This vintage real photo postcard features the Queen of the 1947 Portland, Oregon, Rose Festival. The newly crowned Queen is named Georgene. She is pretty and is flashing a wonderful smile. She looks majestic wearing her crown, dressed in a royal robe, and clutching a large bouquet of roses. The festival has an interesting history. The Portland Rose Society was founded in 1888 and the group began with a backyard rose show. By 1902 the society was hosting a parade and pageant, in addition to the rose show. The first Rose Festival and Flower Parade was held in Portland in 1906. The parade included decorated floats, wagons, people and horses. The first “official Porland Rose Festival occurred in 1907. The Rose Festival Parade included an “electric parade” of illuminated floats. In 1930, the festival began selecting a Rose Festival Queen. The Queen was selected from a group of nominees representing local high schools. These high school seniors were called princesses. Research reveals that the young woman pictured on this photo portrait postcard is Georgene Ormston. She was a student at “Girls Poly” high school in Portland. (SOLD)
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 