I am a big fan of browsing images and other materials (like vintage yearbooks) of what life was like in colleges and universities in the 1930s-1960s. In fact I have a growing collection of blog posts on the subject and I’m about to add one more….Life at Palm Beach Junior College in the 1940s & 1950s.

I found these photos while browsing the ‘Internet Archive‘ and they were so fun to look at that I knew I had to share them here. So let’s begin!

1950s vintage photo of student registration at Palm Beach Junior College 1950s fashions for men and women on display — Student Registration-1950s

About: Palm Beach Junior College is a public college in Lake Worth, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System. Palm Beach State College was founded in 1933 as Palm Beach Junior College and was the first public junior college in the state of Florida. The Old Palm Beach Junior College Building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (Source). The College was renamed Palm Beach State College in 2010 to reflect its expanded educational offerings (Source).

1940s & 1950s Vintage Photos

Life at Palm Beach Junior College

Early 1940s fashions for men and women as seen in this fantastic group photo outside of the college (everyone looks amazing!).

early 1940s vintage image of college students at Palm beach junior college posing together outside of their school in early 1940s fashions for women and men

“All dressed up”. Late 1940s photo of three stylish young women in evening gowns (probably for a dance) posing with two older men (teachers?). Super late 1940s fashions!

1940s vintage photo of 3 college students in 1940s evening dresses for a college dance posing with 2 older men. Stunning 1940s Fashions and 1940s Hairstyles on dispaly.

The file this yearbook page is linked to says that this image is from 1938, but I think I have to disagree. The stunning hairstyles on the women are very much 1940s (the pompadour on the top right, the flowing curls, the hair flower) and the blouses look very 1940s as well. Am I right?

Whatever the date, these are some very stylish college students.

1940s vintage yearbook photo of 1940s women and men. The women are wearing fantastic 1940s hairstyles that are great inspiration for your own look. Seen at Palm Beach Junior College

“The Campus Ball”. 1940s vintage image of a group of college students in their beautiful evening gowns, tuxedos and uniforms enjoying a dance together with a live band.

1940s vintage photo of the Palm Beach Junior College ball featuring 1940s evening dresses, men in uniform and 1940s hairstyles.

“It was a windy day”. Fantastic 1940s photo of a group of young women in their junior fashions posing for a photo together. I love the women’s on the right being caught in that windy moment just as the image was taken.

I LOVE The fashions in this group. The saddle shoes especially.

1940s vintage image of young women college students in 1940s fashions including saddle shoes posing together with their 1940s hairstyles

“Time to hit the books in the library” -1940s photo.

1940s vintage image of students in college studying in their library

“Hippy and Dutch play horseshoes”. “Hippy flips another ringer while Dutch awaits his turn” Seen in the Galleon yearbook from 1951.

1950s vintage photo of two young men in college playing horseshoes at palm beach college in early 1950s fashions

“Fun on the dance floor”. A 1952 vintage image from a Sadie Hawkins dance.

1950s vintage photo of two young men and one young woman in costumes dancing together at a1952 Sadie Hawkins dance at Palm Beach Junior College in 1952.

Photo of women college students at the pool for swim class in their gorgeous 1950s swimsuits.

1950s vintage photo of women college students at the pool in 1950s swimsuits and 1950s hairstyles in palm beach junior college

Two students relax and listen to the record player with caption “Cooley Hall is typically represented”. Seen in The Galleon yearbook in 1951.

1950s vintage photo of two young college men listening to the record player in their dorm room in 1951 at palm beach junior college. They are wearing 1950s fashions and 1950s hairstyles for men.

Outdoor Archery Class. What a fun image of our college students in their lovely 1950s dresses, skirts & blouses lining up to try their shot with the bow and arrow.

1950s vintage photo of a group of women college students in 1950s dresses and 1950s skirts and blouses trying archery at Palm Beach Junior College

Outdoor Volleyball time!

1940s 1950s vintage photo of women college students playing volleyball in their gym uniforms at Palm Beach Junior College

“Break time!” Beanies, cigarettes, sodas and lawn chairs.

1950s vintage photo of college students taking a break in 1950s fashions. several men are wearing beanies on their head.

“How many students can you get in a Jeepster? 9!” Fun 1951 photo.

1950s vintage photo of college students in a jeepster in 1950s fashions from 1951

1950s formal dance.

