Christmas decorations at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Parishioners attending December services at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 602 So. 34th St., would have been able to view the above Nativity scene where a joyous baby Jesus lay in his manger observed by praying kings, shepherds and his family. The painted figures, either plaster or ceramic, formed a beautiful creche. Color photograph ordered by St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church (Tacoma); Creches (Nativity scenes)--Tacoma; Christmas decorations;

Children's mock wedding. Large group of young children dressed in tuxedos, wedding dresses, and formals posed for a portrait inside Epworth Methodist Church.

Epworth Methodist Church (Tacoma); Children playing adults;

Easter morning, March 28, 1937, was one of the best weather wise in many years. Churches were crowded in the morning with the fellowships spilling outside at the end of the sermons to enjoy the sunshine. The choir at the First Presbyterian Choir was photographed assembled in courtyard of church. (T. Times, 3/29/37 p. 1)

First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; Easter--Tacoma;

Washington Baptist Convention at the First Baptist Church of Tacoma. Large group of people gathered in front of the church. Wilkeson sandstone building by Heath and Gove, Architects; 1925.

First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; Religious meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1932. Pentecostal Tabernacle, at corner of South 12th and G. The Pentecostal Assembly Church was located at 1123 So. G St. (now 1121 So. Altheimer St.) It was built in 1926 from a design by Silas E. Nelson, architect. The long time pastor of the church was the Rev. Frank J. Gray.

Churches--Tacoma; Pentecostal Assembly Tabernacle (Tacoma); Protestant churches--Tacoma;

The Pentecostal Tabernacle, an Assembly of God church designed by Silas E. Nelsen, was dedicated with special services on September 5, 1926. The church was built by contractor Eldor Arntsen at a cost of $20,000 using brick, concrete and hollow tile. The auditorium could seat 750. An annex to the church was dedicated in June of 1953. Rev. Frank Gray was its longtime pastor. The building now houses the Altheimer Memorial Church of God in Christ. (filed with Argentum) (TNT 9/4/1926, pg. 4-alternate photograph)

Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma); Churches--Tacoma--1920-1930; Pentecostal Tabernacle (Tacoma); Protestant churches--Tacoma;

ca. 1934. First Methodist Church, general view of exterior. Heath and Gove, Architects, designed the building and it was dedicated in December of 1916. The original name was the First Methodist Episcopal Church; it was later renamed First United Methodist. The church was located at 5th and "K" (now Martin Luther King Jr. Way.) It had a seating capacity of 1,150. The church was demolished in January of 2007.

First Methodist Church (Tacoma); Protestant churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; Methodist churches--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1934. First Presbyterian Church. The red brick Romanesque structure was designed by Cram and Ferguson, architects from Boston, renowned for their church designs. They were assisted by the local architecture firm of Sutton, Whitney & Dugan. It was built in 1924 for the sum of $500,000. At the center of the picture is the Church's ornate dome with its ancient Christian symbols and figures. TPL-2266

First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Protestant churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; Presbyterian churches--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1926. First Presbyterian Church, general view of interior of the main auditorium. Cram and Ferguson with Sutton, Whitney and Dugan, Architects; 1920-24. The lights, hung from heavy chains, were constructed of antique iron. All of the interior features, including the carved wooden pieces and stained glass windows, were designed by Ralph Adams Cram. In 1926, the church's membership exceeded 2200, making it the largest Protestant church in Tacoma and the 33rd largest Presbyterian church in the country. (WSHS, Argentum)

First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma);

A group of thirteen men and two women pose on the front steps of a building for a group portrait, "Conference Presidents and Office Staff, Northwestern States Mission, Tacoma, Wash., December 19, 1925." The Northwestern States Mission was organized in July of 1897 by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons, for the purpose of locating lost members who had migrated to the Northwest. (WSHS) (www.mission.net/oregon)

Group portraits--Tacoma--1920-1930; Northwestern States Mission (Tacoma); Mormon churches--Tacoma; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Tacoma); Church membership--Tacoma;

South Puget Sound Circuit Convention. Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Tacoma-Washington, April 24-26, 1925. Group of people in front of Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Building by A.S. Knight, Architect, 1905. (filed with Argentum)

Our Savior's Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma--1920-1930; Meetings--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1926. First Presbyterian Church, general view of exterior. Cram and Ferguson with Sutton, Whitney and Dugan, Architects; 1920-24. The design by senior architect Ralph Adams Cram called for a center courtyard with a walkway connecting the main center of worship, right, with the building housing the daily functions and administration of the church. The main chapel is adorned with ecclesiastic symbols and colors. The tower can be seen over this area of the city, making it a true landmark. The church is listed on the City and National Historic Registry. (WSHS, Argentum)

Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma);

ca. 1926. First Presbyterian Church, general view of interior of the main auditorium. Cram and Ferguson with Sutton, Whitney and Dugan, Architects; 1920-24. The church is listed on the Historic Registry of both the city of Tacoma and the nation. It is a fine example of Romanesque architecture. Not only the architecture, but many of the interior elements, including carved wood and stained glass, were designed personally by Ralph Adams Cram. (WSHS, Argentum)

Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma);

First Congregational Church choir, circa November of 1937, with a pipe organ in the background. A cropped version of this picture appeared in the November 19, 1937 Tacoma Times. The choir was celebrating their 12th season with J.W. Bixel as conductor and Mrs. Walter McHaney as organist. During that time, the choir had presented 150 anthems and choruses, most of them by the master composers. In the photograph, Mr. Bixel and Rev. Holland F. Burr are standing in front of the choir. (T. Times 11/19/1937, pg. 3).

