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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

Student housing in the US has changed drastically over the past century. These historical photos show how students decorated their dorm rooms from the late 19th to the mid-20th century. Students decorated their rooms with vintage decor, collegiate pennants, diplomas, family photos, and advertisements.

Why do so many Americans live on campus, and how do residence hall designs reflect American educational and social ideals? Carla Yanni addresses these questions in her book Living on Campus, a history of purpose-built structures on American campuses. She argues that dormitory architecture provides a lens for examining students’ social nature. In addition, she explores how residence hall plans reveal attitudes about domesticity, community, and student life. Americans planned residence halls to maintain values about “segregation of races, social classes, and genders” held by benefactors, administrators, architects, students, and society.

The dorms and the campus itself were modeled after monasteries and convents. The walls provided a haven for contemplation and worship and a place for learning, the arts, music, horticulture, and other cultural activities. Harvard, Yale, and other American colleges followed the model of the residential colleges at Oxford and Cambridge. Educators and designers struggled to reconcile security, order, and quiet with the need for social spaces open to all students in medieval design. According to Professor Yanni, a popular dormitory plan called the “double-loaded” corridor offered rooms on either side of a long hallway. It was inexpensive to build, requiring only two staircases at either end of the corridor; it also allowed for a high level of security since it was easy to see who was coming and going. A double-loaded corridor, however, was all the charm of a cellblock to students. Compared to the pricier Oxbridge alternative, which has stairways throughout the building, it offers enhanced access but has a trade-off in security. The two designs, with modifications, are still in use today.

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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#2 A decorated dorm room at Cowden Hall, Baylor University, 1910.

A decorated dorm room at Cowden Hall, Baylor University, 1910.

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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#5 A room’s wall of Baylor dormitory, 1910

A room’s wall of Baylor dormitory, 1910

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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#6 Baylor University dorm room, 1910

Baylor University dorm room, 1910

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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#7 Baylor University dorm room, 1910

Baylor University dorm room, 1910

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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#8 Baylor University dorm room, 1910

Baylor University dorm room, 1910

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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#9 Dorm room at Cowden Hall, Baylor University, 1910

Dorm room at Cowden Hall, Baylor University, 1910

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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#10 Male students with pipes in dorm room, Baylor University, 1910

Male students with pipes in dorm room, Baylor University, 1910

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#11 Three students study in their dorm room, most likely in Georgia Burleson Hall, 1890s

Three students study in their dorm room, most likely in Georgia Burleson Hall, 1890s

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#12 Two students study in their well decorated dorm room, 1890s

Two students study in their well decorated dorm room, 1890s

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#13 Young girl student reading a newspaper in her room at Georgia Burleson Hall, Baylor University, 1910

Young girl student reading a newspaper in her room at Georgia Burleson Hall, Baylor University, 1910

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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#14 A Baylor student at desk in dorm room, 1910

A Baylor student at desk in dorm room, 1910

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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#34

How Students decorated their Dorm Rooms from 1890s to 1950s

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#35 This woman’s dorm room from 1898 isn’t much different from modern day dorms: Pennants, books, and a chair for studying.

This woman’s dorm room from 1898 isn’t much different from modern day dorms: Pennants, books, and a chair for studying.

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#36 Photographs and mementos kept things homey in this room, 1899.

Photographs and mementos kept things homey in this room, 1899.

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#37 A dorm room in old Chadbourne Hall, 1899.

A dorm room in old Chadbourne Hall, 1899.

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#38 Male students raised a glass in a boarding house or fraternity, 1909.

Male students raised a glass in a boarding house or fraternity, 1909.

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#39 Male students room in boarding house or fraternity, 1909.

Male students room in boarding house or fraternity, 1909.

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#40 Man sitting in boarding house or fraternity house room reading. Pinups and other decorations on south wall, 1912.

Man sitting in boarding house or fraternity house room reading. Pinups and other decorations on south wall, 1912.

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#41 Young student sleeping in a men’s boarding house or fraternity house room, 1912.

Young student sleeping in a men’s boarding house or fraternity house room, 1912.

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#42 This single dorm room from the 1930s appeared to be filled with souvenirs from exotic adventures.

This single dorm room from the 1930s appeared to be filled with souvenirs from exotic adventures.

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#43 Students studied on bunk beds in this barracks-style dorm, ca. 1945.

Students studied on bunk beds in this barracks-style dorm, ca. 1945.

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#44 Single men’s living quarters, bunks and linens furnished, rent $13/person/month, No smoking, 1945.

Single men’s living quarters, bunks and linens furnished, rent $13/person/month, No smoking, 1945.

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#45 Students studied around a communal table, 1950s.

Students studied around a communal table, 1950s.

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#46 Just a bunch of guys hanging out, eating melon, 1950s.

Just a bunch of guys hanging out, eating melon, 1950s.

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#47 A record party with Elizabeth Waters Hall residents, 1950s.

A record party with Elizabeth Waters Hall residents, 1950s.

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#48 Two women in room in Holt Dormitory, 1950s.

Two women in room in Holt Dormitory, 1950s.

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#49 A guy studying in dorm room, 1950s.

A guy studying in dorm room, 1950s.

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#50 Two women sitting in mock-up dorm room in Chadbourne Hall, 1950s

Two women sitting in mock-up dorm room in Chadbourne Hall, 1950s

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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