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Category: Back to School

A Nostalgic Look: Vintage Back-to-School Photos and Ads from the 1930s-1960s

It’s that time of year—school is back in session! To celebrate, enjoy this nostalgic collection of vintage school photos and back-to-school advertisements from the 1930s to 1960s.

Further Reading: Part 1 – Back To School We Go! Roundup of All Things “School” from the 1940s, 1950’s and 1960s


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


1930s-1960s Vintage School Images & Advertisements

Two girls enjoying an ice cream after their school day. 1950s vintage photo.

1950s vintage photo of two teenage girls in 1950s cardigans and blouses and 1950s hairstyles enjoying an ice cream while holding their books.

Source: Etsy-DearMacyVintage

Bond Bread vintage 1930 print ad. “For school lunches, choose the bread that keeps its flavor.

1930s vintage ad: School Lunches for kids as seen in this Bond Bread vintage 1930 print ad

Bus Station, 1943. Schoolgirls waiting at a bus stop in a small town in Tennessee. Photograph By Esther Bubley, September 1943. 

1940s vintage photo of a Bus Station, 1943. Black Schoolgirls waiting at a bus stop in a small town in Tennessee. Photograph By Esther Bubley, September 1943. 

“Back to School and Early Fall Fashions by Berth Robert”. 1941 Back-to-School Fall Fashions Magazine (Digital Download).

This 16 page fashion catalog is a great example of early 1940s teenage fashion, featuring daily wear as well as evening dresses. It was published in 1941 by Berth Robert, a company that offered “semi-made fashions,” or partially completed clothing items that could be finished by a home sewer. Most Berth Robert catalogs come from the 1930s, and the company likely went out of business in the early 40s.

Vintage 1940s Fashion Catalog - Berth Robert 1941 Back-to-School Fall 1940s Fashions Magazine | Digital Download

Example of the 1941 back-to-school fall fashions for young Women. Fantastic fashion illustrations.

1940s Fashion: Vintage 1940s Fashion Catalog - Berth Robert 1941 Back-to-School Fall 1940s Fashions Magazine featuring fantastic fashion illustrations
1940s Fashion: Vintage 1940s Fashion Catalog - Berth Robert 1941 Back-to-School Fall 1940s Fashions Magazine featuring fantastic fashion illustrations

Source: Etsy-20thCenturyFrocks

LIFE Goes to a School For Kid Geniuses, 1948

LIFE visited what might be called a genius school at Hunter College—a school filled 450 apparently well-adjusted, engaged kids from ages three to 11, who just happened to enjoy IQs averaging around 150.

1940s vintage photo of kids raising their hand at a School For Kid Geniuses, 1948. LIFE visited what might be called a genius school at Hunter College—a school filled 450 apparently well-adjusted, engaged kids from ages three to 11, who just happened to enjoy IQs averaging around 150.

Source: LIFE

1950s advertisement for “Good Hot Soup For Lunch” from Campbell’s Soup.

Further Reading: The Vintage Advertising for Campbell’s Soup Company

1950s advertisement for "Good Hot Soup For Lunch" from Campbell's Soup. The ad features an illustration of a mother eating lunch with her son on a school day.

Source: Etsy-EncorePrintSociety

Taking the school bus. A 1950s vintage photo of teenagers on the bus.

1950s vintage photo of 1950s teenagers on the school bus

September 1945 Miss America Teen Life Magazine | Back-To-School Edition.

Further Reading: Plaid: A Fall Fashion Trend. The Vintage Edition

1940s vintage magazine cover for 'Miss America' teenager magazine from 1945 featuring tow girls in plaid fashions.
1940s vintage magazine cover for 'Miss America' teenager magazine from 1945. Inside features back to school 1940s fashions for teenage girls.

Source: Etsy-Jimpiphanys

 Carole King women’s back-to-school fashions 1948 ad.

Those are some pretty stylish young women!

1940s vintage advertisement for young women's back to school fashions from Carole King. Fantastic 1940s fashion inspiration.

Source: Atticpaper.com

1960s teenagers chatting outside of their high school.

1960s vintage photo of high school students in 1960s fashions for fall sitting outside of their school chatting.

Source: pixels.com

Protesting the high school dress code that banned slacks for girls, Brooklyn c.1940.

Further Reading: The Brooklyn high school pants protest of 1942.

“Should high school girls, particularly students of Abraham Lincoln High School on Ocean Parkway . . . be permitted to wear slacks to class?”

