Back to school is almost here and while it has been a long time since I have been an official student, I still get many flashbacks of the days leading up to the first day back.

So for today’s post I’m going to do a collection of vintage back to school advertisements from 1920s -1960s to maybe bring back your own memories of the first day back (please share them in the comments section below).

Let the fun begin!

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Back to School Vintage Advertising

1920s-1960s

1954 vintage ad for Blue Bell long wearing clothing for the entire family. “It’s Back To School~In Bright Sturdy Blue Bells!”

1950s Vintage Back to School Ad: 1954 Blue Bell Long Wearing Clothing For The Entire Family "It's Back To School~In Bright Sturdy Blue Bells!" Vintage Ad

Source: Etsy

1954 vintage advertisement. “Save on Back to School Specials at Rexall Drug Stores!”

We have a:

Zipper Binder
Lead Pencils
Wrist Watches
Pocket Watch
Lunch Kit
School Bag
Handkerchief Package
And so much more!

1950s vintage ad: REXALL DRUG STORES Original 1954 Vintage Extra Large Black & White Print Advertisement - September Back to School Sale

Source: Etsy

A variety of “tastefully appropriate” apparel for young schoolgirls (7-14) from the Fall-Winter 1923 Sears catalog.

A variety of "tastefully appropriate" apparel for young schoolgirls from the Fall-Winter 1923 Sears catalog. 1920s fashion illustration of young girls in school clothes

Source: Tumblr

1940s ad. “I hate to go back to school” says our blonde character. Why? Because she does not look good and her smile is not great. But don’t worry Listerine and a makeover will make everything better!

I am enjoying the 1940s fashions and 1940s hairstyles in this ad (even though the messaging is from another time).

1940s vintage ad: Listerine Toothpaste Ad: I Hate To Go Back To School ! from 1940's. Featuring 2 young women discussing how to have the boys like her.

Source: eBay

1962 back to school national Bellas Hess catalog. I remember all I wanted when I was younger was a plaid skirt. Cute look on our 1960s teen.

1960s vintage ad: 1962 Back To School National Bellas Hess Catalog featuring a young woman in 1960s fashion for school

Source: Flickr

1955 Texcel Cellophane Tape “It’s Time To Buy Back To School Supplies!”

Original 1955 Texcel Cellophane Tape Magazine Ad. 1950s Vintage Back to School Ad.

Source: Etsy

1936 Back to school dresses for Girls – 1930s companion Butterick sewing patterns advertisment.

Source: Etsy

1946 Phillip’s Milk Of Magnesia print ad. “Back To School; Back To Work”.

1940s vintage ad: 1946 Phillip's Milk Of Magnesia Vintage Print Ad Back To School Back To Work

Source: eBay

1960s back to school advertisement. An outstanding large vintage french poster showing two happy, well dressed children eagerly returning to school, replendent in their new clothes, school bags and equipment.

1960s vintage advertisement for back to school featuring two school kids running

Source: Etsy

1940s vintage ad. Heading back to college? Make sure you shop at Harry W. Joseph in West Phila for your campus styled Arrow shirts.

1940s Harry W Joseph Mens Store Arrow Shirts Back To School vintage ad

Source: eBay

1950s going back to school…..loans advertisment. This ad made me chuckle so I needed to add it to the collection.

1950 Going-back-to-school Loans Debt Advertising Poster Vintage ad

Source: eBay

1950s ad for Woolworth’s School Pencils & Pencil Cases.

1950s ad for Woolworths school supplies.

Source: Pinterest

1930s vintage ad. School wear for Girls from Grace Brothers, Broadway, Sydney 1938 (not a fall ad but a new year school ad).

School wear from Grace Brothers, Broadway, Sydney 1938. 1930s fashions for young girls.

Source: Pinterest

1940s newspaper ads for Cripe Town Talk Bread – “Back To School, Take a Lunch”.

1940s vintage ad for Cripe Town Talk Bread - Back To School, take a lunch

Source: eBay

Just what every teen wants…to dress like their whole family for back to school. 1962 Minnesota Woven ad.

1960s vintage ad for Minnesota Woven, 1962 featuring a 1960s family in back to school clothes

Source: grayflannelsuit.net

Hope you enjoyed the collection of back to school advertising. Share in the comments what your favourite ad was or a story about your own back to school experience.

Further Reading:

Vintage Advertising 1920s – 1960s (archived blog post)
Vintage Back to School posts

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

I was recently back on one of my favourite websites, The North Carolina Yearbooks Collection to do some vintage fashion falling in love (I mean browsing HA!).

While in the depths of it’s online pages I stumbled upon the most amazing vintage yearbook that I have ever seen and I just knew that I needed to share it with all of you (yes it’s true!).

Today we are looking at ‘The Stagecoach’, a Yearbook from 1930 St. Mary’s School, Raleigh, NC. It is truly like NOTHING you have seen before on my blog. Visually stunning from start to finish and a not to miss post.

Here we go!

The Stagecoach yearbook St. Mary's School (Raleigh, N.C.) featuring a Stagecoach illustration.

The Stagecoach’, a Yearbook from 1930 St. Mary’s School, Raleigh, NC

About St. Mary’s:

Founded in 1842 by the Rev. Aldert Smedes, an Episcopal priest, Saint Mary’s School has operated continuously on the same site ever since.

With the support of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, Smedes founded Saint Mary’s as a school for young ladies “designed to furnish a thorough and excellent education equal to the best that can be obtained in the city of New York, or in any Northern school.“

Today, Saint Mary’s School is an innovative independent, Episcopal, college-preparatory, boarding and day school for girls in grades 9–12 (Source).

