Holiday Celebrations at the World Bank Group

NUMBER 056ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: NOVEMBER 2006

January 2016

The World Bank Group Archives Exhibit Series contains exhibits originally published on the Archives’ external website beginning in 2002. When the Archives’ website was transferred to a new platform in 2015, it was decided that older exhibits would be converted to pdf format and made available as a series on the World Bank’s external database, Documents & Reports.

These exhibits, authored by World Bank archivists, highlight key events, personalities, and publications in the history of the World Bank. They also bring attention to some of the more fascinating archival records contained in the Archives’ holdings.

To view current exhibits, visit the Exhibits page on the Archives’ website.

Holiday Celebrations at the World Bank Group

The gifts from World Bank staff are ready for delivery to St. Elizabeth's Hospital, 1966

The guests enjoy dancing at the holiday party, Sheraton Parlor, 1954

Following the tradition started in the early 1950’s, the World Bank Group staff contributed gifts for the patients of St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, D.C. The collection of gifts was made by a devoted committee of staff members representing each department of the Bank and IFC.

Catherine Jackson and Ruth Achcar with Christmas

stockings for St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, 1953

World Bank President Eugene Black dancing at the

holiday party, 1953

Santa Claus visits World Bank, 1955

.Each December, World Bank Group staff celebrated the season with a holiday party. The World Bank President and his wife would greet the guests upon

entering the party. After that, the celebration would start with dinner followed by dancing to a wide variety of live music.

Guests dance to the music of the band at the holiday party, 1954

World Bank President George Woods and his wife Louise greet guests at the holiday

party, 1964

In addition to the Bank-wide party, individual departments often held smaller parties for the children of Bank staff. The children enjoyed dressing up in their native clothing and helping to spread holiday cheer throughout the Bank.

Guests dancing at the holiday party, 1957

Bank Group children from India, Mexico, Sierra Leone

and the Philippines enjoy the Christmas tree, 1970

World Bank President Robert McNamara and his wife

Margaret greet guests at the holiday party, 1968

These days, Bank departments contribute the majority of their holiday funds to various charities in keeping with the Bank's dream of a world free of poverty.

Guests singing at the holiday party, December 17, 1953

The band playing at the holiday party, Sheraton Parlor, 1954