Do you love the novels of Jane Austen, enjoy British literature in general, or revel in wearing period costumes?
Did you know you can attend a Regency Ball in Alabama?
The Jane Austen Society of Alabama is hosting its annual Regency Ball March 29, inviting all to journey back to a time of fanciful evenings and delightful conversation. This year’s Ball will be hosted at the Homewood Public Library.
Elegant dances have taken place at the Homewood Public Library, and attendees were transported to the early 19th century. The occasion was the Jane Austen Society of Alabama’s annual Regency ball. The library ballroom was filled to the brim with enthusiastic and dedicated “Janeites”—the lovers of all things Austen.
In the library ballroom, tables were festooned with flowers, an enticing buffet of appetizers and desserts was provided, and more than forty Janeites and first-time visitors enjoyed a catered dinner, socializing, and dances.
Most of the attendees came in Regency costumes, both painstakingly handmade and Etsy-bought, and the gowns were in nearly every color imaginable. Fans, gloves, feather headpieces and tiaras were accessories. There were even some quite dapper gentlemen in period clothing, who heartily enjoyed the food, dancing, and showing off their cravats.
For those who are intrigued by the thought of dancing and rhapsodizing about all things Austen, the Jane Austen Society of North America might be for you. JASNA was founded in 1979 by Joan Austen-Leigh, the great-great grand-niece of Austen. The organization has 81 regional groups across North America, and roughly 5,000 members.
The Alabama chapter of JASNA was founded in 1998 by Mary Curry; she and several interested ladies from Tuscaloosa held the first meeting at Auburn University at Montgomery, and Curry was chosen as the first Regional Coordinator of the Alabama chapter. In the early years of the chapter, the yearly December luncheon, a gathering that celebrates both the Christmas season and Austen’s December 16th birthday, was held at the University Club in Tuscaloosa and at the old Birmingham country club.
In recent years, the Alabama chapter has frequently met at the Homewood Library and in members’ homes throughout the greater Birmingham area. Another annual meeting is the spring luncheon at a restored antebellum mansion in Greensboro. Ian Crawford—an interior design instructor at the University of Alabama—is the perfect host, replete in splendid historically accurate suiting. Last year’s luncheon included a presentation about English common law, and members reenacted a real trial from the Regency Era that is recorded in the “Old Bailey” criminal court records. We’re looking forward to seeing what dashing historical uniform Mr. Crawford dons this April!
Along with the Regency ball and annual Christmas luncheon and Birthday celebration (Austen was born on December 16th), other events throughout the year include discussions about various aspects of the Regency period, British history, and in-depth conversations about Austen’s six completed novels. The speakers often include experts of British literature and Austen; our next featured speaker will be Dr. Christine Colón, a professor and the department chair of the English department at Wheaton College.
The meetings of the Jane Austen Society of Alabama are always fun and educational, and there are usually at least six meetings a year . Last year’s Regency ball was the most attended in the chapter’s history, and the ball in March is highly anticipated. The chapter also offers a Zoom book club, and spirited discussions of Austen’s novels are generally scheduled every Thursday night.
If you have any interest in Jane Austen, British literature, or even old-fashioned recipes and dishes, check out the Jane Austen Society of Alabama’s official website and Facebook page. Members frequently post pictures from their trips to England, along with hilarious memes about the film adaptations of Austen’s novels: the good, bad, and the ugly. The upcoming PBS miniseries about Jane and her sister Cassandra will undoubtedly be a subject of debate in the Facebook group!
If you are interested in joining, please visit the Jane Austen Society of North America’s website, and select the state of Alabama when you apply. There are multiple memberships available, and members receive a quarterly printed newsletter and the annual journal, Persuasions.
The welcoming Janeites of the JASNA-AL chapter can be described in Austen’s own words: “The company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company.” We hope to see you at the ball!
Interested in Learning More?
- Join the Jane Austen Society of North America
- The Alabama chapter’s website
- JASNA’s Facebook page
About the Author
Katharine Armbrester graduated from UAB in 2019 with an MA in history and an MFA in creative writing from Mississippi University for Women. She loves the world of periodicals, Alabama history and writing.