Congregational churches--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Choirs (music); Bixel, John W.;

Easter Morning, March 28, 1937, at Tacoma Churches. Left to right, Jane Parker, Joan Finch, Seymour S. Todd, Marjory Long, Jean Williams, Kathryn Burr, Virginia Lee (Wendy) Wagner (later Weyerhaeuser) and Mollie Mae Morris outside of First Congregational Church. (T. Times 3/29/37 p. 1)

Congregational churches--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Easter--Tacoma; Children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parker, Jane; Finch, Joan; Todd, Seymour S.; Long, Marjory; Williams, Jean; Burr, Kathryn; Wagner, Virginia Lee; Morris, Mollie Mae;

Interior shot of the First Baptist Church on Easter Sunday, April 9th, 1939. (filed with Argentum)

Baptist churches--Tacoma; First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Easter--Tacoma;

Federal Old Line Life Insurance Company banquet at First Presbyterian Church on September 12, 1939. Federal Old Line was formed by J.R. Cissna and licensed in the state of Washington in 1937. His vision was a company that paid off claims within 48 hours after death. (filed with Argentum)

First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Protestant churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; Presbyterian churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; Federal Old Line Life Insurance Co. (Tacoma);

Messiah Lutheran Church Junior choir. Thirty youngsters were photographed wearing robes in church. The choir performed under the direction of Margaret Rorem. Building built as First Norwegian Lutheran in 1891, C.S. Torkelson, Architect. Building is now home to Shiloh Baptist Church. (filed with Argentum) (T. Times 3/23/1939, pg. 2)

Messiah Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; Choirs (Music)--1930-1940; Children--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Christmas decorations on the Little Church on the Prairie are illuminated in this scene from 1939. The church was celebrating its second Christmas season. It had been dedicated in September of 1938. The little woodframe building had previously been a grocery store.

Little Church on the Prairie (Lakewood); Churches--Lakewood--1930-1940; Christmas decorations;

Christmas decorations at Lakewood Center. Night scene of Little Church on the Prairie.

Little Church on the Prairie (Lakewood); Churches--Lakewood--1930-1940; Christmas decorations;

First Baptist Church, general view of exterior. Wilkenson sandstone building by Heath and Gove, Architects; 1925. (T. Times, Special Edition) [Also dated February 1940] (filed with Argentum)

First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma--1930-1940;

First Lutheran Church, taken in April of 1936. General view of brick church by Heath, Gove and Bell, Architects. Construction on the church began in 1925 with the church completed in 1929. Photograph is also numbered D2519 image 11. (photo copied for T. Times, Special Edition Jan or Feb of 1940)

Lutheran churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; First Lutheran Church (Tacoma);

Midwinter Concert by Alexander Melovidoff's Junior Symphony Orchestra at First Christian Church. Large group of young musicians and conductor in auditorium. Photograph taken on April 3, 1940. (filed with Argentum)

Melovidoff, Alexander S., 1897-1961; Junior Symphony Orchestra (Tacoma); First Christian Church (Tacoma); Children playing musical instruments; Youth orchestras--Tacoma--1940-1950; Musicians--Tacoma--1940-1950;

First Presbyterian Church, general view of exterior, as photographed in January of 1940. Cram and Ferguson with Sutton, Whitney and Dugan, Architects; 1920-24. (filed with Argentum)

Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma);

This large frame building was built as First Presbyterian Church in 1889, and later served as Central Lutheran Church. Farrell and Darmer, architects, designed the structure with Opperman and Berens as contractors. The elaborately detailed structure was demolished in 1955 to make way for the County-City Building. (T. Times, Special Edition.) (filed with Argentum)

Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Central Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma; Bell towers--Tacoma; Steeples;

Pageant at Central Lutheran Church, for Mr. Stine. From the costumes and the date of the picture, this was most likely a nativity pageant. (WSHS)

Central Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; Pageants--1930-1940; Theatrical productions--1930-1940;

ca. 1934. Central Lutheran Church Play. Cast in Biblical costumes on stage in sanctuary. (WSHS)

Central Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; Pageants--1930-1940; Theatrical productions--1930-1940;

ca. 1935. Charter Members of Church. Outdoors portrait of four older women standing beside a brick building and dressed in heavy coats with fur collars. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Times. (WSHS)

Churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fur garments;

Immanuel Presbyterian Church choir at front entry of church. Building by Russell and Babcock, Architects, 1909. Dr. Harold B. Long, pastor. Mrs. George Duncan, Director. Mrs. Frank Worden, Organist. (T. Times)

Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; Immanuel Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Choirs (Music);

Four women from the Circle B First Presbyterian Planning Committee pose at the home of Mrs. Lincoln (Lulu) Gault on February 12, 1938. They are planning a large collectors and antique exhibit scheduled for the following Friday in the Stone Hall of the Church. It will be one of the largest and finest exhibits of its kind ever held in Tacoma. The women are, left to right, Elizabeth (Mrs. James) Mellinger, Kathryn (Mrs. LeRoy) Baker, Jean (Mrs. L. W.) Wuerch and Elizabeth (Mrs. Melvin) Voorhees Jr. ( T. Times 2/12/1938, pg. 6)

Gault, Lincoln--Homes & haunts; Mellinger, Elizabeth; Baker, Kathryn; Wuerch, Jean; Voorhees, Elizabeth; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Committees--Tacoma--1930-1940;