Students in Colonial Costumes

http://www.alplm-cdi.com/chroniclingillinois/files/uploads/402244-01.jpg

Title

Students in Colonial Costumes

Subject

Monticello College
Women college students
College students
Illinois--Godfrey
Balls (Parties)
Costume
Washington, George, 1732-1799

Description

Monticello College students in full colonial costume arrive at the George Washington Banquet and Ball via a large staircase.

On verso: "The most formal event of the year at Monticello is the George Washington Banquet and Ball. Known around the campus as "The GWB", the annual event began in 1899 when Miss Harriet Haskell, principal of what was then the Monticello Female Seminary, held a reception for the students in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the death of George Washington. Miss Haskell, whose forty-year term as the school's chief administrator has become almost legendary, was extremely interested in national patriotism as symbolized by George Washington as the father of our country and was concerned that no one seemed to have a proper observance of his birthday. To emphasize this point, Miss Haskell, who loved to dramatize, and the president of the senior class always attended the reception dressed as George and Martha Washington. As have so many of Miss Haskell's original activities, the observance of George Washington's Birthday has become a Monticello tradition. Over the years, the event has evolved into a formal banquet and ball, but the minuet as performed by students dressed in period costumes still precedes all other activities of the GWB."

Publisher

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

Date

n.d.

Format

jpg

Language

eng

Identifier

402244
Monticello College Collection
Monticello College Collection Photo Album

Original Format

commercial print
b&w
1

Physical Dimensions

21 x 26 cm