Northwest pioneer Ezra Meeker is pictured on November 25, 1924, at the wheel of a White motor bus parked at the Ferry Museum, 315 North Stadium Way. Lettering on the bus promotes Nevada's Transcontinental Highways Exposition. Ezra Meeker had originally crossed the old Oregon Trail using oxen more than 50 years ago, quite a contrast to the modern convenience of land travel, a tour bus. Officials of the upcoming Transcontinental Highways Exposition in Reno had made a promotional stop in Tacoma, one of the many scheduled in their eleven state tour. G1.1-130 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 11-30-24, 6G)

Meeker, Ezra, 1830-1928; Buses;

Bearded pioneer Ezra Meeker posed with a group of men and women outside the Ferry Museum, 315 North Stadium Way, on November 25, 1924. Behind them was parked a small White bus advertising Nevada's Transcontinental Highways Exposition to be held in Reno from June 1-October 1, 1926. Next to Mr. Meeker on the right were W.B. Gelatt and Joseph Hutchinson, officials for the Transcontinental Highways Exposition. The women are Mrs. Gelatt and Jean Taylor of Reno. The group was touring eleven western states on behalf of the exposition, to be held in Reno in 1926. TPL-5687; G1.1-132A (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 11-30-24, 6-G)

Meeker, Ezra, 1830-1928; Ferry Museum (Tacoma); Buses; Gelatt, W.B.; Gelatt, W.B.--Family; Hutchinson, Joseph; Taylor, Jean;

Alfred Lister, on the right, presents W.P. Bonney, left, and the Washington State Historical Society with a table made by his father, J. H. Lister; celebrating the 50 year anniversary of the family's arrival in Tacoma. The inlaid "Lister" table was hand crafted by the elder Lister when he was 70 years old and contains 5209 accurately cut and fitted pieces. Alfred Lister, after a varied career in public service, is now president of Tacoma Savings and Loan. (T. Times 10/13/1934, pg. 9) (filed with Argentum)

Bonney, William P.; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ferry Museum (Tacoma); Antiques; Lister, Alfred;

The Lister table on steps of Ferry Museum. The beautiful inlaid table was made by J. H. Lister in 1900 when he was 70 years old. It contains 5209 individually cut and fitted pieces, 4163 of which are in the top. The table was donated to the Washington State Historical Society by Mr. Lister's son, Alfred, on the 50th anniversary of the immigrant family's arrival in Tacoma. The Listers established Standard Iron Works on East 23rd St. and the sons went on to hold important government and banking positions. (T. Times 10/13/1934, pg. 9)

Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ferry Museum (Tacoma); Antiques;

Washington State Historical Society secretary William P. Bonney with the Lister table on steps of the Ferry Museum. The table was donated to the Society by Alfred Lister on the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the J.H. Lister family in Tacoma. The Listers emigrated from England and established Standard Iron Works in Tacoma. They grew to hold important city and state governmental and banking posts. The inlaid table was made by J.H. Lister in 1900, when he was 70 years old. It contains 5209 accurately cut pieces, 4163 of which are in the top. Bonney accepted the table on behalf of the Society. (T. Times 10/13/1934, pg. 9, E.T. Short's column "After Many Years")

Bonney, William P.; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ferry Museum (Tacoma); Antiques;

Washington State Historical Society secretary William P. Bonney poses next to the "Lister" table in front of the Ferry Museum. The table was donated to the Society on the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the J.H. Lister family in Tacoma. The family emigrated from England and established Standard Iron Works on East 23rd. Second generation Listers included Arthur, Ernest, Alfred, Albert and sister Mrs. D.M. McInnis. Arthur served for 25 years as the superintendent of the pattern department of the Northern Pacific Railroad shops in South Tacoma. Ernest was elected governor in 1912 and reelected in 1916. He died in office three years later. Alfred served as city controller, manager of the Tacoma school board and president of Tacoma Savings and Loan. Albert was a prosperous farmer outside of Olympia and his sister's family had a farm on McNeil Island. (T. Times 10/13/1934, pg. 9 E.T. Short's column "After Many Years")

