Today’s Vintage Photo Tuesday (collection of vintage image blog posts) is a look back at life at Wellesley College from the 1920s-1960s. 

Why Wellesley? Well they had a wonderful online digital archive that I have recently been spending hours browsing and thought that my readers would enjoy some of the gems I stumbled across.

1948 Ground Committee. Source: sscommons.org

I am also going to turn this into a a regular series since there are so many archives with content that is Vintage Inn approved!

So without further adieu, lets begin!

Student Life at Wellesley College

Vintage Photos 1920s-1950s

About Wellesley:

Wellesley College is a private women’s liberal arts college located west of Boston in the town of Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1870 by Henry and Pauline Durant, it is a member of the original Seven Sisters Colleges (Source).

The below image is from 1938 of a young woman modelling late 1930s fashions in front of the building pictured above.

Source: photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt in 1938 via Vintag.es

1925 Hoop Rolling-Seniors at the starting line.

Source: sscommons.org

 “Hoop Rolling”:

Hoop-rolling began as an activity once held on May Day. May Day was a day of frivolity and child’s play to escape from real-world worries. Students celebrated by dressing up in children’s clothing and playing games on Severance Green. One of the most popular was the hoop rolling race.

Hoop-rolling has become a Wellesley institution in itself and is now held independently in late April. 

Traditional Schedule of Events:

Little Sisters (underclasswomen) camp out the night before the event to hold a spot for their Big Sisters (upperclasswomen) on Tupelo Lane.

Hoops are passed down to seniors or provided by Cafe Hoop—and then are decorated.

Come morning, the seniors arrive—dressed for success in their Commencement gowns and class colors.

At a signal, the seniors race down the lane, pushing their hoops with a wooden stick.

Back in the day, it was proclaimed that whoever won the Hoop Roll would be the first to get married. In the status-seeking 1980s, she was the first to be CEO. Now we just say that the winner will be the first to achieve happiness and success, whatever that means to her.

The winner is carried away by her Wellesley Sisters

……and has the honor of being thrown into Lake Waban 

(Source)

1941 Hoop Rolling friends.

Love the Saddle Shoes!

Source: sscommons.org

One more photo from this tradition, this time from 1945.

Source: sscommons.org

1925 Golf Club. Stunning 1920’s Womens Sportswear fashions. 

Source: sscommons.org

The Photo before the big dance. Circa 1950s. OMG THOSE EVENING DRESSES!!!!

Source: www.sscommons.org

Fun at the 1950s Dance.

Source: www.sscommons.org

Painting Class at Wellesley College 1958.

Source: sscommons.org

1927-1928 New York State Presidents. Super 1920s hairstyles on display.

Source: sscommons.org

Doris Miller being crowned Tree Day Mistress of 1928. What a fantastic photo!

Source: sscommons.org

1958 Tree Day Mistress and her Court. 

Source: sscommons.org

Beauty Shop 1935.

Source: sscommons.org

Dorm Life-1942. So many wonderful things to look at in this photo. Love this insight into student life.

Source: sscommons.org

1938 Fashion on campus. That is one outstanding 1930s hat!

Source: photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt in 1938 via Vintag.es

Cool School Fact:

Wellesley founder Henry Durant believed in the importance of physical exercise for women, a radical notion in the late 19th century. He outfitted the College Hall gymnasium with dumbbells, chest weights, and flying rings (Source).

Hope you enjoyed the photos friends! What was your favourite? Please shre in the comment section below.

Further Reading:

• Vintage School Posts (Archived Blog Posts)
• Vintage Photos 1920s-1960s (Archived Blog Posts)

Liz