During Black History Month, discover the most iconic yearbook superlatives from Black high schools, colleges, and universities in the 1950s. From best dressed to most likely to succeed, these vintage snapshots capture the essence of a generation and reveal the unique experiences and achievements of Black students during a pivotal time in history.

Are you ready? Let’s get started.

All images from North Carolina Vintage Yearbook Archives

1940s vintage yearbook photo from Washington High School (Raleigh, N.C.) of the 1948 "Most Humorous" students from the High school. — 1948 Washington High School (Raleigh, N.C.) “Most Humorous” students.

Vintage Yearbook Superlatives from Black High Schools, College & Universities 1950-1959

1950s yearbook photo from Williston Senior High School, North Carolina, The Willistonian [1955] featuring a young Black Woman being voted as "Best Looking" for the Superlatives in her yearbook. — “Best Looking” Williston Senior High School, North Carolina, The Willistonian [1955] via digitalnc.org

SUPERLATIVE: The actual definition of a superlative is an object or person that has the most of a given quality. Within the context of high school, college & university, superlatives are reserved for the senior class as a rite of passage, with their peers voting in various categories. They are part of yearbook traditions.

Examples of Categories:

Best all-around
Biggest flirt
Class clown
Cutest couple
Life of the party

The Vintage Class Superlatives…

“Most Dignified“, Pauline Leake & Kenneth Norton from Central Piedmont Community College, “The Buck [1950-1951]” Yearbook.

Liz note: I’m obsessed with Pauline’s early 1950’s jacket.

1950s vintage yearbook Superlative from Central Piedmont Community College, "The Buck [1950-1951]" Yearbook featuring "Most Dignified" Black Man and Black Women from a HBCU. Fantastic early 1950s fashions!

“Most Carefree”. One more from Central Piedmont Community College, “The Buck [1950-1951]” Yearbook.

1950s vintage yearbook Superlative from Central Piedmont Community College, "The Buck [1950-1951]" Yearbook featuring the "Most Carefree" Students. The Image features 5 Black College students in early 1950s fashions.

Saint Augustine’s University, 1951 ‘Falcon’ Yearbook picks….

“Most Popular” was Alexander Morris. “Best Dressed Girl” went to Marilyn Lomax. “Best Dressed Boy”, Jason Randall and “Most Versatile” was Donald Ashman.

Saint Augustine’s University, 1953 ‘Falcon’ Yearbook Superlatives…

“Most Cooperative”, “Most Musical” and “Friendliest”.

1955 Williston Senior High School, North Carolina, The ‘Willistonian’ Yearbook featuring the “Most Intellectual”, “Best Dancers”, “Best Solo Dancer”, “The Most Studious” and “The Most Temperamental”.

1950s Vintage Yearbook photos: 1955 Williston Senior High School, (Black High School) North Carolina, The 'Willistonian' Yearbook featuring the "Most Intellectual", "Best Dancers", "Best Solo Dancer", "The Most Studious" and "The Most Temperamental".

1955 Superlatives from the Booker T. Washington High School (Reidsville, N.C.), ‘The Pioneer’ Yearbook. The categories on this page were…

“Most Dependable”, “Most Studious”, “Most Versatile”, “Biggest Flirt”, “Most School-Spirited”, “Most Likely to Succeed”, “Best Dressed” and “Best Actor / Actress”.

1950s Vintage Yearbook from a historically Black High School-1955 Superlatives from the Booker T. Washington High School (Reidsville, N.C.), 'The Pioneer' Yearbook. The categories on this page were...

"Most Dependable", "Most Studious", "Most Versatile", "Biggest Flirt", "Most School-Spirited", "Most Likely to Succeed", "Best Dressed" and "Best Actor / Actress".

1958 ‘Blue Flame’ Yearbook from Central High School (Hillsborough, N.C.) featuring the “Most Dramatic” & the “Most Talkative” Superlative.

1950s Vintage Yearbook: 1958 'Blue Flame' Yearbook from a Historically Black HS-Central High School (Hillsborough, N.C.) featuring the "Most Dramatic" & the "Most Talkative" superlative.

Another 4 from the same Central High School in 1958….“Most Athletic” & “Best Dancers”.

1950s Vintage Yearbook: 1958 'Blue Flame' Yearbook from a Historically Black HS-Central High School (Hillsborough, N.C.) featuring the "Most Athletic" & "Best Dancers".

Some new one’s in the Senior Superlatives from Dunbar High School 1959 ‘The Bar’ Yearbook.

“Most All-Round”, “Most Helpful” & “Shortest”.

1950s vintage yearbook: 1959 Dunbar High School in North Carolina a Historically Black High School featuring the Superlatives students of 1959.

Shaw University, 1959 ‘The Bear” Yearbook featuring the chosen two for “Most Jovial”.

I hope our Richard was just having an off day when they took his photo.

1950s vintage yearbook from Shaw University, 1959 'The Bear" Yearbook featuring the chosen two from "Most Jovial". Shaw is a Historically Black University.

Thanks for reading my post!

I wonder how everyone made out in life? Did they continue to be the “best dressed” or the “most carefree”? I would like to think so.

Question time: Did your yearbook have as Superlative? If so, were YOU in it (I don’t think my school had this)? Share any fun insights or comments in the section below.

Further Reading: Vintage Yearbooks 1920s-1960s (archived blog posts)

Liz

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.

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.

NOTE: If you click on any of the items featured below and they are not available, don’t fret! Hit the search button and see what else is on the websites. There are 1000’s and 1000’s of items being listed daily.

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

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

1940s vintage yearbook, look inside. — Source: Etsy-CrimsonHollow

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.

1950s vintage photo of students in their letterman sweaters po;sing together outside of school. — Source: Flickr-Josh Nativio

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

1946 Yearbook photo of the Monogram Club. The image showcases the young men in the club in their letterman sweaters. — Source: Flickr-Yvonne Thompson

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).

1940's Vintage yearbook photos of young men and women. 1949-"Girls Sports", "Traffic Officer", Bill the "All American" and the "Card Club". — Source: Flickr-Dana Orlosky

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!

1940s vintage photo: 1948 Yearbook Photo from Elizabeth State University (Black university), featuring "Miss Homecoming" Beatrice Hardy and her Attendants.

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.

1942 Vintage Year book cover - Bells and Pomegranates. — Source: Etsy-GoodVintageHunting

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…..

1950s Vintage Yearbook photos from 1950 Stephenson High School in Michigan. Super early 1950s vintage hairstyles. — Source: Etsy-wicksthings

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

1950s vintage photo of 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.

1940s vintage yearbook from Quad Standford University in 1946 featuring images of two young woman in pretty pinup styles posing in a 1940s swimsuit and 1940s evening gown. — Source: eBay

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.

1940s vintage advertising in a vintage yearbook — Source: eBay

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.

1940s high school students in a yearbook featuring 1940s hairstyles. — Source: Flickr-Dani

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…..

1949 Friendsville Tennesse vintage Yearbook — Source: Etsy-BrentwoodBazaar

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:

Liz 🙂

Tag: Vintage yearbook photos

Vintage Yearbook Superlatives from Black High Schools, Colleges & Universities 1950-1959

Vintage Yearbook Superlatives from Black High Schools, College & Universities 1950-1959

The Vintage Class Superlatives…

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

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

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