* Debutante Balls and Coming-Out Parties: These formal events, common in upper-class society in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, were celebrations marking a young woman's transition into society. They involved elaborate dances and showcased the debutantes to potential suitors. The idea of a formal, celebratory dance for young people had its roots here.
* Early 20th Century Social Events: As the 20th century progressed, similar events began to emerge in high schools, often organized by individual classes or schools. These were not always called "proms" initially, and they varied considerably in formality.
* The Rise of Social Dances: The popularity of social dances like the waltz, foxtrot, and later, swing and jitterbug, further fueled the desire for formal dances where students could practice and showcase these skills.
* The 1920s and the "Roaring Twenties": This decade saw a significant increase in the popularity of high school dances, including events that we might now recognize as proms. The increased social freedom and energy of the era played a role in the broader adoption of these events.
* Post-World War II Era: After World War II, high school proms solidified their place as a significant social event, becoming more standardized and formalized. The post-war economic boom likely contributed to this by allowing for greater spending on such events.
In short, there's no single inventor or date of origin for the high school prom. Instead, it emerged from a gradual blending of upper-class social traditions, the increasing popularity of social dancing, and the changing social landscape of the early to mid-20th century. It was a slow evolution, not a sudden revolution.