The brainchild of Naomi Edinburgh Murray in 1952, The Washington Rhinestone Club has presented nearly 1,100 débutantes and recognized them for their achievements and their plans to reach their career goals. Murray founded the organization along with Evelyn Smith Robinson, Laura Taylor, Mertildia Lee, and Frances Oxnard Stephens to promote positive educational and social values in the community. The First Débutante Ball was held in 1953 at the Smith Tower in downtown Seattle, where five young women were presented and recognized for their academic achievement. Since its inception, the organization has provided over $150,000 in scholarships to help débutantes pursue education beyond high school.
The 1957 Rhinestone ball was held at the Norway Center in Queen Anne. This photo depicts the débutantes honored at the ball. At center is Queen of the Ball Carolyne Jean Purnell, a student at the University of Washington. The other débutantes, left to right, are Patricia Ellen Johnson, Joan Redmond, Merlie Ann Burton, Mona Gaye Lake, Dolores Jean Bills, and Cuba Ann Woods.
Caption by Chris B. Bennett, "Washington Rhinestone Club Continues Legacy Of Encouraging Young Women To Pursue Their Dreams," on the Seattle Medium website at http://seattlemedium.com/washington-rhinestone-club-continues-legacy-of-encouraging-young-women-to-pursue-their-dreams Caption information also derived from captions written by Post-Intelligencer staff and attached to the back of the photograph.
