While browsing the web, I stumbled up on a gold mine of vintage dorm life photos from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It featured students from the 1920s-1960s (and before & after these dates), having a fun time in school.

Let’s take a look at what I found on this Vintage Photo Tuesday (collection of vintage images blog posts)!

Vintage photo maybe 1950s or 1960s of two women hanging out in their dorm room studying and on the phone at the University of Wisconsin Madison

Students Gloria Fraidin and Marianne Johnson hang out in dorm room.

Vintage Photos of Dorm Life

1920s-1960s Images

Moving in Day! 1955 photo of students moving into their dorms. Look at those super white shoes in the trunk. Fancy!

1950s vintage photo of young men in 1955 moving into their Dorms at the University of Wisconsin Madison. 1950s fashion for men & 1950s cars.

Source: University of Wisconsin—La Crosse. Special Collections and Area Research Center

Moving in with the help of Dad. An early 1950s photo.

I shared the below image in my last post on ‘Vintage Samsonite Advertising‘, but it was too good to not reshare again (those saddle shoes!).

Early 1950s photo of Moving into the dorm; UW-Madison. A young woman holding luggage, accompanied by two older men also holding luggage, stands in the hallway of a dormitory. C. 1950s

Source: Flickr-UW-Madison Archives Identifier: S05632

1955 (maybe a bit later) photo of two young women holding giant teddy bears in the students lounge in their residence.

I’m slightly terrifed of the bear on the right BUT our young woman’s leopard print capris & matching collar on her sweater is to die for! Love!

1950s vintage photo of two young university students in 1950s fashions one in saddle shoes another in leopard print (capris pants & leopard print collar sweater) holding giant teddy bears at their residence hall. Vintage Dorm Life in Wisconsin

Source: Stevens Point Area Research Center : Lot 231, Box 23, Students-Candids, Folder 1

These co-eds make a fashion statement in stripes while relaxing in their dorm building. C. 1950s.

So many fun things to look at in this photo. The illustration of the girl in her loungewear on the wall. The cool Mid-Century curtains. Our one girl with a hair net on to protect her hairstyle and of course the stuffed animals. So fun!

1950s vintage photo of two young women at the university of Wisconsin Madison in striped pajamas in their dorm building having a a slumber party

Source: Flickr- UW-Stevens Point Identifier: Lot 231, Box 23, Students-Candids, Folder 1

1960 photo of students eating pizza and drinking sodas in their dorm room.

1960s vintage photo of three young women at the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1960s fashions eating pizza and drinking sodas in their dorm. -Vintage Dorm Life.

Source: University of Wisconsin—La Crosse. Special Collections and Area Research Center

1950s vintage photo of two young men learning how to iron.

1950s vintage photo of two young men in university learning how to iron while staying in the dorms. Dorm Life

Source: University of Wisconsin—La Crosse. Special Collections and Area Research Center

Whether it was the 1950s or the 1960s (like below), laundry had to get done.

Women students ironing in a dorm room in Trowbridge Hall, which opened in 1960. The building was named for faculty member and history professor Myrtle Trowbridge. C. 1961 (Source).

1960s vintage photo of women university students in their dorm at the University of Wisconisn doing the laundry and ironing

UW- La Crosse Identifier: UW-L photos_Activities_Studying

1920s photo: A group of female students lounge around their dorm room before bedtime.

1920s vintage photo of a group of young women in their dorm room hanging out in their pajamas at the University of Wisconsin Madison

Source: Flickr- UW-Madison Archives Identifier: S15006

1940s Photo: Ann Emory Hall bedroom with a young woman in 1940s fashions making notes.

1940s vintage photo: 1941 photo of a a girl in her College dorm room in Wisconsin in 1940s fashions

Source: Flickr-UW Madison Archives Identifier: S13067

This photo might fall into the 1970’s but it also could be late 1960s. I’m not 100% sure (no date on the photo), but it was too historical to not share. 3 young Black women share a laugh in their dorm room surrounded by posters of historial Black figures & a “Black is Beautiful” image.

vintage photo from the 1960s or 1970s of Black women in a dorm room at the University of Wisconsin Madison surrounded by Black Activists

Source: Flickr-UW-Madison Archives Identifier: S14102

An older woman holds a pillow while two younger women (in cute two piece skirt suits) stand by an open suitcase in a dorm room. C. 1940s

1940s Vintage photo of student life in a dorm at UW-Madison. An older woman holds a pillow while two younger women stand by an open suitcase in a dorm room. C. 1940s

Source: Flickr-UW Madison Archives Identifier: S05602

A Mid-Century decorated snack bar at the Sellery Hall Dorm, I think late 1960s. I love the Starburst clock and of course the cool Tiki’s on the wall.