Bonney, William P.; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ferry Museum (Tacoma); Antiques;

In August of 1935, General James M. Ashton posed at the Ferry Museum, 315 North Stadium Way, with an old cavalry guidon with stars in a circle pattern. The flag was the one presented to Troop "B" by Clinton P. Ferry when the troop served as the guard of honor at the 1889 inaugural ceremonies of Elisha P. Ferry as the first Governor of Washington State. Elisha P. Ferry was Clinton P. Ferry's uncle. General Ashton had served as captain in Troop B nearly 50 years ago. Troop B is actually designated as the Headquarters Troop, 24th Cavalry Division, Washington National Guard and it is the oldest military group in the state. Clinton Ferry's large personal collection of antiques and historic artifacts was housed in the Ferry Museum until the whole collection was donated to the Washington State Historical Society in 1930. (T. Times 9-11-1935, pg. 3)

Ferry Museum (Tacoma); Flags; Washington National Guard, 24th Cavalry Division (Tacoma); Ashton, James M.;

ca. 1937. J.S. Kemp art collection at the Ferry Museum, Washington State Historical Society. Photograph also numbered A7407-1

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1937. The Washington State Historical Building Museum, originally the Ferry Museum, was built in 1911 from a design by George W. Bullard, architect. A third floor was added on in 1937.

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ferry Museum (Tacoma);

ca. 1937. General view of the Stadium Bowl (Frederick Heath, Architect) and the Ferry Museum at 315 No. Stadium Way, operated by the Washington State Historical Society (George W. Bullard, Architect.) Photograph taken after the addition of a third floor to the museum. One section of masonry railing has been added on the roof. The Puget Sound can be seen in the background of the photograph. TPL-2515

Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Stadiums--Tacoma--1940-1950; Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound (Wash.); Ferry Museum (Tacoma);

Washington State Historical Society building addition. Curator William P. Bonney directs masonry crew constructing the new third floor of the building. Addition by Mock and Morrison, Architects. Original photograph, see D881-3 for cropped version. (T. Times 03/30/37 p. 1)

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bonney, William P.; Remodeling;

In March of 1937, work began on construction of a $40,000 third story addition to the Washington State Historical Society, 315 No. Stadium Way. A crane on the roof is helping to erect the masonry cornice on the roof level. The additional space was being added to provide a display area for the museums valuable collection of art and historical relics which were crowded into storage areas not open to the public. This building is now the Washington Historical Society Research Center. (T. Times 3/30/1937, pg. 1)

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ferry Museum (Tacoma);

William P. Bonney, pictured left center with trowel, Pierce County native son and secretary of the Washington Historical Society, can now add masonry to his long list of careers. He has been a farmer, teamster, dispatch rider and pharmacist; and most recently he went up to the roof of the Ferry Museum to "help" place one of the stones for the cornice of the $40,000 third story being constructed on one wing of the building. The additional story will display works of art and historical relics now kept in storage rooms. The work is scheduled to be completed by summer. (T. Times 3/13/1937, pg. 1)

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bonney, William P.; Remodeling;

Washington State Historical Society building addition. View of entrance facade with construction cranes on roof. Original building by George W. Bullard, Architect; addition by Mock and Morrison, Architects. Original photograph, see D881 image 3 for cropped version. (T. Times).

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ferry Museum (Tacoma);

Among the most cherished possessions of Eliza Ferry Leary was the Bible used to administer the oath of office to her father, Elisha P. Ferry, the first governor of Washington State. After Mrs. Leary died, the Bible was deposited with the Washington State Historical Society. W.P. Bonney sits at Governor Ferry's desk flanked by Ruth and Harold Wheeler. The Wheelers were students in the History department at the College of Puget Sound. The chair in which Mr. Bonney is seated was made in 1854 for Isaac I. Stevens, the first governor of the Washington Territory. (T.Times, 11/11/1937 p. 14)

