Quote:
Originally Posted by ethereal_reality
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...A mystery parade showing a delegation of men wearing white suits and carrying white umbrellas!
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The contingent makes me thinks of New Orleans or the Caribbean. It's possible the men are of African or African-American descent but it's a bit difficult to tell for sure.
the reverse.
.... "Swobd"
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^^^
Looks like an early version of the Doo Dah Parade. But seriously, many labor organizations long ago had men in white suits carrying umbrellas in parades as a symbol of labor unity (workers under the umbrella/protection of a union). Here is another example from Indiana in the early 20th century--again men in white suits with umbrellas, in this case a baker's union; click on the photo in the link below and you see the umbrella men in white suits:
https://indianaalbum.pastperfectonli...D-933439182128
So, in all likelihood the parade in your photo is some sort of union parade, probably on Labor Day. I don't know what SWOBD means, but maybe it was some sort of millinery union (hatmakers). The word millinery is on the back of the postcard.