Margaret Casey’s dance card
A young woman attending a ball in the 19th and early 20th centuries might have tied a dance card around her wrist to keep track of who her partner would be for each dance. It was generally the man’s responsibility to ask a lady to dance, but there were some nights when the woman took charge. These “leap year dances” came from an Irish tradition that allowed a woman to ask a man to marry her on leap day, February 29. This dance card belonging to Margaret Casey appears to be from a leap year dance. She filled every slot with partners and dances, such as the waltz and foxtrot.
Object Title and Accession Number
Margaret Casey’s dance card, February 26, 1920. A3209-00001.
Brown paper cover featuring the letters "FBVE" in large red and black font. Below, it reads "Washington Hotel Feb. 26, 1920" in smaller green text.
A vintage dance card with handwritten entries, listing various dance styles like "One Step," "Fox Trot," and "Waltz." The names of dance partners and some scribbles appear next to each entry. The white card has yellowed with age.