Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Washington and Lee University - Fancy Dress Ball |
Description |
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college located in Lexington, Virginia. The university was descended from Augusta Academy, which was established in 1749. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall and moved to Lexington in 1780 when it was chartered as Liberty Hall Academy and built its first facility near town in 1782. In 1796 George Washington endowed the Academy with its largest gift ever, $20,000 in stock. In appreciation the trustees renamed the school Washington College. Robert E. Lee was its president after the Civil War until his death in 1870, after which the school was renamed Washington and Lee University. The University is divided into three schools: The College where all undergraduate students begin their studies; the Williams School of Commerce, Economics and Politics; and the School of Law. The school was all male until 1972 when women were admitted into the school of law. It wasn't until 1985 when female undergraduates were admitted, mainly because of the many female colleges offered in the surrounding area. The Fancy Dress Ball is Washington and Lee University's oldest social tradition. It was started in 1907 by librarian Anne Robertson White. "Miss Annie Joe" organized the first ball as an event where male W&L students could enjoy a classy, dignified evening with their dates from neighboring women's colleges or with their 'steadies' from back home. It was originally hailed as 'The Social Event of The Season' for Southern college-aged men and women. "Miss Annie" presided over the ball until 1920. Since then, Fancy Dress has been planned and organized by a committee of students with incredible faculty and staff support. The theme for this May 1954 event was "King Rex and His Court at Mardi Gras." |
Object ID |
1998.24.173 |
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Date |
May 24, 1954 |
Year Range from |
1954 |
Year Range to |
1954 |
Subjects |
Colleges Universities & colleges University Men Men & women Costume balls Costumes Women |
Search Terms |
Washington & Lee University Lexington, Virginia |
People |
Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward) Washington, George |
Collection |
Roanoke Chamber of Commerce Photograph Collection |
Imagefile |
013\199824173.JPG |
Number of images |
1 |