1865 Inaugural Ball Dance Card

When all of the guests were finished eating, they moved to the dance floor where they stayed the rest of the night and into the next morning. Women who attended the inaugural ball were given a dance card which listed the order of the dances on the left side. The right side started out empty, but was filled throughout the ball by gentlemen who wished to reserve a dance. The ribbon allowed women to carry the dance card around their wrists.