A Glimpse into the Past: Color Photos Unveil Women’s Lives a Century Ago

We live in a constantly evolving world. What was once new is now obsolete, with advances in technology, medicine, transportation, and more changing at a rapid pace. Nowhere is this more apparent than in vintage color photos depicting what life was once like for women. We can glimpse into the past with these color photos that unveil women's lives a century ago and take us on a journey through fashion, leisure activities, politics, and the workforce.

During the early 1900s, it wasn't considered proper for women to wear pants. They had also just earned the right to vote thanks to the 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, but many minority women were still unable to vote for years. Women at that time also couldn't join the military and often faced discrimination in the workplace.

During World War I, women took on a lot of the positions that were predominately held by men before the war. Nearly 5 million American men fought in WWI, which led to women taking jobs in industries like manufacturing to replace the men who were gone. These opportunities remained after the war ended, and women began taking positions once dominated by men.

To portray what life was like for women a century ago, 24/7 Tempo used photos and information from sources such as History.com, Reader's Digest, and PBS. By adding color, we made them more relatable for modern women. (To see more photos of life from yesteryear, check out photos that show what life was like in the 1950s.)

While wealthy families tended to pay more, many servants in the 1920s worked for little or sometimes no pay. Those who worked for no pay often worked in exchange for a place to live.

Whilst color makes this staged scene look a little more vibrant, it does not lift the general atmosphere of austerity and hard work for this lady.

Maids and domestic staff started to become less common by the 1930s, but some middle and upper-class families in the 1920s still hired maids to help around the house and assist in raising the children.

In color, some of the environment looks greener but the area behind the high wall still looks pretty barren.

Before you could run to the store to buy cloth or yarn, women used spinning wheels to create their own. By the 1920s, yarn had become more widely available but many women continued to use spinning wheels.

Thanks to color, we can make out more details on this lady's house. Including the plants and the classic rocking chair on her front porch.

In the 1920s, former officers from the Armed Forces could go to the club to socialize. Some women worked in these clubs, like the woman pictured here working as a business secretary.

Thanks to the color, this office looks like a much brighter place to work. The sun is streaming through the window and highlighting the pretty color of her outfit.

Beauty pageants have existed since at least the mid-1800s. However, the first Miss America beauty pageant was held in Atlantic City in 1921 as a way to attract tourists.

It's interesting that even in color, these ladies are all wearing dark swimsuits. Perhaps it is a nautical theme?

More women started working in factories during World War I. Since the factories were a necessary part of war production, women had to take over many positions previously held by men. Even after the war, women continued to work in factories.

In color, these ladies look very glamorous – including neatly styled hair and bright red lipstick.

Another common job for women 100 years ago was working in a mill. These women typically worked at least 12 hours a day and those that had children left their children in a nursery or with a relative while they worked.

Just look at the concentration on these women's faces as they work the cloth. Color makes the workroom seem lighter and more airy.

Although women in the insurance industry in the 1920s didn't hold the same positions as men, many started working as stenographers or bookkeepers. They also worked other clerical-type jobs.

With the addition of color, this scene comes alive. You can almost hear the clack of typewriters and the chatter of the workers.

The Ordnance Department of the U.S. Army is the branch that once supplied and maintained weapons and ammunition. This department was the first to organize a women's branch within the federal government.

When color is added you cannot help compare the protective clothing of today with what these women are wearing.

There has been an increase in women in the welding industry in recent years, but women have worked in welding for quite some time. It was particularly common during World War II, but even before the war, some women worked in welding factories.

This is one image whose color changes very little, possibly because the workshop was mainly made up of dark colors.

During wartime, women were needed in ordnance plants to keep up with the demand for weapons and ammunition. Many continued to work in this department after the war was over.

Even the colorized image shows the heavy industry involved here and some of the machines look quite dangerous.

Nowadays, if you go to the beach you'll see most women wearing bikinis. A hundred years ago, swimsuits looked very different and often included swim belts. These belts were usually worn to keep two-piece swimsuits in place, even in the water.

So much warmth is added by the color, you can almost feel the heat of the sun. And check out the sunlight glinting off the waves.

Waitressing was a popular job for women in the 1920s. In an attempt to advocate for fair and safe work conditions for women, the Women's Bureau supported laws that impacted these women, such as the law in New York that prohibited female waitresses from working overnight.

When this image is colored you can't help compare the scene to a modern restaurant. It looks very crowded – that's a lot of people for one person to serve.

The Girl Scouts were founded in 1912 when the first troop came together. There were almost 70,000 members in the Girl Scouts by 1920 and the organization continued to grow over the years.

We hope that the casualty on the stretcher is just pretending to be hurt because, even in color, the Girl Scouts look a bit sinister.

Roller skating has been popular since the 19th century. In 1902, a public skating rink opened at The Coliseum in Chicago, attracting over 7,000 people in one day. Roller skating was still a fun pastime in the 1920s. (Check out these 23 remarkable photos of women's fitness routines in the 1900s.)

So much detail is clearer in the color image. These include the bright buttons, the tight pleats on the skirts, and some very ornate hats.