More than 600 members of the Washington State Junior Chamber of Commerce attended the state convention held in Tacoma at the Winthrop Hotel. The Junior Chamber of Commerce would be electing new officers for this year; and they designated Spokane as next year's site for the state convention. The convention consisted of several meetings and programs and would wrap up with a Saturday night banquet at the Top of the Ocean restaurant. View of members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce at the Winthrop Hotel (T.N.T., 4/23/49, p. 1).

Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Conference rooms--Tacoma; Hotels--Tacoma; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Junior Chamber of Commerce (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

New officers of Order of Runeberg, Wedgewood Room. The western district Order of Runeberg held their biennial convention in Tacoma in August, 1950. Newly elected officers pose smilingly in the Hotel Winthrop's Wedgewood Room. There were 75 official delegates to the convention and 118 visitors, with over 60 from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Eureka. The Order of Runeberg is named for Johan Ludvig Runeberg, a noted Finnish poet. His poems and essays, based on Swedish culture, have been compared with Goethe and Shakespeare. (TNT 8-11-50, p. 5, 8-15-50, p. 14, TNT 8-16-50, p. 6)

Order of Runeberg (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Five leaders of the junior department of the Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs who attended the State convention pose for their group portrait at the Winthrop Hotel. They are, L-R, Mrs. Edward C. Francisco of Pomeroy; Mrs. Norman E. Robbins of Kennewick; Mrs. Lloyd Mitchell of Kelso; Mrs. Malcolm Mays of Yakima; and Mrs. Milton Sutton of Seattle. The junior day session of the Washington State Federation of Women's clubs was June 12, 1951. The theme for junior day was "Juniors Rise to Achievement through Friendship and Unity". Ordered by Mrs. Peter Berone. (TNT, 6/14/1951, p.9)

Junior Women's Club (Tacoma); Women--Clubs--Tacoma; Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The beaming lass pictured is Lynn Green, the 1954 Sweetheart of Sigma Chi, Delta Phi Chapter. She has recently been selected over four other contestants to rule as Sweetheart at the Sigma Chi dance in the Crystal Ballroom of the Winthrop Hotel. Lynn Green from Redmond was a sophomore at the College of Puget Sound. She was working toward degrees in sociology and education. She belonged to the Chi Omega sorority and Spurs. (TNT 3/7/1954, pg. D-4)

Sigma Chi (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1950-1960; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Green, Lynn;

American Institute of Architects, Southwest Washington Chapter, in the Wedgewood Room at the Winthrop Hotel. Most Tacoma and Seattle architects are pictured here, some with spouses. In the foreground of the picture, left to right, are Si Nelson, Percy Ball, Rod O'Hiser, Marshall Perrow, James Wilson and future mayor Gordon Johnston. Seated on the right side of the room, directly under the palm tree wall decoration are Hubert and Betty Bisson. Mr. Bisson was an architect, and later associate, for the well-known Tacoma firm of Lea, Pearson & Richards. Mr. Bisson worked for them for over 20 years until his death in 1971. He designed many of Tacoma's banks and schools for the firm. (for more detailed name information, please see name chart accompanying picture in Richards files) (Additional information provided by a reader)

American Institute of Architects, Southwest Washington Chapter (Tacoma); Architects; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Bisson, Hubert; Bisson, Betty; Johnston, Gordon N.; Nelson, Silas E.; Ball, Percy G.; O'Hiser, Rod; Perrow, Marshall; Wilson, James;

In 1948, three women Amvets members discuss world events over drinks and cigarettes. They were with a group of one hundred and thirty Amvets attending a banquet at the Winthrop Hotel. The guest of honor was National Commander Edgar C. Corry who spoke on the topic "Peace Through National Preparedness." (T. Times, 5/12/48, p. 3).

Patriotic societies--Tacoma; Banquets--Tacoma; Banquet halls--Tacoma; Smoking--Tacoma; Cigarettes; Matches; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Amvets Club (Tacoma);

Banquet at Winthrop Hotel, honoring National Commander for the Amvets. Left to right view, Adeline Pozega, Second Vice-Commander of the Parkland Amvets Post No. 3, Frank E. Dixon, First Vice-Commander of the Department of Washington Amvets, unidentified woman, and Edgar C. Corry, National Commander for the Amvets. Commander Corry was the guest of honor at the banquet (T. Times, 5/12/48, p. 3).

