Items · Auburn Avenue Research Library Digital Exhibits

Julia Bond & Dr. Horace Mann Bond, 1973

Portrait of Julia Bond standing with Dr. Horace Mann Bond in formal evening attire, circa 1973. Julia Bond wears a long, elegant gown and headpiece, while Dr. Bond stands beside her in a tuxedo. The photograph captures a moment of formality and refinement within an African American family, reflecting traditions of celebration, presentation, and social distinction.

Frances Lawrence with Group, 1954-55

Group portrait of Frances Lawrence and several other African American women dressed in formal evening gowns during a mid-1950s social gathering associated with the National Conclave of Grady Graduate Nurses. The women are posed together on a stage in corsages and elegant attire, reflecting the sophistication and social traditions of professional Black women’s networks in the mid-twentieth century.

Eta Sigma Debutante Ball, 1964, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, The Aurora, 1965

Magazine article from The Aurora (February 1965) featuring photographs from the Eta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority’s 1964 debutante ball. The images show the crowning of the “Queen of the Debutantes,” Gwendolyn Ann Robinson, and other young African American women participating in the formal presentation ceremony.

Eta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho, Debutante Ball, 1967

Black-and-white photograph of young African American women seated in a long row wearing formal white gowns and holding bouquets during the Eta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority debutante ball, 1967. The debutantes sit before a large audience gathered in a balcony and main floor, highlighting the scale and significance of the formal presentation ceremony.

Dr. Henry Butler, Jr. and group at Frank Sennes Moulin Rouge, Hollywood, CA

Black-and-white photograph of a group of elegantly dressed African American women and companions gathered at Frank Sennes’ Moulin Rouge nightclub in Hollywood, California, 1957. The women wear formal evening gowns, fur stoles, and styled coiffures typical of mid-century fashion, reflecting the glamour and sophistication of African American social life during the 1950s.

Dr. Henry and Mrs. Rheba Butler, Jr. and others

Black-and-white photograph of Dr. Henry Butler Jr. and Mrs. Rheba Butler seated with a group of formally dressed guests at a social gathering or reception, 1962.

Darrilyn Selena Butler at Age 20

Color portrait photograph of Selena Sloan Butler's granddaughter Darrilyn Selena Butler at age 20, wearing a floral headpiece and smiling while looking off-camera, circa 1973.

Christmas pageant, undated

Black-and-white photograph of a group of young women in formal gowns posing on stage during a Christmas pageant, likely held in a church or community auditorium, circa mid-1950s. The stage is decorated with a holiday backdrop featuring stars, floral decorations, and a central candle display.

Beta Epsilon Sigma, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Calendar Ball, The Aurora

Magazine article from The Aurora featuring the Beta Epsilon Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority’s 1965 “Calendar Girl” contest and annual Calendar Ball held in Columbia, South Carolina. The article includes a group photograph of the student contestants representing the months of the year and identifies Gail Olivia Cayruth as the 1965 Calendar Girl winner.

Alpha-Bettes Fashion Show Flyer

Hand-tinted flyer advertising a fashion show hosted by the Alpha Bettes and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity to support the “Bonny’s Styles and Fashions” scholarship fund at Clark College, Atlanta, Georgia, 1960.

Debutante Ball- lady, father, and escort, undated

Black-and-white photograph of a teenage girl being escorted by a teenage boy during a cotillion or debutante presentation while her father follows proudly behind them, circa mid-1960s.

Antique Photographs: Alice, 1931 - in fur

Sepia-toned studio portrait of a woman identified as Alice, taken in 1931. She has dark hair styled in soft waves and wears a dark blouse or dress. She is posed in a three-quarter profile, looking slightly to the side with a calm expression against a plain studio backdrop. (Wm. & Mary Jackson Collection).