1940s vintage photo of women Protesting the high school dress code that banned slacks for girls, Brooklyn c.1940. Fantastic 1940s hairstyles and 1940s fashions!

Source: ephemeralnewyork

1949 LUNCH BOX Sandwich Spread (made with Mayonnaise) for back to school sandwiches (sorry for it being a bit blurry, but I really wanted to share this ad with you).

1940s vintage advertisement: 1949 LUNCH BOX Sandwich Spread (made with Mayonnaise) for Back to School Sandwiches

Source: Etsy-KristensVintagePaper

Two students filling prescriptions in School of Pharmacy at Howard University in Washington D.C in 1946.

1940s Vintage Photo: Two Black female students filling prescriptions in School of Pharmacy at Howard University in Washington D.C in 1946.

Source: Essence.com

Bellas Hess c.1955 back-to-school catalog featuring 1950s fashions for everyone in the family (PDF EBook – Digital Download).

1950s vintage catalog: Bellas Hess c.1955 Back to School Catalog, Fashions for Family and Sundries for Home (PDF EBook - Digital Download)

Source: Etsy-ivarose

Sept. 1936–Students wait to enter school on the first day in 1936.

1930s vintage photo from Sept. 1936--Students wait to enter school on the first day in 1936. Duval County schools term begins. Vintage Back to School Photo

Source: jacksonville.com

1960s ad Fall & Winter 1960-61 sport coats & slacks for young men. “Campus-Educated Casual Clothes”. “Dickies trend styling inspired by Pat Boone”.

1960s young men's back to school fashion-1960s ad Fall & Winter 1960-61 sport coats & slacks for men. "Campus-Educated Casual Clothes". "Dickies trend styling inspired by Pat Boone"

Source: METV

Thanks for dropping by and spending some time at the Vintage Inn! This was another fun post to put together for all of you (and brought back lots of memories of my OWN school days).

Further Reading (Archived blog posts):

Please share any thoughts or memories you have on this topic in the comment section below.

Thanks for dropping by

Liz

Back To School: Vintage School Clubs Part 2

Do you remember the excitement of joining a school club? Maybe you loved the music program, voted for student council president, or joined the debate team. Whatever you were part of you cannot deny that for decades, school clubs have provided students with the chance to explore their interests, build relationships, and create lasting memories.

Here at the Vintage Inn Blog, I have always loved this subject and finally in 2017 I did a post on ‘School Clubs 1920s-1950s‘. It was fun to scan yearbook photos of times gone by and try and figure out what some of the clubs were about.

I decided since it’s been a few years that I would do a part 2. Especially since I have come to realize that school clubs were also called “Organizations & Associations” (maybe that is why hardly anybody saw my last post?).

Anyways! Let’s get started and explore the exciting world of vintage school clubs!

1950s High School Yearbook Photo featuring the Pep Club

Source: eBay


All images are sourced from the North Carolina Yearbooks-DigitalNC


Vintage School Clubs / Organizations / Associations 1920s-1950s

The “Happy Four Club” – 1923 Barton College, ‘Pine Knot’ yearbook.

Any thoughts on what this club was about? My research came up empty. Let’s have some fun in the comments section below.

Further Reading: Vintage Photo Tuesday: A Look into 1941 Barton College-Pine Knot Yearbook

1920s vintage yearbook photo of a school club called "happy four club" in 1923 featuring 4 girls in 1920s fashions at Barton College, North Carolina.

1927 yearbook photo of the Campbell University Dramatic Club as seen in the ‘Pine Burr’ yearbook.

That year the school play was “Peg O’ My Heart”.

1927 yearbook photo of the Campbell University Dramatic Club as seen in the Pine Burr yearbook. Super 1920s fashions in the photo for men and for women.

1929 yearbook (The ‘Lotus’) from William Peace University featured The Advertiser’s Club & the Happy-Go-Lucky Club.

What club would you of joined?

Liz note: These stylish young women in both images are posing in some pretty fantastic late 1920s coats and hairstyles.

Late 1920s vintage yearbook photo from 1929 from William Peace University featuring an image of the Advertisers Club. A group of young women in late 1920s coats & hats holding binders.
Late 1920s vintage yearbook photo from 1929 from William Peace University featuring an image of the "happy-Go-Lucky" club. A group yearbook photo of young women in late 1920s coats and 1920s hairstyles.

