Finding Aid to the Ray Monteroso Polytechnic High School Football Collection1928-2012
SFH 376
Finding aid prepared by Tami J. Suzuki
San Francisco History Center
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA, 94102
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
March 18, 2015
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.
Series 1
Programs,
1928-2012,
(bulk 1928-1937)
Arrangement
Organized chronologically.
Scope and Contents
Souvenir football programs of annual Polytechnic vs. Lowell "Classic" match-ups, Poly vs. Mission games, pre-season, playoff
and championship games, and the Shrine-Hi football classics. A few of these programs are issues of
Hi-Sports, "A Weekly Magazine of San Francisco High School Life." Includes a copy of a
San Francisco Elks Bulletin (November 1932) featuring the Poly-Lowell Classic. There are a few newspaper clippings (1941-1999) including a 1999 column
highlighting that year's Hall of Fame luncheon. Also includes some 1930s commencement programs.
Box 1, Folder 4
Pre-season Football,
1952-1956
Box 1, Folder 5
Shrine-Hi Football Game and Pageant,
1952, 1956
Box 1, Folder 6
Fall Football Championships,
2012
Box 1, Folder 7
Newspaper Clippings,
1941-1999
Series 2
Photographs,
Scope and Contents
Black-and-white and color prints of football games including Turkey Bowl, and school Hall of Fame honorees including Roy Monteroso;
mostly original images. Includes a few original B&W images of undated basketball games and a rally.
Arrangement
Organized chronologically.
OV-flat-box See Photo Room.
Football and Hall of Fame,
1984-2011
Box 1, Folders 12-13
Hall of Fame and Turkey Bowl Honorees,
2012
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note
Includes two CD-ROMs.
Box 1, Folder 14
Basketball and Rally,
[19--]
Series 3
Football Game Footage,
1930-1967
Scope and Contents
VHS videotape dubs from film, mainly of the Polytechnic-Lowell Football Classic but including San Francisco Football Prep
Classic and San Francisco high school football playoffs and championship games. Includes Coach Axt's notes; removed from film
canisters.
Arrangement
Organized chronologically.
Existence of Originals
The collection includes 16 mm films of football games which are not presently accessible.
Box 1, Folder 15
Coach's Notes,
Scope and Contents
Game notes, removed from film canisters.
Box 2, Cassette 1
Lowell (1930), Commerce (1932)
Box 2, Cassette 5
Lowell (1946), Mission (1948)
Box 2, Cassette 6
Balboa, Championship
1948
Box 2, Cassette 7
Mission, Semi-final Playoff
1948
Box 2, Cassette 9
Balboa, Championship
1949
Box 2, Cassette 10
Lincoln, Championship
1952
Box 2, Cassette 11
Balboa, Championship
1953
Box 2, Cassette 16
Balboa, Championship
1955
Box 2, Cassette 22
Lowell, Championship
1959
Box 2, Cassette 27
Balboa (1952), Lowell (1960), Balboa (1948), St. Ignatius (1958)
Box 2, Cassette 28
Balboa (1955), Balboa (1956), Lowell (1959), Lincoln (1952), Lowell (1954)
Box 2, Cassette 29
Unidentified (1953, 1960, 1948, 1958)
Box 2, Cassette 30
Balboa (1949), Unidentified (1957), Lowell (1948)
Box 2, Cassette 31
Unidentified (1934, 1930, 1932)
Series 4
Sports Uniforms,
[20th Century]
Scope and Contents
Athletes' clothing.
OV-flat-box 3
Football Jackets (two) labeled "CHAMPS '47,"
[1947]
OV-flat-box 3
Letterman's Sweater,
[20th Century]
OV-flat-box 4
Football Jerseys (two),
[20th Century]
OV-flat-box 4
Baseball Jersey,
[20th Century]
Series 5
Artwork,
1985, 2000
Scope and Contents
Painting of Ray Monteroso and two lithographs.
Range M43 Framed Art, Item SFA-0668
Roy Monteroso Painting
2000
Scope and Contents
Painting of Ray Monteroso; also features Coach Milt Axt; 24" by 30", acrylic on canvas, by Nick Leaskou, 2000.
Biographical Note: Milt Axt
Milt Axt played football for Poly in 1925 and went on to coach, becoming the most famous football prep coach of his time.
Axt's Parrots won 45 straight games as he compiled a 130-17-3 record. He also scouted for the San Francisco 49ers. Besides
Monteroso, eventual 49ers coach George Seifert and 49er player Bob St. Clair were among Axt's Poly athletes.
OV-flat-box Mixed, Folder 2
Olympic Club Lake Course Lithograph
1985
Scope and Contents
By Nick Leaskou, #219/900, signed by artist.
OV-flat-box Mixed, Folder 3
Joe Montana Lithograph
2000