This post is by Mike Raymond, Lambda Chi Alpha, Miami University (Ohio), Class of 1967. Thank you, Mike!
Dance cards are a lost part of Greek Life history. At one time they were prominent parts of balls and dances on campus across America. They first appeared in Europe in the early 1800s but quickly made their way to America around the time of the American Civil War. Most people, aside from watching Bridgerton on Netflix, have never seen a dance card or know its purpose.
The cards were a fixture at college and Greek Letter Society organization dances from about the end of World War I to the late 1960s. Dance cards could be found throughout society from community groups, like the Masons, to high school proms, to the ‘country club” set. A young woman displayed her dance card on her left arm, dangling from a colorful cord and sporting a pencil to write down the names of her dance partners.
Companies like Balfour, Auld, Brochon, E. Kilburn, and Burr-Patterson made the design and sale of dance cards a large portion of their business as they marketed their products to fraternity men. I can remember back in 1966 when a number of salesmen solicited my fraternity for dance cards. Later as a teacher, the high school proms all sported dance cards into the late 1970s.
WHAT IS A DANCE CARD?
So, just what is a dance card? The cards come in many guises. Originally, it was an actual card printed on both sides with a list of dances. As time passed, it took the form of a small booklet, stapled or held together by a cord or string with an attached pencil. The card itself named the dance theme, had a list of dances, the orchestra playing, and the people who organized or sponsored the event. The variations in themes, colors, shape, materials, are endless. There were homemade cards as well as the professionally designed and manufactured dance cards.
The dance card served at least three purposes: it provided an easy introduction for potential dance partners to meet each other, it helped to track the evening’s dances, and it later served as a memento or keepsake from the event. Expressions like, “My dance card is filled,” originated from the use of the dance card. Old scrapbooks abound on the internet that are filled with dance cards from hundreds of colleges in the first two-thirds of the 20th century.
NOVELTY DANCE CARDS
It is amazing how creative people could be when designing dance cards. These novelty dance cards became very popular after World War II and continued to the 1960s. Three of these cards are presented in this article. They include a Beta Theta Pi “Kid Party” with an old-fashioned baby bottle as the cover of the card. The dance was held in honor of their pledge class. It features dances with titles like “I Needs Change” and “Feeding Time.” The Beta Pledge Class was identified by name with the caption “Our Pride and Joy.”
The Phi Delta Theta card is one of my favorites because it is a jab at the old-fashion formal dances held prior to World War II. Back in the Roaring Twenties a formal dance meant top hat and tails. A semi-formal required a tuxedo and a casual dance attire was a suit. Women dressed accordingly to that of the man. As can be imaged not many people could afford to attend a formal dance with an admission price of $3.00. For example, in 1925 the average American worker made $38.00 for a fifty-hour work week! So, a” Half-Formal” dance made complete sense to a fraternity that was composed primarily of veterans attending college on the G.I Bill.
In 1948, Sigma Phi Epsilon put on their annual “Bowery Ball.” The card had “swinging doors” that open into the contents of the dance card. The chaperones were called constables and the housemother was called warden. A kind of mixed message but still fun.
GREEK ORGANIZATION DANCE CARDS
In 1929, Delta Eta of Kappa Sigma held their Pledge Dance and had a very nice dance card made for the occasion. The card is patterned after the KS pledge pin. It is extremely well preserved with its small red pencil attached. An attached pencil is an unusual find because most pencils were removed to put into a scrapbook or discarded.
The New York Epsilon Chapter of Phi Delta Theta held their Pledge Dance for the class of 1936. The dance card has a cut out on the cover with an embossed pledge pin on blue sparkling paper. This dance was held in the Chapter House with music provided by the Vagabonds.” As typical of dance cards the planning committee members and chaperones were listed. The cord is in the color scheme of the fraternity.
Sigma Chi’s Gamma Delta Chapter chimed in with its Annual Pledge Dance held in the “Old Gym” in 1948. Music was provided by a campus band named the Varsitonians. This dance card has a clear plastic cover and has its pencil neatly attached by a silver string. Both the names of the Active and Pledges were listed in the booklet.
The Interfraternity Council also sponsored dances. These dances afford an opportunity to socialize with members of other fraternity and sorority students. The Interfraternity Council of Oklahoma A. and M. College (now Oklahoma State University) held their Ribbon Dance in 1948. The cover features an embossed array of the Greek letters of the IFC member organizations The dance card listed the Social Committee, Chaperons, honored guests and it indicated that music was provided by the Varsity Crew. What is a “ribbon dance?” It is hard to be certain, but it may be named after an old tradition of wearing colored ribbons along with the fraternity or sorority badge. This is the kind of question that a dance card can stimulate upon closely examining it.
PERSONALIZED DANCE CARDS
Many of the cards are personalized with the name of the woman, her dance partners, and even sentimental notes.
One such card came from the Annual Spring Formal which was held by the Epsilon Chi Chapter of Phi Chi fraternity in 1937. It features a velvet cover with an embossed image of their coat of arms. In addition to the common elements of a dance card, such as a list of dances, it also lists the menu for the evening. A very nice meal at that! However, there are two things about this dance card that separates the card from the others. The names of the two partners are hand written on the cover along with a drawing of entwined hearts and cupid’s arrow! There is also a handwritten inscription on the Menu page that is rather cryptic: “No Eat- Sit Down Strike.” Just another example of how intriguing dance cards can be upon examination.
Stories were told by the dance cards such as a series of five dance cards that were found a few years ago that had two cards from the usual dances back in 1938-39. However, the cards changed to Pershing Rifle and ROTC dances by 1941. The same couple danced with notes of affection and love on the cards. All dances reserved for her companion. She saved these dance cards until her death. One wonders what happened to the couple? Did he survive combat, did they reunite, and marry? That is an example of how meaningful something as simple as a dance card can be.
CONCLUSION
Dance cards reflected the times when they were created. They say a lot about the changing nature of society in general and fraternities and sororities in particular. They were made to commemorate many celebrations and special events. During their nearly seven decades of popularity the cards documented the changes in the social norms of fraternities and sororities. From expensive and formal balls to inexpensive and casual dances the dance cards were there to help document this lost tradition of providing a dance card to a potential partner
