Students at Jason Lee Junior High School, 602 No. Sprague Ave., study in their school's new science lab on April 18, 1968. Spacious work tables with built-in sinks, bright lighting, wood flooring, and lots of storage capacity were part of the science facility. A PE/industrial arts addition was planned for the near future; this was part of a $264,000 remodeling project. This photograph was used in a News Tribune ad dated May 13, 1968, asking for school bond passage. If the bond passed, similar labs would be built at Stewart, Gray and Mason Junior Highs for $90,000. Photograph ordered by the Citizens Committee for School Support. (TNT ad 5-13-68, p. 6)

Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1960-1970; School children--Tacoma--1960-1970; Laboratories--Tacoma--1960-1970;

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

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

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;

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 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 Junior High School 9A class in June of 1932. Group of students with sports equipment. (filed with Argentum)

Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma)--Group portraits--1930-1940; School children--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Jason Lee School 9A class. The ninth grade class poses in the school gymnasium under a basketball hoop with a torn net. Jason Lee opened in 1924, the first and biggest of the six intermediate schools built with proceeds from a $2.4 million bond issue passed in 1923. By the end of its first year, the school was already overcrowded with 1600 students in a school built to accomodate 1200. It was added on to in 1968 and remodeled in 1966 and 1972. The school reopened in 2002 after extensive remodeling.

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

This photograph of the Jason Lee Intermediate School (Middle School) at 602 North Sprague was taken several months after the school was officially dedicated. Designed by Roland E. Borhek, the gothic revival style school opened for classes in September of 1924. Originally named West Intermediate school, the name was soon changed to Jason Lee to honor an early Northwest missionary and pioneer of that name. The school, which recently underwent a $27 million restoration, is built on the site of the old College of Puget Sound campus at Sixth and No. Sprague. ("For the record" by Winnifred L. Olsen)

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

ca. 1926. General view of Jason Lee Intermediate School, circa 1926. Jason Lee was built in 1924 from a design by architect Roland Borhek. The school was the first and largest of six new "intermediate" schools built after the 1923 bond issue. It was originally named West Intermediate, but the name was changed to honor Northwest missionary Jason Lee. (filed with Argentum)

Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Girls Glee Club for 1939 Christmas program at Jason Lee. About 50 girls in long choir robes and director, half on each side altar with cross. (filed with Argentum)

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

Cast of vaudeville show at Jason Lee School. 14 young people on stage, five girls and nine boys, in Mexican costumes. Three boys are a band, one is a solo dancer, the rest are coupled with the girls for dancing. Over 200 students would take part in the Jason Lee vaudeville show. The show was sponsored by the Student Improvement club as a benefit for the visual education department. (T. Times)

Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma; Boys--Tacoma;

ca. 1935. Boy from Jason Lee Orchestra playing bassoon in front of school. The boy is probably Bruce Allen, a noted juvenile bassoonist, who would have been around 9 years old at the time of this picture. The bassoon is one of the most difficult wood instruments and is usually not attempted by such young players. By 1938, Bruce had been studying for over 2 years and played in the Tacoma Times Jr. Concert Band (formerly known as the Mickey Mouse Band.) He was placed first chair by the conductor of the Junior Orchestra at the 1938 high school music festival in St. Louis. (T. Times 1/8/1937, pg. 7; T. Times 5/20/1938)

Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Bassoons; Wind instruments; Allen, Bruce;

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);

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;

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;

On June 9, 1924, the graduating students and faculty at the College of Puget Sound gathered to bid farewell to the old campus at 602 North Sprague Avenue (now the site of Jason Lee Middle School.) The building was constructed in 1903 from a design by George W. Bullard; and demolished in 1924 after the college moved to its new location at 1500 North Warner. The 21st Commencement Exercises were held on the morning of June 11th at Jones Hall on the new campus. (TNT 6/11/1924, pg. 11) Boland# B10257

College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Universities & colleges--Tacoma--1920-1930;

