Circa 1908.

Circa 1911.

Jason Lee string orchestra with instruments in front of school. The orchestra, according to the Tacoma Times, was rated one of the best in its class. (T. Times 1/1/1937, pg. 3) (filed with Argentum)

Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children playing musical instruments--Tacoma; Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Stringed instruments; Orchestras--Tacoma--1930-1940; Violoncellos;

Jason Lee Boys Glee Club and adviser. (T. Times) (filed with Argentum)

Public schools--Tacoma; Choirs (Music); School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Music education--Tacoma; Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma);

Jason Lee Intermediate School Girls Glee Club photographed on December 18, 1936, in front of school. (T. Times) (filed with Argentum)

Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Choirs (Music)--1930-1940; School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Music education--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1935. Jason Lee Orchestra. Students with instruments and conductor in front of school. (11/7/1935, pg. 14- see newspaper caption for names)

Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Brass instruments; Wind instruments; Children playing musical instruments--Tacoma; Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Stringed instruments; Orchestras--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1935. Jason Lee Band. Students with instruments and conductor in front of school building. (T. Times 11/7/1935, pg. 14- see newspaper caption for names)

Bands--Tacoma--1930-1940; Youth bands--Tacoma--1930-1940; Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Brass instruments; Wind instruments; Children playing musical instruments--Tacoma; Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1934. Jason Lee School baseball team, circa 1934. (WSHS)

Public Schools--Tacoma; Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Baseball players--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1934. Jason Lee School wrestling team, circa 1934. (WSHS)

Public Schools--Tacoma; Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Wrestlers;

• Established as Puget Sound University in 1888 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, the buildings on this site were demolished when the college moved to its new campus in 1924. Jason Lee Intermediate School was then built on this site, and was dedicated in 1925. circa 1908.
• Printed on front: Puget Sound University. Tacoma, Wash.

• University of Puget Sound was at 602 No. Sprague, until the new campus was built in 1924. These buildings were demolished -- now the site of Jason Lee Middle School. circa 1910.
• Printed on front: University Puget Sound, Tacoma, Wn. Pedersen Bros.

Two unidentified girls are making an elaborate decoration of fabric and paper for the Jason Lee's annual music festival. Jason Lee Junior High school (now Middle School) presented its annual musical festival on May 14, 1940. It was entitled "Say It With Music" and involved several hundred students. Boys and girls glee clubs, band, orchestra, and students from general music classes participated. The event included "Gypsy," Spanish and Mexican scenes. (T. Times 5-10-40, p. 20-article only)

Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Music festivals--Tacoma--1940-1950;Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma);

Music Festival at Jason Lee. Three girls work in classroom on decorations. (T. Times)

Public schools--Tacoma; Music festivals--Tacoma--1940-1950;Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma);

Over one hundred dancers and musicians performed on May 14, 1940 at Jason Lee Junior High in the schools spring music festival. A series of Gypsy, Spanish and Mexican musical scenes were combined by Miss Kathryn Bruner, the Jason Lee music instructor, into a program titled "Say It with Music". There is unfortunately no record of the names of these barefooted dancers.(T. Times, 5/14/1940, p. 5)

Public schools--Tacoma; Music festivals--Tacoma--1940-1950;Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Dancers--Tacoma; Costumes;

Music Festival at Jason Lee. Five dancing couples being serenaded by five boys. All wearing Mexican costumes. The youngsters were performing in a concert entitled "Say It With Music," staged by music instructor Kathryn Bruner. Two of the musicians are Arlene Hulo on guitar and Dick Carbone on accordion. The dancers on the right side of the photograph are identified as Shirley Morgan and Paul Grimes and Virginia Royse and Dick Martin. (T. Times, 5/14/1940, p. 5)

Public schools--Tacoma; Music festivals--Tacoma--1940-1950;Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Dancers--Tacoma; Costumes;

Music Festival at Jason Lee. Two dancing couples being serenaded by three boys. All are wearing Mexican costumes. Musical numbers with a Gypsy, Spanish or Mexican theme were offered in the program "Say It With Music," staged by music teacher Kathryn Bruner. (T. Times, 5/14/1940, p. 5).

Public schools--Tacoma; Music festivals--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Dancers--Tacoma; Costumes;

The United Good Neighbors, a predecessor of United Way, started their annual fund drive on September 27, 1955, with a goal of $848,960. The UGN supported 27 health, recreation and welfare agencies including St. Ann's Home, Tacoma Day Nursery and Camp Fire Girls. 500 Pierce County businesses had UGN chapter chairmen who solicited funds from over 30,000 employees. In this November 8, 1955, photograph, the 1955 UGN Donald Franklin Memorial Award is shared between two individuals, thought to be Mrs. Don Franklin and George W. Watts; Watts is an employee of Pacific Telephone & Telegraph. Franklin was the long-time district manager of the telephone company. Sepia photograph ordered by Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (TNT 11-9-55, p. 1)

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees--1950-1960; Awards; United Good Neighbors (Tacoma);

The orchestra at Jason Lee Middle School boasted two sets of identical twins in 1940. Anthony and Albert Mazzuca, age 15, on clarinet, and Fay and Fern Tschan on Mellophone. Both sets of twins went on to Stadium High School. Anthony and Albert continued to play in the band, and graduated in 1943. Fay and Fern took up other pursuits including the Rifle Club; they were both on the senior honor roll when they graduated in 1945. (T. Times 2/2/1940 p.11)

Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Brass instruments; Wind instruments; Children playing musical instruments--Tacoma; Twins; Mazzuca, Anthony; Mazzuca, Albert; Tschan, Fay; Tschan, Fern; Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma);

Jason Lee Junior High School, Roland Borhek, Architect; 1925. General view. (T.Times, Spring Editon)

Public Schools--Tacoma; Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma);

Attending the performance of Ted Shawn and his dancers at Jason Lee auditorium are Lillian (Mrs. Robert M.) Jackson, Shannon Smith and Alta (Mrs. George H.) Raleigh. Ted Shawn (1891-1972) was one of the early pioneers in 20th Century modern dance. Early in his dance career, 1914, he married Ruth St. Dennis and together they founded the Denishawn Co. They performed and worked together until they separated in 1930. From 1933-1940, Shawn performed and travelled with his own male company of dancers, forever changing the appearance of masculine dance. (T. Times, 4/15/1939, p. 7).

