34 awesome photos that show how college dorm life has changed over 110 years
This woman's dorm room from 1898 isn't much different from modern day dorms: Pennants, books, and a chair for studying.
![34 awesome photos that show how college dorm life has changed over 110 years](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-47620437%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-748100%2Fthis-womans-dorm-room-from-1898-isnt-much-different-from-modern-day-dorms-pennants-books-and-a-chair-for-studying-.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Photographs and mementos kept things homey in this room, in 1899.
![Photographs and mementos kept things homey in this room, in 1899.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620438,width-700,height-525,imgsize-684671/photographs-and-mementos-kept-things-homey-in-this-room-in-1899-.jpg)
Male students raised a glass in a boarding house or fraternity in this 1909 photo.
![Male students raised a glass in a boarding house or fraternity in this 1909 photo.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620439,width-700,height-525,imgsize-730497/male-students-raised-a-glass-in-a-boarding-house-or-fraternity-in-this-1909-photo-.jpg)
Imagine pecking out your thesis on that typewriter, shown in a 1909 photo.
![Imagine pecking out your thesis on that typewriter, shown in a 1909 photo.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620440,width-700,height-525,imgsize-756182/imagine-pecking-out-your-thesis-on-that-typewriter-shown-in-a-1909-photo-.jpg)
By 1912, pin-up ladies were essential decor.
![By 1912, pin-up ladies were essential decor.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620441,width-700,height-525,imgsize-684345/by-1912-pin-up-ladies-were-essential-decor-.jpg)
So were displays of college pride, as seen in this image (1912 or 1913).
![So were displays of college pride, as seen in this image (1912 or 1913).](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620442,width-700,height-525,imgsize-619709/so-were-displays-of-college-pride-as-seen-in-this-image-1912-or-1913-.jpg)
An ad for a room in 1927 noted perks like running water, a phone, and an iron.
![An ad for a room in 1927 noted perks like running water, a phone, and an iron.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620443,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1021854/an-ad-for-a-room-in-1927-noted-perks-like-running-water-a-phone-and-an-iron-.jpg)
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.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620444,width-700,height-525,imgsize-602505/this-single-dorm-room-from-the-1930s-appeared-to-be-filled-with-souvenirs-from-exotic-adventures-.jpg)
Students studied on bunk beds in this barracks-style dorm, circa 1945.
![Students studied on bunk beds in this barracks-style dorm, circa 1945.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620445,width-700,height-525,imgsize-789817/students-studied-on-bunk-beds-in-this-barracks-style-dorm-circa-1945-.jpg)
In 1945, single men's housing was $13/month, with bunks and linens furnished. Smoking was banned, but no one told this guy.
![In 1945, single men](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620446,width-700,height-525,imgsize-661859/month-with-bunks-and-linens-furnished-smoking-was-banned-but-no-one-told-this-guy-.jpg)
The university had separate housing for married students and families, as seen in this 1946 photo.
![The university had separate housing for married students and families, as seen in this 1946 photo.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620447,width-700,height-525,imgsize-749977/the-university-had-separate-housing-for-married-students-and-families-as-seen-in-this-1946-photo-.jpg)
In the 1950s, students studied around a communal table (and did a great job making their beds).
![In the 1950s, students studied around a communal table (and did a great job making their beds).](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620448,width-700,height-525,imgsize-655766/in-the-1950s-students-studied-around-a-communal-table-and-did-a-great-job-making-their-beds-.jpg)
Just a bunch of guys hanging out, eating melon, in this 1950s image.
![Just a bunch of guys hanging out, eating melon, in this 1950s image.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620450,width-700,height-525,imgsize-736008/just-a-bunch-of-guys-hanging-out-eating-melon-in-this-1950s-image-.jpg)
In a girls' dorm at the same time, women jammed to a record player.
![In a girls](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620452,width-700,height-525,imgsize-698011/in-a-girls-dorm-at-the-same-time-women-jammed-to-a-record-player-.jpg)
This 1950s photo features an impressive perfume collection.
![This 1950s photo features an impressive perfume collection.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620454,width-700,height-525,imgsize-683990/this-1950s-photo-features-an-impressive-perfume-collection-.jpg)
Guitar-playing co-eds are nothing new. Note the Russian mural, which reads "Merry Christmas," in this picture from 1958.
![Guitar-playing co-eds are nothing new. Note the Russian mural, which reads "Merry Christmas," in this picture from 1958.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620455,width-700,height-525,imgsize-728702/guitar-playing-co-eds-are-nothing-new-note-the-russian-mural-which-reads-merry-christmas-in-this-picture-from-1958-.jpg)
One student went minimalist in this 1960s snapshot.
![One student went minimalist in this 1960s snapshot.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620456,width-700,height-525,imgsize-439081/one-student-went-minimalist-in-this-1960s-snapshot-.jpg)
Special housing for married couples remained through the 1960s.
