Annie Wright Seminary. Snow storm brings out students with skiis and sled. Neighborhood houses in the background beyond the snow-covered tennis courts.

Private schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Snow--Tacoma; Skiing--Tacoma; Sleds & sleighs--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

These happy students from Fircrest School (later renamed Wainwright Elementary) received Christmas gifts from members of the Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) in December of 1936. The gifts were all built by a committee of PTA and Preschool women who wanted to make sure that every child in Fircrest School, from the sixth grade down, had a new toy for Christmas. The group built 30 rocking horses, 30 hobby horses, 30 ring toss games, 25 cradles and 20 plywood chests. They also distributed candy to each child. (T. Times 12/21/1936, pg. 3- alt. photograph)

Public schools--Fircrest--1930-1940; Wainwright Elementary (Fircrest); Fircrest School (Fircrest); Parent-Teacher Association (Fircrest); Christmas presents; Gifts; Holidays--Fircrest--1930-1940; Christmas trees;

Fircrest School students receiving toys and candy made through a community project of the PTA and preschool women to ensure every child from the 6th grade down has a new toy for Christmas. The students at Fircrest School (later named Wainwright Elementary) receive gifts from committee women Mrs. Lynn Baker and Mrs. Oscar Lundberg. About a dozen community women gathered in the home of Mrs. George Coleman each day, and on into the wee hours of the morning, for about ten days and constructed the toys at a cost of less than $10. Veneer and broomsticks were donated by Tacoma industrial firms. Assembled were 30 rocking horses, 30 hobby horses, 30 ring toss games, 25 cradles and 20 plywood chests. (T. Times 12/21/1936, pg 3)

Public schools--Fircrest--1930-1940; Wainwright Elementary (Fircrest); Parent-Teacher Association (Fircrest); Christmas presents; Holidays--Fircrest--1930-1940;

Pet show at Fircrest School held in March of 1937 in connection with "Be kind to animals week." Marilyn White holds her pet dog and Douglas Shacklett poses with his pet rabbit. Behind the pair are fish bowls and cages filed with birds, chickens, and ducks. (T. Times 3/20/1937, pg. 11)

Public schools--Fircrest--1930-1940; Wainwright Elementary (Fircrest); Pets; Children & animals--Fircrest--1930-1940; Animal shows--Fircrest--1930-1940;

Fircrest School children seated at their classroom desks. Each child has a small decorative box and a ring-toss board or a long wooden box, Christmas gifts from the P.T.A. The PTA and Preschool women built all the toys themselves from mostly donated materials. The preschool children would be receiving their gifts at a party at the Community Church the following day. (T. Times 12/21/1936, pg. 3)

Public schools--Fircrest--1930-1940; Wainwright Elementary (Fircrest); Parent-Teacher Association (Fircrest); Christmas presents; Holidays--Fircrest--1930-1940;

For "Be Kind to Animals" week in March of 1937, the Regents Park school in Fircrest held its first ever pet show and exhibit. The students were encouraged to bring in their pets without regard to size or species. Six of the winning pets and their owners were: (l to r) a duck held by Donald Masco; two grouse belonging to Jerry Baker; the well trained dachshund of Bill Dunsmore; Joyce Wheeler's cat; the rabbit cuddled by Helen Gansen; and a glass fish bowl with fish brought by Tynne Smith. (T. Times 3/20/1937, pg. 11) TPL-9489

Public schools--Fircrest--1930-1940; Wainwright Elementary (Fircrest); Pets; Children & animals--Fircrest--1930-1940; Animal shows--Fircrest--1930-1940; Masco, Donald; Baker, Jerry; Dunsmore, Bill; Wheeler, Joyce; Gansen, Helen; Smith, Tynne;

Fircrest School students exhibit their pets in a show held in connection with "Be kind to animals" week. The six prize winners pose on the lawn next to the school with their pets: chickens, a duck, a dog, a cat, and a bowl of fish. The children, left to right, are Donald Masco, Jerry Baker, Bill Dunsmore, Joyce Wheeler, Helen Gansen and Tynne Smith. (T. Times 3/20/1937, pg. 11) Note: Negative misnumbered as D775-3.

Public schools--Fircrest--1930-1940; Wainwright Elementary (Fircrest); Pets; Children & animals--Fircrest--1930-1940; Animal shows--Fircrest--1930-1940; Masco, Donald; Baker, Jerry; Dunsmore, Bill; Wheeler, Joyce; Gansen, Helen; Smith, Tynne;

School Opening Day. Smiling girls of Lowell School. Large group of elementary school girls standing on the steps to school playground. The accompanying news article focused on how the majority of students were happy to be back in school. (T. Times, 9/4/1935, p. 1).

Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Girls--Tacoma--1930-1940;

September 1, 1936- opening day of school. Washington School boys and an English Setter dog sitting on low railing waiting for school to start. Clothing includes spiked hair and leather jacket, Mickey Mouse shirt, sport shoes. (T. Times, 9/1/1936, p. 1)

Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Dogs; School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Washington School (Tacoma); Boys--Tacoma--1930-1940;

During the first days of school in September of 1936, Miss Irma R. Hazen was photographed with a group of her students at Bryant Elementary, 702 South Ainsworth Avenue. Miss Hazen taught in the Tacoma School District for 40 years. She started at Bryant and eventually switched to Geiger, where she was a teacher for over 20 years. In 1936, the estimated attendance in Tacoma public schools was 21,000 pupils. (T. Times, 9/1/1936, p. 1).

Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hazen, Irma; Bryant Elementary School (Tacoma); Teachers--Tacoma--1930-1940; Classrooms--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Opening day of School. Mrs. Jennie M. French, principal of Washington School, posed with some returning students on the first day of school, September 1, 1936, before gently telling the young man that his dog would have to return home. Mrs. French was the principal of Washington for 15 years, from 1926-1941. She was a leader in the fight for teachers education, pay and retirement. She deeded the tract of land on which the Tahoma Terrace retirement home was constructed and worked for its founding for 30 years. (T. Times, 9/1/1936, p. 1; TNT 6/4/1957- obit; TNT 2/13/1975- Tahoma Terrace)

Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Washington School (Tacoma); French, Jennie M.; Dogs;

Stadium High "bench warmers." Boys sit on a concrete platform in front of school on opening day in 1935. (T. Times, 9/4/1935, p. 1)

Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Mrs. Jennie M. French, the principal of Washington School, stood outside and greeted poised and well dressed Cherine Milos, a new student. On the first day of school September 1, 1936 over 21,000 Tacoma boys and girls returned to school. Mrs. French was the principal of Washington for 15 years from 1926-1941. She spent most of her 49 years in Tacoma, from her first teaching job in 1908 to her death in 1957, as an advocate for teacher's education, rights and pay. She helped organize the Tacoma Retired Teachers in 1946 and deeded the 3 acre tract on South Union Ave., where the 152 unit Tahoma Terrace teachers' retirement home opened in 1975, to the Teachers Home Corp. in 1954. (T. Times, 9/1/1936, p. 1-picture; TNT 6/4/1957- obit; TNT 2/13/1975 -Tahoma Terrace)

Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Washington School (Tacoma); French, Jennie M.; Milos, Cherine;

These seven Stadium High School girls exhibit the latest fashions of the day upon their return to school in September of 1935. Long, ankle-length skirts were back in style. Shoe wear ranged from sandals to saddle shoes and high-heel pumps. Names of the students were not provided. (T. Times, 9/4/1935, p. 1-alt. back to school photographs).

Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940;

School Opening Day, trio of friends of George Weyerhaeuser, Jr.: Alice Walker, 11, of Lowell School, Jean Sanders,11, and Sabine Phelps, 12, of Mason Junior High. One girl with school books, another pouring drinks from a pitcher. (T. Times, 9/4/1935, p. 1)

Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Walker, Alice; Sanders, Jean; Phelps, Sabine;

Opening day of school. Washington School boys with mixed expressions walking in front of the school building. The front page story focused on how most students, even the boys, were happy to be going back to school. (T. Times, 9/4/1935, p. 1).

Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Washington School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Boys--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Four young fellows wait for Washington Elementary School, at 3701 No. 26th St., to open on the first day of school for the 1935-36 school term. Three boys (l to r) Richard Hilton, Gene Desel and Jack Field sit on the curb. Curtis Hilton sits in a wagon. Will Curtis be allowed in class with those bare feet? (T.Times, 9/4/1935, p. 1).

Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Washington School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hilton, Richard; Desel, Gene; Field, Jack; Hilton, Curtis; Books; Boys--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Students at Gault Junior High in the school office arranging their programs on the second day of school. 21,000 Tacoma boys and girls would be returning to school in September of 1936, with an additional 12,000 in the rural districts of Pierce County. (T. Times, 9/3/1936, p. 1).

Public schools--Tacoma; School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Gault Junior High School (Tacoma);

First graders Patricia Hansen, left, and Patsy Ann Reeser had just finished their first day of first grade, September 1, 1936, at Hillcrest School in Bremerton and declared it "fun" and could hardly wait to go back. Equipped with pencils, paper and notebooks, wearing new clothes and shiny faces, they had arrived for their first day full of self importance and a feeling of independence. The first day ended at noon, when the kids were allowed to return home for lunch and play. (Bremerton Sun 09-03-1936, pg. 1)

School children--Bremerton; Girls; Hansen, Patricia; Reeser, Patsy Ann;

Safety patrol crossing guards assisted elementary school children crossing the street by holding "Stop" flags on September 9, 1935. Buildings, automobiles, and the Park Avenue Bus are in the background. The young guards took their job seriously, even their ability to "arrest" violators. (Bremerton Sun).

