSHS- negative A844-0)

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Straw Hat Day (Tacoma); Hats--1920-1930; Law enforcement officers--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Eleventh Annual Conclave of the Order of DeMolay, held in August of 1935 in Tacoma. One of the highlights was the downtown parade held on the 31st. The route was down St. Helens Ave. to Pacific, to 13th and up Broadway. A parade of young men were photographed marching along Broadway, 1100 block, toward the Elk's Temple, Tacoma. Buildings and signage visible.

Order of DeMolay--Meetings--Tacoma; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Posed on the rooftop of the Winthrop Hotel with the towering Medical Arts Building prominently in the background are officers of the Department of Washington and Alaska, of the Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War, 1861-65. They were holding their 57th annual convention at the Winthrop from June 7-10, 1970. Believed to be in attendance was Mrs. Fayette Bell of Los Angeles, the organization's national president. Also believed to be pictured above was Mrs. John McDougall of Seattle, department president who presided over the convention's meetings. Among activities held during the convention was a memory banquet where a scholarship would be awarded to a college student who was a descendant of a Civil War veteran. Photograph ordered by the Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War,1861-65. (TNT 5-24-70, E-6 article)

Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War, 1861-65; Meetings--Tacoma--1970-1980; Medical Arts Building (Tacoma);

Memorial services - Elks Temple. Memorial services to honor "absent Brothers" were held at the Tacoma Elks Lodge #174 on Wednesday evening the 2nd of December, 1970. Large arrangements of flowers and small potted trees graced the stage steps. White gates were placed before a backdrop of trees and a large white building shown in the distance. Photograph ordered by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174.

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Elks Temple (Tacoma); Memorial rights & ceremonies--Tacoma--1970-1980; Flowers--Tacoma;

The Tacoma Elks installed new officers in early April of 1954. Burritt B. Anderson, left, is the retiring exalted ruler. He has passed the gavel and symbol of office on to Arthur J. Emery. Both men are wearing tuxedoes and boutonnieres. Mr. Anderson was honored with a no-host party held recently at the Fircrest Golf Clubhouse with 250 people in attendance. (TNT 4-4-54, A-11, TNT 4-8-54, A-5)

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Emery, Arthur J.; Anderson, Burritt B.; Tuxedoes;

Members of Delta Delta Delta sorority of the College of Puget Sound had almost finished creating the Pansy Ring, a large circle of flowers, on May 2, 1954. Each year the sorority honored all senior women on campus with the Pansy Ring tea. The tea was held at the Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club on Borough Road. The senior women would be photographed individually with the ring as a backdrop. (Tamanawas, 1954, p. 138)

Delta Delta Delta (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Flowers--Tacoma;

Each year the Delta Delta Delta sorority from the College of Puget Sound sponsored a Pansy Ring Tea to honor all senior women on campus. Also especially honored were the senior women who had become engaged or married during the past year; they were eligible to step through the Pansy Ring. Young women would dress in lovely spring outfits and pose in front of the colorful ring of flowers. Skirt lengths were apparently knee length in 1954 and hats and gloves often worn even among college students. (TNT 5-2-54, D-4)

Delta Delta Delta (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Flowers--Tacoma; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960;

This young college student's floral decorated dress blends perfectly with the large ring of flowers behind her. The Delta Delta Delta sorority from the College of Puget Sound annually held a Pansy Ring Tea in the spring to honor all senior women on campus, whether Greek-affiliated or not. In 1954, the tea was held at the Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club where a large ring of flowers was erected and people were able to have their photographs taken in front of it. The young woman in this picture may have been Dorcas Marshall of the Tri-Delts. (TNT 5-2-54, D-4)

Delta Delta Delta (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Flowers--Tacoma; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club on Borough Road was the scene of the 1954 Pansy Ring Tea sponsored by the Delta Delta Delta sorority. The Tri-Delts from the College of Puget Sound annually held a spring tea which was open to all senior women on campus. All the young ladies present wore their spring finery, which often included hats, handbags, gloves and pumps, as modeled by an unidentified college student in front of the large ring of flowers. Dr. R. Franklin Thompson, president of the college, was there to present scholarships offered by the sorority. (TNT 5-2-54, D-4)

