St. Joseph Literary Dramatic Club, June 1932

I bought this last weekend. It was only $1. I'm not sure why I liked it, since it's later than most photos I purchase. Maybe it was the idea of the literary and dramatic club. Also, the nice dresses on the young women.

There may be no chance of figuring out where this club was... Does anybody have ideas? I don't know if it was a college, a high school, or a church group.



Close up of some of the dresses:

 

Oh, and it was purchased in northwest Indiana at an antique store.

 

In or near St. Joseph County?

With the priest in the front row I vote for Catholic school organization. Can you see what it says on the backdrop above the head of the fourth boy from the left in the top row?

 

Does the woman sitting on the far right front row of the enlarged photo have a ring on her left hand?

Does she look older than the rest of the group?

Could that be a wedding ring (perhaps she was an advisor/chaperone to the group)?

If the ring is an engagement ring, I think it could be a college group.

 

Oh you're right, yourturn. That's quite a ring!

 

Hi,
I find it unusual for the right half of the front row have their legs crossed in one direction and the left side crossed in the opposite direction.
greg

 

Happenchance, Greg. But I think definitely Roman Catholic. We were taught at home and by the nuns to sit so. (Only Queen Elizabeth can sit with knees together and both feet flat on the floor. Dunno how she does it for such lengths of time!)

My point of curiosity is those five pairs of identical white shoes in the front row. ?!

 

The man front row center looks like a priest, but whether he's Catholic or Lutheran is a good question.

 

I bought it in Lake County, Indiana. A few counties away. There is also a St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana... not very far away from Lake County. And a town named St. Joseph in southwestern Michigan. All are fairly close. And who knows how many high schools or churches named St. Joseph! There is a St. Joseph High School in South Bend, Indiana, a St. Joseph Church and School in Dyer, Indiana (which is in the same county where I bought the picture), etc.

Oh, there are no words on the backdrop... those are painted loops hanging down from the painted curtain on the backdrop.

 

Unfortunately, even when looking at it in person, there is not enough detail on the photo to give much information about the ring. She could be older... to me she looks rather young, and I can't tell.

 

Not sure if this will make it any easier to see the backdrop. There's also a ship back there on the right.

 

I realized when I zoomed in on that section that what I originally thought was writing is actually round embellishments (like fringe?) on the painted backdrop. Sorry.

St. Joseph's HS in South Bend didn't exist before 1953, but St. Joseph's Academy (one of the schools that joined together in creating the new one) was around as early as the 1860's and was very prestigious.

 

That's interesting... Thanks for the information!

Fig

 

That backdrop wouldn't be in a church, I don't think. School is a better bet.

 

We have a Catholic hospital named Providence St. Joseph too.

 

Thanks, Shiloh -- I think you were just mentioning that as a "fun fact," correct? I don't think that a hospital would have a literary / dramatic club!

 

When my parents lived in Quincy, IL, my brother attended a school called St. Joseph's. It was a Catholic school.

 

I just posted the info. showing that St. Joseph is usually associated with Catholic organizations,hospitals,schools,etc. I saw the priest in the pic and my hospital came to mind..

Since St Joseph hospitals all over are private, maybe they have fund raisers? There are civic clubs related to educational and charitable institutions. Also,the ring the one gal is wearing could be a class ring???

 

The crossed legs - one side one way and the other opposite - is a photographer's convention to try and make the front line look more neat and orderly - usually only works if you are photographing Rockettes.
The ring could be an engagement ring. Most of these young women are of an age to be engaged.

 

Thanks, elarnia -- I hadn't seen you here recently, and appreciate your comment!