May Day Celebration, West Lafayette, Indiana, circa 1914

Description: Three maypoles stand on the lawn. Groups of people dressed in white dance around each pole. A large crowd is gathered watching the dancers. Buildings line the back of the lawn.May Day and circus activities were first held at Purdue in 1913. The May Day activities primarily involved women and held on Memorial Mall. A parade started the day and the circus ended the celebration. The festivities gained in popularity until 1917, when WWI interrupted the tradition. The last circus and May Day celebration was in 1922.See another maypole picture at ia-0001-c048-0011.
Origin: 1914, circa
Created By: Nelson, Glenn Mount, 1892-1966
Source: http://indianaalbum.pastperfectonline.com/photo/F7EE5F24-A6A4-42E9-B348-152072264618
Collection: Indiana Album
Rights: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
Geography: West Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States
Subjects: Glenn M. Nelson Glass Negatives
Lawns
May poles
Dancers
Purdue University
West Lafayette (Ind.)
Tippecanoe County (Ind.)

Further information on this record can be found at its source.