Victor Kaufman of The Condon Co. examines advertising for the plywood industry while at his desk in the Rust Building. Another man gestures with his pencil on a booklet indicating "National Fir Plywood Promotion Puts the Runners on Base...ready to score sales for you!" There is also a folder on Mr. Kaufman's desk labeled "14 TV Spots for use by Retail Lumber Dealers." Photograph taken on April 2, 1954; copy ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Advertising--Tacoma--1950-1960; Advertising agencies--Tacoma; Kaufman, Victor; Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

The architectural firm of Johnson-Austin Associates was located in Lakewood at 8810 Bridgeport Way S.W. K. Walter Johnson and John V. Austin were the principals. Close-up view of establishment with parked cars reflected in the wall-to-wall glass front. Name of the firm and owners were in raised letters above doorway in this March, 1954, photograph. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Architects' offices--Lakewood; Johnson-Austin Associates (Lakewood); Doors & doorways--Lakewood; Signs (Notices); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (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;

At 8:30 a.m., three employees of Briggs Manufacturing Co. are focused on erecting the walls of a prefabricated home. A series of progress photographs was taken in one day, March 29, 1954, showing Briggs' techniques in quickly constructing a prefabricated house. Tool boxes lie near pipes while plywood forms rest on the ground near the house floor.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Plywood; Progress photographs;

Briggs Manufacturing Co. specialized in prefabricated homes. According to the 1954 City Directory, Ralph C. Bekken was listed as superintendent; the business was located at 3755 South 60th St. A series of progress photographs was taken in late March, 1954, showing how prefabricated homes could be constructed rapidly and by a smallish crew. Hand-drawn clocks were placed in the left corners of these photographs to show the time when each photograph was taken. View of crew with pre-fab home; some walls are up with window and door openings in place. Workers may be getting ready for roof trusses in this 11:00 am photograph. Location of this home was not given; the lot was apparently a heavily wooded one.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Progress photographs;

Construction is rapidly progressing on a Briggs Manufacturing Co. prefabricated home. Trusses are in place on the roof and most of the walls appear to be up. Window and door openings are present but without glass. It now appears that the home will be a rambler style, one-story house without basement. A series of photographs was taken in one day, March 29, 1954, to demonstrate the speed that a prefabricated house could be constructed using experienced workers. Each picture had a drawn clock in the corner showing the exact time a photo was taken. Work probably began before 8:00 a.m.; it is now 1:00 p.m.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Progress photographs;

Evening is drawing near at 4:30 p.m. as shadows extend over the partially completed roof of a Briggs Manufacturing Co. prefabricated home. Workers are placing plywood over the roof in preparation for nailing shingles. A series of photographs was taken over the course of one day, March 29, 1954, showing the progression of a prefabricated house being constructed. A drawn clock in the corner of each picture enabled the viewer to track the speed in which the house was built.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Progress photographs;

A large glass window is carefully being put into its opening by two employees of Briggs Manufacturing Co. at 3:30 p.m. on March 29, 1954. Briggs Manufacturing specialized in prefabricated buildings; a series of photographs were commissioned to be taken during the course of one day, March 29, to show the speed in which a prefabricated home could be built. The time the picture was taken was then noted by way of a drawn clock in the left corner of each photo.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Windows; Progress photographs;

A photograph taken at night on April 21, 1954, of the new Milwaukee Road passenger depot indicates the building was rectangular, with a two-layer flat roof, and surrounded by tinted plate glass windows. Waiting passengers could easily see the trains yet they were comfortably protected from the often inhospitable elements. The railroad's name, The Milwaukee Road, is illuminated on the exterior tower. The more convenient $150,000 passenger train depot on E. 11th and Milwaukee Way replaced an older model; it was made of Roman brick. (TNT 4-18-54, p. 1)

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Several children are pictured engrossed in reading in a March, 1954, photograph. This is possibly a school library, location not identified. There are books, magazines and records for the children to enjoy. One young boy in glasses is reading "Minn of the Mississippi", by Holling Clancy Holling, published in 1951.

Children reading & writing; Books;

Children are enjoying a bit of silent reading in an elementary school classroom in March, 1954. Each child sits at an small wooden desk in rows of five. Other than the books being read, the desks are empty.

