Court Ball Invitation

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From the collections of PVMA • Digital image © Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Assoc. • Image use information


About this item

Balls were a popular form of entertainment, especially among young people, throughout the first half of the 19th century. Such events were generally coordinated by 2 or 3 young men, known as managers. The location of the ball, Windham Hall, is unknown, as is the identity of Dolly Smith and the three named managers, or the year. The significance of the time posted, 6 o’clock p.m., is notable since in June it would allow for a long evening of daylight. With candles the only artificial light in this time period, party invitations nearly always named a time of the year and time of the day that capitalized on long periods of natural light. Typical of the timeperiod, this invitation is printed on the back of a playing card.

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Details

Item typeInvitation
AuthorBall Managers
Datecirca 1820
TopicSocial Activities, Entertainment, Recreation
Art, Music, Literature, Crafts
EraNational Expansion and Reform, 1816–1860
MaterialPaper
Process/FormatPrinting; Handwriting
Dimension detailsProcess Material: printed paper, ink with manuscript Height: 2.50 in Width: 3.62 in
Catalog #L03.003
View this item in our curatorial database →
Ball Managers. Court Ball Invitation. ca. 1820. Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, American Centuries. https://americancenturies.org/collection/l03-003/. Accessed on October 7, 2024.

Please note: Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.