1960s vintage photo of students at the University of Wisconsin Madison relaxing at the snack bar at Sellery Hall. The room is Mid Century with a Tiki feel on the wall

Source: Flickr-UW-Madison Archives Identifier: S12210

Party time at the dorm! Jack Vazina and Dave Thompson, in waiter uniforms, work the bar during a party in Swenson house of Kronshage hall. C. 1949.

1940s vintage photo from the University of Wisconsin-Madison of 2 young men, Jack Vazina and Dave Thompson, in waiter uniforms, work the bar during a party in Swenson house of Kronshage hall. C. 1949. Vintage Dorm Life.

1940s vintage photo from the University of Wisconsin-Madison of 2 young men, Jack Vazina and Dave Thompson, in waiter uniforms, drink from the taps at the bar during a party in Swenson house of Kronshage hall. C. 1949. Vintage Dorm Life.

Source: Flickr-UW-Madison Archives Identifier: S12187 & S12186

Sample women’s dorm room; UW-Madison.

Two women examine a sample dormitory room for women at Memorial Union. in 1935 (That is some coat on our lady on the right and I love her 1930s shoes. Very cute).

1930s vintage photo of two women one older and one younger in 1930s fashions looking at what a dorm room looks like at the University of Wisconsin Madison

Source: Flickr-UW-Madison Archives Identifier: S05648

1950s Photo: The “Dorm Den”. A “den where the boys relax” in one of the dormitories. A group of young men are reading, chatting and listening to the radio.

1950s photo of young men in the dorm den reading chatting and listening to the radio at the University of Wisconsin madison.

Source: University of Wisconsin–Madison. Archives : S05633

Room of the times. 1960s student dorm with posts of JFK, Peanuts, and Simon & Garfunkel.

1960s vintage photo of a Student dorm with posts of JFK, Peanuts, and Simon & Garfunkel at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Source: University of Wisconsin—Madison. Archives S16709

The last photo of this set is a fantastic one for those who love 1940s fashions & 1940s hairstyles because there are some stunning dresses and outfits in this photo from 1948.

Now what are we looking at exactly? Robert “Rabbit” Roemer, candidate for Dorm Duke, standing with his female admirers. What is “Dorm Duke”? No clue! If one of my readers know please share in the comments below.

1940s vintage photo from 1948 featuring young women in beautiful 1940s fashions at the University of Wisconsin Madison holding a sign to vote for a guy named rabbit for Dorm Duke (dressed as a rabbit).

Source: University of Wisconsin—Madison. Archives S17087

I hpoe you enjoyed this post on Dorm life in Wisconsin. Please share any thoughts you wish to share in the comments section below (maybe fav photo, what dorm life was like for you etc. ).

On a personal note, I lived in a dorm for one year when I attend “Toronto Metropolitan University from 1999-2003”. My first year in the big city and my first dorm experience (I had already attended 3 years of college at this point but lived at home). It was a lot of fun and I’m glad I did it.

Thanks for dropping by!

FURTHER READING:

Vintage Photo Tuesday-Collection of vintage photo blog posts 1920s-1960s
Vintage School Posts 1920s-1960s (Archived blog posts)

Liz

I am a big fan of browsing images and other materials (like vintage yearbooks) of what life was like in colleges and universities in the 1930s-1960s. In fact I have a growing collection of blog posts on the subject and I’m about to add one more….Life at Palm Beach Junior College in the 1940s & 1950s.

I found these photos while browsing the ‘Internet Archive‘ and they were so fun to look at that I knew I had to share them here. So let’s begin!

1950s vintage photo of student registration at Palm Beach Junior College 1950s fashions for men and women on display — Student Registration-1950s

About: Palm Beach Junior College is a public college in Lake Worth, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System. Palm Beach State College was founded in 1933 as Palm Beach Junior College and was the first public junior college in the state of Florida. The Old Palm Beach Junior College Building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (Source). The College was renamed Palm Beach State College in 2010 to reflect its expanded educational offerings (Source).

