List of Veiled Prophet Belles and Queens

This is a list of women who have been particularly honored at the Veiled Prophet Ball in St. Louis, Missouri, as either belle or queen.

Some Veiled Prophet Queens, St. Louis Republic, September 23, 1900. They are, clockwise, from top left, Hester Laughlin, 1894; Jane Dorothy Fordyce, 1897; Marie Theresa Scanlan, 1898; Ellen Humphries Walsh, 1899; Mary Louise McCreery, 1896; and Bessie Kingsland, 1895. The woman in the center was not identified.

Origin

Suzanne Slayback, 1878

The custom of singling out a young woman for special attention began with the first Veiled Prophet Ball in 1878, when Suzanne (Susie) Slayback was chosen by the first Veiled Prophet, John G. Priest, to be the "belle" of the ball at the age of 16. According to a 1958 article in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, in those earlier times it was "the custom of the Prophet to select a girl for his partner in the first dance at the ball."[1][2][3]

The first crowned "queen" was Hester Bates Laughlin in 1894, whose coiffure was topped with a headpiece supposedly a replica of that worn by Queen Victoria.[1]

Hester Bates Laughlin, 1894

Marie Scanlan, 1898

Ellen H. Walsh, 1899

Louise Chouteau, 1903

Jane Taylor, 1912

Adaline Capen, 1913

Ella Zeibig, 1914

Jane Shapleigh, 1915

Mary D. Jones, 1916

Marian Franciscus, 1919

Ada R. Johnson, 1920

Eleanor Simmons, 1921

Alice Busch, 1922

Ellie Kemper, 1999

The Veiled Prophet honorees have been:

Belles

1878–1893

• 1878 Susie Slayback[4]
• 1885 Virginia Joy[5]
• 1886 Louise (Lulu) Scott[5]
• 1887 No honoree due to visit of President and Mrs. Grover Cleveland[6]
• 1888 Louise Galennie[5]
• 1889 Miss Wain (from Cleveland)[7]
• 1890 Katherine (Kate) Hill[5]
• 1891 July Thompson[5]
• 1892 Ellen Sturges[5]
• 1893 Florence Lucas[8]

Queens

1894–1900

• 1894 Hester Bates Laughlin [2]
• 1895 Bessie Kingsland[2]
• 1896 Mary Louise McCreery[2][9]
• 1897 Jane Dorothy Fordyce[2]
• 1898 Marie Theresa Scanlan[2][9]
• 1899 Ellen H. Walsh[2]
• 1900 Susan Larkin Thomson[2]

1901–1950

• 1901 Emily Catlin Wickham[2][9]
• 1902 Maud Wells[2][9]
• 1903 Lucille Chouteau[2]
• 1904 Stella Wade[2]
• 1905 Julia Cabanne[2]
• 1906 Marguerite Kehlor Tower[2][9]
• 1907 Margaret Cabell[2]
• 1908 Dorothy Shapleigh[2]
• 1909 Susan Rebecca Carleton[2]
• 1910 Lucy Norvell[2][9]
• 1911 Ada Randolph[2]
• 1912 Jane Taylor[2]
• 1913 Adaline Capen[10][9]
• 1914 Elsa Zeibig[11]
• 1915 Jane Shapleigh[9]
• 1916 Mary D. Jones[12]
• 1917–1918 (No ball because of World War I)[13]
• 1919 Marian Franciscus[9][14]
• 1920 Ada Johnson[15][9]
• 1921 Eleanor Simmons[9][16]
• 1922 Alice Busch[16]
• 1923 Grace Wallace[17]
• 1924 Mary Virginia Collins[18]
• 1925 Maud Miller Streett[19]
• 1926 Martha Irene Love[9]
• 1927 Anne Semple[9]
• 1928 Mary Ambrose Smith[20] (disqualified due to secret marriage[21])
• 1929 Jean Ford[9]
• 1930 Jane Francis[9]
• 1931 Ann Ferriss[9]
• 1932 Myrtle Lambert[9]
• 1933 Jane Johnson[9]
• 1934 Jane Wells[9]
• 1935 Lila Childress[9]
• 1936 Susan Thompson[9]
• 1937 Nancy Morrill[9]
• 1938 Laura Rand[9][22]
• 1939 Jane Smith[9]
• 1940 Rosalie McRee[9][23]
• 1941 Barbara Wear[9]
• 1942–1945 (No ball because of World War II)[24][25]
• 1946 Anne Kennett Desloge[9]
• 1947 Dorothy Danforth[9]
• 1948 Sally Rubicam [9]
• 1949 Carol Gardner[9]
• 1950 Eleanor Koehler[9]

