Four wonderfully vernacular tintypes capturing the playful spirit and social rituals of late 19th-century college youth. Each image offers a distinct glimpse into the camaraderie, fashion, and humor of young men and women likely gathered for theatrical performances, student societies, or leisure-time studio portraits.

One tintype features eight young women, each striking a theatrical pose while doffing their hats—likely a posed gag image from a school play or dramatic society. Another image shows five women in the woods, seated and standing in matching white dresses and stern expressions, the setting and their uniform appearance giving a more formal, almost sorority-like presence.

The two group shots of men and women are equally expressive. One depicts three young men seated in the foreground with fans, flanked by three women in extravagant feathered hats and summer dresses, all in front of a painted backdrop. Another shows six young men in jackets and hats posed on a rustic twig chair—possibly taken on campus grounds or at a nearby retreat. Their relaxed but intentional arrangement is packed with personality.

Each tintype is clean, well-preserved, and measures approximately CDV-size, with minor edge wear typical of the format. A terrific and unusually animated set, ideal for collectors of collegiate life, theatrical imagery, or vernacular portraiture from the 1870s–1880s.