Campus Life

Moving in through the years

Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

Generations of Penn Staters have found community on campus through residence life, since the first class of students moved into the west wing of the main building of the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania in 1859. This weekend, more than 20,000 students will move into on-campus housing across the commonwealth. Click through the gallery below for pictures of students moving into their on-campus residences throughout the years.

This picture from the 1910 LaVie shows students "on the way to college."  Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

Two Penn State students work together to carry a mattress in this undated photo. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

A Penn State student unloads the essentials — including a stuffed lion — in this undated photo. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

A Penn State student enlists help to carry his freshly pressed clothing to his on-campus residence in 1963. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

Two friends anticipate their on-campus accommodations as they carry their belongings on move-in day at Penn State in 1975. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

A helper takes a break during move-in day at Penn State in 1975. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

Four friends eagerly wait to move their belongings into their on-campus Penn State residence in 1980. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

A Penn State student unpacks the necessities — including an alarm clock so early classes aren't missed — in this undated photo. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

A Penn State student prepares to add greenery to her on-campus residence on move-in day in 1988. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

This Penn State student and his family member are all smiles on move-in day in 1993. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

A Penn State student prepares to drop several pairs of shoes into a wheeled bin holding the rest of his belongings on move-in day in 2013. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

Two Penn State students wheel bins containing their belongings toward their on-campus residence on move-in day in 2022. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

This picture from the 1910 LaVie shows students "on the way to college."  Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

Two Penn State students work together to carry a mattress in this undated photo. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

A Penn State student unloads the essentials — including a stuffed lion — in this undated photo. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

A Penn State student enlists help to carry his freshly pressed clothing to his on-campus residence in 1963. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

Two friends anticipate their on-campus accommodations as they carry their belongings on move-in day at Penn State in 1975. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

A helper takes a break during move-in day at Penn State in 1975. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

Four friends eagerly wait to move their belongings into their on-campus Penn State residence in 1980. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

A Penn State student unpacks the necessities — including an alarm clock so early classes aren't missed — in this undated photo. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

A Penn State student prepares to add greenery to her on-campus residence on move-in day in 1988. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

This Penn State student and his family member are all smiles on move-in day in 1993. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

A Penn State student prepares to drop several pairs of shoes into a wheeled bin holding the rest of his belongings on move-in day in 2013. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

Two Penn State students wheel bins containing their belongings toward their on-campus residence on move-in day in 2022. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

Last Updated August 18, 2023

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