1951–2000

• 1951 Mary Kennard Wallace[9]
• 1952 Sally Shepley[9]
• 1953 Julia Terry[9]
• 1954 Barbara Whittemore[9]
• 1955 Audrey Wallace[9]
• 1956 Helene Bakewell[9]
• 1957 Carol Culver[9]
• 1958 Carolyn Niedringhaus[9]
• 1959 Laura Rand Orthwein[22]
• 1960 Sally Ford Curby[26]
• 1961 Anne Marie Baldwin[26]
• 1962 Diane Waring Desloge[27]
• 1963 Anne Kennard Newhard[28]
• 1964 Alice Busch Condie[29]
• 1965 Becky Wells Jones[30]
• 1966 Jane Howard Shapleigh[31]
• 1967 Rosalie McRee Ewing[23][32]
• 1968 Rebecca Dixon Williams[33]
• 1969 Josephine Carr Brodhead[34][35]
• 1970 Phoebe Mercer Scott[35]
• 1971 Lenita Collins Morrill[36]
• 1972 Hope Florence Jones[37]
• 1973 Susan Mitchell Conant[37]
• 1974 Susan Clark Smith[38]
• 1975 Sarah Hitchcock Moore[39]
• 1976 Cynthia Gray Danforth[40]
• 1977 Gertrude Marie Busch[41]
• 1978 Elizabeth Courtney Johnson[42]
• 1979 Susan Pierson Smith^[citation needed]
• 1980 Eleanor Church Hawes[43]
• 1981 Talbot Peters MacCarthy[44]
• 1982 Alice Margaret Maritz[45]
• 1983 Elizabeth Ford Johnston[45]
• 1984 Mary Genevieve Hyland[46]
• 1985 Jennifer Lee Knight[46]
• 1986 Stephanie Marie Schnuck[47]
• 1987 Emily Shepley Barksdale[48]
• 1988 Elizabeth Gray Elliott[49]
• 1989 Alice Marie Behan[50]
• 1990 Carter Gedge Walker[50]
• 1991 Katherine Hall McDonnell[51]
• 1992 Kelly Crawford Taylor[52]
• 1993 McKay Noland Baur[52]
• 1994 Margaret "Molly" Dunne Hager[53]
• 1995 Martha Elizabeth "Marka" Matthews[54]
• 1996 Elizabeth Ann Bryan[55]
• 1997 Rosalie "Lele" Ewing Engler[23][32]
• 1998 Josephine Marie Condie[56]
• 1999 Elizabeth Claire Kemper[57]
• 2000 Carolyn Elizabeth Schnuck[58]

2001 and after

• 2001 Julia Ryerson Schlafly[59]
• 2002 Lucy Hager Schnuck[60]
• 2003 Lauren Morgan Dorsey Thomas[61]
• 2004 Elizabeth Garrett Benoist[62]
• 2005 Julie Anne Stupp[62][63]
• 2006 Janice Hope Jones[63]
• 2007 Katherine Remington Martin[64]
• 2008 Elizabeth Bunn Hailand[64]
• 2009 Melissa Benton Howe^[citation needed]
• 2010 Laura Hogan Hollo[65]
• 2011 Eleanor Clark Brennan[65][66]
• 2012 Margaret Frances Schnuck[67]
• 2013 Katherine Falk Desloge[68]
• 2014 Merrill Clark Hermann[69]
• 2015 Charlotte Capen Jones[70]
• 2016 Eliza Dooley Johnson[71]
• 2017 Corinne Marie Condie[72]
• 2018 Cecelia Ann Fox[73]
• 2019 Lily Shelton Baur[74]
• 2020 postponned to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Missouri
• 2021
• 2022 Lily Shelton Baur[75]
• 2023
• 2024

