By Mary A. Sego
Title: Helen Gould collection of Purdue dance cards and theater programs, 1922-1926
Predominant Dates:1923-1924
Primary Creator: Gould, Helen (1905? (date of birth))
Extent: 0.6 Cubic feet. More info below.
Arrangement:
1. Dance Cards, 1922-1926 (0.4 cubic feet). The dance cards cover a wide range of organizations, but some of those featured are: Kappa Alpha Theta, Beta Theta Pi, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi, Theta Chi, Purdue University Women’s and Men’s Pan Hellenic formals, Purdue “Blanket Hop,” “Annual Cadet Hop,” “Leap Year Formal Dance” (1924), Purdue University Junior Promenade,” and “Jefferson High School Senior Dance” (1924). Gould made notes on many of the dance cards, stating the status of her evening at the event. Most of the dance cards are for 1923-1924.
Materials in the series have been sleeved and are arranged chronologically; each dance is arranged by the exact date it took place.
2. Theater Programs, 1922-1924 (0.05 cubic feet). This series contains two theater programs for productions of “The Little Theatre of Purdue” along with programs for the production of “The Gingham Girl,” and the “Fifteenth Annual Production of The Harlequin Club of Purdue University,” presented at the Mars Theatre in LaFayette, IN. The programs also feature advertisements for the businesses in the area during that time period.
Materials in the series are arranged chronologically and have been placed in separate folders for preservation purposes.
3. Purdue Related Ephemera and Miscellaneous Memorabilia, 1922-1925 (0.15 cubic feet). This series contains the unique Purdue memorabilia found among Gould’s dance cards and theater programs. It contains a Chi Omega rush program - 2 ½” x 3 ½” leather covered booklet, dated September 9 -16, 1922. Also found in this series are a 1922 Purdue “P” Homecoming pin; a handwritten invitation to Alpha Chi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta 1923 initiation ceremony and a take away (favor) - leather coin purse from the Purdue Men’s Pan Hellenic 1924 formal. Two undated items are a football shaped tag for “Booster Day To Send The Purdue Band to Chicago and Indiana Games” and a flyer for a Purdue pep session, which has the lyrics for “Let’s Go Purdue,” by O.K. Quivey printed on it.
These items have also been placed in chronological order.
Date Acquired: 05/13/2014
Subjects: Beta Theta Pi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Mars Theater (Lafayette, Indiana), Panhellenic Association of Purdue University, Pi Kappa Alpha, Purdue University, Purdue University--Students, Purdue University--Students--Social life and customs--20th century, Student activities--United States, Women's Archives at Purdue University
Forms of Material: Artifacts (object genre), Buttons, Dance cards, Ephemera, Memorabilia, Notes, Programs, Souvenirs
Languages: English
Helen Gould was a Purdue University student from 1922-1926, as indicated in the Debris yearbook. Little more is known about her. Her dance cards and theater programs reflect the many dances and performances she attended as a Purdue student.
A dance card was used by a woman to record the names of the gentlemen with whom she intended to dance each successive dance at a formal ball, and it listed all the dances for the evening. Opposite each dance is a space to record the name of the partner for the dance. They appear to have originated in the 18th century, but their use first became widespread in the 19th century Vienna, especially at the massive balls during Fasching before Lent.
A dance card is typically a booklet with a decorative cover, indicating the sponsoring organization of the ball and a decorative cord by which it could be attached to a lady's wrist or ball gown. As in Gould’s case, they are often kept as souvenirs of the evening.
Beta Theta Pi
Kappa Alpha Theta
Mars Theater (Lafayette, Indiana)
Panhellenic Association of Purdue University
Pi Kappa Alpha
Purdue University
Purdue University--Students
Purdue University--Students--Social life and customs--20th century
Student activities--United States
Women's Archives at Purdue University
Repository: Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections
Alternate Extent Statement: 2 mss boxes
Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions: Purdue University
Acquisition Source: Acquisition method unknown
Related Materials:
Martha Bemis Rogers dance cards
http://www4.lib.purdue.edu/archon/index.php?p=collections/controlcard&id=1530&q=dance+cards
Simeon V.B. Miller scrapbook, 1900-1906
Charles Zergiebel collection, 1919-1923
http://www4.lib.purdue.edu/archon/index.php?p=collections/controlcard&id=394
Preferred Citation: MSA 294, Helen Gould collection of Purdue dance cards and Theater programs, Karnes Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries
Processing Information: All materials have been housed in polyester sleeves, acid-free folders, and acid-free boxes and are grouped into individual series for preservation purposes. The dance cards, programs and other materials are arranged in chronological order.
Other URL: http://collections.lib.purdue.edu/fa/pdf/msa294_gould.pdf
