St. Leo's Basketball Team, 1939 Parochial School League Champions. Nine players in uniform with Knights of Columbus trophy, banner and basketball. On their way to the championship, the team ran up an average of 50 points a game. They played each rival school, Holy Rosary, Visitation, Sacred Heart and St. Patricks, three times and won every time. Team members are, left to right, Bob Hines, Charles Paplow, Jack Hermsen, Larry Rash, Bob Hutt, Orville Zander, James O'Brien, Ted Garitone and Albert Buhr. Ordered by Father Joseph A. Lynch.

St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma); Church schools--Tacoma; Basketball--Tacoma; Basketball players--Tacoma;

St. Leo's School, string quartet. The cellist has been identified as Barbara Adler in this May of 1941 photograph. (Additional identification provided by a reader)

St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma); Church schools--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; String quartets (Musical groups); Adler, Barbara;

Bellarmine and St. Leo's together staged "The Sunbonnet Girl," a comic operetta, in February of 1947. Performances ran for three nights at St. Leo's auditorium. The show featured over 46 students in the chorus. Here a young man in white holds the hand of a girl in sunbonnet and long gown as he and the male chorus join in song. (T. Times, 2/11/47, p. 3-short article on operetta; T.Times 2-1-47, p. 2-list of chorus names; T.Times 1-25-47, p. 3-article).

Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stage props; Costumes; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma); Private schools--Tacoma--1940-1950;

St. Leo's High School and Bellarmine High School presented "The Spanish Belle", an operetta in two acts, at St. Leo's auditorium April 30 and May 2, 1950. Here we see two of the young male actors dressed as Spanish women and an English tourist as part of the humorous sketches that were worked into the action. Ordered by Sister Lavinia. (TNT, 4/30/1950, p.C-13)

Operas & operettas--Tacoma; Stage props; Costumes; Students--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma);

Class photo of eighteen students at St. Leo's School. The young women wear letter sweaters and dark skirts. Ordered by Sister Amarita.

St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Church schools--Tacoma;

Saint Leo's football team won the Parochial Prep League title in 1948 by winning a playoff game against Visitation. Playing for St. Leo's were: front row (l to r) Bernard Klee, Milton Faber, Raymond Cox, Weston Colbo, Tom Paine, Robert Pfeiffer, Gary Tomko; middle row (l to r) Joe Hermsen, Tipper Flom, John Welsh, Jack Umbriaco, Maynard Polkinghorn, Joseph Patterson, Bernard Winter, Thomas O'Toole, Robert Moreland; and back row (l to r) Peter Piper, Charles Miller, Raymond Lopez, John Kennedy, Gerald Woodard, John Armour. The priest in the back row, center is unidentified. (T.Times, 11/9/1948, p.10) TPL-9869

St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma); Church schools--Tacoma; Football players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Football--Tacoma--1940-1950; Victories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Saint Leo's school. Nine teenage girls stant in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary. They are unidentified. This is possibly a sodality on behalf of the Saint Leo's Church. The school was dedicated in 1912.

St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma); Church schools--Tacoma; Teenagers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Lighting fixtures in auditorium at St. Leo's, Silvray Lighting Inc. The auditorium at St. Leo's School is empty showing the decorative painting on the walls and the new lighting fixtures.

St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma)--Buildings; Religious education--Tacoma; Auditoriums--Tacoma--1940-1950; Light fixtures;

St. Joseph's Nursing School had 13 students graduate from their three-year program; students received their diplomas from Rev. John A. Dalgity, S.J. on May 8, 1949. Dr. Arthur P. O'Leary, President of the St. Joseph's Hospital Medical staff, presented the commencement address. Left to right: graduating nursing student James Wallace Donovan; unidentified; and Sister Maryanna Diederich, O.P. (T.N.T., 5/9/49, p. 3).

Nuns--Tacoma; Diederich, Maryanna; Nursing--Tacoma; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Donovan, James Wallace; Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; St. Joseph's Hospital & School of Nursing (Tacoma);

St. Joseph's School of Nursing was having graduation for thirteen of their students. View of graduating nursing students, and first through third year nursing students participating in the commencement exercises; ceremony was held at St. Leo's auditorium (T.N.T., 5/9/49, p. 3).