Patriotic societies--Tacoma; Banquets--Tacoma; Banquet halls--Tacoma; Couples--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Amvets Club (Tacoma);

The Wauna Club's November 11, 1946, ball was hosted with a county fair theme. The ball was held at the Crystal Ballroom at the Hotel Winthrop. L-R, Dale Kiehl, Mada Rieflin, Chick Kiehl (chair for the dance committee), and Bill Rieflin (president of the Wauna Club) stand beneath a sign, "Welcome Wauna County Fair". (T.Times, 11/2/1946, p.16)

Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Wauna Club (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950; Couples--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dance parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Kiehl, Dale; Kiehl, Chick; Rieflin, William; Rieflin, Mada;

Last Man Club, American Legion, November 30, 1946. Eighteen men stand behind six empty chairs draped with American flags during their annual meeting held at the Hotel Winthrop. The Last Man Club was formed by World War I veterans who were also past Commanders of the Edward B. Rhodes Post of the American Legion in December of 1938. A bottle of 1917 cognac was reserved for the sole survivor to drink a toast to his fallen fellow members.

American Legion Club (Tacoma); Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flags--United States; Last Man Club (Tacoma);

Dr. Hinton D. Jonez (back row, 2nd from left) holds the bottle of cognac that will go to the last survivor of the Past Commanders' Last Man Club of the Edward B. Rhodes Post No.2, American Legion. Each year the post membership feted the post commanders at a banquet. The banquet for November 1945 was held in the Army and Navy Room at the Hotel Winthrop. The six flag draped chairs represent the six past commanders who had died before 1945. Names listed. (T.Times, 11/28/1945, p.7)

American Legion Club (Tacoma); Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flags--United States; Jonez, Hinton D.; Last Man Club (Tacoma);

Tacoma Credit Women were active members throughout the Tacoma community. They sponsored and hosted events for service men through the United Service Organization Travelers Aid Society. View of Tacoma Credit Women, members of the Tacoma Retail Credit Association.

Women--Organizations--Tacoma; Women--Social life--1940-1950; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Group portraits; Tacoma Retail Credit Association (Tacoma);

From November 17-23, 1941, communities across America celebrated the second annual National Art Week. The Tacoma Art Association observed the celebration by sponsoring an exhibit of local artists at the former location of the Helen Davis dress shop in the Hotel Winthrop. An unidentified clubwoman was photographed opening the door to the exhibit, which featured a variety of art including water colors, oils, charcoal, pastels, wood carvings, photography and handicrafts. Local artists were able to enter their works free of charge, and the public was invited to view the show for free and purchase the works of the artists. (T. Times 11/14/1941, pg. 19; 11/18/41, pg. 8; 11/19/41, pg. 18- all story only)

Tacoma Art Association (Tacoma); Art exhibitions--Tacoma;

Three Tacoma chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution (the Mary Ball, Virginia Dare and Elizabeth Forey) enjoyed a delicious luncheon in the Hotel Winthrop's Crystal Ballroom when they honored Washington State Regent, Mrs. Starr Sherman of Walla Walla, on October 27, 1941. Seated above were Mrs. C.C. Mellinger, Mary Ball chapter regent, Mrs. Sherman, and Margaret Long, Elizabeth Forey chapter regent with the others in the photograph not identified. Mrs. Sherman was making an official visit to Tacoma and would later pay similar visits to Grays Harbor and Chehalis as well as northern chapters around the Sound. (T.Times 10-28-1941, p. 9-article only; T.Times 10-30-1941, p. 19-alt. photograph)

Daughters of the American Revolution (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Melllinger, C.C.--Family; Sherman, Starr--Family; Long, Margaret;

The fourth annual meeting of the American Legion's Last Man Club was held at the Winthrop Hotel in December, 1941. Sixteen men pose with three flag draped chairs. The draped chairs are in honor of the Club members who have died, past Commanders E.A. Rich, Dr. J.C. Siegle (first to die on 4/13/39) and George A. Allen. The Club was organized on 12/5/38 by WWl veterans who had also served as Commanders of the Edward B. Rhodes Post of the American Legion. As each Commander stepped down from office, he was invited to join if he was a WWI veteran. A bottle of cognac, autographed by all members, was set aside for the last surviving member to drink a toast to his comrades. The Last Man was Capt. Chester Chastek. He became the sole survivor on February 16, 1992 after the death of Paul O. Brown. He retrieved the bottle of cognac after its 54 years of repose in a Puget Sound Bank safe deposit box but did not drink it. He had never had a drink in his long life and refused to break his record. (T.Times 12-2-41-article)

American Legion Club (Tacoma); Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flags--United States; Last Man Club (Tacoma);

Annual meeting of the American Legion, Edward B. Rhodes Post's Last Man Club, Hotel Winthrop, on December 3, 1941. Three empty chairs are draped with American flags and 19 men sit and stand by them. The draped chairs are in honor of Club members who have died. The Club was organized December 5, 1938 by World War I veterans who were past Commanders of the Post. A bottle of 1917 Hennessey Five Star cognac was set aside for the last surviving member to drink a toast to his comrades. The first to die was Tacoma Mayor Dr. John Siegle on April 13, 1939. The sole survivor was Capt. Chester Chastek. By February of 1992, he had outlived all his fellow club members. He died February 23, 1997 at the age of 97.

American Legion Club (Tacoma); Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flags--United States; Last Man Club (Tacoma);

The new officers for the Spinster Club pose on the roof of the Winthrop Hotel. The Medical Arts Building can be seen in the background. The Spinster Club was a social club composed of prominent young Tacoma girls. The officers for the coming year were, left to right, Lea Mills (president), Ann Baillargeon (vice pres.), Virginia Austin (secretary) and Valdene Hazelton (treasurer.) (T. Times 3/15/1941, pg. 5)

Spinster Club (Tacoma); Mills, Lea; Baillargeon, Ann; Austin, Virginia; Hazelton, Valdene;

Over 100 firemen posed for a formal group photograph on the roof of the Hotel Winthrop in late July of 1940. From July 31 through August 3rd the 47th annual convention of the Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs was held in Tacoma. Emory N. Whitacker, Tacoma Fire Chief, was convention host to chiefs from Washington, Oregon, California, Montana, Idaho and other western states. With wives, guests, and concessionaires, the convention was expected to bring some 1,500 visitors to Tacoma. The Murray Morgan Bridge (11th St. Bridge), the City Waterway (now the Foss Waterway), and several of the prominent buildings on A Street including the Tacoma Building and the Perkins Building can be seen in the background.

Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Cityscapes; 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma); City Waterway (Tacoma); Tacoma Building (Tacoma); Perkins Building (Tacoma);

The Pacific Coast Fire Chiefs Convention was held in late July of 1940. The roof of the Winthrop Hotel was a favorite spot for photographing large groups as the downtown skyline made a memorable view. Men on roof of Winthrop Hotel, city and port in background.

Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Cityscapes;

Pacific Coast Fire Chiefs Convention. Man in driver's seat of fire engine parked by Winthrop Hotel. The Pacific Coast Fire Chiefs Convention was held in Tacoma during late July of 1940 with chiefs visiting from Washington, Oregon, California, Montana, Idaho and other western states. The unidentified gentleman behind the wheel of the fire engine may have been one of the many firemen in attendance.

Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Pacific Coast Fire Chiefs Convention. Men with flag on roof of Winthrop Hotel, Washington Building in background. Photograph taken on July 23, 1940.

Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs (Tacoma); Flags--United States; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Cooks and Waiters Union, Local 61, Cabaret Ball at Crystal Ballroom of the Winthrop Hotel. (filed with Argentum)

Labor unions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cooks, Waiters, Waitresses & Bartenders Union Local No. 61 (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Wauna Club dance at Winthrop Hotel. Enjoying the "Hia-Wauna" party on January 27, 1940 were Mr. and Mrs. Harold Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. Herman Brandes. The couples are dressed in formal attire for this special evening. (T.Times 2-3-1940, p. 4)

Wauna Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Johnson, Harold; Johnson, Harold--Family; Brandes, Herman; Brandes, Herman--Family;

Junior Women's Club Hobby Show at the Winthrop Hotel. Club members inspected the merchandise on display which included neckties, vases, woven fabrics and a basket. They were there to attend the annual dinner and hobby show of the club which was held in the hotel's Crystal Ballroom on April 12, 1940. From left to right are: Sally Sicade, Mrs. William Bottcher, Mrs. Philip Farmer, Mrs. Plummer York, Mrs. H.E. Craven and Mrs. Marion Edwards. (T.Times 4-20-40, p. 4)

Junior Women's Club (Tacoma); Women--Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hobbyists--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sicade, Sally; Bottcher, William--Family; Farmer, Philip--Family; York, Plummer--Family; Craven, Helen; Edwards, Marion--Family

Harold D. Hayward, in the center of the front row, holds the autographed bottle of 1917 Hennessey Five Star cognac that will go to the survivor of the Last Man Club. The members of the Club were World War I veterans and past Commanders of the American Legion, Edward B. Rhodes Post No.2, since its organization in 1919. The second annual meeting, pictured, was held Dec. 4th, 1939 and following meetings scheduled for the first Monday of December each successive year. The flag draped chairs represent deceased members of the Last Man Club. Dr. John C. Siegle, Mayor of Tacoma, was the first to pass on after the club was formed in December of 1938 and the other flag was for Dr. E. A. Rich, who died before the club's inception. Present at the meeting are, back row, left to right: Earl Clifford, A.C. Bjornstad, George A. Allen, Dr. Henry Minton, Charles F. Davidson and Howard Carothers. Middle row: Robert Goldberg, Lee Carter, Robert B. Abel, Leo Barton and Herbert Ward. Seated: Dr. Hinton D. Jonez, Frank T. Callender, Hayward, L.E. Wilkeson and Albert R. Whitman. Capt. Chester Chastek (not pictured) became the sole survivor on Feb. 16, 1992 after the death of Tacoma resident Paul O. Brown. He was 92. He later died Feb. 23, 1997 at the age of 97. He retrieved the bottle from its safe deposit box at Puget Sound Bank, but abstained from the farewell toast. He was a teetotaler. (T. Times 12/5/1939, pg. 10; TNT 2/18/1992, pg. 1)

American Legion Club (Tacoma); Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1930-1940; Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Flags--United States; Jonez, Hinton D.; Last Man Club (Tacoma);

April, 1939, Wauna Club dance on Roof Garden at Hotel Winthrop. Two couples converse in the lounge near a large console radio. Frank R. Griffiths offers Archie Kimball a Camel cigarette. Wives Tim Kimball and Norma Griffiths look on. Mr. Griffiths was listed in the 1939 City Directory as the secretary/treasurer of the Rainier National Park Co. (T. Times, 4/29/1939, p. 7).

Wauna Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Griffiths, Frank R.; Griffiths, Norma; Kimball, Archie; Kimball, Tim; Cigarettes;

Wauna Club dance on Roof Garden at Hotel Winthrop. The elegantly dressed Jessie and Walter J. Frankland and Dr. and Mrs. James Gourley practice a step or two before leaving the lounge for the dance floor on April 22, 1939. Mr. Frankland was listed in the 1939 City Directory as a department manager for Rainier National Park Co. (T. Times, 4/29/1939, p. 6).

Wauna Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Couples--Tacoma--1930-1940; Frankland, Walter J.; Gourley, James;

Wauna Club dance in the Roof Garden at Hotel Winthrop. Mr. and Mrs. Walter J. Frankland and Dr. and Mrs. James Gourley engage in pleasant conversation in the lounge on April 22, 1939. The formal affair called for tuxedos and gowns. (T. Times, 4-29-39, p. 7).

Wauna Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Couples--Tacoma--1930-1940; Frankland, Walter J.; Gourley, James;

Wauna Club dance on Roof Garden at Hotel Winthrop; event was held on April 22, 1939. Four women are holding gifts, pottery water pitchers. L-R are Mrs. Allan M. Hudson, Mrs. F.R. Griffiths, Mrs. Tim Kimball, Mr. and Mrs. James Healy, Mrs. Carroll C. Carlson and Elmer G. Hagen. (T. Times, 4-29-39, p. 7).

Wauna Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Wauna Club dance on the Roof Garden at the Hotel Winthrop. Several people stand under a rainbow arch. The women are holding gifts of pottery. Woman in striped skirt is Mrs. Carroll C. Carlson. (T. Times, 4/29/1939, p. 7)

Wauna Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Dance hosted by the Spinster Club at the Winthrop Hotel. Margaret Franich poses with her date on the right in this photograph dated May 30, 1939.

Spinster Club (Tacoma); Franich, Margaret; Couples--Tacoma--1930-1940;