May Day, 1952
Press Release dated May 3, 1952 regarding the celebration of May Day at East Carolina Teachers College. This and other press releases may be found in the records of News Bureau, Record Group IA1300, Series 1, News Release File, 1939-1988 in the University Archives.
Citation for this particular press release is:
News Release, May 3, 1952, ECU Universty Archives, Record Group IA1300, Series 1, Box 3, Folder A.
Miss Jeanette Tillett of Kill Devil Hill, senior at East Carolina College, presided as Queen at the May Day celebration staged on the campus last Thursday afternoon, May 1.
A tall, stately brunette, Miss Tillett was crowned by Charles Self of Greensboro, former president of the college Student Government Association.Inher honor a group of students actors and dancers presented "Magic in the Studio," a pageant of pantomimes and dances with an attractive musical setting.
The annual Mayl observance was held on the college athletic field.Staged under the direction of Mrs. W.E. Dole of the department of health and phsical education, the celebration attracted a large group of spectators.
A May Day committee assisted Mrs. Dole in planning the excercises.Members included Dean of Women Ruth White;Robert O. Bradley, Rocky Mount; Jerome Sandford, Goldsboro; Robert Maness, Greensboro; and Mildred Rouse, Kinston.
The afternoon's program began with the entrance of the May Court.Albert L. Harrington of Burlington announced the members as they crosses the lawn and formed a semicircle around the Queen's throne.
Misses Nina and Joanne Stillman of Roper, dressed in purple and gold herald's costumes, opened the pageant with a trumpet call.Miss Pansy Edwards of Beulaville, crown bearer; Miss Freddie Hinnant of Pine Level and Miss Joan Kelly of Sandford, flower girls;and Robert A. Robinson of Franklin Springs, Ga., and Otis Bain of Charlotte, chief ushers, formed a group around the throne before the entrance of the maids and their escorts.
Representatives of the four college classes served as maids. They wore pastel gowns with stoles and bouffant overskirts of net, and carried nosegays of spring flowers.Miss Barbara Williamson of Clinton was maid-of-honor.
Other maids were Misses Mildred Cole, Biscoe;Elizabeth Hedgepeth, Warrenton; Hilda Grace Moye, Snow Hill;Peggy Harper, Kinston;Mary Frances Peterson, Kerr; Janet Tyson, Statonsburg;Christine Blalock, Timberlake;Verona Sparrow, Deep Run;Lois Simpson, Morehead City; Jane Eason, Statonsburg; Anne Hardy, Maury;and Mrs. Ola E. Perry, Bethel.
Miss Tillett wore a dress of white net and lace.She carried a sheaf of red roses tied with red satin ribbon.Her crown was a graceful coronet of tiny flowers.
Escorts for the maids were Edgar Vick, Statonsburg;Jerry Sandford, Goldsboro;Alec Hurst, Greensboro;Robert Maness, Greensboro; Fenner Boyd, Bath;Delton Perry, Bethel; Donald Daly, Goldsboro; Charles Satterfield, Farmville; Robert Bacchus, Norfolk, Va.; Billy Laughinghouse, Greenville; George Beierle, Hamburg; John Robert Kennedy, Wilmington;Jack Britt, Fairmont;and Maurice Moore, Wilmington.
The colorful pageant "Magic in the Studio" recounted the story of an artist, played by William Goodson of Greenville, who dreamed that his paintings came alive and danced for him.Ralph Rives of Enfield served as an announcer. Approximately forty students participated in dances, including the traditional winding of the maypole.
Special music for May Day was provided by a brass ensemble conducted by Herbert L. Carter and by the College Choir directed by Dr. Karl V. Gilbert.Misses Dolores Matthews of Henderson and Emily Faircloth of Fayetteville were accompanists.
The May Day festivities closed with a dance for students sponsored by the East Carolina Student Government Association and held in the Wright building.Bob Lee's Orchestra provided music for the occasion