1950s vintage photo of a college dance - 1950s Prom or 1950s Homecoming featuring young women in 1950s dresses and men in tuxedos.

Last note:

In 1965, the state legislature ordered that Black and white two-year colleges be merged, and the mostly white Palm Beach Junior College and the all-Black Roosevelt Junior College became one (Source).

Photograph of four students with caption “Miss Freshman of 1959 & 1960 pose with classmates”. The Hornet (1961) page 30 from the Roosevelt Junior College Photographs archive (before the merge).

1960s vintage photo seen in a 1961 Yearbook of 4 Black students. Photograph of four students with caption "Miss Freshman of 59 & 60 pose with classmates". The Hornet (1961) page 30. Number 106 of 192 from archival box labeled Roosevelt Junior College Photographs.

I hope you enjoyed taking a little peak into college life at Palm Beach Junior College. It looked like a good time.

Please share in the comments section what your favourite photos were or anything else you wish to talk about related to this post.

Further Reading:

Vintage Photos 1920s – 1960s (Archived Blog Posts)
Vintage School Posts 1920s – 1960s (Archived Posts)
Vintage Yearbook Posts 1920s-1960s (Archived Posts)

Thanks for stopping by!

Liz

You may never know if your great-grandmother was part of a sorority back in the day, but with a few clicks of a mouse, you can get a glimpse into the sorority culture of the 1920s-1950s thanks to vintage photographs that capture the spirit of sisterhood and tradition.

Whether it’s a sweet snapshot of two friends goofing around or a formal portrait of a group of girls lined up in matching outfits, these classic photos are sure to spark a sense of nostalgia.

For today’s Vintage Photo Tuesday, I was inspired by the topic of back to school and the vintage images that have been crossing my Pinterest feed of Sororites from the 1920s-1950s.

So let’s see what I found, shall we?

1940s vintage photo of a college women in a sorority in 1940s fashions including plaid fashions and saddle shoes.

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.

Vintage Photos of Sororities

1920s-1950s

All the pledges for all the sororities on North Dakota Agricultural college’s campus took a group photograph on the steps of Old Main. GOSH what amazing 1920s fashions!

1920s Vintage Photo of a 1920s Sorority. All the pledges for all the sororities on North Dakota Agricultural college’s campus take a group photograph on the steps of Old Main.

Source: Flickr

1922 ‘Phi Gamma’ Sorority‘ as seen in the Queens University of Charlotte, Nods and Becks yearbook.

Source: Digitalnc.org

‘Sigma Gamma Rho, Alpha Chapter, 1924.

About: On November 12, 1922, seven young women came together in the middle of “Klandiana” to create Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated, a sisterhood that would change the world. At the time of the organization’s founding at Butler University in Indianapolis, the state was the epicenter of the Ku Klux Klan, In the middle of that hostile environment, the founders of Sigma Gamma Rho built a sorority that not only supported and encouraged Black women to pursue higher education, but was also focused on serving the Black community (Source).

Source: Essence

Heading back to the North Dakota Agricultural College, here is the 1928 Pledge class for the ‘Gamma Phi Beta‘ sorority.

About: Gamma Phi Beta is an international college sorority. It was founded in Syracuse University in 1874, and was the first of the Greek organizations to call itself a sorority. The term “sorority” was coined for Gamma Phi Beta by Dr. Frank Smalley, a professor at Syracuse University (Source).

The 1928 Pledge class for Gamma Phi Beta stands on the steps of Old Main. The women are wearing 1920s fashions including 1920s hats, and 1920s women's coats.

Source: Flickr

‘Delta Delta Delta (Tri Delta) Sorority‘ National Convention (June 28 – July 2 – 1936) yard long photograph. The photo is taken in front of the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs.

About: Although there were three women’s groups represented at Boston University in 1888, seniors Sarah Ida Shaw and Eleanor Dorcas Pond saw a need for a different organization that would “be kind alike to all and think more of the girl’s inner self and character than of her personal appearance.” It came to be on Thanksgiving Eve 1888 (Source).

1930s vintage photo: Delta Delta Delta Sorority National Convention (June 28 - July 2 - 1936) yard long photograph. The photo is taken in front of the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. 1930s photo showcases 1930s fashions and 1930s hairstyles.

Source: Etsy

‘Alpha Delta Chi Sorority‘ as seen in the 1938 Pine Knot yearbook-Barton College in North Carolina.

