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Category: Vintage Yearbooks

Vintage Hairstyle Inspiration from Yearbooks 1920s-1950s

I love looking at vintage yearbooks and getting inspired by what I see. The hairstyles, the clothes, the names! So much fun to browse what school life was like, what clubs were there, what they said about each other in the descriptions and so much more!

For today’s post, I want to showcase some of the amazing vintage hairstyles (for women and men) seen in North Carolina Yearbooks (because there is an amazing online collection of vintage yearbooks to look at) from the 1920s-1950s.

Let’s take a look!

1940s Women's vintage hairstyle inspiration as seen in a 1940s yearbook
1942 Yearbook photo from ‘The Zenith’

Source: DigitalNC

Vintage Hairstyle Inspiration

From Yearbooks 1920’s – 1950’s

1920’s

1920s Vintage Yearbook: Meet Elizabeth & Sadie, Seniors from William Peace University featured in ‘THE LOTUS 1928’ Yearbook.

Wonderful look into 1920s University life for women and fabulous 1920s hairstyle Inspiration.

1920s Womens Hairstyles

Source: DigitalNC

1920s Vintage Yearbook: Lilly & Celeste, Seniors from William Peace University featured in ‘THE LOTUS 1928’ Yearbook. 

1920s Vintage Yearbook: Meet Lilly & Celeste, Seniors from William Peace University featured in 'THE LOTUS 1928' Yearbook.

Source: DigitalNC

1928 The Maple Leaf Yearbook from Livingstone College. Chic 1920s Hairstyles on these stylish ladies and men.

1928 The Maple Leaf Yearbook from Livingstone College. Chic 1920s Hairstyles on these stylish ladies and men.

Source: DigitalNC

1930’s

1931 Pine Burr, Campbell University. Leslie & Norwood (omg his name is adorable). Still a 1920s Style, but slowly venturing in a 1930s look in the hair department.

1930s Vintage Hairstyle for women and man

Source: DigitalNC

The T.C. Pedagogue [1935] Yearbook Student Staff from Winston-Salem University. Wonderful 30’s Hairstyles on these beautiful young Black Women. Love!

The T.C. Pedagogue [1935] Yearbook Student Staff from Winston-Salem university wearing 1930s Hairstyles as seen on these young black women.

Source: DigitalNC

1938 ‘The Zenith’, High Point University. These women’s 1930s hairstyles are on point!

1938 'The Zenith', High Point University. These women's 1930s hairstyles are on point!

Source: DigitalNC

1940’s

The Pertelote [1942], Brevard College vintage yearbook photos of 4 women wearing fantastic 1940s Hairstyles. Look at those curls!

The Pertelote [1942], Brevard College vintage yearbook photos of 4 women wearing fantastic 1940s Hairstyles.

Source: DigitalNC

1940s Vintage Hairstyle inspiration as seen on these Black students at Elizabeth City State University NC ‘The Pirate’ yearbook 1948. More beautiful Curls!

1940s Vintage Hairstyle inspiration as seen on these black women students at Elizabeth City State University NC 'The Pirate' yearbook 1948.

Source: DigitalNC

1945 ‘The Zenith’ Yearbook from High Point University. These later 1940s Hairstyles, complete with Hair Flower are wonderful vintage hairstyle inspiration!

1940s Women's Yearbook Photo featuring 1940s Women's Hairstyles.

Source: DigitalNC

1950’s

1957 The Pirate’s Log Yearbook from Elizabeth State University featuring the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Stylish Black women in 1950s Fashions and 1950s hairstyles. Gorgeous!

1957 The Pirate's Log Yearbook from Elizabeth State University featuring the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Beautiful Black women in 1950s Fashions and 1950s hairstyles.

Source: DigitalNC

1953 Yearbook Photo of Seniors from ‘The Zenith’ at High Point University. Lovely 1950s hairstyles on the women and the men’s hair are just so dapper looking.

1950s Men and Women's Vintage Hairstyles as seen in a 1950s Yearbook

Source: DigitalNC

I hope you enjoyed taking a look at the vintage hairstyles that students from all different era’s were sporting. As mentioned before yearbooks are a fantastic way to see exactly how the “regular guys and girls” were doing it (which is usually way more achievable then movie star looks).

Take a look at other Vintage Yearbook posts I did HERE.

Also I did some new posts in 2022 on A Vintage Guide to 1940s Hair Accessories, & Vintage Hair Tools: Hairstyle Books 1940s & 1950s, so be inspired to recreate some of these looks.

QUESTION TIME: Which era was your favorite? Share in the comments section below.

Oh and for more Vintage Hairstyle Inspiration please follow my Pinterest board (below), dedicated to this topic.

Liz

Vintage Photo Tuesday: A Look into 1941 Barton College-Pine Knot Yearbook

For today’s ‘Vintage Photo Tuesday‘ I am going to open up ‘The Pine Knot” a 1941 Barton College yearbook from the North Carolina Yearbooks Digital Archive and share some of the goodies that was behind its cover.

Let the fun begin!

