Last time I was home I was looking thru my yearbooks and laughing at how hilarious I looked in every single photo (which I will not share for the world-wide web to poke fun at lol). I was 100% definitely not awkward at all during my High School years (insert sarcasm here).

I then got to thinking about yearbooks of yesteryear (1940s and 1950s) and what did their photos and yearbooks look like? Did those students also feel as awkward or unsure of themselves as I felt? I’m sure they did as that seems to be what happens when you’re a teenager but I had to see for myself so I poked around the internet and discovered loads of wonderful photos of all areas of High School life (awkward and not) that I thought would be fantastic to share with you.

Note: Because I found so many great photos from colleges, I will be sharing some of those too.

FURTHER READING (February 2023 update): Look Inside Vintage Yearbooks – Archive of blog posts I have written since this post.

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Cool Vintage Images from Yearbooks of the 1940s and 1950s

Time to open the pages of that vintage yearbook…..

First up an incredible smart-looking group of students from the early 1950s. I love how they are all wearing Letterman Sweaters in this photo, really great Letterman Sweaters. And the boy’s hair are immaculate.

I wonder if the above group was in the “Monogram Club”?

1949-“Girls Sports”, “Traffic Officer”, Bill the “All American” and the “Card Club”. This yearbook photo is filled with so many goodies to look at (names, hairstyles, groups they were in).

The Superlatives (of the highest quality or degree) of Friendship Tennessee (1951 Yearbook).

Now my question..did Brock and Emma Succeed in life? And did Laura and Jackie remain Friendly? We will never know….

1948 Yearbook Photo from Elizabeth State University, featuring “Miss Homecoming” Beatrice Hardy and her Attendants. Fantastic vintage hairstyles!

Source: Digitalnc.org

Though this is not High School but an All Girls College from 1942. I love the name “Bells and Pomegranates”. Not sure what it means but it’s pretty cool all the same.

Here is a yearbook from 1950 Stephenson High School in Michigan. I’m sharing this photo because I’m having a hard time believing these teenagers are actually teenagers? Don’t they look much older?

Side Note..Alice in the bottom right wins for best hair in my book. And can you read her note to Dug (sp?):

I will always remember the swell times we had together & fights as well…..

Year 10 & 11 class photo from Central Highschool, Goldsboro, NC 1950 yearbook. LOVE the 1950s fashions on our stylish students!

Source: Digitalnc.org

Centenary College, Shreveport, La. – 1948 yearbook.

Here Shreveport is your Football Sweetheart and your Homecoming Queen. Ahhhhhh aren’t they beautiful?

Quad Standford University in 1946 brings us not only colour in their yearbook but a really cool advertisement for pinup “play clothes”.

I bring you colour! And probably your homecoming queen and..I’m not sure about the other beauty in the fantastic swimsuit.

The below mentioned ad. Isn’t it great? I have personally never seen an ad in the 1940s advertise “Pinup clothes”. I’m sure they exist but this is a first for me.

In this 1940s photo, why was the friendliest boy called “Stinkey?”. So odd, very odd. But the most popular girl had great hair and clothes. Actually, so does “Stinkey” now that I Iook at the photo again.

Lastly I want to leave you with the funniest page entry that I read during my research. It’s from the 1949 Friendsville Tennesse Yearbook…..

Now that I have done this post I have decided that I need to start collecting vintage yearbooks from these eras because well quite frankly they are a great eye into the past of a teenager.

Question: If you have one, what is your favorite high-school memory?

Further Reading:

• Vintage School Posts 1920s-1960s
• Vintage Yearbook Posts 1920s-1960s

Liz 🙂