Jump to Content

Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Finding Aid to the Ray Monteroso Polytechnic High School Football Collection1928-2012 SFH 376
SFH 376  
View entire collection guide What's This?
Search this collection
Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • 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.