In 1926, a group of teachers gathered for a photo on top of one of Seattle’s taller buildings. They had participated in the “Progressive Series Summer Normal” presumably in Seattle, as the photograph was taken by the Linkletter Studio in Seattle.

At that time, Washington State had three teacher’s colleges, or “normal schools,” in Bellingham, Cheney and Ellensburg. The schools held summer sessions attended by teachers from around the country. The term “summer normal” was also used by other organizations offering summer classes for teachers. It is unclear what institution sponsored the classes attended by this group. None of the Seattle names on the back of the photograph match a list of August graduates at the Bellingham school published August 5, 1926 in the Seattle Times.

Handwritten on negative: Progressive Series Summer Normal - Seattle, Washington - 1926. Linkletter Studio - #2399-A.

Handwritten on verso: Names and home towns of individuals in image.