Through the generosity and hospitality of host Peter Page, the White Party has remained a constant in the Provincetown social scene for the better part of three decades. In recognition, The History Project launched a collecting effort and exhibition project, spearheaded by volunteer and community member Roland St Jean, of The White Party Exhibit.

The resulting thirty-year, multi media photo retrospective of this Provincetown phenomenon opened at the Sage Inn & Lounge in Provincetown, Massachusetts, on August 23, 2014.

From its inception in 1981 as a private cocktail and croquet tournament, the White Party has evolved into a widely anticipated milestone of the social season—and more recently, a highly successful fundraiser for Outer Cape Health Services. In all its manifestations, the White Party has parodied the self-imposed social class moratorium on wearing white after Labor Day. Attendees celebrate the end of summer attired in “resourceful, wonderful white”—including a fabulous abundance of drag! Community members were encouraged to submit their own photographs from the White Party to be included in an online digital collection and to be considered for inclusion in the final exhibition.

View some of the photographs collected as part of this project.