Do you like to get down? Well, Saint Mary’s students in the 1920s did too! Dances have been an exciting part of the Saint Mary's College experience for students of the past and continue to be enjoyed by students today. Dances and formals were (and still are) a popular way for students to socialize and to relax from the stress of their academic studies. 

Mary Emmons Wilcox’s scrapbook, preserved in the Saint Mary’s College Archives, dates from the 1920s and is overflowing with dance cards, many of which have the names of her friends written on them. Reminiscent of a Jane Austen movie or a Regency period drama like Bridgerton, Wilcox’s journal proves that, yes, dance cards were still around in the 1920s. In many instances, these dance cards are the only proof that remains of these events. While some pictures were taken and are included in Wilcox's scrapbook or in other collections in the Archives, many fewer pictures have survived than Wilcox's dance cards suggest took place.

Each dance card is unique in its own way. Some come with pencils and colorful artwork, while others have more plain, monotone colors for formal settings. The wear and tear on the dance cards shows how loved they were and how much the times were cherished. Words and names written in the dance card margins attest to the nostalgic feel of Mary Emmons Wilcox’s scrapbook, adding a touch of personal connection to each dance card. The number of dance cards found in the scrapbook puts an emphasis on how often dances occurred and proves that dances were a much-enjoyed staple of the 1920s social life at Saint Mary’s College. Most dances were hosted at locations on the University of Notre Dame’s campus (including a 1925 dance in the Monogram Club), while others took place on Saint Mary's College’s Campus (such as the 1927 Junior Promenade) and at other venues in the South Bend area.