From Unknown, 1941.  See The Pencil Witch: Pointed, Practical Magic, No Eraser Required.

The imagination will find a constellation even in a row of stars.  From American University's 1943 yearbook.

From Purple Parrot, 1940.

From Purple Parrot, 1942.

When we're asked, as chronologicians, to correct a temporal anomaly, we often have to explain that it's not as easy as resetting a clock, for there are mighty forces out there.  From NY School of Agriculture at Alfred University's 1942 yearbook.

From Tennessee Wesleyan's 1949 yearbook.

"You hold the strings."  From The Film Daily, 1942.

From Tennessee Wesleyan's 1949 yearbook.

Adjusted for inflation, this dress would cost $400 today.  From Purple Parrot, 1946.

We tried to get a degree in Unknown Tongues, but our thesis was rejected as being "incomprehensible."  See the surprising Fluency in 5 Minutes.

From Olivert Nazarene's 1943 yearbook.

Receiving one's first tin-foil hat -- an unforgettable moment.  From Joplin Junior College's 1942 yearbook.

Perhaps this is one of those matching puzzles in which you draw a line from the name to the photo.  From West Georgia's 1940 yearbook.

"Her keen humor and her unflagging energy" (not pictured?).  From Washington College's 1941 yearbook.

"Effective living."  From Michigan State's 1947 yearbook.

Here's a precursor to how it feels to run a blog.  From Michigan State's 1947 yearbook.

Though Wikipedia traces the lightbulb joke to the late 1960s, we can do so much better (folks expect that of us, and as you've seen time and again, we strive to deliver).  This one's from the 1940s, and not only does it show how many it takes to screw in a lightbulb, it names names as well as explains just why it takes so many (spoiler: they're not electrical engineers).  From Michigan State's 1947 yearbook.

"Through the haze of black smoke came a mocking laugh 'I'll see you again!'"  From Weird Tales, 1942.

Here's how a clock tower can tell six times at once with only two hands.  From Elmhurst's 1943 yearbook.

In earlier times, a simple wire rack could offer hours of fun.  By comparison, the humble Slinky toy was like today's PlayStation.  From Kent State's 1945 yearbook.

If you're going to wear wood, veneer is shabby and not chic.  We refinish and restain our wooden clothing to keep with the trends.  From Mechanix Illustrated, May 1945.