1940s Vintage Yearbook Cover

A Look into 1941 Barton College-Pine Knot Yearbook

The Vintage 1940’s Photos

Roommates… it’s Class Time! Collection of images of students heading to class or in class.

Super 1940’s jackets on our ladies in the top photo.

1940s Vintage Photo of students in college in a 1940s yearbook photos. Fantastic 1940s fashions.
1940s Photo of young men in school in 1940s fashion in a vintage yearbook photos

Officers of the Senior Class.

What a well dressed group of young men and woman. The names are so fantastic as well. “Elmer” and “Burney” are names that don’t come across the social media channels anymore.

1940s Yearbook Photo of Senior Officers. 1940s fashion seen in a 1941 vintage yearbook

I am not going to post every page with the students yearbook photos (you can visit the yearbook yourself to see their images), so here is a small sampling instead (Note: Click on the images to see their original larger versions).

Love the 1940s Hairstyles on the women and the men!

1941 college yearbook photo of seniors featuring 1940s vintage hairstyles for men and women on display in the vintage yearbook from Barton College

Some Yearbook Quotes that just have to be shared

Senior-Carthiene Hoell: “Just by being herself she changed the climate of the days of those she met”

1940s Photo of a young woman in college vintage yearbook book photo from 1941.

Senior-Agnes Elizabeth Best: “Without music life would be a mistake”

1940s Photo of a young woman in college vintage yearbook book photo from 1941. The woman is wearing a 1940s hairstyle.

Junior Class Officers.

1940s Photo of students in college - The Junior Class officers as seen in a vintage 1941 yearbook photo. Super early 1940s fashions on display.

Another collection of fantastic 1940’s hairstyles for young women and men.

1940s photo of juniors in college in a 1941 barton college vintage yearbook photo. Lots of early 1940s vintage hairstyle inspiration for men and women.

The Officers of the Freshman Class.

1940s Photo of College students in a 1941 yearbook - The Officers of the Freshman class in early 1940s fashions and 1940s hairstyles.

Sampling of some of the freshman students (Another GREAT btach of early 1940s hairstyles).

1940s Yearbook Photo of College Freshman from 1941 featuring 1940s hairstyles for men and women.

Roommates Afternoon Activity-Break from class means time to chill with friends, pickup garbage or play some sports.

1940s Photo of Students in College in a 1941 Yearbook featuring 1940s Fashions in the vintage images.
1940s Photo of Students in College in a 1941 Yearbook featuring 1940s Fashions in the vintage images.

Sororities are very big in the United States (not so much here in Canada, they exist but not to the same level as the States) and in 1941 at Barton College you had the ‘Phi Sigma Tau‘. Founded in 1912, it is the oldest Greek Letter Organization on Campus. The Black Eyed Susan is their flower because it matches their colours, black and gold. And the members are chosen for their scholastic standing, as well as qualities of character, personality, sociability, and leadership.

Also, look at all those Saddle Shoes! They should be also nominated for their great taste in shoes!

FURTHER READING: Vintage Photo Tuesday: Sororities 1920s-1950s

1940s College Sorority-1941 yearbook photo-1940s-womens fashion-Saddle Shoes

Roommates-6:30 Till….

This is the time to get some studying in and do a bit of socializing. Apparently roommates also meant sharing a bed. That would of been a no go for me in my University days lol!

1940s Photo of College Life for young college women living in a dorm in 1940s yearbook photos
1940s Photo of College Life of young men living in the dorm in 1940s yearbook photos

The Dormitory Councils- In my University days they were called RA’s (Resident Assistant).

1940s Yearbook Photo of the Dormitory Councils in early 1940s Fashion for women and men.

Rah Rah Rah! Go Barton College! 1940s College Cheerleaders.

1941 College Cheerleaders from a 1940s yearbook photo

College life would not be College life, if dating was not involved. “It’s the only kind of knowledge they don’t teach at College..L.O.V.E”

1940s vintage yearbook photos featuring Roommates evening activities for men and women (like dating).
1940s vintage yearbook photos featuring Roommates evening activities for men and women

Lastly, did you know that the “Pine Knot” had a very special attendee? Have you ever heard of Ava Gardner (that is 100% a joke. Everyone has heard of Ava)? Well as I was scrolling thru the photos I stumbled upon her photo as a “Campus Beauty” (seen below). How Cool!!!

From the Ava Gardner Museum I discovered that she was studying to become a secretary in 1940. In late 1941 she has signed a contract with MGM to become a big movie star and well you know the rest (Source).

1941 Yearbook photo of Ava Gardner as a campus beauties along with other 1940s women in 1940s hairstyles.

Ava Gardner’s 1941 Freshmen Yearbook Photo.

1940s vintage photo of Ava Gardner's 1941 Freshmen Yearbook Photo

I hope you enjoyed this fun little walk thru a 1941 yearbook. I know I always enjoy looking at memories like this, even when they are not my own.

It’s also important to note that during this time, WW2 was in full swing and as you get into other yearbooks “In Memoriams” and “In Service” pages would appear more and more. It’s a sober reminder that while life was still going on at home, many young men and women who would of filled these halls were doing something very brave overseas.

Liz

FURTHER READING: