washingtonsquare

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?

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.

The arch is en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Square_Arch
"a marble triumphal arch built in 1892 in Washington Square Park in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City. It celebrates the centennial of George Washington's inauguration as President of the United States in 1789 and forms the grand southern terminus of Fifth Avenue."

A banner reads, "Boyce's Tigers." See for a picture of the Boyce who trained the Tigers.

www.newyorker.com/magazine/1940/09/28/renascent-tigers gives his first name as Adolphe.

NYT of Sept 3, 1917 query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F00EFDB103BE03AB... indicated that parades of drafted men were to be held the following day simultaneously in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn. Captain A.L. Boyce, U.S.R., marshal of the parade would meet the reserve officers who were to assist him at 9:30 am under the Washington Arch to deliver final instructions. NYT of Sept 4, 1917 query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B00E7DA103BE03AB... has more details, and indicates that Boyce's Tigers were the one draft contingent who had received training at this point, drilling on Governor's Island.

Major Adolphe Lippig Boyce, M.D. (1866-1955) was the commander of Boyce's Tigers, a paramilitary group. He trained civilians on Governor's Island prior to World War I and New York City Center prior to World War II.

swanq and Richard Norton: Thank you for the location of this image and information about Major Boyce and "Boyce's Tigers." We will add more information to the description when we update.