Children reading & writing; School children; Desks;

The ship's crew and officials were all on deck for the commissioning ceremony for the USS Endurance, # 435, on March 20, 1954. Broadcast over radio station KTNT, Rear Admiral A. M. Bledsoe was the principal speaker. Built by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., the Endurance was the first AM-type minesweeper to pass her acceptance trials on her first try. This was the first formal commissioning of a Navy vessel in Tacoma at the Tacoma Naval Station since World War II. Command of the vessel was turned over to Lt. L. E. Martin. The Endurance joined the Pacific Fleet in California following its shakedown cruise. The 171-foot Endurance was the first of nine minesweepers of this class built by Martinac in Tacoma. (TNT 3-14-54, B-4, TNT 3-19-54, p. 1)

Government vessels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Swiss singers; the Edelweiss Swiss Singing Society in native costumes, a group of approximately 30, pose in front of a mural of mountains in the Swiss Hall. The Swiss Hall was built in 1913 to replace the Swiss Society's original hall opened in 1903 in the F. Wild block at 1906-16 Jefferson Ave. When the Society was formed in 1889, it filled a social void for Tacoma's approximately 200 Swiss. In 1992, the Society left its historic hall to make room for the University of Washington, Tacoma branch.

Music ensembles; Folk singers; Murals; Ethnic groups; Edelweiss Swiss Singing Society (Tacoma); Swiss Hall (Tacoma);

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;

Graham Highway, for Farmers' Exchange. A two lane road with telephone poles shoots through the rural countryside of Graham. Semi isolated homes lie on either side of the road fronted by wire fences.

Roads--Graham--1950-1960;

Before Minnesota had Gov. Jesse Ventura, Tacoma had Frank Stojack, the "King of Wrestling". A graduate of Lincoln H.S. and Washington State College, he played professional football for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the N.F.L. After leaving football, he moved back to Tacoma and took up professional wrestling. He continued to wrestle even after his election to the Tacoma City Council in 1953. He went on to win the light heavyweight championship, and was voted "King of Wrestling" by 112,000 fans. At the end of his term on the Tacoma City Council, he ran for, and was elected, Pierce County Sheriff. He served in the council and as sheriff from 1953 to 1962, and remained popular after leaving office. When he died in 1987 over $300,00 from his estate when to the Boys Club. The man in the suit shaking hands with Frank is his brother Pete Stojack.

Stojack, Frank; Awards; Wrestlers--Tacoma; Stojack, Pete

Twentieth Century Press were printers located at 1012 A Street. According to the 1954 City Directory, they were owned by William J. McDonagh. An employee of Twentieth Century Press is hosing and scrubbing a piece of equipment in a plywood tank; buckets and liquid-filled jugs are below. Two pieces of white metallic equipment are floating in another plywood tank. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Twentieth Century Press (Tacoma); Printing industry--Tacoma; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

An informal portrait of Marion McMahon was taken on March 30, 1954, at the residence of the L. B. Macdonalds. She has on a light colored, long sleeved blouse decorated with French poodles and the Eiffel Tower and a dark skirt. The drop earrings are not hidden by her short wavy hair. She is also adorned with rings and many bracelets. Miss McMahon is engaged to Dean L. Macdonald. A mid-June wedding is planned in the bride elect's home town of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Miss McMahon attended Mills College in Oakland, California. Photograph ordered by TNT. (TNT 4-4-54, D-3)

Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; McMahon, Marion;

A row of Bank of California employees is hard at work on March 10, 1954. Each employee is sitting at a wide metallic desk equipped with seven drawers. This may be the bookkeeping section of the bank; several desks have adding machines on them. Large windows give plenty of natural light; each desk also has a narrow lamp. The man on the far left of the picture may be Frank Busch, as the nameplate on the lamp indicates. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Office Supply.

