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Society of Martha Washington
The Society of Martha Washington was formed in 1939, in Laredo, Teaxs. The Society hosts the Colonial Ball, which is an annual debutante ball where young women make their debut into society. The Colonial Ball is held at the Laredo Civic Center and is a part of a citywide festival called the Washington's Birthday Celebration, which takes in February of each year. The Society of Martha Washington helps Laredo present an image of “racial and national harmony” by working in conjuction with the Princess Pocahontas Concil, and the Abrazo Children.

Membership
Membership into the Society is exclusive yet there are no racial or ethnic discriminations. Unlike the debutante balls, from the early 1900s, up north where racial and ethnic differences were implicated in defining social class, Laredo's elite is comprised of bicultural individuals. The Society was founded with bicultural roots. In fact a good number of the girls who are presented are Latinas. Member's who are chosen into the Society usually come from a small group of old families.

The Pageant
The society chooses two prominent members of Laredos society to portray President George and Martha Dandrige Washington. The debutantes and their escorts that are presented either have family in the Society or they are invited as guests.They portray contemporaries based on the story line, which changes every year, that come out to honor the President and his First Lady.

Debutantes
Each girl wears an elaborate hand made colonial dress. Over a corset and bloomer, the debutantes wear beautiful colonial style dress. Linda Leyendecker Gutierrez is the official dressmaker for the pagent. Silks, satins and velvets from all over the world are uniquely designed with beads, lace and ribbon to create the perfect debutante dress. The dresses can weigh up to 80 pounds because of the amount of intricate beading that goes on the dress.