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20 Vintage Photos Of College Life In The 1940s

Vintage Photos History Nostalgia May 28, 2025

Last Updated on May 28, 2025 by Matt Staff

The college campuses of the 1940s were a much different ballgame. They included relics of the past, like ration books and war bonds, that shared the same space with textbooks and ever-handy typewriters. These 20 vintage photos capture that pivotal time in history while showing various snapshots of college life in the process.

1. Wheelock College girls in 1946

Five young women sit together in a cozy room, laughing and talking. One knits while another holds a magazine. The decor features patterned curtains, a lamp, and a sign reading "THINK" on the windowsill.
ickychris

2. A glimpse into the student life at Smith College in the 1940s

A large group of young women, dressed in mid-20th-century clothing, sit closely together in an auditorium, attentively taking notes with notebooks on their laps.
electricalaspect13

3. Students didn’t mess around with their studies back in the ’40s

A young woman in a green dress studies at a desk in a large, crowded library with other students in the background. She is focused on a book and notebook, under the glow of hanging lights.
electricalaspect13

4. The hours in a library studying have always felt endless (mid-1940s)

A woman wearing glasses and a green jacket sits at a wooden table in a library, reading a large book with a thoughtful expression, surrounded by more open books and shelves filled with books in the background.
electricaspect13

5. Some college kids posing for the shot back in the mid-1940s

A black-and-white photo of nine young men and one woman posing on the steps of a stone building. One boy in front holds a small dog; the woman on the right wears a fur coat and sits on a stone ledge.
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6. A photo of the Dickson College swimming team

A black-and-white photo of a women’s swim team in matching swimsuits and swim caps, posing on the pool deck and diving board, with four women in the water in front. "DEEP" is visible on the pool's edge.
adspecialist568

7. St. Norbert College in Wisconsin showing off their football chops

A vintage football game shows players in old-style uniforms; two players tackle an opponent while others, including number 45 and 19, run toward the play on a grassy field under a clear sky.
lameboy2012

8. Some sorority sisters hanging out at the University of Iowa in the mid-1940s

A group of teenage girls sit and chat in a crowded, cozy room; some play cards, while others perch on a top bunk, talking and brushing hair, creating a lively, casual slumber party atmosphere.
thecheeseboy

9. A Georgetown college dorm in 1946

Two women in robes relax in a vintage, cozy bedroom; one reclines on a bed drinking from a bottle, while the other sits in a rocking chair. The room has patterned wallpaper, shelves, and lace curtains.
ryansmith

10. A glimpse into the campus happenings at UT Austin back in the mid-1940s

A woman in a dress and a man in a naval uniform pose beside a small cannon with a shield in front of a stone building with columns and steps. Another man walks up the steps in the background.
idalkun

11. Students gathering blankets for a spring blanket party at Kansas State Teachers College, 1941

Several people stand around and on a vintage car outside a wooden house, tossing blankets and clothes from the windows above. Some wear jackets with Greek letters, suggesting a fraternity event.
notbob1959

12. Students reading on campus at Howard University

A woman with long, wavy hair sits on outdoor brick steps, holding an apple and looking down at an open book in her lap. She wears a long-sleeved blouse and skirt, absorbed in reading or studying.
str33twise84

13. Students playing around the old fire escape slide at University of Alberta, 1940

A group of young men gather around a large industrial machine. One person is caught mid-air, jumping out of the machine’s open door, while others watch or wait their turn. The setting appears to be outdoors near a brick building.
viscount1881

14. Tri-Delta sorority sisters at The University of Texas in 1944

Five young women pose playfully in a vintage bedroom, wearing pajamas, robes, and cowboy hats, holding stuffed animals and other playful items, with two metal-frame beds in the background.
findmyharborcoat

15. University of Florida back in the late 1940s

Three women in swimsuits smiling and holding a leash attached to a large alligator lying on grass, with buildings and trees in the background.
anonymous

16. A film studies course at Waterloo College in the 1940s

A group of young women sit at wooden desks in a classroom, attentively watching something off-camera. A man stands at the back operating a film projector. The scene appears to be from the mid-20th century.
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17. Having a jolly good time back in college in the 1940s

A black-and-white photo shows three young men giving piggyback rides to three laughing young women at a lively indoor party. One woman reaches out with a drink, and all appear to be having fun.
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18. Before the frisbee there was the cake pan, Kenyon College, Ohio, 1940s

A shirtless man in pants runs across a grassy park, reaching out with one arm to catch or throw a flying disc. Trees and a large building are visible in the background.

19. Just a couple of friends hanging out at Amherst College in the 1940s

Two young women pose playfully on a sidewalk, one wearing a plaid skirt and sweater, the other in a solid skirt and top; buildings and grassy areas are visible in the background.
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20. A glimpse into campus life at the College of Mount Saint Vincent, late 1940s

Three young women stand side by side outdoors, dressed in mid-20th-century jackets, skirts, and loafers with socks. They are smiling and posing in front of a leafy background on a sunny day.
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Curious how campus culture continued to evolve? Take a step forward in time to 20 Vintage Photos of College Life in The 1970s. Also, go ahead and check out 15 Things Every ’70s College Student Seemed To Do, while you’re at it.

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