1948 Smith College: Unseen Photos of Women’s Campus Life
Captured by LIFE magazine’s Peter Stackpole, these rare photos document a pivotal era for women’s higher education at Smith College amidst a rapidly changing post-war society.
Though Smith College is part of the Five Colleges Consortium today, these 1948 photos capture an earlier era of women’s education, focused solely on the Northampton campus experience.
Reflecting a post-war fashion shift, Smith College students in 1948 embraced a more casual style, with skirts, sweaters, and classic saddle shoes or loafers becoming standard campus attire.
Peter Stackpole, the acclaimed LIFE photographer behind these images, was influenced by greats like Dorothea Lange, developing his passion for handheld photography early in his career.
During his tenure at LIFE magazine until 1961, Peter Stackpole masterfully captured a diverse range of subjects, from Hollywood glamour to everyday life, always striving for authentic depiction.
Smith College students in 1948, dressed in fashionable skirts and sweaters, enjoying the vibrant campus atmosphere.
A candid shot of young women at Smith College in 1948, showcasing the era’s typical casual academic attire.
Female students gathered on the beautiful Smith College campus, embodying the spirit of higher education in 1948.
Daily life at Smith College in 1948: students conversing and walking amidst the historic Northampton grounds.
A moment captured at Smith College in 1948, revealing the friendships and academic pursuits of its female students.
Smith College coeds of 1948, a generation of women shaping their future through education in a post-war world.
Reflecting the evolving role of women, these Smith College students in 1948 display confidence and intellectual curiosity.
