A Guide to the Leesburg May Pole Dance, 1932 Leesburg May Pole Dance VC 0012

A Guide to the Leesburg May Pole Dance, 1932

A Collection in the
Thomas Balch Library
Collection Number VC 0012

Thomas Balch Library

Thomas Balch Library
208 West Market Street
Leesburg, Virginia 20176
USA
Phone: (703) 737-7195
Fax: (703) 737-7195
Email: balchlib@leesburgva.gov
URL: http://www.leesburgva.gov/departments/thomas-balch-library/

Processed by: Donald Cooper

Repository

Thomas Balch Library

Collection number

VC 0012

Title

Leesburg May Pole Dance 1932

Physical Characteristics

Collector

Lucille Muse

Language

English

Abstract

The Leesburg May Dance collection contains one black and white 5.5" x 3.5" photograph of the 1932 May Day and Health Day celebration taken by local photographer Russell Gregg.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection open for research.

Use Restrictions

Visual materials may require special handling.

Preferred Citation

Leesburg May Pole Dance, 1932 (VC 0012), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA.

Acquisition Information

Estate of Lucille Muse, Leesburg, VA

Alternative Form Available

Digital Surrogate

Accruals

2008.0160

Processing Information

Processed by Donald Cooper, 15 July 2009.

Updated Beth Schuster, 1 September 2010.

Historical Information

The Maypole tradition came to America with English settlers in the seventeenth century. However, because of Puritan influence, May Day is not universally celebrated today in the United States.

May Day began as a pagan holiday originating with Druids of the British Isles, who celebrated May 1 as Beltane or day of fire. They believed May 1 divided the year into two parts. Therefore, May Day was an ancient New Year rite celebrated by Druids with bonfires. Cattle were then driven though these fires to purify them. Men, with their sweethearts, also passed though smoke for good luck. During the Middle Ages, English villages began to erect Maypoles as a part of their celebration of first spring planting in late April or early May, and vied with each other for the tallest Maypole.

Many localities, both in the United States and throughout the world, continue celebrating with dancing and singing around Maypoles tied with colorful streamers or ribbons and choose their May Queen or other festivities.

Scope and Content

The Leesburg May Dance collection contains one black and white 5.5" x 3.5" photograph of the 1932 May Day and Health Day celebration taken by local photographer Russell Gregg. Leesburg High School students are shown at the court house lawn performing a Maypole dance. The photograph was printed in the May 19, 1932 Loudoun Times Mirror . This photograph is the only item in this collection. Another copy is part of the Russell Gregg Photograph Collection, ca. 1920-1944 (VC 0008).