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Tag: Student life 1940’s

Vintage Photos of Student Life at Wellesley College 1920s-1950s

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.

1940s vintage photo of the Grounds Committee at Wellesley College featuring a group of young woman in 1940s winter jackets and 1940s hairstyles posing together by signs.

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).

Photo of Wellesley College

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

1930s vintage photo at Wellesley College in1938 Fashionable young woman in front of school in 1930s fashion

Source: photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt in 1938 via Vintag.es

1925 Hoop Rolling-Seniors at the starting line.

1920s vintage photo of Hoop Rolling 1925 on May day at Wellesley College.. Image features students 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!

Hoop Rolling 1941 at Wellesley College. 1940s Vintage Photo of 2 women with hoops in saddles shoes in graduation gowns

Source: sscommons.org

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

1945 Hoop Rolling Tradition at Wellesley College. 1940s Vintage Photo of 2 women in graduation gowns posing with a hoop.

Source: sscommons.org

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

1925 Womens Golf Club and Golf Outfit at Wellesley College. A 1920s Vintage Photo

Source: sscommons.org

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

1950s  vintage photo of Wellesley Students in 1950s Evening Gown Dresses before a special event

Source: www.sscommons.org

Fun at the 1950s Dance.

1950s Dance with Wellesley College Students in 1950s dress and 1950s menswear for evening. Super 1950s vintage photo.

Source: www.sscommons.org

Painting Class at Wellesley College 1958.

Painting Class 1958 Wellesley College. 1950s Vintage Photo of women college students in class

Source: sscommons.org

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

Wellesley College 1927 1928 New York Presidents. 1920s Vintage Photo of three 1920s college student with 1920s hairstyles and 1920s fashions.

Source: sscommons.org

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

Doris Miller in 1928 being crowned Tree Day Mistress at Wellesley College in this 1920s Vintage Photo

Source: sscommons.org

1958 Tree Day Mistress and her Court. 

Tree Day Mistress and her Court 1958 Wellesley College. 1950s Vintage Photo of a school pageant.

Source: sscommons.org

Beauty Shop 1935.

1935 Beauty Shop at Wellesley College. 1930s  Vintage Photo of a beauty salon featuring 1930s hairstyles.

Source: sscommons.org

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

1942 Dorm Room at Wellesley College featuring young woman in 1940s fashions hanging out together. 1940s Vintage Photo of Student Life

Source: sscommons.org

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

1930s vintage photo of 1938 Women's fashion. Stunning 1930s hat, 1930s skirt and 1930s blouse plus 1930s hairstyle for hats.

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:

Liz

Vintage Photos of School Clubs 1920s – 1950s

In our search for nostalgia and a glimpse into the past, vintage photos of school clubs from the 1920s to the 1950s have become a beloved window into a bygone era. These snapshots not only reveal the fashion trends and school culture of the time, but also offer a unique perspective on the lives of young students during those decades.

Get ready to travel back in time and discover the charm of these vintage photos.

School Bank Club Member, celluloid pinback, 1940's

Vintage Photos of School Clubs 1920s-1950s

1928 Cinema Club at the University School of Nashville (The Most Famous Club in the Universities History).

1920s Photo:1928 photograph of the cinema club, fun 1920s fashions on display for men and women.
PDS/USN, “1928 Cinema Club,” University School of Nashville Archives

The Hoofers Ski Club of the University of Wisconsin (1940’s-1949)

1940's vintage photo of the hoofers ski club university of wisconsin. Fun vintage ski and winter outfits.
Source: UWDC

Members of the Fashion Club at University of Wisconsin get ready before a show (1950-1959)

1950s Vintage photo: Members of the Fashion Club at University of Wisconsin get ready before before a show (1950-1959). 1950s Hairstyles & 1950s fashions.
Source: UWDC

Group shot of the Phoenix Club with a basketball (1930s-1940’s). What is the connection between basketball, the Phoenix and their slogan?

1940's photo of the university of wisconsin womens basketball club
Source: UWDC

This student group from the University of Chicago is unidentified on their website, but I’m going to assume that is probably the Book Club.

University of Chicago Student Group vintage image from the 1940s. The women are wearing 1940s fashions and 1940s hairstyles.
University of Chicago Photographic Archive, [apf digital item number, apf4-03524], Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.

When the Debate Club gets together they always bring their trophy’s to keep their “Eye on the Prize”. The University of Chicago Debate Club, 1950’s.

University of chicago debate group a 1950s vintage photo.
University of Chicago Photographic Archive

1950’s Camera Club at the University of Chicago taking a picture of a pretty young woman in a stylish 1950s dress and hairstyle.

1950's photo of the Camera Club at the University of Chicago taking a picture of a pretty young woman in a stylish 1950s dress and hairstyle.
University of Chicago Photographic Archive, [apf digital item number,apf4-01697], Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.

University of Toronto’s Medical Glee Club-1948.

1940s photo of the University of Toronto Medical Glee Club, 1948.
Source: Heritage University of Toronto

University of Nashville-1930’s French Club. There are some super 1930s coats, hairstyles and patterns in this image. Wow!

1930s photo. University of Nashville 1930s French Club vintage image. 1930s fashions, 1930s hairstyles on display.
University School of Nashville Archives, https://usnarchives.omeka.net/items/show/146.

1954 Record Club at the University of Nashville.

1954 Record Club at the University of Nashville vintage image.1950s fashions like saddle shoes, pencil skirts, scarfs around the neck and even a cheerleading uniform are on display.
University School of Nashville Archives, accessed May 9, 2017, https://usnarchives.omeka.net/items/show/422.

Household Arts Club 1950’s, University of Nashville. Don’t they all look like they are having fun?!

1950s vintage photo: University of Nashville Photograph of four female students in action during a home economics class 1950s
PDS/USN, “Household Arts Club,” University School of Nashville Archives, accessed May 9, 2017, https://usnarchives.omeka.net/items/show/330.

That is it for this post friends, I hope you enjoyed this week’s Vintage Photo Tuesday. Share what your favourite photo was in the comments section below.

Further Reading:

Have a great day!

Liz