The Classes

From little girl to a young woman graduating from Grade 12.

1930 Yearbook inside page featuring an illustration of a young woman in 1930s evening gown. Senior Student.

Here is a small sampling of our lovely senior ladies. Look at those 1929 early 1930s hairstyles? Both in photo and in illustration. YOOZA!

1930s vintage yearbook featuring young woman, seniors of the school in 1930s late 1920s hairstyles.

1930s Vintage Yearbook photo featuring 1920's hairstyles

Prophecy for class of 1930.

Look inside a senior class yearbook from 1930 in North Carolina

Our Grade 12 senior class in late 1920s fashions, looking fashionable and fun!

Senior Grade 12 class of 1930 at St Mary's school North Carolina. Beautiful late 1920s early 1930s fashions.

The Junior Class of 1930.

Look inside a vintage 1930s yearbook featuring the Junior Class of St. Mary's School North Carolina.

1930 vintage yearbook featuring late 1920s fashions for young women

1930s vintage yearbook featuring Sophmore class of St. Mary's Schoo, North Carolina.

The Sophomore Class of 1930.

1930s vintage yearbook featuring Sophmore class of St. Mary's Schoo, North Carolina. All the young women are wearing late 1920s fashions.

Freshmens!

1930s vintage yearbook featuring the freshman class of St. Mary's School North Carolina. Image is a graphic design of 2 young woman having tea.

1930 Vintage yearbook for St. Mary's School North Carolina featuring the Freshmen class all in late 1920s fashions.

PREPS. All bright eyed and busy tailed and ready for the adventures of St. Mary’s School.

1930 Vintage yearbook for St. Mary's School North Carolina featuring an illustration of 2 girls holding hands

1930 Vintage yearbook for St. Mary's School North Carolina featuring the Preps class in late 1920s fashions.

THE STATISTICS

Now here is there real reason why I wanted to do this blog post……THE STATISTICS (wait for it….)

Look inside a yearbook from 1930 at St. Mary's School North Carolina

MOST POPULAR – Elizabeth Collins. LOVE the use of the sheet music in the background for each one of the “winners”. How creative!

Most Popular student at St. Mary's School in the 1930 Yearbook.

MOST ATTRACTIVE “She’s Got IT” -Elizabeth Nunn.

1930 Vintage Yearbook photo featuring the most attractive student.

MOST EFFICIENT, BEST ALL-AROUND “She’s a Great, Great Girl” -Roxana Eaton.

Inside a 1930 Vintage yearbook featuring the winner of the most efficient award at St. Mary's School North Carolina

THE CUTEST “Hello Cutie” – Lela Shewmake. I love this one so much!

Late 1920s Vintage Hairstyle as seen in a 1930 vintage yearbook from St. Mary's School North Carolina. The fashion illustration in the back features 1920s fashions and is on sheet music.

OMG! MOST STYLISH Indeed, Margaret West! I never looked this good in highschool…ever ha!

Most Fashionable as seen in a 1930s yearbook. The young woman is wearing late 1920s fashions.

CLEVEREST – Julia Askew.

Late 1920s Vintage Hairstyle as seen in a 1930 vintage yearbook from St. Mary's School North Carolina.

MOST GRACEFUL, ‘Dance Away The Night’ – Freda De Pass.

As a dancer, I am enjoying this title and the look of our graceful gal.

Most Graceful! Late 1920s Vintage Hairstyle and late 1920s evening gowns as seen in a 1930 vintage yearbook from St. Mary's School North Carolina.

DAINTIEST – Elizabeth Webb. Not sure how you get this title, but can we get an applause for the evening gown Elizabeth is wearing? Beautiful!

Most Daintest. Late 1920s Evening Gown/ Early 1930s Evening gown as seen in a vintage yearbook. Late 1920s Vintage Hairstyle as seen in a 1930 vintage yearbook from St. Mary's School North Carolina.

MOST ATHLETIC – Marion Myers.

Most Athletic. Late 1920s Vintage Hairstyle as seen in a 1930 vintage yearbook from St. Mary's School North Carolina.

Summary of our Statstics above. YOOZA those 1920s fashions!

Late 1920s Fashions for Women as seen in an early 1930s vintage yearbook from St. mary's school, North Carolina.

Okay back to a few other goodies in the yearbook…..

The May Queen, Eveyln Mann in all her royal glory.

may queen vintage yearbook photo from 1930 of a young woman in a long 1920s evening gown and crown

Ten ni s anyone? The illustrations in this yearbook are just simply stunning. Whoever did them, I hope went on to do great things in her life.

1930 Vintage Yearbook featuring a sketch of a woman in late 1920s fashions getting ready to play tennis. Sportswear fashion for women.

1929-1930 women's school sports team as seen in a 1930 vintage yearbook from St. Mary's School North Carolina.

A poem on Modernism.

I’m going to leave you with what I think is the “Naughty List” aka “Restriction List” and the public calling out in the yearbook.

Not sure if this is meant to be a poke at those who messed up or a legit, you suck burn list? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

look inside a 1930s yearbook from st. Mary's schoo, North Carolina.

And that is the end of today’s post. Hope you enjoyed it friends! I know I LOVED putting this one together and drooling over all those 1920s hairstyles (so dreamy).

Question Time: What was your favourite image / graphic design from this yearbook? Share in the comments section below.

Further Reading:

Take care and thanks for stopping by!

Liz

Month: August 2021