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Calculators; Office equipment & supplies; Lamps; Tacoma Office Supply Co. (Tacoma);

A group portrait of the elegantly dressed Pacific Lutheran College Chorus on stage was taken on April 1, 1954. The men are dressed in tuxedos while the women are wearing floor length evening gowns. In the center of the photograph at the piano is the conductor, Professor R. Byard Fritts. The 70 member choir was well known for their beautiful voices and performed often with appearances in the Christmas Concert, Capitol rotunda in Olympia, Omnibus of the Arts, Drama-Music Festival, and the Commencement Recital. (The Saga, 1954, p. 85)

Group portraits; Choirs (Music); Evening gowns--Parkland--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Fritts, R. Byard;

National Auto Parts had several locations in Pierce County in the 1950's; their Pacific Avenue location apparently was the headquarters. They claimed to have parts for all makes of cars and offered the largest stock of genuine parts in Tacoma. According to the 1954 City Directory, William C. Johnston was the president & manager. View of National Auto Parts store at 4001 Pacific Avenue; photograph was taken at night on April 7, 1954. The name of the store is on large raised letters on the stucco exterior. Large plate glass windows are covered with advertisements promoting Moraine bearings and trade discounts on General Motor parts. The store was open seven days a week, including evening hours until 9, except for Sundays.

National Auto Parts, Inc. (Tacoma); Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Storefronts--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

Globe Ticket Company of Washington, exteriors of new building. Harry L. Jackson, vice president and general manager. Globe printed admission tickets for theaters and other varieties of entertainments. The business served customers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Globe Ticket of Washington was one of seven plants for parent company Globe Ticket Co.

Printers; Printing--Tacoma; Globe Ticket Co. of Washington (Tacoma);

ca. 1954. Directly below an enormous circular skylight is a matching circular stage. Both were located in the Tacoma Public Library's Main Branch circa 1954. This auditorium was located in the library's older Carnegie Building portion and was used for public and staff meetings. The skylight has since been beautifully restored and a focus point in what is now the library's Northwest Room which houses special collections including Northwest history, Genealogy, and a Rare Book Room.

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Skylights--Tacoma; Stages (Platforms); Auditoriums--Tacoma; Chairs;

ca. 1954. This copy of a customer's print was probably made in 1954. The photograph shows a line of bartenders behind the bar with the club's owner or manager in front. The words "Good Luck and Prosperity to the Bohemian Club" are printed onto the photograph. According to the notice placed on the mirror behind the bar, paychecks could be cashed on the spot. The location of the Bohemian Club was not given, nor is the date the photograph was taken.

Bars; Bartenders; Signs (Notices);

A packed house at the Temple Theatre awaited Monk Watson's magic show on April 14, 1954. The evening's entertainment was sponsored by Miracle Power, an engine performance lubricant. Here Monk Watson gleefully holds a hand of playing cards while four others, possibly associated with National Auto Parts, display posters advertising Miracle Power's potency. A box full of Miracle Power cans is to the foreground along with the magician's props. Photograph ordered by National Auto Parts.

Automobile equipment & supplies; Posters; Watson, Monk; National Auto Parts, Inc. (Tacoma);

Four barbers employed by the Lyons Barber Shop stand next to their chairs in a 1954 photograph. The barbershop looks well equipped with a long line of chairs, sinks, mirrors, and appropriate tools. Tall ash cans were provided as a convenience for smoking customers. Lyons Barber Shop was located on Fort Lewis. Because of the fort's size and number of personnel, there may have been more than one Lyons barbering facility on base.

Barbershops--Fort Lewis; Barbers--Fort Lewis; Lyons Barber Shop (Fort Lewis);

Janie models her Heidelberg Breweries bowling shirt as her team members stand by their bowling balls in a photograph taken on April 30, 1954. Heidelberg sponsored both ladies and men's teams in bowling. Bowling was quite a popular sport in the 1950's with at least ten bowling alleys listed in the 1954 City Directory. TPL-6495

Bowlers--Tacoma; Bowling balls; Heidelberg Brewing Co. (Tacoma)--People;

In May of 1954, seven children were happily at play in a house just their size at the Tacoma Home Show, held at the College of Puget Sound Fieldhouse. Twelve of the children's playhouses were given away free during the Show. Each playhouse was carefully built and designed by a member of the Tacoma Master Builders Association who sponsored the annual Home Show. The Korsmo Brothers constructed this particular model with Johnson-Austin Associates as designers. Since children under twelve were admitted free while accompanied by parents, many thousands were able to view these miniature homes.

Children's playhouses--Tacoma; Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);

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;