UNC-Chapel Hill

Table of Contents

Locations

  1. Points of Interest

    1. Women's History

      1. Carolina Dances

        Located on the current site of Fetzer Hall, the Tin Can served as an event space and gymnasium until its demolition in 1977.In addition to hosting a variety of women’s club and intramural sports Opens in New Window, it was a frequent venue for Carolina dances, a school tradition since the 1800s. Before UNC admitted its first female students in 1897, most women at school balls came from the neighboring towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, and male students used dance cards Opens in New Window (such as the one shown above) to record the names of their dance partners.

        Rules for women and men at school dances differed well into the 20th century--in the 1930s, a pamphlet entitled “So You’re Coming to a Carolina Dance” Opens in New Window outlined expectations of decorum for female attendees. Women were often expected to serve the role of date, rather than attend dances solely for their own enjoyment.

        See exhibit page Opens in New Window.