Washington College Junior Prom Dance Card with Pencil | Class of 1925 | Dated May 30, 1924
Description
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Historical Context & Origin
Region: United States – Chestertown, Maryland
Material: Printed paper booklet with cord binding and attached miniature pencil
Period: Early 20th Century, 1924
Description
This charming original Washington College Junior Prom dance card dates to May 30, 1924, honoring the Class of 1925. Dance cards were a common social accessory at formal balls and proms during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Guests would use the small booklet—often accompanied by a tiny pencil attached by cord—to record the names of partners for each scheduled dance.
The card features a printed cover with the Washington College seal, tied with a period cord and fitted with its original miniature pencil. Inside, the booklet lists the Order of Dances, including multiple Fox Trots and Waltzes, reflecting the popular dance styles of the Jazz Age. Several dance lines have been filled in with period handwriting, providing a wonderful glimpse into the social customs of American college life in the 1920s.
Additional pages list event details including patronesses, music by George W. Madden of New Castle, Delaware, and members of the Cotillion Club Committee and Decorations Committee responsible for organizing the evening.
Dance cards such as this are highly collectible pieces of ephemera from the Roaring Twenties, offering a personal connection to the era’s collegiate social traditions and formal events.
Features
- Original Washington College Junior Prom dance card
- Dated May 30, 1924
- Issued in honor of the Class of 1925
- Retains the original miniature pencil and cord
- Printed program including dance order, patronesses, and committee members
- Several dances filled in with period handwritten partner names
- Attractive Washington College seal printed on the cover
Cultural Significance
Dance cards were an essential element of formal social events during the late Victorian and early 20th-century periods. They served both as a practical tool for organizing dance partners and as a keepsake of important social occasions. Collegiate dance cards are particularly desirable as they document student life, fashion, and social customs during a transformative period in American cultural history—the Jazz Age of the 1920s.
Condition
Very good antique condition. The booklet shows expected age-related wear including light toning and minor creasing consistent with a paper item from the 1920s. The original cord binding and miniature pencil remain intact. Some dance entries are written in pencil as originally intended.
Dimensions (Approximate)
Dance card booklet:
Length: 3.6 in
Width: 2.6 in
Pencil:
Length: 2.2 in
Age (Approximate)
101 years old
Learn More
Read about the tradition of dance cards through the Millikin University Archives
View our curated 20th Century Artifacts Collection
Description
Historical Context & Origin
Region: United States – Chestertown, Maryland
Material: Printed paper booklet with cord binding and attached miniature pencil
Period: Early 20th Century, 1924
Description
This charming original Washington College Junior Prom dance card dates to May 30, 1924, honoring the Class of 1925. Dance cards were a common social accessory at formal balls and proms during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Guests would use the small booklet—often accompanied by a tiny pencil attached by cord—to record the names of partners for each scheduled dance.
The card features a printed cover with the Washington College seal, tied with a period cord and fitted with its original miniature pencil. Inside, the booklet lists the Order of Dances, including multiple Fox Trots and Waltzes, reflecting the popular dance styles of the Jazz Age. Several dance lines have been filled in with period handwriting, providing a wonderful glimpse into the social customs of American college life in the 1920s.
Additional pages list event details including patronesses, music by George W. Madden of New Castle, Delaware, and members of the Cotillion Club Committee and Decorations Committee responsible for organizing the evening.
Dance cards such as this are highly collectible pieces of ephemera from the Roaring Twenties, offering a personal connection to the era’s collegiate social traditions and formal events.
Features
- Original Washington College Junior Prom dance card
- Dated May 30, 1924
- Issued in honor of the Class of 1925
- Retains the original miniature pencil and cord
- Printed program including dance order, patronesses, and committee members
- Several dances filled in with period handwritten partner names
- Attractive Washington College seal printed on the cover
Cultural Significance
Dance cards were an essential element of formal social events during the late Victorian and early 20th-century periods. They served both as a practical tool for organizing dance partners and as a keepsake of important social occasions. Collegiate dance cards are particularly desirable as they document student life, fashion, and social customs during a transformative period in American cultural history—the Jazz Age of the 1920s.
Condition
Very good antique condition. The booklet shows expected age-related wear including light toning and minor creasing consistent with a paper item from the 1920s. The original cord binding and miniature pencil remain intact. Some dance entries are written in pencil as originally intended.
Dimensions (Approximate)
Dance card booklet:
Length: 3.6 in
Width: 2.6 in
Pencil:
Length: 2.2 in
Age (Approximate)
101 years old
Learn More
Read about the tradition of dance cards through the Millikin University Archives
View our curated 20th Century Artifacts Collection
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