From Mary’s ephemera collection . . . this dance card for the Christmas Ball given by the Marysville Miner’s Union, No. 103.
Although the dance card is undated, I suspect the event took place a year or two prior to Mary’s wedding to George Schenk which took place in August 1900.
Translation:
Christmas
BALL
Given By
Marysville Miner’s Union, No. 103,
W.F. of M.
Music by Brass’ Full Orchestra.
Inside the card is a “Programme” that lists the dances and Mary’s dance partners that night.
Transcription (left side)
Grand March.
- Plain Quadrille. Howard Ped[?]
- Plain Waltz. Peter A[?]ne
- Shottische. [illegible]
- Two Step. ” Conrad
- Plain Lancers. Peter A[?]ne
- Plain Waltz. Amos
- Polka. J. Slater
- Waltz Quadrille. S. Sullivan
- Two Step. P. A[?]ne
- Comas Waltz. Carl
- Plain Quadrille. Something
- Plain Waltz. Warden
Transcription (right side)
13. Plain Waltz. Sl[???]
14. Plain Lancers: Jay Hart
15. Two Step. P. A[?]ne
16. French Minuette. Mr. Conard
17. Shottische. J. Slater
18. Plain Quadrille. J. Mongan
19. Plain Waltz. P. Hindlen
20. Newport. Geo Schenk
21. Waltz Quadrille. Mr. [illegible]
22. Polka. [illegible]
23. Two Step. Will S.
24. Plain Waltz. E. Bir[??]ham
25. Medley. [illegible]
Apparently Mary only danced with George one time that night – dance #20, the “Newport”.
Western Federation of Miners
The Christmas Ball was given by the “Marysville Miners’ Union No. 103, W.F. of M.” After a little internet research, I concluded that “W.F. of M.” probably stood for the Western Federation of Miners.
The “WFM” was a merger of several miners’ unions representing copper mines from Montana, silver and lead miners from Idaho, gold miners from Colorado, and hard rock miners from South Dakota and Utah. This particular union gained a reputation for its militancy in the mines of the Western United States and British Columbia.
Montana has a very interesting mining and labor history. For more information about this particular union, you can read more in this Wikipedia article.
Copyright (c) 2017, Lark M. Dalin Robart