Galleries & museums--Tacoma; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Bibles--Tacoma; Bonney, William P.; Wheeler, Harold; Wheeler, Ruth; Stevens, Isaac Ingalls, 1818-1862--Associated objects; Ferry, Elisha P., 1825-1895--Associated objects;

Among the most cherished possessions of Eliza Ferry Leary was the Bible used to administer the oath of office to her father, Elisha P. Ferry, the first governor of Washington State. After Mrs. Leary died, the Bible was deposited with the Washington State Historical Society. W.P. Bonney, sitting at Governor Ferry's desk, at which he wrote his first message to the legislature, reads the inscription on the fly leaf of the Bible to Ruth and Harold Wheeler. The Wheelers were students in the History department at the College of Puget Sound. The chair in which Mr. Bonney is seated was made in 1854 for Isaac I. Stevens, the first governor of the Washington Territory. (T.Times, 11/11/1937 p. 14)

Galleries & museums--Tacoma; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Bibles--Tacoma; Bonney, William P.; Wheeler, Harold; Wheeler, Ruth; Stevens, Isaac Ingalls, 1818-1862--Associated objects; Ferry, Elisha P., 1825-1895--Associated objects;

Art gallery in new top floor of Ferry Museum. (T. Times) (filed with Argentum)

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1930-1940; Art; Ferry Museum (Tacoma);

Sculptor Alonzo Victor Lewis standing by stairs in new top floor art gallery of Ferry Museum. (T. Times)

Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ferry Museum (Tacoma); Lewis, Alonzo Victor; Art;

Alonzo Victor Lewis, noted sculptor, stands in the shadow of a column at the entry to the Ferry Museum where he recently added the art-deco detail above the front doors. Artistic portraiture. (T. Times).

Lewis, Alonzo Victor; Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ferry Museum (Tacoma);

W.P. Bonney, left, of the Washington State Historical Society, and Harvey Scofield, expert rifleman and small arms authority, examine an old, American-made "Kentucky Rifle" used by Levant Frederick Thompson in the Indian War of 1855. Mr. Thompson was the youngest member of the first territorial legislature and the oldest member of the first state legislature. (T. Times, 5/26/38, p. 2).

Bonney, William P.; Guns; Firearms; Scofield, Harvey;

W.P. Bonney, Washington State Historical Society, holds double-barreled shotgun used by Lyman Cutler to kill a British neighbor's pig on San Juan Island, beginning what came to be called the "Pig War." In the 1850's, the San Juan Islands were at the center of a territorial dispute between the US and England. Lyman Cutler, failed Frasier Valley gold prospector, settled on San Juan Island and started a farm next to British citizen John Griffin, who raised livestock. One morning Cutler went out to dig new potatoes for breakfast only to find Griffin's pig happily rooting and chewing them. The angry Cutler grabbed his gun, shot the pig and delivered it to Griffin. Tempers rose, both governments were contacted and soon troops and battleships of both countries were massed for attack. The two governments wisely decided not to battle over such a small matter and presented the argument to the German Kaiser for arbitration. The area was eventually given to the US. (T. Times 10/22/1938, pg. 5)

Bonney, William P.; Guns; Firearms;

Washington State Historical Society, ( Ferry Museum ). General view of building by George W. Bullard, Architect. (T. Times, Spring Edition)

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Art League was presenting the work of Colonel C. Ross Greening at the Washington State Historical Building. Colonel Greening painted his graphic paintings while in a German Prison Camp. Colonel Greening was the inventor of the "10 Cent Bomb Site", this technique was used by Colonel James Doolittle in his Tokyo raid. View of Colonel C. Ross Greening explaining his art work to a member of the Tacoma Art League (T. Times, 1/24/48, p. 5).