1930 ‘The English Study Club’ as seen in ‘The Blue Bear’ yearbook from Livingstone College, North Carolina.

1930s vintage yearbook - 1930 'The English Study Club' as seen in 'The Blue Bear' yearbook from Livingstone College in North Carolina. Livingstone college is a Black College and the image features Black Men & Wome in 1930s fashions.

Western Carolina Teachers College 1934 Debate Team (as seen in the ‘Catamount’ yearbook).

Don’t mess with our lady in the bottom right (2nd in), she will debate you!

1930s Vintage Yearbook photo from 1934 of the Debate Team from   The image features young men and women in 1930s fashions posing together on the steps of the school.

The ‘Paint and Palette Club’ of 1939-an organization for the purpose of furthering an interest in art among members of the art department and student body.

Queens University of Charlotte, ‘The Coronet’ yearbook.

1930s vintage photo from a 1939 yearbook of the Paint and Palette club (art club) featuring young university women in late 1930s hairstyles.

The ‘Chemistry Club’ as seen at the Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina in 1941 (The ‘Pine Needles’ yearbook).

1940s vintage yearbook from 1941 from  the Woman's College of the University of North Carolina. The image is of the Women's Chemistry Club.

The ‘Stirrup Club’ & The ‘Monogram Club’. Salem College, 1944 ‘Sights and Insights’ yearbook.

What do you think the ‘Stirrup Club’ was all about?

1940s vintage yearbook photo from Salem College, 1944 'Sights and Insights' yearbook. The Stirrup Club & The Monogram Club.

The ‘Service Club’ & ‘Women Collegiate Club’ at Fayetteville State University as in the 1947 ‘Bronco’ yearbook.

I’m loving all the saddle shoes in the bottom photo!

1940s vintage yearbook photos of The 'Service Club' & 'Women Collegiate Club' at Fayetteville State University (Black University) in 1947 (The Bronco yearbook).

The ‘Day Students Organization’ as seen in the Phi Psi Cli 1948 yearbook from Elon College.

About: The Day Students make up a great portion of the student body. They are always on the job to lend a helping hand to all school activities. Each year they give a party for the student body which is one of the big affairs of the school year.

1940s vintage yearbook photo of The 'Day Students Organization' as seen in the Phi Psi Cli 1948 yearbook from Elon College

“The Tailoring Club” 1950 ‘Ayantee’ yearbook from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

Look at those well dressed students! DANG!

The Tailoring Club-1950 Vintage Yearbook photo from a HBCU in North Carolina. 1950 'Ayantee' yearbook from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University featuring Well dressed Black Men and a Black Women

The ‘Hoof-Print Club’ at Meredith College as seen in the ‘Oak Leaves’ 1952 yearbook.

This club was all about the love of horses, horse shows and everything else around that subject.

1950s vintage yearbook photo of the 'Hoof-Print Club' at Meredith College as seen in the 'Oak Leaves' 1952 yearbook.

A full page of clubs and one association in the ‘Ayantee’ [1954] yearbook from the Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina.

  • The Women’s Athletic Association
  • Physical Education Majors Club
  • Art Circle
  • Masonry Club
  • Virginia Club
  • Floridian Club
  • French Club
  • Home Ecker’s Club
1950s vintage yearbook page of School Clubs at the Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina a Black College.

The ‘Marshal Club’ at Gardner-Webb University as seen in the ‘Anchor’ 1955 yearbook.

About: The Marshal Club is the honor society of Gardner-Webb. Membership in this organization is one of the highest honors attainable. The active marshals servce as ushers at public functions and marshals at graduation. The purpose of this organization is to stimulate scholarship, to develp character, to encourage leadership, and to create good fellowship.

1950s vintage yearbook photo of The 'Marshal Club' at Gardner-Webb University as seen in the 'Anchor' 1955 yearbook.

The 1957 ‘Ivy Leaf Club’ from Elizabeth City State University, the ‘Pirate’s Log’ yearbook.

They even have an “ivy” in the photo.

I am also unsure of what this club was about. Thoughts?

1950s vintage yearbook from Elizabeth City State University a Black University featuring a photo of the Ivy Leaf Club. The Image is of young Black Women in 1950s fashions & hairstyles

Question Time: Were you in any school clubs during your highschool or maybe higher education days? I was in Drama in highschool and I loved every minute of it (even though I was not very good). Share any thoughts in the comment section below.

Further Reading:

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

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