Delta Delta Delta (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Flowers--Tacoma; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A young women holds a small bouquet of pansies as she poses in front of the Delta Delta Delta Pansy Ring on May 2, 1954. The sorority from the College of Puget Sound each year held a special tea, called the Pansy Ring Tea, for all senior women on campus. In 1954, the tea was held at the Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club. The women attending were all dressed conservatively, most with hats, gloves and purses to complement their spring dresses. Both Dr. R. Franklin Thompson and Mrs. Thompson attended the tea; Dr. Thompson, president of the college, presented scholarships awarded by the sorority. (TNT 5-2-54, D-4)

Delta Delta Delta (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Flowers--Tacoma; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Maruta Versemnicks, from Latvia, admires the doll and wardrobe which was sold to benefit the Tacoma-Pierce County School for Crippled Children. This was one of the benefit projects the Chi chapter, Beta Sigma Phi, had scheduled for the year. Sylvia (Mrs. Lloyd J.) Sass was chairman of the committee handling the project. Maruta is wearing a leg brace. From 1949-50, the School for Crippled Children was housed in the basement of the First Congregational Church at 211 So. J St. In 1953, the school moved to its new home at 5030 E. Roosevelt Ave. in Salishan. It would remain there for approximately ten years. (TNT, 11/2/1952, p.D-10)

Beta Sigma Phi (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Girls--Tacoma--1950-1960; Children playing with dolls--Tacoma--1950-1960; Dolls; Orthopedic braces; Versemnicks, Maruta; Crippled Childrens School (Tacoma);

Moose Lodge, 3 musicians. Ordered by Bill Miller

Loyal Order of Moose, Tacoma Lodge 435 (Tacoma); Musicians--Tacoma--1950-1960; Stringed instruments; Pianos;

Members of Tacoma Lodge 435, Loyal Order of Moose ride on a float entered in Tacoma's parade to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Washington Territory. The Tacoma Moose lodge was chartered in 1911 with the initiation of 800 members. In 1917, the group moved to new quarters at 737 Commerce Street to accommodate their growing membership. With a focus on youth, the organization, in 1953, supports Mooseheart, Illinois, the world-famous child city of the Loyal Order of Moose whose principal citizens are children ranging from babies through high school age.

Fraternal organizations; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Anniversaries--Washington Territory; Loyal Order of Moose, Tacoma Lodge 435 (Tacoma); Centennial celebrations--Tacoma;

The Tacoma Elks Club held their annual Extravaganza in the spring of 1953. Elks members owned many businesses in Tacoma; view of billboard with signs listing individual member-owned businesses, many signs have caricatures. The largest sign is that of Jack Roberts, co-owner of Narrows Marina.

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Signs (Notices); Caricatures;

Sigma Chi sweethearts group. The "Sweetheart of Sigma Chi" would be announced at the Delta Phi Chapter's annual formal Sweetheart Ball at the Lake Wilderness Lodge. Sigma Chi was a men's social fraternity at the College of Puget Sound. The sweetheart candidates were, left to right, Roberta Elson, from Kirkland, of Chi Omega, Alayne Fletcher, from Olympia, of Alpha Phi, Joyce Tyler, of Marysville, of Delta Delta Delta, Diane Colwell, of Seattle, of Pi Beta Phi and Marilyn Lyons, of Auburn, Independents. Roberta Elson, the blonde blue-eyed freshman coed, was crowned the Sweetheart of 1955. (TNT 02-20-1955, pg. D-6, 2-26-1955, pg. 1)

Sigma Chi (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1950-1960; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Elson, Roberta; Fletcher, Alayne; Tyler, Joyce; Colwell, Diane; Lyons, Marilyn;