1940s & 1950s Vintage Photos

Life at Palm Beach Junior College

Early 1940s fashions for men and women as seen in this fantastic group photo outside of the college (everyone looks amazing!).

early 1940s vintage image of college students at Palm beach junior college posing together outside of their school in early 1940s fashions for women and men

“All dressed up”. Late 1940s photo of three stylish young women in evening gowns (probably for a dance) posing with two older men (teachers?). Super late 1940s fashions!

1940s vintage photo of 3 college students in 1940s evening dresses for a college dance posing with 2 older men. Stunning 1940s Fashions and 1940s Hairstyles on dispaly.

The file this yearbook page is linked to says that this image is from 1938, but I think I have to disagree. The stunning hairstyles on the women are very much 1940s (the pompadour on the top right, the flowing curls, the hair flower) and the blouses look very 1940s as well. Am I right?

Whatever the date, these are some very stylish college students.

1940s vintage yearbook photo of 1940s women and men. The women are wearing fantastic 1940s hairstyles that are great inspiration for your own look. Seen at Palm Beach Junior College

“The Campus Ball”. 1940s vintage image of a group of college students in their beautiful evening gowns, tuxedos and uniforms enjoying a dance together with a live band.

1940s vintage photo of the Palm Beach Junior College ball featuring 1940s evening dresses, men in uniform and 1940s hairstyles.

“It was a windy day”. Fantastic 1940s photo of a group of young women in their junior fashions posing for a photo together. I love the women’s on the right being caught in that windy moment just as the image was taken.

I LOVE The fashions in this group. The saddle shoes especially.

1940s vintage image of young women college students in 1940s fashions including saddle shoes posing together with their 1940s hairstyles

“Time to hit the books in the library” -1940s photo.

1940s vintage image of students in college studying in their library

“Hippy and Dutch play horseshoes”. “Hippy flips another ringer while Dutch awaits his turn” Seen in the Galleon yearbook from 1951.

1950s vintage photo of two young men in college playing horseshoes at palm beach college in early 1950s fashions

“Fun on the dance floor”. A 1952 vintage image from a Sadie Hawkins dance.

1950s vintage photo of two young men and one young woman in costumes dancing together at a1952 Sadie Hawkins dance at Palm Beach Junior College in 1952.

Photo of women college students at the pool for swim class in their gorgeous 1950s swimsuits.

1950s vintage photo of women college students at the pool in 1950s swimsuits and 1950s hairstyles in palm beach junior college

Two students relax in their dorm room and listen to the record player with caption “Cooley Hall is typically represented”. Seen in The Galleon yearbook in 1951.

Further Reading: Vintage Photos of Dorm Life in the 1920s-1960s

1950s vintage photo of two young college men listening to the record player in their dorm room in 1951 at palm beach junior college. They are wearing 1950s fashions and 1950s hairstyles for men.

Outdoor Archery Class. What a fun image of our college students in their lovely 1950s dresses, skirts & blouses lining up to try their shot with the bow and arrow.

1950s vintage photo of a group of women college students in 1950s dresses and 1950s skirts and blouses trying archery at Palm Beach Junior College

Outdoor Volleyball time!

1940s 1950s vintage photo of women college students playing volleyball in their gym uniforms at Palm Beach Junior College

“Break time!” Beanies, cigarettes, sodas and lawn chairs.

1950s vintage photo of college students taking a break in 1950s fashions. several men are wearing beanies on their head.

“How many students can you get in a Jeepster? 9!” Fun 1951 photo.

1950s vintage photo of college students in a jeepster in 1950s fashions from 1951

1950s formal dance.

Further Reading: Prom in the 1940s & 1950s

1950s vintage photo of a college dance - 1950s Prom or 1950s Homecoming featuring young women in 1950s dresses and men in tuxedos.

Last note:

In 1965, the state legislature ordered that Black and white two-year colleges be merged, and the mostly white Palm Beach Junior College and the all-Black Roosevelt Junior College became one (Source).

Photograph of four students with caption “Miss Freshman of 1959 & 1960 pose with classmates”. The Hornet (1961) page 30 from the Roosevelt Junior College Photographs archive (before the merge).

1960s vintage photo seen in a 1961 Yearbook of 4 Black students. Photograph of four students with caption "Miss Freshman of 59 & 60 pose with classmates". The Hornet (1961) page 30. Number 106 of 192 from archival box labeled Roosevelt Junior College Photographs.

I hope you enjoyed taking a little peak into college life at Palm Beach Junior College. It looked like a good time.

Please share in the comments section what your favourite photos were or anything else you wish to talk about related to this post.

Further Reading:

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

Thanks for stopping by!

Liz

Category: Back to School