The Pals Social Club Records 1930-2015

Historical Note

At a bridge club meeting in 1925 Vivian Lowery Vincent suggested that the members organize a club, The Pals. With the motto "Pleasant Attitude Toward Life," the club members believed that the social life of young Black women would be more secure by having the backing of older, caring and dynamic women. The Pals selected and sponsored debutantes to develop and promote social and civic awareness, cultural dignity, pride and sense of self. In 1928 the Pals hosted their first Debutante Ball, which has continued annually.

Each Pals member choses a potential debutante to sponsor, and the coterie is selected by a vote. The debutantes must be 18 years old and enrolled in college. Once the coterie is selected, the girls attend workshops where they are mentored on proper etiquette and social graces. The African American women selected for the debutante coterie of the Pals Social Club are college students and leaders who represent the club's moral and ethical standards.

From 1947-1992 the Pals entered into an arrangement with the Van Courtlandt Club, a men's social club, with the Van Courtlandt's opening the season with a Debutante Ball and The Pals Club gala closing the season in the spring. After 1992 the Pals resumed their Debutante Presentation Ball, which is held during the Christmas season.

In 1979, the Pals were honored by the United Negro College Fund and presented the Fred D. Patterson Award. In 1992, the National Council of Negro Women honored the Pals for the organization's outstanding leadership toward the growth and development of the minority community of San Antonio.

Sources:

• 80th Anniversary booklet, Pals Social Club Records, MS 422, UTSA Libraries Special Collections
• "Pleasant and Poised," Stefanie Arias, San Antonio Express-News, March 22, 2013 (retrieved January 30, 2014)

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Scope and Content Note

The bulk of the collection consists of newspaper clippings and photographs, which were arranged chronologically by decade prior to donation. Also included are 80th and 90th anniversary books in the Historical Information series.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

This collection is currently housed at UTSA's Main Campus and must be accessed via the John Peace Library Special Collections reading room. To request access, please use our Collections Request Form.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

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Related Materials

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], The Pals Social Club Records, MS 422, University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.

Acquisition Information

Original donation from The Pals Social Club in January 2014 (Acc. 2014-004). Subsequent donations of 90th anniversary book and proclamations from The Pals Social Club in January and April 2016 (Acc. 2016-002 and 2016-021).

Processing Information

Original donation of 2014 reprocessed by Amber Harmon, Library Assistant, in 2016. Additions of 2016 processed by Katie Rojas, Archivist, in 2016.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The Pals Social Club Records

1930s

Box

Folder

1

1

Clippings, 1938 and undated View Contents

2

Photograph of 1930s debutante Minnie Emily Lowery Huckbay, undated View Contents

3

Ephemera, undated View Contents

1940s

Box

Folder

1

4

Clippings, 1949 View Contents

5

Photograph of 1940-1941 season debutantes, 1970 View Contents

6

Invitation, 1940 View Contents

7

Ephemera, undated View Contents

1950s

Box

Folder

1

8

Clippings, 1959 and undated View Contents

9

Photographs, 1950, 1953-1956, 1958-1959 and undated View Contents

1960s

Box

Folder

1

10

Clippings, 1960-1961, 1963, 1965, 1968 and undated View Contents

11

Photographs, 1963, 1968 and undated View Contents

1970s

Box

Folder

1

12

Clippings, 1971-1979 and undated View Contents

13

Photographs, undated View Contents

1980s

Box

Folder

1

14

Clippings, 1980-1989 and undated View Contents

15

Photographs, 1980 and undated View Contents

1990s

Box

Folder

1

16

Clippings, 1990-1996, 1999 and undated View Contents

17

Photographs, 1992-1993, 1997-1998 and undated View Contents

18

1995-1996 Debutantes roster, undated

2000s

Box

Folder

1

19

Clippings, 2003-2005, 2008-2009 View Contents

20

Photographs, 2005, 2007 View Contents

21

Programs, 2008, 2010 View Contents

2010s

Box

Folder

1

22

Clippings, 2010-2011, 2013 View Contents

23

Photograph of debutantes, undated View Contents

24

Membership Handbook, undated View Contents

Events

Box

Folder

1

25

Dansants, Clippings, 1970, 1973 and undated View Contents

26

Dansants, Photographs 1970, 1975 and undated View Contents

27

Season Closing Formal, Clippings, 1988-1990, 1992-1996 and undated View Contents

28

Season Closing Formal, Photographs1989, 1991 View Contents

Historical Information

Box

Folder

1

29

The Pals Social Club 80th Anniversary 2005 Debutante Ball, 2005 View Contents

30

The Pals Social Club 90th Anniversary 2015 Debutante Ball, 2015

31

State of Texas 90th Anniversary Resolution, 2015

32

City of San Antonio District 2 Councilman's 90th Anniversary congratulatory letter, 2015

Box

OM1

City of San Antonio 90th Anniversary Proclamation, 2015

Assorted

Box

Folder

1

33

Incomplete clippings, 1972-1973 and undated View Contents

Box

OM1

Oversize newspaper clippings, 1966-1982 View Contents

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