gardenparty

Rita Lydig (born Rita Hernandez de Alba de Acosta, October 1875– October 27, 1929) was an American socialite regarded as "the most picturesque woman in America." She was photographed by Adolf de Meyer, Edward Steichen, and Gertrude Käsebier, sculpted in alabaster by Malvina Hoffman, and was painted by Giovanni Boldini and John Singer Sargent, among others. She also wrote one novel, Tragic Mansions (Boni & Liveright, 1927), under the name Mrs Philip Lydig, a society melodrama described as "emotionally moving and appealing" by The New York Times. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_de_Acosta_Lydig

Rita Lydig see also www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/3220580236/

LOC: Was there a reason the following photo was not uploaded to Flickr in the 4178 series? www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/ggbain/item/ggb2005024323/

It is likely that this photo was taken at the Greenwich Village Garden Party in May, 1917 in Washington Square. Date on the negative seems to be 5/13/17. Mrs. George Ethridge was on the committee putting on the event.
query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=990DE5D9123AE4...
See

Thank you Richard Norton for the information about Rita Lydig. She seems to be wearing a banner that may say, "Women Suffrage...." Was anyone able to learn anything about Mrs. George Ethridge?

Marie Dressler (November 9, 1868 – July 28, 1934) was a Canadian American stage and screen actress and early silent film and Depression-era film star.[2][3] Successful on stage in vaudeville and comic operas, she was also successful in film. In 1914, she was in the first full-length film comedy and later won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1931. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Dressler

see also

Gustavus Town Kirby (1874-1956) "Active in amateur athletic organizations, and served on two U.S. Olympic committees. The Village of Mt. Kisco dedicated the town clock and train station plaza in honor of his work as a local historian."
"president of the Amateur Athletic Union from 1911 to 1913. He served on every United States Olympic Committee from 1896 to 1956. He was president of the United States Olympic Committee for the 1920 Summer Olympics and the chairman for the 1924 Summer Olympics. He was chairman of the advisory committee for the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America from 1896 to 1928."

www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=kirby&...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Richard_Arthur_Norton_ (1958-_)/Gustavus_Town_Kirby
see also

Possibly part of the series on the Greenwich Village Fair

Although the date on the negative is 3/29/18, almost a year after the other photos, the benches and railings match some in the others, and are probably from Washington Square Park.
A biography of Dressler notes that in June of 1917, she "worked as a saleslady at a Garden Party Benefit of the National League for Womens Service in Washington Square."
books.google.com/books?id=zQdIAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT141&d...

Billboard for June 2, 1917 reported: "Marie Dressler can do more with vegetables than throw them around front of a camera She proved it when she went down on Washington Square and sold cabbage and onions for four hours at the garden party conducted by the Washington Square unit of the National League for Women's Work. A big calico apron helped create atmosphere and true to huckster tradition she shrank not from asking twice the market price for her goods But unlike the bona fide lady of the pushcart she got what she asked."
books.google.com/books?id=XaoiAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA8-PA5&...

The Washington, D.C. Times reported, on May 23, 1917:
"VEGETABLE PARTY RAISES BIG FUND
New York People Help Woman's National Service League.
NEW YORK. May 23. Five thousand society, near-society, and non-society folk paid their way into a Washington Square garden party with raw vegetables which they later
bought back at prices that even the war never can force. Wherefore, the Woman's National Service League's campaign fund is richer by several thousand dollars today.
Mayor Mltchel's wife got in with a young basket of carrots; Miss Tiffany gave $5 for a frankfurter and ate it- which was worth $5 more.
Marie Dressler auctioned off a bouquet of cabbages, onions, string beans, and garlic tied with red. white, and blue baby ribbon."
chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1917-05-23/ed-...

Thanks for this excellent research Art Siegel. I agree that this photo was most likely taken at the same event in support of the National League for Women's Service in 1917. We'll add some of the information to the record the next time we update.

Would a hat like the gent's on the right (fedora? homburg?) be around in the teens?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwich_Village

This photo ran in The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) June 03, 1917, with the caption: " Greenwich Village held a garden party recently under the auspices of the National League for Women's Service for the benefit of that war service organization in which Anne Morgan and other, well-known women are much interested. Greenwich Village is that part of old New York which centers in Washington Square. It is bounded on the north by society and on the south by Bohemia. Both contributed to the success of the garden party. Things to eat in Washington Square Park were served in little booths, or from stands, and one of the most popular of these was the "hot dog" stand, suggestive of the epicurean delights of Coney Island. There was a dancing pavilion and the wife of Mayor Mltchel did a one-step there to open the fete." oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1917-06-03/ed-1/se...

Thanks for your research Art Siegel. We'll add some of the information to the record the next time we update.

This charity garden party on May 22, 1917 was a one-off event, not to be confused with the Greenwich Village Fair, which was held repeatedly.