Tacoma Art League (Tacoma); Art exhibitions--Tacoma; Art; Painting--Tacoma; Artists--Tacoma; Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Veterans; Greening, C. Ross;

Meeting of Fine Arts Studio Club at the Washington State Historical Society Building, TNT, Ernie Knight. Members of the Fine Arts Studio Club of Tacoma met at the Washington State Historical Society Building. They heard songs accompanied by one of the members playing on an old, square piano and were taken on a tour of the current exhibits including one of old musical instruments. (TNT, 2/22/1948, p.B-4)

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Fine Arts Studio Club (Tacoma); Group portraits; Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Meeting of Fine Arts Studio Club at the Washington State Historical Society Building, TNT, Ernie Knight. Members of the Fine Arts Studio Club were taken on a tour of the Washington State Historical Society's collections with special attention given to the rare, old musical instruments that were housed there. Members were allowed to play the instruments. Fritz Berntsen played an old guitar, Adeline F. (Mrs. Byron) Foreman an autoharp, C.N. Arendt a flageolet, Eliz (Mrs. Fritz) Berntsen a concertina and Paul Prentice a Chinese stringed instrument. (TNT, 2/22/1948, p. B-4; 3/7/1948, p. B-4))

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Fine Arts Studio Club (Tacoma); Musical instruments--Tacoma--1940-1950; Wind instruments; Autoharps--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stringed instruments; Lutes; Musicians--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Chairmen of three DAR chapters at Ferry Museum, Tribune, Mr. H. Three local chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution were planning a Tri-Chapter luncheon for November 22, 1948 at the New Yorker in honor of the state regent, Mrs. Daniel R. Swem of Seattle. Members of the planning committee are seen here with some of the exhibits of the Pioneer Room at the State Historical Society Building. They are, L-R, Lucille R. (Mrs. Darcy M.) Dayton, of the Virginia Dare chapter; Kathryn (Mrs. William G.) Mahncke, of the Elizabeth Forey chapter; and Irene B. (Mrs. Kenneth B.) Knudsen, of the Mary Ball chapter. The Washington State Historical Society was also known as the Ferry Museum. (TNT, 11/21/1948, p.D-1)

Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dayton, Lucille R.; Mahncke, Kathryn; Knudsen, Irene B.; National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (Tacoma);

Exhibit showing transparancies and murals at Ferry Museum, Washington State Historical Society, Mr. Foster. The S.A. Perkins project depicted how this part of the Northwest developed first as North Oregon, the Washington Territory and then Washington State. It represented the entire state from Cathlamet to Okanogan, from Grays Harbor to Steptoe Butte. The show opened at the Ferry Museum January 23, 1949, (T.Times, 1/23/1949, p.2)

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma)--Exhibitions & displays; Paintings; Transparencies;

Chapin Foster became the manager of the Washington State Historical Society after the death of William P. Bonney. Mr. Foster suggested a permanent display of photographs and large transparencies that would show how this part of the Northwest, developed as "North Oregon", became the Washington territory and the territory became Washington State. S.A. Perkins, president of the Society approved the idea and the show opened January 23, 1949. (T.Times, 1/23/1949, p.2)

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma)--Exhibitions & displays; Foster, Chapin D.; Paintings; Transparencies;

Exhibit showing transparancies and murals at Ferry Museum, Washington State Historical Society, Mr. Foster. Mr. Chapin D. Foster is putting the final touches on the display of materials depicting the development of Washington State from when the area was known as North Oregon, the Washington Territories and then became a state. (T.Times, 1/23/1949, p.2)

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma)--Exhibitions & displays; Foster, Chapin D. ; Paintings; Transparencies;

Washington State Historical Society is currently displaying an exhibit featuring fourteen dolls made by Ada Bridgman Odenrider. The dolls show a century of fashions, between the period of 1800 and 1900. The dolls are getting ready to go to Santa Ana, California, they have been invited to the Charles W. Bowers Memorial Museum; where only the rarest and most beautiful dolls are invited to participate (T. Times, 3/6/49, p. 24).

Dolls; Collectors--Tacoma; Hobbyists--Tacoma; Exhibitions--Tacoma; Odenrider, Ada Bridgman--Associated objects; Fashion shows--Tacoma; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma);