If you’ve ever wondered what winter looked like in the 20th century, from the roaring 1920s to the 1960s, a nostalgia-filled collection of vintage winter images will transport you back in time. From bustling city streets blanketed in snow to rural winter scenes and everyday life in and out of the home, these images capture the special moments of winter past.

This post is also a part 2 to my 2016, ‘vintage 1940s & 1950s images of people spending time outdoors during the winter time’. It was a fun post to do, so let’s step back into a winter wonderland one more time…

1960s vintage photo of a young girl and her mother ice skating at an outdoor ice rink.

Source: Etsy-LightSilverAndPaper

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1920s-1960s Vintage Photos of Winter Time Life

If you must take a photo in the snow, you might as well make it stylish.

1920s vintage photo of two women in 1920s winter fashions / winter coats and cloche hats posing outside in the snow.

Source: Etsy – maclancy

“Can teddy come out to play in the snow too mom?”

Adorable 1930s vintage photo of a young girl and her teddy standing in the snow with her mom beside her holding teddies hand. Cute winter style!

1930s vintage photo of a young girl in a snowsuit holding her teddy bear in teh snow with her mom in 1930s winter fashion stands beside her

Source: Etsy-LightSilverAndPaper

Sometimes you just don’t want to be cold while you wait for someone to take your photo, so off to the photobooth you go!

Our lovely 1920s or 1930s lady with the pretty hair is looking longingly into the camera with a winter landscape behind her.

1920s /1930s vintage photo of a young Black woman posing in a photobooth in front of a winter landscape.

Source: Etsy – JakeRoeBucks

Here is another winter landscape photobooth image featuring a fashionable woman showing off her purse, but this time it’s from the 1940s.

Maybe this is the same photobooth? (P.S. It’s not)

1940s vintage photo of a young Black woman posing in her winter coat with purse and hat in a photobooth with a winter landscape

Source: Etsy – JakeRoeBucks

1930s winter street scene of man wearing pawnbroker sandwich board in New York City.

Further Reading: Vintage Photos of New York City-In all it’s Splendor

Source: Art.com

Time to hit the Slopes! 1930s photo of a young woman holding her skiis ready for a day of winter fun.

Time to hit the Slopes! 1930s vintage photo of a young woman holding her skiis ready for a day of winter fun. 1930s vintage winter fashion inspiration.

Source: Etsy-LightSilverAndPaper

In my childhood / teenage years, I was a downhill skiier and was lucky to have travelled to many wonderful places to enjoy this winter sport with my family. So when I see cool photos like this one of our lovely 1940s lady enjoying the ski slopes (and our 1930s woman above), I just have to share!

Further Reading: Vintage Ski Posters 1930s-1950s

1940s vintage photo of a woman skiing and posing for a photo outside in her ski suit

Source: Etsy – DearMacyVintage

Okay ONE more photo of women skiing from the 1940s. How adorable are these ladies with their stylish ski suits, well styled hair and cute winter hats? The answer is..adorable!

I love the lady on the rights, sweater jacket.

Further Reading: Ladies Winter Hats-1940s Style

1940s vintage photo of two young women cross country skiing during the winter time in 1940s ski suits and 1940s winter hats.

Source: Etsy – JakeRoeBucks

Winter Stinks! An unhappy man shoveling snow in his driveway. 1940s vintage photo.

1940s vintage photo of an Unhappy Man Shoveling Snow in his drivewary after a snowstorm.

Source: Etsy-AlaskaVintage

A little fun during WW2-4 men in uniform posing with giant snowballs.

I think they are on leave as the middle man is holding a camera, so they are most likely out and about having a good time. -1940s photo.

1940s vintage photo of 4 soldiers in uniform during WW2 posing outside in the snow holding giant snowballs and one man is holding a camera.

Source: Etsy – JakeRoeBucks

If you manifest it, it will happen.

Two women posing beside the very tall snowman they built. -1940s photo.

1940s vintage photo of two women posing with a giant tall snowman they built.

Source: Etsy – JakeRoeBucks

1950s image from 1958 of 4 boys on sleds with two dogs getting ready to go down a hill for some winter fun!

1950s vintage photo of 4 boys on sleds with two dogs getting ready to go down a hill -1958

Source: Etsy – maclancy

March 1957-Vintage photo of a woman posing in the snow in a hand knitted sweater.

March 1957-1950s vintage photo of a woman posing in the snow in a hand knitted sweater.

Source: Etsy – iloveyoumorephotos

1950s game of hockey on the pond that has frozen in the backyard.

Can’t have the winter season without hockey (at least here in Canada)!

1950s vintage photo of two boys playing hockey on a pond outside during the winter time

Source: Etsy-therescuedphoto

1960s photo of a husband and wife posing outside of their winter cabin as the man heads off to do some cross country skiing.

Source: Etsy-AlaskaVintage

I hope you enjoyed these vintage winter photos and if it stirred up some memories please shre in the comments section below. I love hearing from my readers!

Further Reading: Vintage Photos 1920s-1960s (Archived blog posts)

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

In November I like to dedicate some of the month to blog posts on Women & Canada’s participation during WW2. I have done many posts on this topic and it’s always exciting when I find content I have not shared before. Like today’s post….”1940s images of Canadian Women in Military Uniforms During WW2“.

This post was one that I have wanted to do for some time, after my guest blog post in 2014 from writer (and friend), Elinor Florence entitled “WW2 Air Force Uniforms for Canadian Women”. Many of the images you will see below are discussed in this fantastic read. Please take some time after your done here, to take a look.

Now without further adieau, here is my newest read.

1940s vintage photo of Canadian Woman taking a break to chat during WW2. They are part of the CWAC. In 1941, the Canadian Women's Army Corps was created, paving the way for a long tradition of Canadian women in the military

1940s Vintage Images of Canadian Women In Military Uniforms During WW2

Unidentified Woman in uniform with bag on chest in front of ‘Canada’s New Army’ posters.

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Vintage photo of the new Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service “Wren” uniform -1943.

1940s vintage photo of New Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service "Wren" uniform -1943.

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Signal officers of the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (W.R.C.N.S.), Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, October 1943.

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (W.R.C.N.S.) signallers during training at H.M.C.S. CORNWALLIS, Deep Brook, Nova Scotia, Canada, July 1943.

1940s Vintage photo: Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service (W.R.C.N.S.) signallers during training at H.M.C.S. CORNWALLIS, Deep Brook, Nova Scotia, Canada, July 1943.

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Canadian Red Cross Corps Uniforms.

Models show the uniforms worn by all four sections of the Second World War CRCC.

Source: redcross.ca

Three CRCC Welfare Officers visit a convalescing soldier overseas (ca. 1943-45) while distributing “ditty bags” on a hospital ward.

1940s Vintage Photo: Three CRCC (Canadian Red Cross Corps) Welfare Officers visit a convalescing soldier overseas (ca. 1943-45) while distributing “ditty bags” on a hospital ward.

Source: redcross.ca

Mary Laura Wong (Mah) enlisted with the CWAC (Canadian Women’s Army Corps) in Vancouver, British Columbia where she was employed as a teletype keyboard operator.

Further Reading: The story of Chinese Canadian military service is one of determination, courage and honour. & Chinese Canadian Women in the War

1940s Vintage Photo of Chinese Canadian, Mary Laura Wong (Mah) enlisted with the CWAC (Canadian Women's Army Corps) in Vancouver, British Columbia where she was employed as a teletype keyboard operator.

Source: Veterans.gc.ca

Learning is always important!

Canadian Woman’s Army Corp (CWAC)- Unidentified Women in uniform sitting with books on their laps.

Interesting Fact: CWAC had 50,000 women in its ranks during the Second World War in support roles ranging from cooking to decoding (Source).

Further Reading: The Canadian Women’s Army Corps, 1941-1946 via Canadian War Museum

1940s vintage photo of the Canadian Woman's Army during WW2- Unidentified Women in Uniform Sitting With Book on Laps

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Eva May Roy (on the right of the photo), Roy left her job as a presser in a laundry to become a machine operator and fuse assembler at the General Engineering Co. munitions plant in Scarborough. Roy enlisted in 1944 and joined the Canadian Women’s Army Corps (CWAC), a new division created just three years earlier. She’s one of many Black women who served in the Canadian Forces during the Second World War — people whose stories are largely missing from the public record (Source).

Roy was a trailblazer, serving overseas at a time when it was rare to see a Canadian military woman working in Europe.

Her story goes much deeper then this, so I encourage you to read all about Eva at the link below.

Further Reading: ‘She didn’t hesitate’: The untold story behind a Black Canadian woman’s wartime portrait

1940s Vintage photo of 2 Black Women in the Canadian Women's Army Corps during WW2

Source: CBC.ca

A young Canadian woman in military uniform is shown in this photo, counting pins surrounded by boxes of them from different colleges and universities in Canada.

1940s vintage photo of a Canadian Woman in Military Uniform counting pins surrounded by boxes of pins from colleges and universities in Canada.

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Nurses with the Canadian Army Medical Corps in Normandy, July, 1944.

(Image source: Government of Canada)

Woman’s Air Force, 1940’s. Unidentified Woman in uniform using wireless equipment.

Source: Library & Archives Canada

In the Canadian Auxiliary Air Force, women worked in the parachute packing and checking department.

Source: Community Stories

1940s’ recruitment poster – “Men & Women. The RCAF Needs You Now!

1940s' recruitment poster for Canadian RCAF duing WW2 asking for men and women to enlist

Source: Library & Archives Canada

By looking at 1940s vintage images of Canadian women in military uniforms during WW2, we can reflect on the history of women in the military, the impact of women’s contributions to the war effort, and the ongoing efforts to recognize the efforts of women in the military and beyond. These images remind us of the advancements women have made in the military and encourage us to continue to recognize and celebrate the contributions of women in all contexts.

Thank you for dropping by!

Further Reading: World War 2 Women’s Contributions & Homefront Posts

Liz

P.S. I’m off to Las Vegas for my mother’s 70th, so I won’t be having a new post until I get back. Follow along on Instagram.

Category: vintage images

Vintage Winter Images: 1920s-1960s

1920s-1960s Vintage Photos of Winter Time Life

1940s Vintage Images of Canadian Women In Military Uniforms During WW2

1940s Vintage Images of Canadian Women In Military Uniforms During WW2