About: The sorority is the only honor society on the campus and was organized in 1936. The members are selected for scholarship, character, and particpation in extra-curricular activities. Its colors are red and gold.

1930s Photo of a 1938 vintage yearbook images of the Alpha Delta Chi Sorority in their late 1930s fashions.

Source: Digitalnc.org

1942 ‘Chi Omega‘ Sorority as seen in the Queens University of Charlotte, Coronet 1942 yearbook.

1940s vintage photo of a sorority sisters yearbook photos from 1942-The Chi Omega Sorority. Super 1940s fashions in the 1940s photo.

Vintage yearbooks are one of my favourites go-tos for seeing what 1940s hairstyles actually looked like and our lovely sorority sisters in their yearbooks photos from 1942 are no exception.

1940s vintage photo of a sorority sisters yearbook photos from 1942-The Chi Omega Sorority. Super 1940s hairstyles.

Source: Digitalnc.org

“Beta Lambda”. ‘Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority‘ at Howard University in 1945 looking incredibly stylish. Fantastic 1940s fashions!

ABOUT: The Alpha Kappa Sorority, is the first intercollegiate historically African American sorority. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at the historically black Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of sixteen students led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle. Forming a sorority broke barriers for Black women in areas where they had little power or authority due to a lack of opportunities for minorities and women in the early 20th century. Alpha Kappa Alpha was incorporated on January 29, 1913 (Source).

1940s vintage photo of Black Women college students at Howard University in their Sorority photos and in 1940s fashions and 1940s hairstyles

Source: Flickr

‘Kappa Alpha Theta‘ as seen in Duke Universities, 1947 Chanticleer yearbook.

About: Kappa Alpha Theta, also known simply as Theta, is an international women’s fraternity founded on January 27, 1870, at DePauw University, formerly Indiana Asbury. It was the first Greek-letter fraternity established for women (Source).

1940s Vintage Yearbook Photo of the Sorority Kappa Alpha theta at Duke University in 1947. The women are all wearing 1940s college fashions.

1940s Vintage Yearbook Photos of the Sorority Kappa Alpha theta at Duke University in 1947. Super 1940s Hairstyle inspiration.

Source: Digitalnc.org

Shaw University 1951 Yearbook Photo of the ‘Delta Sigma Theta Sorority‘.

About: The first African-American Greek organizations, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, both chapters of national organizations, appeared in 1920.

Shaw University 1951 Yearbook Photo of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Source: Digitalnc.org

Fun Fact! Lena Horne, legendary singer/actress was also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta (Source).

1940s vintage photo of Lena Horne in Till the Clouds Roll By (1946). Lena Horne, legendary singer/actress was also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta

‘Pi Kappa Tau Sorority’ as seen in the 1951 Elon University (North Carolina), Phi Psi Cli yearbook.

1950s Vintage Photo of 1950s women in college in their Sorority Page photo seen in a 1950s yearbook (1951).

Source: Digitalnc.org

‘Rho Gamma Alpha Sorority’ at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 1956 yearbook photos.

About: Rho Gamma Alpha is the social society of Charlotte College. New members are admitted each Fall Quarter on the basis of character, personality and interest displayed in organization.

1950s vintage yearbook photos of the 'Rho Gamma Alpha Sorority' at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 1956 featuring 1950s hairstyles and 1950s fashions.

Source: Digitalnc.org

The Livingstonian College (North Carolina) yearbook from 1959 featuring the ‘Alpha Kappa Sorority‘ in their beautiful 1950s evening gowns (I had to share this sorority again because this image was just so wonderful).

1950s Vintage Photo: The Livingstonian College (North Carolina) yearbook from 1959 featuring the Black Sorority, the 'Alpha Kappa Sorority' in their beautiful 1950s evening gowns.

Source: Digitalnc.org

And that is this is the end of this post. I hope you enjoyed taking a look at this collection of vintage sorority images and learning a bit about their history.

Please share any fun / interesting comments about this topic in the comments section below.

FURTHER READING:

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

Category: Back to School

Life at Palm Beach Junior College 1940s & 1950s

1940s & 1950s Vintage Photos

Life at Palm Beach Junior College

Vintage Photo’s of Sororities 1920s-1950s

Vintage Photos of Sororities

1920s-1950s