Bachelor Girls Club
Files
Dublin Core
Title
Bachelor Girls Club
Subject
New Market (Va)
Description
This photograph shows the members of New Market’s “Bachelor Girls Club.” It was most likely taken sometime between 1870 and 1890.
Almost nothing is known about this organization. After the Civil War the male population in the South had been decimated. Many women never married so the culture had to shift to accommodate a large body of unwed females. Organizations like this were prevalent and provided women who could not find husbands with social outlets. Some sources indicate this photograph shows the girls before a Halloween party. Hosting events such as that would have certainly been in line with the group’s mission.
What we do know is these costumes were most likely recycled from KKK outfits. While it is almost impossible to prove this fact, the similarities are striking and most researchers tend to back this conclusion based on what evidence exists.
The Klan was certainly active in the county during this period. A major KKK parade, which had hundreds of participants, occurred in New Market in 1870. Local politicians and community leaders either directly supported the organization, or at least backed its ideals. Since the organization promoted “proper” behavior for women a connection with the Bachelor Girls Group is certainly feasible.
Though no official Klan records show a local group existed, newspaper accounts show the Klan’s local activities would continue through the 19th and first half of the 20th century.
During the 1920s and 1930s regular regional KKK meetings were held at Shenandoah Caverns. Thousand of Klansmen attended with support from local businessmen and KKK members, to promote their views. As late as the 1960s crosses were still being burned in the area as part of their rituals.
Today public support in Shenandoah County is decidedly against the Klu Klux Klan or any organization that promotes similar beliefs. However, these groups do make their voices heard on occasion and remind us that they continue to exist in our society.
Almost nothing is known about this organization. After the Civil War the male population in the South had been decimated. Many women never married so the culture had to shift to accommodate a large body of unwed females. Organizations like this were prevalent and provided women who could not find husbands with social outlets. Some sources indicate this photograph shows the girls before a Halloween party. Hosting events such as that would have certainly been in line with the group’s mission.
What we do know is these costumes were most likely recycled from KKK outfits. While it is almost impossible to prove this fact, the similarities are striking and most researchers tend to back this conclusion based on what evidence exists.
The Klan was certainly active in the county during this period. A major KKK parade, which had hundreds of participants, occurred in New Market in 1870. Local politicians and community leaders either directly supported the organization, or at least backed its ideals. Since the organization promoted “proper” behavior for women a connection with the Bachelor Girls Group is certainly feasible.
Though no official Klan records show a local group existed, newspaper accounts show the Klan’s local activities would continue through the 19th and first half of the 20th century.
During the 1920s and 1930s regular regional KKK meetings were held at Shenandoah Caverns. Thousand of Klansmen attended with support from local businessmen and KKK members, to promote their views. As late as the 1960s crosses were still being burned in the area as part of their rituals.
Today public support in Shenandoah County is decidedly against the Klu Klux Klan or any organization that promotes similar beliefs. However, these groups do make their voices heard on occasion and remind us that they continue to exist in our society.
Source
Clippings Collection
Publisher
Shenandoah County Library
Citation
“Bachelor Girls Club,” Shenandoah County Library Archives, accessed April 26, 2024, http://archives.countylib.org/items/show/6877.
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