See also

• List of Veiled Prophet Parade themes

References

1. Walter E. Orthwein, "Idea for VP Festival Came Out of Meeting in Old Lindell Hotel," St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 7, 1958, image 34
2. "List of Queens Chosen by the Veiled Prophet Since 1894," St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 6, 1915
3. "Belle of First Ball Tells How She Felt," St. Louis Globe-Democrat,October 7, 1958, image 39
4. "Belle of First Ball Tells How She Felt," St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 7, 1958, image 39
5. Marguerite Martyn, "The Veiled Prophet's Early Visits to His City," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 7, 1931, image 30
6. "Prophet at First Chose a Dancing Partner at Ball," The St. Louis Star, September 30, 1915, image 22
7. "The Prophet's Pageant," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 9, 1889, p. 9
8. "Gossip About People," St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat, October 4, 1893, image10
9. "Former Queens Summoned by Veiled Prophet," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 18, 1960, image 111
10. "Adaline Capen's Red Hair Reveals Her as V.P. Queen," The New St. Louis Star, October 8, 1913, image 1
11. "Elsa Zeibig Is Crowned Queen at Ball of V.P., St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 7, 1914, image 1
12. "Veiled Prophet's Ball a Brilliant Community Fete," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 4, 1916, image 3
13. Foster Eaton, "The Veiled Prophet Comes to St. Louis Again!" St. Louis Star-Times, October 4, 1946, image 21
14. "Gowns Worn at V.P. Ball Remarkable for Their Splendor," St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat, October 6, 1920, image 3
15. "8000 Attend Ceremony at Coliseum," St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 6, 1920, image 1
16. "Miss Alice Busch, New Queen of Prophet's Court, Fond of Outdoor Sports," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 4, 1923, image 3
17. "Four Debut Parties Give Added Gaiety to Unusually Busy Week," The St. Louis Star November 10, 1923, image 7
18. "Queen of the Veiled Prophet's Ball," St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 9, 1924, image 1
19. "Social Activities," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 27, 1925, image 21
20. "Prophet Names His Queen Amid Blaze of Color". The St. Louis Star and Times. October 4, 1928. p. 1 – via newspapers.com.
21. "Veiled Prophet Queen Turns in Her Resignation". Decatur Evening Herald. 23 October 1928. p. 1 – via newspapers.com.
22. Edward A. Higgins, "Miss Laura Rand Orthwein Crowned Veiled Prophet Queen," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 7, 1959, image 1
23. Joan Foster Dames, "New Veiled Prophet Queen Is Crowned; Her Mother and Grandmother Also Held the Title," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 21, 1997, image 52]
24. "Veiled Prophet Ball, Parade, Canceled," St. Louis Globe-Democrat, August 4, 1945, image 1
25. "The St. Louis Star and Times 08 Jul 1946, page Page 3". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
26. "Veiled Prophet Queen Bows In," The Kansas City Times, October 4, 1961, image 17
27. Jane Allen Connett, "Festive Parties on Holiday Calendar, St. Louis Globe-Democrat, December 5, 1962, image 18
28. "Miss Anne Newhard Crowned Queen in Glittering Ceremony," September 28, 1963, image 1
29. Associated Press, "Reigns in St. Louis," The Kansas City Times, October 3, 1964, image 1
30. Associated Press, "Ladue Girl Crowned Veiled Prophet Queen," Moberly (Missouri) Monitor-Index, October 2, 1965, image 3
31. "Veiled Prophet Crowns Queen," The Register-News, Mt. Vernon, Illinois, October 1, 1966, image 2
32. Joan Foster Dames, "Veiled Prophet Gala Transforms Ballroom Into Throne Room," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 24, 1997, image 35
33. Associated Press, "Ladue Girl Queen of St. Louis Ball," St. Joseph (Missouri) News-Press, September 28, 1968, image 1
34. Joan Foster Dames, "Josephine Carr Broadhead Is Veiled Prophet Queen," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 5, 1969, image 31
35. Associated Press, "Veiled Prophet Ball Queen From Clayton," Springfield (Missouri) Leader and Press, December 22, 1970, image 25
36. Carter Stith, "Lenita Collins Morrill is Veiled Prophet Queen," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 23, 1971, image 28
37. Elaine Viets, "The VP Queen's Supper," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 23, 1973, image 63
38. "Susan C. Smith Named Queen at VP Ball," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 21, 1974, image 1
39. "Sarah Moore Is VP Queen," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 24, 1975, image 3
