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Founded in 1872 by Ward McAllister, the "Society of Patriarchs" was a group of 25 gentlemen from New York Society.The group represented men of worth, respectability, and responsibility. Beginning with the 1885–1886 season, the Patriarchs threw a ball each year, known as the Patriarchs Ball, which each member was entitled to invite four ladies and five gentlemen to, thereby establishing the in...