Material was transferred from the Georgia Division of Archives and History to Special Collections Reese Library Augusta State University on October 3 2006.  This was de-accessioned by the Georgia Division of Archives and History from the John W. Pattillo Collection. Invitation and ticket are for the St. Valentine Society Ball of 1888.  According to Jones in his Memorial History of Augusta p.292 “the St. Valentine Society is an organization which like the famous Mardi Gras associations of New Orleans, confines itself to an annual celebration of the carnival.  The St. Valentine ball is the social event of the Augusta season, and admission thereto is a certificate of standing in fashionable society.” The musician John Wiegand composed a St. Valentine’s March especially for this 1888 ball. Tickets of admission were signed by the president Joseph B. Cumming and the secretary M.B. Tobin.  The ticket holder’s name cannot be discerned.

Note written by