John H Francis Polytechnic High School - Student Yearbook (Sun Valley, CA)

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H YEAR 4 fi 1 1 T our past ' polyiecltnic 1897-1955 our present we govern we gain we play 71281811711 our future san fernanclo valley

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I th poly story W'-'E'2 ls Jag! ai. , -Q x 'P-ff' r 4 FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY

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1... -.L-r1llqM.,,,LL. l new 9 '71 .4 1895-l.os Angeles Commercial High School, our beginning. JOHN H. FRANCE WILLIS A. DUNN Our second principal x,Nn 1111 1905-New four-story building on Washington Street and Grand Avenue. The Boiler Room still stands today. ..ausec..,,,, This impressive building was damaged by earthquake in 1933-34. Our founder and first principal our pa t HIGHLIGHTS OF POLYTECHNIC HISTORY 1895-A Commercial Department was organized in the Los Angeles High School . . . a two year course . . . two teachers and one hundred pupils. 1896--John H. Francis elected head of the Los Angeles Commercial High School . . . course was extended to three years . . . The department was a separate school from the beginning and held separate graduating exercises .... The Ionian Society was organized to promote culture through the fine arts. 1900-FIRST MOVE Los Angeles Commercial High moved into a ten room building opposite L. A. High on Fort Hill . . . First year there were 400 pupils . . . John H. Francis was elected principal. 1902-The Course of Study was extended to four years . . . The Commercial Student, the first annual was published . . . The LACHS Alumni Association was formed . . . Summer class numbered 22. 1903-Los Angeles voted a S200,000 bond issue for a polytechnic high school. Poly 'meaning many and technic meaning arts . . . the high school of many arts . . . The bonds passed because of the active canvassing of votes by the Commercial High School pupils . . . B. H. Donnell became vice principal . . . graduating classes numbered Summer, 32 pupils, Winter, 20 pupils. 1904-Principal Francis organized a Boys' Self- Government Committee. A sum of an additional Sl00,000 was voted in a subsequent bond election and construction of Polytechnic began at Washington and Grand. 1905-SECOND MOVE To one of the largest plants on the coast, a four story building . . . Plant costs S304,500 . . . ln September, Polytechnic High School opened its doors to over 1000 pupils and 20 teachers . . . There was furniture to accommodate 500 pupils . . . The gym was in the basement of the aud . . . Track was practiced on Praeger Pork, Washington and Grand, a corner where the Circus pitched its tents when in town. After the Circus left, the boys would clear the grounds of broken bottles before resuming practice . . . Three private residences were converted into classrooms. The Polytechnic Student now became the official name of the annual . . . A class of 17 graduated, the smallest class. 1906-Katherine B. Ross became girls' vice prin- cipal . . . Poly defeated Woodbury Business Col- lege, Pasadena, Eastlakes, and Whittier Athletic Club in football . . . The baseball team won 6 out of 9 games . . . Poly won the dual track meet 29-19. 1907-Greatly expanded curricula . . . many clubs and organizations formed . . . faculty num- bered 57 . . . Poly won the City Rugby Football championship . . . ln track: Ned Franklin ran a good race in the 100 and 220, but this being his first year, he did not win a point. He ran on the relay team that took third at U. S. C. Next year he will make good. 1908-Willis A. Dunn became boys' vice principal . . . Ned Franklin held the school record in the broad iump . . . 20 feet and 3 inches . . . First graduating class from Polytechnic. 1909-Ned Franklin was secretary of ASBO. He broke his broad-iump record of last year with a leap of 20 feet 4 and 314 inches. October 11, William Howard Taft, then President of the United States, turned over the first shovel- full of dirt in the dedication of the new Art building. The spade which he used is a treasured possession . . . Plans for the building were made by the Architecture Department. 1910-Edwin C. Franklin graduated . . . February enrollment 2016 . . . average daily attendance 1992-..,. Willis A. Dunn became principal as successor to John H. Francis, who hadqbeen pro- moted to Superintendent of Los Angeles City Schools .... W. C. Richer became boys' vice- principal. l9l1-12- . . First Journalism classes in California started at Poly .... The Boys' Student League originated. 1913-Kate F. Smith became girls' vice-principal . . . The Poly Optimist established. 1914-Deaf and Hard of Hearing classes moved to Polytechnic .... January 29 was visiting day for the faculty, Poly students were in charge of the school .... Adele A. Humphrey became girls vice-principal. 1915-Charles Thomas, present secretary of the Navy, grraduated from Polytechnic .... Following the World War l, Poly adopted 40 French Orphans.