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. 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. General view of Jason Lee Intermediate School, circa 1934, with trolley wire in foreground. The Gothic Revival school designed by Roland Borhek opened in 1924. It was the first and largest of six new intermediate schools built from the proceeds of a 1923 bond issue. As more education became essential, the high schools were overcrowded. In 1920, the 6-3-3 elementary, intermediate, high school plan was designed to relieve overcrowding and a 2.4 million bond issue passed to build the 6 new schools. Originally named West Intermediate school, the name was soon changed to Jason Lee to honor an early Northwest missionary pioneer. The school is built on the site of the old College of Puget Sound campus at Sixth and No. Sprague. In 1928, the name was changed to Jason Lee Junior High, and later to middle school. ("For the record" by Winnifred L. Olsen)

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

Jason Lee Intermediate School, Boys' Glee Club. Overhead view in October of 1940 of 42 uniformed boys in three columns of 14. The Glee Club is made of boys currently in vocal music classes and performs under the direction of Kathryn Bruner. They would be performing at the first fall concert for the St. Cecelia Club at the Hotel Winthrop. (T. Times 11/8/1940, pg. 13 boys' names in caption)

Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Choirs (Music); School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Music education--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Jason Lee Intermediate School, Boys' Glee Club. Forty-two boys in uniforms gathered around a piano in October of 1940. The Glee Club is made of boys currently in vocal music classes and performs under the direction of Kathryn Bruner. They would be performing at the first fall concert for the St. Cecelia Club at the Hotel Winthrop. (T. Times 11/8/1940, pg. 13 (names in caption); 11/1/1940, pg. 11)

Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Pianos; Choirs (Music); School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Music education--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Boys Glee Club in 1939 Christmas program at Jason Lee School. 34 boys on stage in pants, shirts, and jackets, half on either side of an altar with cross. (filed with Argentum)

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

General exterior view of Jason Lee Intermediate School taken in January of 1940. The school designed by Roland Borhek, Architect, opened for classes in September of 1924. (T. Times) (filed with Argentum)

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

All City Orchestra on stage at Jason Lee School. The All City Junior High School Orchestra represented six junior high schools as they prepared for the upcoming All City Music Festival to occur on May 3, 1940 at Jason Lee. The orchestra would be one of the major attractions of the festival which also included the All City Elementary School Orchestra and various glee and choral groups. Names of the young musicians in the Junior High Orchestra were listed in the Tacoma Times 5-3-1940 edition. (T.Times 5-3-1940, p. 11- alt. photo)

Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Stringed instruments; Musicians--Tacoma--1940-1950; Orchestras--Tacoma--1940-1950; Youth orchestras--Tacoma--1940-1950; All City Orchestra (Tacoma);

A class in "Primary Methods" was taught by Mrs. Hayner during the 1922 summer session at the College of Puget Sound. There were several different classes in the Religious Education department being held at the college, then located at 602 No. Sprague Ave. The small class posed on the steps of the school on August 2, 1922. G67.1-019

College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Students--Tacoma--1920-1930;

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);

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;

On November 2, 1939, the 39-member Jason Lee junior orchestra posed with instructor R.E. Fussell at the junior high school located at 602 North Sprague Avenue. First row (l-r): Betty Garvik, Betty Thatcher, Paul Grimes, Bob Smythe, David Johnson, Eddie Nelson, Neal Miller, Ted Lyon, Chester Ryan, Bob Axlund, Dick Brewster, Jewell Windh, twins Fern Tschan and Fay Tschan. 2nd row (l-r): Rose Manweiler, Ronald Swanson, Harold Prescot, Gloria Burkhart, Jean Vergowe, Arthur Gerlach, Bob Austin, Larry Allen, Darrell Marshall, David Keffler, Shirley Morgan, Melford Carnes, Mr. Fussell. 3rd row (l-r): David Hurlow, Geraldine Massie, Dick Milton, Virginia Karponi, Shirley Jensen, Herbert Rudolph, Randall Anderson, Robert Nixon, Billy Ellis, Harry Frazier, Roy Edwardson, Lewis Perkin, David Turenne. Some of these budding symphonists continued their musical training at Stadium High School. (T.Times 11-3-39, p. 20-alternate photograph & article)

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

Spring Music Festival at Jason Lee Junior High. Many students in gypsy costumes on stage with covered wagon prop. The concert opened with a gypsy scene and continued with Spanish and Mexican sections, all woven together under the title "Say It With Music." (T. Times 5/10/1940, 20)

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

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