The 4th of July is Coming . . .

Dennison Manufacturing Co., Framingham, MA.  The 1917 Party Book, 1917, pages 6-7, Patriotic table decorations.

To get in the spirit we are featuring some patriotic decorations from The 1917 Party Book. 

There are lots of parades on the Fourth of July, but have you ever wondered how floats have changed over the years? The 1917 Party Book gives us a glimpse into possible floats or decorated cars from 1917. One car is decorated in a red, white, and blue theme but also has a tire wreath of flowers.  Another car is decorated with yellow and white roses along with a huge butterfly.

The 1917 Party Book also includes ideas for decorating tables in specific holiday themes. One of these holidays is the Fourth of July. The main theme for the Fourth of July is, of course, red, white, and blue, but there are also American flags, eagles, and stars adorning the tables. Crepe paper, ribbons, and streamers are some of the materials used to decorate the tables. 

The Trade Literature Collection at the National Museum of American History Library includes this catalog and others by the Dennison Manufacturing Company. There are also more images from The 1917 Party Book on the Galaxy of Images.

—Alexia MacClain