Jackson, Lillian; Smith, Shannon; Raleigh, Alta; Clothing & dress--1930-1940;

On April 13, 1939, Ted Shawn and his company of male dancers performed at Jason Lee. Interested spectators in their "smart spring ensembles" were Lillian (Mrs. Robert M.) Jackson, Shannon Smith and Alta (Mrs. George H.) Raleigh. Divinity student Shawn had taken up dance as therapy after a bout with diphtheria left him temporarily paralyzed. He discovered a passion for dance that would guide the remainder of his life. He was one of the early pioneers of 20th century modern dance. (T. Times, 4/15/1939, p. 7)

Jackson, Lillian; Smith, Shannon; Raleigh, Alta; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940; Events--Tacoma--1930-1940;

World acclaimed dancer and choreographer Ted Shawn and his company at Jason Lee auditorium. Waiting for his autograph are James Wilson, Joyce Rausch and Mildred Stout. Mr. Shawn, dressed in a robe, is still wearing his stage makeup. After the performance on April 13, 1939, Mr. Shawn and his male troupe were entertained at the Walter Sutter residence on Carr St. (T. Times, 4/15/39, p. 7).

Shawn, Ted; Autographing--Tacoma; Dancers--Tacoma--1930-1940; Wilson, James; Rausch, Joyce; Stout, Mildred;

Jason Lee drummers. Rhythmic course developed by music supervisor Louis Wersen has students using snare drum and resilient wooden plaque to learn rhythm, time and value of notes . (T. Times, 1/20/1939, p. 11, names listed).

Education - Schools - Public Schools - Junior High and Middle Schools - Tacoma - Jason Lee Intermediate School - Music Education Musical Instruments - Percussion instruments - Drums

Martha Graham gracefully lifted her arms in an interpretive dance during a April 1, 1937, appearance sponsored by the Tacoma Junior League. Miss Graham, born on May 11, 1894, was already a major force in modern dance by 1937 having already performed in sixty concerts in New York alone. Accompanied by musical director Louis Horst, Miss Graham and her troupe of twelve American girls were received by an enthusiastic audience in the Jason Lee Auditorium; her dance "Lamentation, " created in 1930, being perhaps the most popular. Proceeds from Miss Graham's performance were earmarked for the Well Baby Clinic at the County Hospital, a project of the Tacoma Junior League. Miss Graham would dance and choreograph for over 70 years and received many honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1976. She died on April 1, 1991, exactly 54 years after her Tacoma appearance. TPL-5108. ALBUM 8. (T.Times 4-1-37, p. 3, 4-2-37, p. 8)

Graham, Martha, 1893-1991; Dancers--Tacoma;

Dancer Martha Graham from photographer Turner Richards' 1938 stock file. The famous dancer appeared at Jason Lee Auditorium at the invitation of the Tacoma Junior League on April 1, 1937. She and her modern dance troupe of 12 were met with enthusiasm by local residents. Proceeds from Miss Graham's appearance went to the Junior League's Well Baby Clinic project at the county hospital. A cropped and reversed version of this photograph can be found at D7505-6A. (T.Times 4-1-37, p. 3, 4-2-37, p. 8)

Graham, Martha, 1893-1991; Dancers--Tacoma;

Jason Lee Junior High School, Opening Day. Assembly in auditorium. Nearly 30,000 students registered as city and county schools opened for fall quarter on September 7, 1938. (T. Times 9/7/1938, p. 1).

Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma);

Group of Jason Lee pupils pose in front of their school with basses and cellos. Photograph ordered as publicity for the upcoming Spring music festival sponsored by the public schools music department. The annual festival would begin April 27, 1938 and conclude May 12th and feature a series of nine concerts at area schools. Musicians would range from elementary school to advanced high school performers.

Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children playing musical instruments--Tacoma; Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Stringed instruments; Orchestras--Tacoma--1930-1940; Violoncellos;

Jason Lee 1938 Orchestra posed in front of their school with their stringed instruments. The school had recently purchased violas and cellos, adding to the depth of the orchestra's sound. The three girls seated on the far right play the new violas. They are, left to right, Aura Russell, Marion Kittredge and Wanda Sanders. (T. Times 4/29/1938, pg. 8)

Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children playing musical instruments--Tacoma; Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Stringed instruments; Orchestras--Tacoma--1930-1940; Violoncellos;

Four couples are seen square dancing in Jason Lee Junior High School's gym in February of 1949. Beginning at left and working around the wheel are: Sandra Burrows and Jay Grimstead, Sara Lovell and Bob Lang, Pat Holmes and Billy Redfield, and Shirley Boyle and Fred Thomas. They were dancing to the music of Bob Hager's records. Folk dancing gained wider interest among Tacoma's schools during the late 1940's. This followed a national trend and clubs formed among adults as well as school-age individuals. (T.Times 2/20/1949 p.29; T. Times 2-6-49, p. 19-article on square dancing interest)

Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Square dancing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Teenagers--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950;