University of Michigan dance card collection

As various University of Michigan historians have noted, dances and formals have long been an important tradition at the University of Michigan. One of the most well-known dances at UM was the Junior Hop (or J-Hop). Modeled after the Senior Hop (which ran from 1868 to 1870), the first J-Hop was held in 1872 and became one of the most popular social events on campus (Wahr, The University of Michigan an encylopedic survey ). The J-Hop ended in 1960 "after which it was given up for lack of interest by a generation that preferred to sit and listen to folk music" (Peckham, The Making of the University of Michigan , 1967, p.76).

Students attended other dances as well at the University of Michigan, according to Peckham: "Big class dances, besides the venerable J Hop, were the Freshman Frolic, the Sophomore Prom, the Senior Reception, the Military Ball, and the Architects' Ball--all part of the rites of spring" (Peckham, p.151).

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