Back to school is almost here and while it has been a long time since I have been an official student, I still get many flashbacks of the days leading up to the first day back.

So for today’s post I’m going to do a collection of vintage back to school advertisements from 1920s -1960s to maybe bring back your own memories of the first day back (please share them in the comments section below).

Let the fun begin!

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.

Back to School Vintage Advertising

1920s-1960s

1954 vintage ad for Blue Bell long wearing clothing for the entire family. “It’s Back To School~In Bright Sturdy Blue Bells!”

1950s Vintage Back to School Ad: 1954 Blue Bell Long Wearing Clothing For The Entire Family "It's Back To School~In Bright Sturdy Blue Bells!" Vintage Ad

Source: Etsy

1954 vintage advertisement. “Save on Back to School Specials at Rexall Drug Stores!”

We have a:

Zipper Binder
Lead Pencils
Wrist Watches
Pocket Watch
Lunch Kit
School Bag
Handkerchief Package
And so much more!

1950s vintage ad: REXALL DRUG STORES Original 1954 Vintage Extra Large Black & White Print Advertisement - September Back to School Sale

Source: Etsy

A variety of “tastefully appropriate” apparel for young schoolgirls (7-14) from the Fall-Winter 1923 Sears catalog.

A variety of "tastefully appropriate" apparel for young schoolgirls from the Fall-Winter 1923 Sears catalog. 1920s fashion illustration of young girls in school clothes

Source: Tumblr

1940s ad. “I hate to go back to school” says our blonde character. Why? Because she does not look good and her smile is not great. But don’t worry Listerine and a makeover will make everything better!

I am enjoying the 1940s fashions and 1940s hairstyles in this ad (even though the messaging is from another time).

1940s vintage ad: Listerine Toothpaste Ad: I Hate To Go Back To School ! from 1940's. Featuring 2 young women discussing how to have the boys like her.

Source: eBay

1962 back to school national Bellas Hess catalog. I remember all I wanted when I was younger was a plaid skirt. Cute look on our 1960s teen.

1960s vintage ad: 1962 Back To School National Bellas Hess Catalog featuring a young woman in 1960s fashion for school

Source: Flickr

1955 Texcel Cellophane Tape “It’s Time To Buy Back To School Supplies!”

Original 1955 Texcel Cellophane Tape Magazine Ad. 1950s Vintage Back to School Ad.

Source: Etsy

1936 Back to school dresses for Girls – 1930s companion Butterick sewing patterns advertisment.

Source: Etsy

1946 Phillip’s Milk Of Magnesia print ad. “Back To School; Back To Work”.

1940s vintage ad: 1946 Phillip's Milk Of Magnesia Vintage Print Ad Back To School Back To Work

Source: eBay

1960s back to school advertisement. An outstanding large vintage french poster showing two happy, well dressed children eagerly returning to school, replendent in their new clothes, school bags and equipment.

1960s vintage advertisement for back to school featuring two school kids running

Source: Etsy

1940s vintage ad. Heading back to college? Make sure you shop at Harry W. Joseph in West Phila for your campus styled Arrow shirts.

1940s Harry W Joseph Mens Store Arrow Shirts Back To School vintage ad

Source: eBay

1950s going back to school…..loans advertisment. This ad made me chuckle so I needed to add it to the collection.

1950 Going-back-to-school Loans Debt Advertising Poster Vintage ad

Source: eBay

1950s ad for Woolworth’s School Pencils & Pencil Cases.

1950s ad for Woolworths school supplies.

Source: Pinterest

1930s vintage ad. School wear for Girls from Grace Brothers, Broadway, Sydney 1938 (not a fall ad but a new year school ad).

School wear from Grace Brothers, Broadway, Sydney 1938. 1930s fashions for young girls.

Source: Pinterest

1940s newspaper ads for Cripe Town Talk Bread – “Back To School, Take a Lunch”.

1940s vintage ad for Cripe Town Talk Bread - Back To School, take a lunch

Source: eBay

Just what every teen wants…to dress like their whole family for back to school. 1962 Minnesota Woven ad.

1960s vintage ad for Minnesota Woven, 1962 featuring a 1960s family in back to school clothes

Source: grayflannelsuit.net

Hope you enjoyed the collection of back to school advertising. Share in the comments what your favourite ad was or a story about your own back to school experience.

Further Reading:

Vintage Advertising 1920s – 1960s (archived blog post)
Vintage Back to School posts

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

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).

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.

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:

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

Liz

Category: Back to School