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 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);

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;

Scenes from the Cardinal Club play, "The Upper Room," at St. Leo's. The well known religious drama is being presented in the auditorium of St. Leo's March 15-16, 1940 as an Easter season offering. Jack Enright kneels at a long table while Joseph Fitzpatrick holds two large keys. Mary Magdalene, played by Betty Donohue, serenely looks on. (T. Times 3/12/1940, pg. 7)

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

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;

Capping ceremony. 16 new nurses graduated from the St. Joseph Hospital & School of Nursing on Sunday, June 5, 1955, in ceremonies held at St. Leo's School. Principal speakers at the event were Dr. Thomas A. Smeall and John J. O'Connell. Members of the senior nursing class were: (seated L-R): Hermenia Jayubo, Susan Dinehart, Marion Smoot, Jewel Panard, Maxine Schultz, Sheryl Mellow and Mrs. William Wedel. Standing (L-R) were: Mary Kerst, Judy Mann, Leata Pierson, Jackie Covers, JoAnn Zawislak, Dixie Albom, Jackie Readel, Betty Root and Lois McGarry. (TNT 6-6-55, p. 7) TPL-9100

Nurses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; St. Josephs Hospital & School of Nursing (Tacoma);

The recently organized "Leoettes" girls marching group of St. Leo's High School posed in front of their school at 1323 Yakima Avenue South on March 29, 1939. Organized by Mrs. R.H. Wescott, physical director at the school, the girls were scheduled to take part in the 1939 Daffodil Parade. Showing off their new uniforms are: (front row, l to r) Filis Otto, Lorraine Harkness, Betty Walentiny, Lillian Geroux, Shirley Ann Riley, Margaret Desmond, Maxine Shaughnessy, Dorothy Kirby, Pat Piper, Geraldine Carbone, Oralee Zander; and (back row, l to r) Dorothy Blanchfield, Louise Smyth, Ethel Williams, Elaine Sullivan, Dorothy Kennedy, Evelyn Oleson, Norma Moratti, Lois Walter, Gloria LaFrambois, and Helen Eltrier.(T. Times, 3/30/1939, p. 20)

St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma); Church schools--Tacoma; Drill teams; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

St. Leo's School newly organized "Leoettes" practices for Daffodil Parade in front of school building. Building by C. Fred Mahon, Architect, 1912. (T. Times, 3/30/1939, p. 20).

St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma); Church schools--Tacoma; Drill teams; Marching--Tacoma;

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;

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;

Class photo at St. Leo's School. The students stand on bleachers on the stage wearing floor-length gowns. Stage scenery hangs behind them. Ordered by Sister Amarita.

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

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);

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);

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, under the direction of Sister Mary Lavinia of St. Leo's and Father John Thatcher, S.J., of Bellarmine. Here we see two of the young male actors dressed as Spanish women 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);

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;

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);

These graduating nurses posed for a group portrait on May 8, 1949. Front row left to right: Olive May Whitehouse, Paula Mae Suttich, Eileen Patricia Callahan, Margaret Ann Buchko, Dolores Eileen Peterson and Dolores Lorraine Mott; back row left to right: Carol Joann Henry, Sister Maryanna Diederich, O.P., Betty Jane Hammond, James Wallace Donovan and Arlene Theresa Bauer (T.N.T., 5/9/49, p. 3).

Nuns--Tacoma; 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;

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;

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);

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;

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 High School and St. Leo's High School are presenting the operetta, "In Old St.Louis" April 8th, 10th and 11th, 1948, at St. Leo's auditorium. James Simpson and Gloria Marinacci have the lead roles supported by Pat O'Leary and Barbara Fox. (T.Times, 4/2/1948, p.16)

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

Bellarmine High School and St. Leo's High School are presenting the operetta, "In Old St.Louis" April 8th, 10th and 11th, 1948, at St. Leo's auditorium. The entire cast fills the stage. Students dressed as pioneer woodsmen hold their muskets as an honor guard over the leading couple, James Simpson and Gloria Marinacci.. (T.Times, 4/2/1948, p.16)

Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma); Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Operas & operettas--Tacoma--1940-1950; Simpson, James; Marinacci, Gloria; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Private schools--Tacoma--1940-1950

Bellarmine students at St. Leo's auditorium. Students lead a song from the stage of the auditorium. Many of them wear their school letters on their sweaters. The scene is set as an ice cream parlor.

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 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 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;

The St. Leo's School baseball team placed first in the Parochial League season of 1947. The championship team posed for this photograph on May 26, 1947. L-R, seated; James Riconosciuto, Vincent Knabel, and James Ray; kneeling; Gilbert Michaelson, William Gallwas, Robert Downing, Frank Bartenetti and John Koehler; standing; Ronald Hohn, Ronald Figalla, William Crotty, Fred Cormier, George Piper Joseph Barzat and Gregory Gianes. (T.Times, 6/13/1947, p.14)

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

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;