Page 56 - lake-city-florida-a-sesquicentennial-tribute-(h-morris-williams-kevin-mccarthy)-2009
P. 56
Lake City, Florida: A Sesquicentennial Tribute (2009) H. Morris Williams, Dr. Kevin M. McCarthy
Members of the Clutonian Society at FAC
In 1894, the female students at FAC, desirous of emulating
the success of the male students in the Forum and Bema societies,
organized the Clutonian Society, named after President Clute. The
girls elected as president Miss Daisy Rogers, a junior from Texas
who would become the first female graduate of the school (see next
page for her photo). The society members met on Friday afternoons
for debates, recitations, and vocal and instrumental musical
performances. Among the socials held by the Clutonians was the
Washington Party in honor of President George Washington.
Attendees wore powdered wigs, elaborate laces, and rich
embroideries, and then attempted to dance the minuet, but the dance,
considered “too sedate and stately for the present generation to copy
faithfully,” gave way to five-minute conversations, which were actually
scored on tablets according to ball-room etiquette. The female students
also took part in physical education, which was part of the curriculum.
52
www.LakeCityHistory.com LCH-UUID: 7C3282B3-DDE1-49C3-985A-3A9C9467368D