![Special housing for married couples remained through the 1960s.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620457,width-700,height-525,imgsize-704582/special-housing-for-married-couples-remained-through-the-1960s-.jpg)
This '70s student lounge looks pretty fun, with games like foosball and ping pong.
![This](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620458,width-700,height-525,imgsize-882415/this-70s-student-lounge-looks-pretty-fun-with-games-like-foosball-and-ping-pong-.jpg)
This dorm room from the 1970s was pretty groovy.
![This dorm room from the 1970s was pretty groovy.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620459,width-700,height-525,imgsize-839789/this-dorm-room-from-the-1970s-was-pretty-groovy-.jpg)
But it was tame in comparison to this animal-filled lair.
![But it was tame in comparison to this animal-filled lair.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620460,width-700,height-525,imgsize-937292/but-it-was-tame-in-comparison-to-this-animal-filled-lair-.jpg)
And this funky single, complete with a lofted bed, hanging chair, and dreamcatcher.
![And this funky single, complete with a lofted bed, hanging chair, and dreamcatcher.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620461,width-700,height-525,imgsize-833593/and-this-funky-single-complete-with-a-lofted-bed-hanging-chair-and-dreamcatcher-.jpg)
Not sure what's happening on the ceiling in this picture from the 1970s.
![Not sure what](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620462,width-700,height-525,imgsize-507887/not-sure-whats-happening-on-the-ceiling-in-this-picture-from-the-1970s-.jpg)
Two women catch up in a dorm room in this 1970s photo.
![Two women catch up in a dorm room in this 1970s photo.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620463,width-700,height-525,imgsize-672216/two-women-catch-up-in-a-dorm-room-in-this-1970s-photo-.jpg)
A well-coordinated triple, also from the '70s. We're guessing this was a freshman dorm.
![A well-coordinated triple, also from the](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620464,width-700,height-525,imgsize-915070/a-well-coordinated-triple-also-from-the-70s-were-guessing-this-was-a-freshman-dorm-.jpg)
These guys got creative with their small space and opened a bar (photo c. 1970-1980).
![These guys got creative with their small space and opened a bar (photo c. 1970-1980).](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620465,width-700,height-525,imgsize-643873/these-guys-got-creative-with-their-small-space-and-opened-a-bar-photo-c-1970-1980-.jpg)
In the early 1980s, TVs started appearing in dorm rooms, distracting students everywhere.
![In the early 1980s, TVs started appearing in dorm rooms, distracting students everywhere.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620466,width-700,height-525,imgsize-637398/in-the-early-1980s-tvs-started-appearing-in-dorm-rooms-distracting-students-everywhere-.jpg)
Is that a hamster cage in the bottom righthand corner of this 1980s dorm photo?
![Is that a hamster cage in the bottom righthand corner of this 1980s dorm photo?](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620467,width-700,height-525,imgsize-699514/is-that-a-hamster-cage-in-the-bottom-righthand-corner-of-this-1980s-dorm-photo.jpg)
This '80s dorm had lots of personal touches, from a poster of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to a Snoopy statuette.
![This](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620469,width-700,height-525,imgsize-566719/this-80s-dorm-had-lots-of-personal-touches-from-a-poster-of-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-to-a-snoopy-statuette-.jpg)
We like what the guys in this 1986 photo did with the place. And the fireplace is a rare luxury for a college dorm.
![We like what the guys in this 1986 photo did with the place. And the fireplace is a rare luxury for a college dorm.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620471,width-700,height-525,imgsize-747452/we-like-what-the-guys-in-this-1986-photo-did-with-the-place-and-the-fireplace-is-a-rare-luxury-for-a-college-dorm-.jpg)
Everything about this photo of a women's dorm screams "1987."
![Everything about this photo of a women](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620472,width-700,height-525,imgsize-859156/everything-about-this-photo-of-a-womens-dorm-screams-1987-.jpg)
Students gathered to study in a residence hall den, as seen in this 1996 picture.
![Students gathered to study in a residence hall den, as seen in this 1996 picture.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620473,width-700,height-525,imgsize-713413/students-gathered-to-study-in-a-residence-hall-den-as-seen-in-this-1996-picture-.jpg)
A 2005 photo shows students taking a study break with a game of Cranium.
![A 2005 photo shows students taking a study break with a game of Cranium.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620475,width-700,height-525,imgsize-486724/a-2005-photo-shows-students-taking-a-study-break-with-a-game-of-cranium-.jpg)
Students chat in this recent image. You can probably guess it was taken in 2008, thanks to the "Hope" poster.
![Students chat in this recent image. You can probably guess it was taken in 2008, thanks to the "Hope" poster.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-47620477,width-700,height-525,imgsize-699183/students-chat-in-this-recent-image-you-can-probably-guess-it-was-taken-in-2008-thanks-to-the-hope-poster-.jpg)
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