In 1915, the citizen of Los Angeles voted to sell bonds to raise 4,600,000 dollars to build schools in the Los Angeles area.
Approximately $500,000 was appropriated to build Jefferson High School[2] on the "Stadium East Grounds" (The Old Coliseum)[a] which held approximately 25,000 people in a circled amphitheater configuration. The "Stadium" as it was known was the site for hosting and entertaining travelers on the way to both the San Diego and San Francisco world expo in 1915. Numerous Rodeos and bicycle races were he
ld at the location.[3]
Architect Norman F Marsh was hired to design the new Jefferson High School complex, the property front 1235 feet on Hooper Avenue, 1149 feet on Compton Avenue, and 952 feet on thirty Fourth Street and 392 feet on thirty eight streets. The buildings of the group will be of brick and concrete construction, being faced with rug tapestry brick and trimmed with artificial stoned. All corridors and stairways will be made absolutely fireproof. The classic style will be followed, each of the main structures having a dignified entrance portico with stone pediment and columns.[2]
Jefferson opened its doors on September 11, 1916, with 24 faculty members and two buildings completed. Theodore Fulton was installed as the School first Principal.[4]
[edit] The Earthquake...
On March 10, 1933 in the city of Long Beach, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 which totally destroyed the infrastructure of the six buildings which composed the Jefferson High School Campus. The campus was closed from March 10 until April 6 while the school boards access the situation. On April 6, tent bungalows provided by the school board was erected on the football fields. Classes were shortened to half day sessions in order to serve the entire student population.[5]
[edit] The New Beginning
In 1933, Architect Stiles O Clement was hired to build a 45 unit campus with a budget of $353,000.[6] The "Streamline Moderne" building structures were completed in 1935. Ross Dickinson was selected and funded by Federal Art Project to Paint four 11 feet by 5.5 foot murals with the theme “The History of Recorded Word”. The murals were completed in 1937.[7]
As of 1936, several future notable alumni such as Ralph Bunche, Woody Strode and Samuel R Browne have already graduated from Jefferson High School. All three men African American, they will be the first of many Jefferson alumni to break racial barriers in the Politics of Diplomacy, The Art of Dance, the Art of Music and the Interpretation of Sports. Jefferson produced more Jazz musician and composer than any other high school west of the Mississippi.[8] Many of the musicians were nurtured under the guidance of Samuel R. Browne.
[edit] Sports
Beginning in 1937, Jefferson won the first of 8 California State Championship in Track and Field (1937, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1956, 1962, and 1964), no other high school in the nation can match what the Democrats at Jefferson High have accomplished in that time period.[9] The four consecutive state championships in California (1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952) have not been surpassed today. Woody Strode is one of two men who broke the color barrier in the National Football League in 1946. Mal Whitfield and Charles Dumas both received Gold Medals in the Olympics. This is a rare instance when two Olympic Gold medalists have come from the same high school. The Fulton-Littlefield athletic field were the Jefferson track and field teams plays is named after the first principal Theodore Fulton and legendary football coach Harry Von Littlefield.
[edit] Music
Jazz may have begun in New Orleans, but Jefferson High produce more prominent Jazz Musicians / Composers than any public or private high school in California.[8] Legendary music teachers Caughey Roberts and Samuel R. Browne demanding orchestral scores set the bar very high for would-be composers. Browne's clinics with William Grant Still and Jimmie Lunceford would challenge students to be the best they could be.[8] Doo W*p groups such as The Platters (originally called the LA Flamingos)[10] and The Penguins[11] were initially formed with a least one singer from Jefferson High. Group members such as Richard Berry, Young Jessie and Jesse Belvin went on to have notable individual careers.
