The Golden Age of Baton & Drum Corps
“We weren’t just a baton and drum corp. We we’re a wonderful family with wonderful leaders!”(Kathy Barnhart Smith, Vi Lar Baton Corps)
The Phillyettes, Fire Batons and Flaming Double Dutch
Over the past four years of publishing The Vintage Twirler, I have come across baton twirlers performing in just about every imaginable setting. I have shared images of twirlers on ice skates, on horseback, and even mid-tap dance routine. But until today, I had never...
The Scarlet Strutters: Small-Town Twirlers, Big-Time Tradition
In a corner of Northwest Ohio, something enduring has been spinning through parades, competitions, and generations for more than half a century. They’re called the Scarlet Strutters Baton Corps of Defiance, Ohio, and if you’ve ever seen them perform, you understand...
Katherine Stump Werntz Kridler (1925-2013)
Katherine Stump Werntz Kridler (1925-2013) and her identical twin sister, Betty, twirled for College High School, Warrensburg, Missouri. They were also majorettes with the Central Missouri State University Drum and Bugle Corps.
Whirlwinds of Walla Walla, Washington (1960s)
Vibrant photos of The Whirlwinds of Walla Walla are featured on Bygone Walla Walla's website. The organization is a local non-profit with a mission to build and share the visual history of Walla Walla, Washington. Retired librarian Joe Drazan heads the project, which...
Petersburg High School Drum Corps, 1934 (Indiana)
The Petersburg High School Drum Corps, Petersburg, Pike County, Indiana, 1934. From left to right: Pearl Owings, Majorette; Name Unknown; Claribell Klipsch; Name Unknown; Name Unknown; Lucille Hendrix; Name Unknown; Virginia Hendrix; Name Unknown; Name Unknown; Name...
Anne Arundelettes Majorettes and Drum Corps (1960s)
The Anne Arundelettes Majorettes and Drum Corps of Anne Arundel County and Brooklyn Park, Maryland, were founded by the late Frances Jones (1922-2020). She was originally from Liverpool, England. Very little information is available about her. Click here to view her...
Daley Debutantes Baton & Drum Corps History
The following information was discovered on an expired website page on an Internet archive. It was not easy to find or navigate. But, we're glad we were able to preserve this in an easily accessed location, especially the images. The article was written in 2005. We...
Recorded Histories
Oral history is the collection and study of historical information using sound recordings of interviews with people having personal knowledge of past events. If you would like to share your personal oral history of baton twirling, please let us know. We are available to conduct interviews every Friday. Interviews will be available on this website. Once a substantial number of interviews have been conducted, they will be presented in podcast format. Nothing will be published without the interviewee’s written consent. Thank you for helping preserve the history of baton twirling.
The Whirlwinds of Walla Walla, Washington, 1962
Vintage Ephemera
Baton twirling ephemera refers to things like programs, posters, patches, stickers, magazines, newsletters, and other things typically written or printed that were used for a specific period of time.
A rare find: Bicentennial majorette medal.
Majorette Memories
We welcome high-quality scans of your vintage baton twirling ephemera. You can also receive items through the mail. We’ll digitally preserve your memories in high-quality scans. Thank you so much for supporting this project.
&
Rare Merchandise
Once or twice a year we will offer a commemorative item or rare keepsake for sale such as a sticker, patch, pin or T-shirt, etc. All proceeds will help offset the cost of this project, which includes the cost to acquire rare and/or copyrighted materials.
We will typically offer merchandise on World Baton Twirling Day, April 10, which is also the the official launch day for The Vintage Twirler. Please sign up for updates below so you don’t miss our annoucement. Thank you so much for your interest in this project.