Sigma Alpha Epsilon banquet. On March 11, 1955, over 100 members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon from Tacoma and Southwest Washington gathered for a dinner at the University Union Club to celebrate the 99th anniversary of the fraternity's founding. Albert Balch, member of the Master Builders and community designer, was the guest speaker. His topic was "Building for Tomorrow." During his speech, Balch predicted a population boom for the Northwest. (TNT 3/2/1955, pg. A-11)

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (Tacoma); University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A young woman stands in front of the pansy ring in a strapless Spring formal, during ceremonies sponsored by the Delta Delta Delta sorority of the College of Puget Sound. The Pansy Ring Tea honored all senior women at the College, but only engaged or recently married senior women stepped through the seven foot ring of pansies. Part of the festivities was a fashion show. (TNT 5/8/1955, pg. D-6)

Delta Delta Delta (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Flowers--Tacoma; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1950-1960;

A young woman stands in front of the pansy ring in a Spring suit, during ceremonies sponsored by the Delta Delta Delta sorority of the College of Puget Sound. The suit is of a gingham check with a full skirt, peplum jacket, wrist length white gloves, wide brimmed hat, opened toed shoes and square dark handbag. The Pansy Ring Tea was an annual affair honoring senior women of the College. Engaged and recently married seniors will step through the seven foot ring of pansies as part of the ceremony. (TNT 5/8/1955, pg. D-6)

Delta Delta Delta (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Flowers--Tacoma; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1950-1960;

A dark haired young woman stands in front of the pansy ring in a Spring suit, during ceremonies sponsored by the Delta Delta Delta sorority of the College of Puget Sound. She wears a dark linen look suit with a straight skirt and long top belted at the waist. A sprig of lilly of the valley is pinned at the hip height pocket and a picture hat and matching dark shoes and handbag complete the look. The third annual Pansy Ring Tea was held on the College campus. The tea honored all senior women, with engaged and recently married seniors stepping through the flower ring. (TNT 5/8/1955, pg. D-6)

Delta Delta Delta (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Flowers--Tacoma; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1950-1960;

Ellen Abbott was crowned honored queen at a Job's Daughters ceremony on December 13, 1958. She, along with the other women in the group, were dressed in ceremonial regalia. Ellen Abbott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Abbott, is seated in the center of the five women. The letters of her name and title were hanging on the curtains behind the group. "Charity," the theme of the public installation ceremony of Bethel 8, International Order of Job's Daughters, took place in the Gothic Room on the third floor of the Masonic Temple. A dance and informal reception followed. A list of officers installed was mentioned in a News Tribune article dated December 12, 1958. Photograph ordered by Ellen Abbott. (TNT 12-12-58, p. 14)

International Order of Job's Daughters (Washington); Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Abbott, Ellen;

ca. 1959. Apparently in 1959, Las Vegas was still viewed as a "cowboy" town by the women of Tacoma. This photograph, which ran in the News Tribune in October of that year shows (l to r) Mrs. Warren Peterson, Lucille (Mrs. Maurice) Finnigan, Mrs. Robert Holder, Dorothy (Mrs. Norbert) Knecht, Jean (Mrs. William) Jepsen and Patricia (Mrs. Jay) Dahl. They were all dressed in Western attire to help promote the two "Las Vegas Comes to Elks" parties that were being held at the Elks Club on October 23 and 24. (TNT 10/18/1959, pg. D-4)

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Finnigan, Lucille; Knecht, Dorothy; Jepsen, Jean; Dahl, Patricia;

Jobs Daughters installation. Participants in the 35th installation of Bethel 8, Job's Daughters on December 8, 1956, clasp their hands in prayer. Those kneeling in white garments have positioned themselves in the shape of a cross. Three of the young girls are wearing tiaras; Queen Carol Berglund at the foot of the "cross" is carrying long stem flowers. "Winter Fantasie" was the theme of the public installation ceremonies held in the Gothic Room, Masonic Temple. Sepia photograph ordered by Mrs. Carl Berglund. (TNT 12-5-56, C-11)

International Order of Job's Daughters (Washington); Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Berglund, Carol;