1950's

The 1950s began with women in skirts and socks and men in shirt and ties. The 1950s were a more carefree decade with students whose parents survived the Second World War. By 1958 students wore civilian clothing, and the military uniforms that were commonplace on campus in the previous decade were long gone. [1] 

[Three Students]
[Three Students], [195-] 
Elections Kick Line for SU Candidate, ca.1957
Elections Kick Line for SU Candidate, ca.1957
Pharmacy demonstration of Laboratory equipment to new class
Pharmacy demonstration of Laboratory equipment to new class, ca. 1952
Runners-up and winner Norma Dancocks of the U of A Sweater Contest
Runners-up and winner Norma Dancocks of the U of A Sweater Contest, Jan. 1950
Latin Class, 1953
Latin Class, 1953

In the 1950s male students wore shirts and ties to class and women had a "defined place." [2] Fashion shows were held on campus to showcase trends from Edmonton stores. [3] The Evergreen and Gold yearbooks, produced by the U of A Students' Union each year, also featured ads for stores such as Hudson's Bay Company. [4]

“It had been an interesting ten years throughout the 1950s. The women had worn plaid skirts and knee socks in the early part of the decade but were changing to tight-fitting leotards by the end. On the whole careful attention to dress and deportment prevailed. The men wore their hair short and neatly combed and beards were rare, with P.J. Clooney a notable exception.” [5] This was be about to change in the 1960s. 

U of A Students

U of A Students, [195-]
Library staff on the steps of New Rutherford Library, 1951
Library staff on the steps of New Rutherford Library, 1951
Hockey: Golden Bears team photo and groups of players in Varsity rink.
Hockey: Golden Bears team photo and groups of players in Varsity rink, 1953
S.U. Elections: Students voting at ballot box.
S.U. Elections: Students voting at ballot box, March 9, 1959.
Student Candid, South Lab Cafeteria
 Student Candid, South Lab Cafeteria, Oct. 1955
S.U. Elections: Students voting at ballot box
S.U. Elections: Students voting at ballot box, March 9, 1959
Student studying in Rutherford Library
Student studying in Rutherford Library, between 1957-1958

Sources

[1] Schoeck, Ellen. I Was There: A Century of Alumni Stories About the University of Alberta, 1906-2006. Edmonton, AB: The University of Alberta Press, 2006, p. 378-379.

[2] Schoeck, Ellen. I Was There: A Century of Alumni Stories About the University of Alberta, 1906-2006. Edmonton, AB: The University of Alberta Press, 2006, p. 445.

[3] University of Alberta Students' Union, Evergreen and Gold, 1957, p. 188.

[4] University of Alberta Students' Union, Evergreen and Gold, 1952, p. 193.

[5] Johns, Walter H. A History of the University of Alberta, 1908-1969. Edmonton, AB: University of Alberta Press, 1981, p. 302.