Center for Archival Collections

Learning to Live Together

Men's and women's residence halls featured similar design and furniture.  Personal touches like matching bedspreads and stuffed toys made rooms more home-like.

(Below) The huge increase in post-World War II enrollment thanks to the G.I. Bill brought more students to campus than residence halls could accommodate.  The gymnasium was pressed into use, barracks-style, to handle the overflow.

(Below, right) Bunk beds are still in evidence in contemporary residence halls.  These students may have gathered to watch a television show together.

A Little Something to Eat...

Dining Services has the difficult challenge of providing nutritious, attractively-served food to the thousands of students each day.  (Above, left) A typical cafeteria line in the 1950s offered individual servings of salads and desserts.  Students gathered after classes to get a hamburger or cup of coffee at the Falcon's Nest, the fore-runner of the Student Union.

(Lower left) Today's students are interested in a variety of foods from around the world.  Menus now offer Asian cuisine (including Chinese stir-fry and Japanese sushi), and Mexican foods like burritos and tacos, as well as American "comfort foods" like macaroni and cheese.

Classrooms and Lecture Halls

A drafting class in the Industrial Arts curriculum drew men and women students.

Flight training was part of the curriculum for the V-5 and V-12 students during World War II.  Students today may also learn to fly.

Shopping and Socializing

Fund-raising, Charity, Volunteers, Giving...

Students have been doing their part to help their community since BGSU opened its doors.  At left, students load plasma into the Red Cross van after a blood drive on campus.  The Bloodmobile comes to campus at least twice a year.  

(Lower right) Members of Alpha Phi prepare signs advertising their fundraiser.  Fraternities and sororities competed with each other in campus-wide events during the 1950s "Charities Week".

(Lower left) While Dance Marathon takes place each spring, as a single 32-hour event, it is the culmination of months of preliminary work by the students getting sponsors and hosting other events that contribute to the total amount of money raised for the Children's Miracle Network, a benefactor of Mercy Children's Hospital of Toledo, Ohio

Parties and Dances

Every dance had its queen. The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi surrounded by her attendants and escort (above).  

At right, the Sadie Hawkins Dance gave women the chance to ask the men on a date.  Prizes were awarded to the couple who most resembled comic strip characters Daisy Mae and Li'l Abner.

Just for Fun

An award given to the most successful student at the pie-eating contest.

The powderpuff football game was played between sororities.

Delta Gamma members come out for a pep rally before a big football game.

Students listen to the jukebox in the Falcon's nest, an important gathering place, since women students were not permitted to go to "public dance halls."

Homecoming

Homecoming is the highlight of the fall semester.  Residence halls and Greek housing units competed for the best decorations. (Above left) Students referred to Bowling Green's ketchup industry, encouraging Freddie Falcon to "can" Baldwin-Wallace.

Homecoming parades were held on campus in front of the Administration Buildings (now University Hall).  Cars and floats were decorated and looped past sidewalks crowded with spectators.  Again, prizes were awarded for the best exhibit.

1948 Homecoming Queen Marion DeConick was crowned just before the football game.

Welcoming Spring

Commencement

Commencement marks the culmination of years of study.  The diploma certifies that graduates have completed all the requirements for the degree in their fields of study.  They are ready to embark on professional careers or continue through graduate school, adding their own contribution to the store of human knowledge.

(Above) Summer Graduates, May 1915.  For many years, women typically wore white dresses rather than academic gowns at graduation ceremonies.  (At right) Graduates in the 1930s wear typical commencement attire.  Academic gowns for women completing their undergraduate work typically have white collars, which men's gowns do not have.

(Below) The weather was cold on Commencement Day in 1990.  (At right) Dr. Vicki Williams (2002) shares a smile with Dr. Robert DeBard.