Nursing--Tacoma; Medical students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; St. Joseph's Hospital & School of Nursing (Tacoma); St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma)--Buildings;

Twenty two women were graduating from St. Joseph's nursing school. Reverend Damian Glen, OSB of St. Martin's College was the chief speaker at the graduation ceremony, awards were presented by Dr. George A. Moosey, and the class valedictorian was Corinne Annabelle Roe. View of St. Joseph's graduating nursing class at St. Leo's auditorium (T. Times, 5/17/48, p. 2).

Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Medical students--Tacoma; Nurses--Tacoma; Nursing--Tacoma; St. Joseph's Hospital & School of Nursing (Tacoma); St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma)--Buildings;

On November 17, 1927, Mrs. A.B. Smith was photographed with bottles of soda pop for sale at a charity benefit. Signs advertising ice cold Coca-Cola and Muscadine (5 cent) punch are attached to the wall. She was monitoring one of the booths at the Bellarmine College Fair, held at St. Leo's high school gym, from November 17-27, 1927. The gym was converted into many old California missions staffed by Catholic women and girls. Money raised during the Fair would support the new Bellarmine College to be built shortly. G34.1-146 (TNT 11-19-27, p. 14)

Smith, A.B.--Family; Fund raising--Tacoma--1920-1930; Signs (Notices); Carbonated beverages;

The first graduation of Bellarmine scholars occurred in June of 1929. The nineteen young graduates posed with church dignitaries under the banner "Ad Omnia Paratus, " ( "Prepared for All Things" ) in the St. Leo's school auditorium. Right Rev. Edward J. O'Dea, Bishop of Seattle, presided over the exercises. Others in attendance on stage included Tacoma Mayor James Newbegin and principal speaker, Camille Pessemier. The Catholic high school for boys, then called Bellarmine College, was founded in 1928 with an enrollment of 150. (www.bellarmineprep.org; TDL 6-5-29, p. 12-article with graduates' names; TNT 6-7-29, p. 21)

Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1920-1930;

On December 30, 1931 a banquet was held by the Filipino community of Tacoma to pay homage to Dr. Jose Rizal y Mercado, national patriot, hero and martyr. The members of Catholica Fraternitas Philippina met in the St. Leo's High School social hall at 1323 So. Yakima. The program for the evening included an address of welcome by Mariano Doniego, a steel guitar solo by Jose Pamoso, and a violin performance by Phil A. Corpus. (TNT 12/29/1931)

Ethnic groups--Tacoma--1930-1940; Filipinos--Tacoma--1930-1940; Catholica Fraternitas Philippina (Tacoma);

St. Leo's School, musical ensemble.

St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma); Church schools--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Music ensembles--Tacoma;

St. Leo's basketball team were the 1940 parochial champions and also winners of the Knights of Columbus trophy. They had a 8-1 record in the six-team league with Holy Rosary coming in second at 7-2. The boys are standing in a room with photographs and banners denoting championships awarded to Bellarmine High School. From left to right are: George Strobel, Ted Garritone (captain), Jack Hersmsen, Jack Kellly, James Nordi, Grant Carbone, Bill Cassedy and Rocky Minnitti. (T.Times 3-21-1940, p. 19)

Basketball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Basketball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Awards; St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma);

Boy Scouts at St. Leo's School. Boys sitting by a false fireplace. Track Meet Champions placques on wall. Ordered by Father Joseph A. Lynch.

St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma); Church schools--Tacoma; Boy Scouts (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

For the Easter season, the members of the Cardinal Club at St. Leo's Catholic School, 1323 Yakima Avenue So., presented the religious drama "The Upper Room" in March of 1940. Based on the Gospels the play centers on the events immediately following the crucifixion of Christ. Starring in the school production were: (l to r) Jack Enright, Betty Donohue as Mary Magdalene and Joseph Fitzpatrick. (T. Times 3/12/1940, pg. 7)

St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma); Religious education--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Donohue, Betty; Enright, Jack; Fitzpatrick, Joseph;

St. Leo's Glee Club. 75 choral group members in pastel colored-evening gowns stood in front of the garden scene backdrop in the school auditorium on April 24, 1940. These girls would be appearing in St. Leo's spring music festival to be held on April 30th. Their names were printed in the T.Times's April 26th edition. (filed with Argentum) (T.Times 4-26-1940, p. 13)

