Thursday, July 20, 2017



Swigging beer, late night sleepovers and rooms covered in school pennants: Incredible photos show how little college dorm life has changed in the past century


  • Photos from the University of Wisconsin-Madison's archives department reveal life in dorm rooms in 1900s
  • Many students today will recognize the single beds, walls plastered in school pennants and family photos
  • Fraternity members at the University of Wisonsin, 1909, were pictured looking a little glassy-eyed and posing with what appears to be jugs of beer showing frats' early reputation as rowdy drinkers
  • Another picture shows a group of female students enjoying what is often thought of as a modern pastime, a sleep over, at Peace College, Raleigh in the 1910s
  • But there gone are the sweatpants and school hoodies as archive photos show women wearing floor length, high necked dresses, and men wearing suits and ties, and sometimes even bow ties



Today's students may have a reputation for partying all night and sleeping all day, but as these incredible photos show, it is nothing that college kids haven't been doing for the past century.
While students in the early 20th century may not have had the luxury of wifi, TV or games consoles in their rooms, many today will recognize the single beds, walls plastered in school pennants and family photos and book laden desks. 

1955 Alpha Phi Omega Delta Chapter

Alpha Phi Omega of the Philippines

In 1950, the Republic of the Philippines then was only four years old. The Boy Scout movement founded by LORD BADEN-POWELL in Great Britain was organized in the Philippines in 1923; in 1950, as now, many Filipinos where actively participating in the movement. One evening that year, Scouters in Manila were invited to a conference with a certain SOL LEVY from Washington State, USA. Brother Levy expressed the desire to organize Alpha Phi Omega in the Philippines. He gave a short talk and distributed some copies of three APO publications: Questions and Answers, National Constitution and By-Laws, and Ritual Rites and Ceremonies.
DR. LIBRADO I. URETA, an Eagle Scout (and then, a graduate student at Far Eastern University in Manila) was among the audience. Inspired by Brother Levy's words, he read the publications and shared them with fellow Eagle Scouts and students on the FEU campus. He asked their opinion about Brother Levy's desire and the response was good. On 2 March 1950, Alpha Phi Omega International Service Fraternity was founded at Nicanor Reyes Sr. Hall, Room 214, FEU. After early preparations, a petition for official status and copies of the publications were sent to the FEU administration. Few days after, the university recognized the organization.
Alpha Phi Omega grew rapidly in the Philippines and now there are several hundred Alpha Phi Omega collegiate fraternity and sorority chapters and alumni associations throughout the country.
The pastimes haven't changed much either, according to the photos from the University of Wisconsin-Madison's archives department. 
Incredible photos show how little college dorm life has changed in the past century. Frats are notorious for their rowdy parties and drinking, and this photo of fraternity members at the University of Wisonsin, 1909, looking a little glassy-eyed and posing with what appears to be jugs of beer, reveals that reputation goes back a long way
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Incredible photos show how little college dorm life has changed in the past century. Frats are notorious for their rowdy parties and drinking, and this photo of fraternity members at the University of Wisonsin, 1909, looking a little glassy-eyed and posing with what appears to be jugs of beer, reveals that reputation goes back a long way
Another picture shows a group of female students enjoying what is often thought of as a modern pastime, a sleep over, at Peace College, Raleigh in the 1910s 
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Another picture shows a group of female students enjoying what is often thought of as a modern pastime, a sleep over, at Peace College, Raleigh in the 1910s 
The ladies of Vassar University were snapped getting together for a study session in 1905, which would be easily recognizable for today's college kids 
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The ladies of Vassar University were snapped getting together for a study session in 1905, which would be easily recognizable for today's college kids 
Student Charles Nichols sits in his room with book in hand and top hat on desk in his dorm at Norwich University, Vermont, 1886
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Student Charles Nichols sits in his room with book in hand and top hat on desk in his dorm at Norwich University, Vermont, 1886
Classmates relax in a dorm room, packs of cards and other amusements piled up on a table on the right, Norwich University, Vermont, circa 1920
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Classmates relax in a dorm room, packs of cards and other amusements piled up on a table on the right, Norwich University, Vermont, circa 1920
Frats are notorious for their rowdy parties and drinking, and a photo of fraternity members at the University of Wisonsin, 1909, looking a little glassy-eyed and posing with what appears to be jugs of beer, reveals that reputation began some time ago. Another picture shows a group of female students enjoying what is often thought of as a modern pastime, a sleep over, at Peace College, Raleigh in the 1910s.
While the ladies of Vassar University were snapped getting together for a study session in 1905, which would be easily recognizable for today's college kids.
Of course, today's students would find a few things missing from the late 1800s and early 1900s college experience. 
Edward Kent Jones, Clarence Eugene Ellsworth, and Phillip Vincent, decorated the walls of their room with a massive conglomeration of pictures of women and other scenes, Norwich University, Vermont, 1903 
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Edward Kent Jones, Clarence Eugene Ellsworth, and Phillip Vincent, decorated the walls of their room with a massive conglomeration of pictures of women and other scenes, Norwich University, Vermont, 1903 
Lelia Bascom's dorm room in Chadbourne Hall, 1898 which was beautifully decorated with fine China at the University of Wisconsin 
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Lelia Bascom's dorm room in Chadbourne Hall, 1898 which was beautifully decorated with fine China at the University of Wisconsin 
Two young women studying over tea at Brown University in 1912, while a delicate tea set rests atop a tray nearby
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Two young women studying over tea at Brown University in 1912, while a delicate tea set rests atop a tray nearby
A view inside a Cornell upperclassmen's room around 1902. Which has Cornell banners hanging up over the windows
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A view inside a Cornell upperclassmen's room around 1902. Which has Cornell banners hanging up over the windows
Gone are the sweatpants and school hoodies; the archive photos show women wearing floor length, high necked dresses, and men wearing suits and ties, and sometimes even bow ties.
And of course, the computer tablets, Apple Macs, iPads, smart phones and all other forms of tech are gone, replaced by a good old book. 
Men would often enjoy a pipe in their dorm, something which would be highly disapproved of today, while the women took tea in their rooms.
Two young men with pipes pose in a thoroughly decorated room at Baylor University, Texas with pennants, posters, flags and pictures
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Two young men with pipes pose in a thoroughly decorated room at Baylor University, Texas with pennants, posters, flags and pictures
A woman sits and reads the newspaper at Baylor University, Texas, in her room in the early 1900s 
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A woman sits and reads the newspaper at Baylor University, Texas, in her room in the early 1900s 
A young man poses with his pipe in his room in his dormitory at the University of Maryland in 1904 
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A young man poses with his pipe in his room in his dormitory at the University of Maryland in 1904 
Two dapper men study at Brown Univeristy, 1910, sat near a large desk that dominates the room. These students had the luxury of a fireplace in their room
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Two dapper men study at Brown Univeristy, 1910, sat near a large desk that dominates the room. These students had the luxury of a fireplace in their room
A young man, wearing a college cap, sits on his bed whilst smoking a pipe at Trinity, San Antonio Texas 1905 
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A young man, wearing a college cap, sits on his bed whilst smoking a pipe at Trinity, San Antonio Texas 1905 
Four women, in floor length, high necked dresses sit in a dorm room in Lindenwood University, St Charles, Missouri in the late 19th century 
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Four women, in floor length, high necked dresses sit in a dorm room in Lindenwood University, St Charles, Missouri in the late 19th century 
A dorm room from Harvard university, Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the 1890s, decorated with multiple photos and strewn with books
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A dorm room from Harvard university, Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the 1890s, decorated with multiple photos and strewn with books

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