School patrol--Bremerton; School children--Bremerton;

Visitation Villa Academy, the May 27, 1936 May Day fete. Young girls holding balloons and standing under the boughs of fir trees. A two-story building is in the background. The May Day fete would start with a picnic lunch followed by games and races. May Queen Muriel Mullins would be entertained with a May pole dance and flag drill. (T. Times 5/23/1936, pg. 7; 5/29/1936, pg. 11)

Visitation Villa Academy (Lakewood); Private schools--Lakewood--1930-1940; May Day--Lakewood; Holidays--Lakewood--1930-1940; Festivals--Lakewood--1930-1940;

The Academy of the Visitation, Visitation Villa, moved from Tacoma in 1923 to the former Richardson estate "Richmore", a 200 acre site. The Catholic school served as a boarding and day school for girls and a summer retreat for women operated by the Sisters of Visitation. On this May Day event. the Queen's court walks to music played on a piano on the veranda of school's main building. The school closed in 1954 and is now the site of Villa Plaza. (T. Times 5/23/1936, pg.7; 5/29/1936, pg. 11)

Visitation Villa Academy (Lakewood); Private schools--Lakewood--1930-1940; May Day--Lakewood; Holidays--Lakewood--1930-1940; Festivals--Lakewood--1930-1940;

Visitation Villa Academy, May Day fete. Queen Muriel Mullen and her court seated among a grove of fir trees. People are seated on wooden chairs watching the ceremony.

Visitation Villa Academy (Lakewood); Private schools--Lakewood--1930-1940; May Day--Lakewood; Holidays--Lakewood--1930-1940; Festivals--Lakewood--1930-1940;

Visitation Villa Academy, May Day fete. Young girls dancing around a Maypole nestled among the fir trees. Other entertainment for the festivities will include a garland drill and a flag drill by the 7th & 8th graders. Activities will also include games and races. (T.Times 5/23/1936, pg. 7; 5/29/1936, pg. 11)

Visitation Villa Academy (Lakewood); Private schools--Lakewood--1930-1940; May Day--Lakewood; Holidays--Lakewood--1930-1940; Festivals--Lakewood--1930-1940; May poles--Lakewood;

Seven little girls helped to celebrate Visitation Villa Academy's annual May Day fete in 1936. The group, holding balloons, is gathered around a basket of flowers. Visitation Villa Academy was located on the grounds of the former Charles Richardson estate, "Richmore," in Lakewood. Built by the Sisters of the Visitation, the private Catholic girls school opened in 1923 and closed in 1954. The school children are from left to right: Dolores Peterson, Betty Howard, Patricia Lawler, Lorraine Roberts, Irene Nelson, Doris Spencer and Betty Wamba. The Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood Mall, Lakewood Towne Center) opened at this location in 1957. (T. Times 5/29/1936, pg. 11)

Visitation Villa Academy (Lakewood); Private schools--Lakewood--1930-1940; May Day--Lakewood; Peterson, Dolores; Howard, Betty; Lawler, Patricia; Roberts, Lorraine; Nelson, Irene; Spencer, Doris; Wamba, Betty; School children--Lakewood--1930-1940;

ca. 1925. Annie Wright Seminary, circa 1925. Interior view of library showing fireplace, book stacks, girls studying at round tables. Building by Sutton, Whitney and Dugan, Architects, 1924. (filed with Argentum)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Private schools--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1925. Annie Wright Seminary under construction. The Tudor Gothic building was designed by Sutton, Whitney & Dugan, architects. The Seminary first opened in 1884 at 611 Division Street. The school on Tacoma Ave No., which opened to students in the Fall of 1924, appears barren without its lush green lawns and landscaping. (WSHS- negative A852-0)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Private schools--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Graduating class at Horace Mann School. The graduating class included 28 students, 10 boys and 18 girls. The class is posed in front of the entrance of the school, which was constructed in 1901. C.A. Darmer was the architect. This structure was demolished when the new school was built in 1953. (WSHS)

Horace Mann School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1920-1930;

6A Class at Horace Mann School posed in front of the school in January of 1926. This southend school was constructed in 1901 and named after noted American educator Horace Mann. Horace Mann revolutionized education in the US, establishing the first school for teacher training and promoting "public" education for all. This structure was demolished after the new Mann Elementary was built in 1953. (WSHS)

Horace Mann School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1926. McKinley School, 1st Grade Class B at desks. Miss Sawyer, Teacher. A large first grade class sits quietly at their fold up desks in 1926, displaying their alphabet cards. (filed with Argentum) (negative is damaged in areas at top and bottom of photo)

McKinley School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930;