I poked around in a few things, found one reference in Swem, and didn't
learn a whole lot other that it was an annual event (vol. 26 Virginia
Magazine of History and Biography). Bet someone at Colonial Williamsburg's
Library would know.
Eric G. Grundset
Library Director
DAR Library
1776 D St., N.W.
Washington, DC 20006-5392
202-879-3313
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-----Original Message-----
From: Brent Tarter [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, March 29, 2002 2:20 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Birth Night Festivities
I think that references before the Revolution are almost certainly
to
commemorations of the king's and/or queen's birth. Afterward, I
shouldn't be
surprised to find that the tradition transformed into a
commemoration of
George Washington's birth.
Brent Tarter
The Library of Virginia
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Visit the Library of Virginia's web site at http://www.lva.lib.va.us
-----Original Message-----
From: Alyson L. Taylor-White [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 29 March, 2002 2:01 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Birth Night Festivities
This one has us stumped. The reference to attendance in 18th
century
Virginia of "Birth Night Balls" and other festivities seems to refer
to the
King prior to the Revoluntion, and continues to have some context
after the
war. What were "Birth Night Balls" for, and where does the
tradition come
from - someone's birthday like the monarch? These references have
mostly
been discovered in letters from young ladies who are anticipating
these
exciting events in the "Metropolis" of Richmond circa 1790s. Thanks!
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