Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Provenance
Related Materials
Biographical/Historical Note
Scope and Contents
Arrangement
Materials Transferred
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Processed by
Title: Ray Monteroso Polytechnic High School Football Collection
Date (inclusive): 1928-2012,
Date (bulk): (bulk 1930-1967)
Collection Identifier: SFH 376
Creator:
Monteroso, Ray, (Raymond), 1937-2014
Physical Description:
4 boxes, 3 oversized folders, 1 framed art piece
(6.0 cubic feet)
Contributing Institution:
San Francisco History Center
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA, 94102
(415) 557-4400
info@sfpl.org
Abstract: Contains souvenir programs, photographs, and VHS videotapes of football games; plus sports uniforms, photographs of Hall of
Fame honorees, and some school commencement programs.
Physical Location: The collection is stored on site.
Language of Materials:
Collection materials are in
English.
Access
The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours, with photographs available during Photo Desk
hours.
Publication Rights
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Ray Monteroro Polytechnic High School Collection (SFH 376), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco
Public Library.
Provenance
Materials were collected by Ray Monteroso and donated to the library by his widow, Rose Monteroso, in 2014.
Related Materials
See also SFH 377, Poly Alumni Association Records.
Biographical/Historical Note
Polytechnic High School, known as Poly, was a San Francisco football powerhouse, winning championships almost every year in
the 1940s and early '50s, and going undefeated from 1949 to 1954. The Poly-Lowell “Turkey Bowl,” played on Thanksgiving Day,
was a city tradition—SF’s “Big Game” between high schools. Kezar Stadium's seating capacity was 50,000; the 1928 game was
over capacity. The Turkey Bowl gave way to the city championship (in 1943). The school was closed in 1972 due to earthquake
hazard.
Ray Monteroso was a Poly student-athlete, playing football and basketball. He quarterbacked the Parrots to an upset win over
the Balboa Bucaneers in 1955. He called it "the greatest thrill of my life" in a 2009
San Francisco Chronicle article on the Turkey Bowl. And in a 2012
Chronicle article, he told reporter Carl Nolte, “I’m a Poly Parrot.” Monteroso started the Poly Athletic Association in 1984, and was
among the first Poly High School Hall of Fame inductees that same year. He wrote for the
Perennial Parrot (alumni newsletter) which is still in production; see www.perennialparrot.com). He organized alumni lunches and events. Monteroso
died in 2014, survived by his wife, Rosalie.
Scope and Contents
Contains souvenir programs, photographs, and VHS videotapes of Polytechnic High School football games, sports uniforms, Hall
of Fame photos, some school commencement programs, and a painting depicting Ray Monteroso and Coach Milt Ax.
Arrangement
Organized into five series: 1. Programs; 2. Photographs; 3. Football Game Footage; 4. Sports Uniforms; and 5. Artwork. Most
series arranged chronologically.
Materials Transferred
Yearbooks were added to the online catalog. Photographs have been transferred to the San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
There are 2 CDs (compact discs) of photographs, and 31 VHS videocassettes.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Monteroso, Ray, (Raymond), 1937-2014 -- Archives
Polytechnic High School (San Francisco, Calif.). -- Archives
High schools--California--San Francisco
San Francisco (Calif.)--History--20th century
Processed by
Tami J. Suzuki, with film and video assistance from staff member Jennifer Weiser.