Spring is in the air... time for April showers, May flowers and prom!
Did you go to your high school prom? These photos, scanned from Bishop O’Connell yearbooks, show prom outfits through the years. How do they compare to what you wore?
Bishop O’Connell, 1964
Bishop O’Connell, 1977
Bishop O’Connell, 1984
Bishop O’Connell, 1993
Although prom is now a high school tradition known for its extravagance and debauchery, it began in Northeast colleges and universities as pseudo coming-out event (prom is actually short for promenade).
Unfortunately, the Center for Local History's photo archive does not include many prom photos. This is partly because high school yearbooks tend to go to print before most proms are held.
Do you have photos of your Arlington prom that you would like to add to the Center for Local History's Community Archive? Visit or contact the Center for Local History at Central Library, and let us know!
To see more items like these, or to learn more about Arlington's history, visit the Center for Local History on the first floor of the Central Library.
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Ray Koenig says
May 14, 2019 at 2:08 pmthanks for the memories. I’m the one in the “1964” photo (3rd from the left) who looks like he’s being told something important from his prom date, fellow native Arlingtonian, Jenny Johnston. We’ve been married for 52 years and live in Strasburg VA. thanks for the memories!