40. Gay Pauley , "Coming-Out Parties Are Back In Style," The Herald, Chicago, Illinois, January 26, 1977, image 17
41. John M. McGuire, "Gertrude Marie Busch Crowned Queen at Veiled Prophet Ball," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 23, 1977, image 3
42. Photos by Robert C. Holt III, "Veiled Prophet's Court of Love and Beauty," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 14, 1979, image 47
43. "Student Takes Up Reign as VP Queen," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 22, 1980, image 15
44. "Fashions Become More Formal, Glamorous in 1981," The Tribune, Scranton, Pennsylvania, image 11
45. Patricia Rice, "Santa Claus Shares Limelight With Veiled Prophet at Ball," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 23, 1983, image 29
46. Patricia Rice, "The Veiled Prophet Ball," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 22, 1985, image 31
47. Ellen Futterman, "An Evening of Love and Beauty," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 22,, 1986, image 55
48. Georgia Sauer, "A Beauty of a Ball," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 21, 1987, image 51
49. Patricia Corrigan, "A Beauty of a Ball," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 24, 1988, image 33
50. Ellen Futterman, "Snow Ball," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 26, 1980, image 59
51. Jerry Berger, "Keeping the Ball Rolling," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 26, 1991, image 59
52. "McKay Noland Baur, 20, crowned VP Ball Queen," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 24, 1993, image 2
53. Joan Foster Dames, "Maids Presented to Veiled Prophet," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 1, 1995, image 127
54. "96th Queen Reigns at Annual VP Ball," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 23, 1995, image 2
55. "There She Is," St. Louiis Post-Dispatch, December 22, 1996, image 55
56. Joan Foster Dames, "Jodie Condie Reigns as Queen of the Court at Veiled Prophet Ball," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 20, 1998, image 36
57. Princeton Freshman Is the '99 Veiled Prophet Queen," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 24, 1999, image 2
58. "Carolyn E. Schnuck Is Crowned Queen at Veiled Prophet Ball," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 24, image 34
59. Jerry Berger, "Julia Schlafly Is Crowned Queen at Veiled Prophet Ball at Adam's Mark," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 23, 2001, image 2
60. Jerry Berger, "Well-Dressed Wag Lifts the Veil Off the VIPs at the Ball St. Louis Still Loves," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 22, 2002, image 2
61. "VP Queen's Crown Shines Brightly on a Gilded Evening," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 21, 2003
62. "Queen of Love, Beauty," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 23, 2005, p. C001
63. "Colgate Student Is Crowned Queen," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 23, 2006, p. A011
64. "For Veiled Prophet, a New Queen, Again," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 21, 2008, p. D015
65. Rhonda Weiche, Ladue-Frontenac Patch, December 23, 2011
66. "Sophomore Crowned at St. Louis' Veiled Prophet Ball," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, cited by DePauw University
67. Tim Townsend, "New Queen Crowned at the 128th Annual Veiled Prophet Ball," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 23, 2012, p. A002
68. Kavita Kumar, "Katherine Desloge of Ladue Is New Queen of Love and Beauty," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 22, 2013
69. "Hermann Is Queen at Veiled Prophet Ball," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 21, 2014, p. A003
70. "Digest," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 23, 2015, p. A003
71. Blythe Bernhard, "Fun Mix of Quirky, Traditional," St. Louis Post-Dispatch July 2, 2017, p. A15
72. "Digest," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 23, 2017, p. A03
73. "Veiled Prophet Ball Names Its Newest Queen," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 23, 2018, p. A6
74. "St. Louis Post-Dispatch 22 Dec 2019, page A6". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
75. https://www.stltoday.com/news/archives/veiled-prophet-symbol-of-wealth-power-and-to-some-racism/collection_8076f8b4-98a5-5935-9b57-134bcda6068e.html

Further reading

• [1] Marguerite Martyn, "The Veiled Prophet's Early Visits to His City," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 7, 1931, image 30 ("A Former Queen of Love and Beauty Returns to the Scene of Her Triumph and Recalls the Origin of Many of the Pageant's Customs.")
• [2] "Veiled Prophet Ball: Former Queens and Ladies of Honor," Ladue News, with illustrations of then-recent honorees