Evolution of Social Activities

Linda Edwards twirled fire for her talent in this picture.  It is unclear whether the talent was for a variety show, or for the Mrs. NC State beauty pageant.

When the first Mrs. NC State beauty pageant was held in 1962, it combined aspects of State's Mates' fashion and variety shows in a new way.  Eventually, State's Mates members no longer saw the need for separate shows, and the self-expressive programs disappeared in favor of the pageant.  The activities for these months were replaced with guest speakers.

In the meantime, however, the creativity of the variety and fashion shows gave State's Mates members an opportunity with their programs to explore aspects of society that were otherwise unavailable to them.  State's Mates members used their programs in the early 1960's to examine race, gender, and countercultural movements in a safe way.  The next section of this exhibit will examine the racial and gendered overtones of specific social programs that State’s Mates put on during this time.

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