St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma); Religious education--Tacoma; Stages (Platforms); Singers; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Bellarmine. Bellarmine Seminary and St. Leo's High School jointly presented the operetta, "In Old St.Louis" April 8th, 10th and 11th, 1948, at St. Leo's auditorium. The large chorus included hunters, pirates, townspeople, blackface players and frontiersmen. The chorus' names were listed. (T.Times, 4/2/1948, p.16; 4/3/1948, p.8))

Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma); Religious education--Tacoma; Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Operas & operettas--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stages (Platforms);

Bellarmine students fill St. Leo's auditorium. They applaud schoolmates on the stage.

St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma); Church schools--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Auditoriums--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Approximately 130 students from St. Leo's High School and various parishes in Tacoma presented "The Sunbonnet Girl", a comic operetta in April 1951. The operetta included a chorus, 32 dancers, and an orchestra. Starring roles were played by Milla Marchesini, Joan Piper, Ron Jutilla and Terry Coleman. The operetta was directed by Sister Lavinia. (TNT, 4/15/1951, p.D-11; 4/22/1951, p.D-11)

Costumes; Students--Tacoma; St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma); Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1950-1960;

St. Leo's basketball team won the coveted prize, the Knights of Columbus trophy, for their win in the Parochial Grade School League Championship in 1945. They defeated Visitation 30-20 in a play-off game. Names appear in newspaper (T. Times, 3/8/45, p. 11).

Basketball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Basketball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Religious education--Tacoma; St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma);

St. Leo's High School and Bellarmine High School presented "The Spanish Belle", an operetta in two acts, at St. Leo's auditorium April 30 and May 2, 1950. A line of tap-dancers are shown in costume. Bob Columbini originated and directed the dances. The orchestra was directed by Louis Greiner. Ordered by Sister Lavinia. Names of the more than 20 dancers in the operetta are listed in the newspaper. (TNT, 4/30/1950, p.C-13)

Operas & operettas--Tacoma; Stage props; Costumes; Students--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma);

Class photo at St. Leo's School. The girls' ensemble at St. Leo's High School, the Francelians, took part in the "I Am an American" program at Point Defiance Park May 21, 1950. The girls' ensemble was joined by 10 boys from Bellarmine Glee Club for presentation of songs honoring new citizens of the United States. Ordered by Sister Amarita. (TNT, 5/21/1950, p.C-12)

St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Church schools--Tacoma; Singers--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Bellarmine and St. Leo's would be performing "Golden Memories", a musical revue about John and Maggie Peyton's golden anniversary. Sister Mary Lavinia, O.S.F. of St. Leo's faculty was the director of the musical; the leading roles were being portrayed by students Dick Galbraith and Jackie Simons. View of cast members from Bellarmine and St. Leo's that performed "Golden Memories" musical revue at St. Leo's auditorium (T.N.T., 4/24/49, p. C-15).

Musical revues & comedies--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Religious education--Tacoma; Stages (Platforms); Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma);

Bellarmine students at St. Leo's auditorium. A yell squad cheers from the stage.

St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma); Church schools--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Auditoriums--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cheerleading--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stages (Platforms);

Bellarmine and St. Leo's joined together to stage "The Sunbonnet Girl," a comic operetta, in February of 1947. The show was performed on three nights at St. Leo's auditorium. It featured over 46 students in the chorus. In this photograph of the cast, Gloria Marinacci and Don d'Andrea, in the center, are surrounded by sunbonnet- wearing young women and young men in flannel shirts. (T. Times, 2/11/47, p. 3-article).

Operas & operettas--Tacoma; Stage props; Costumes; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma); Private schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Marinacci, Gloria; d'Andrea, Don;

St. Joseph's Nursing School graduated 13 students from their three year program; students received their diplomas from Rev. John A. Dalgity, S.J. on May 8, 1949. Left to right: graduating nursing student, Carol Joann Henry and Reverend John A. Dalgity, S.J. at St. Leo's Parochial School. (T.N.T., 5/9/49, p. 3)

Henry, Carol Joann; Dalgity, John A.; Priests--Tacoma--1940-1950; Nursing--Tacoma; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; St. Joseph's Hospital & School of Nursing (Tacoma); St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma)--Buildings;