How to be a Model Secretary – 1950s Style

A peek into a secretarial school in 1951-

1951-Model-Secretary-look--Peter-Stackpole---Life-Magazine

The girl above is trying to look the very picture of a perfect secretary. Dressed in a conservative suit, she wears both a hat and gloves and sits quietly with her hands folded as she applies for a job.

She learned this correct approach at the Wright MacMahon Secretarial School in Beverly Hills California.
This school is well known for turning out model secretaries who could pass for fashion models!

Secretarial grooming – Do’s and Don’ts

1951-Model-Secretary-look--Perfume -Peter-Stackpole---Life-Magazine2

Applying too much perfume or wearing a revealing low-cut dress on the job is not encouraged by the school. This student demonstrates to her class the distracting habits which they should never contract!

--Life-1951-Model-Secretary-look--lipstick--Magazine

Applying lipstick at work is another “don’t” except in the powder room. Wearing lipstick is encouraged, but wearing plaid skirts for some reason is not !

1951-Model-Secretary-look--Hair---Life-Magazine

Brushing hair, which in this girls case is too long for office work anyway, is as out of the place at the office desk as the revealing sweater she wears.

Secretarial Tricks.

1951-Model-Secretary-look--Peter-Stackpole---Life-Magazine51951-Model-Secretary-look--Peter-Stackpole---Life-Magazine6

Proper color for clothing is discussed by teacher, who warns against wearing bright red or fuchsia in the office. Use of the switchboard is taught to a student who acts for a week as secretary to her local school.

1951-Model-Secretary-look--Callisthenics

Callisthenics Class watches student demonstrate a hip exercise on the roof of the MacMahon school. Mrs MacMahon insists that exercise “is every bit as important to secretaries as shorthand” and sets example by walking two miles a day herself.

Images©Time Inc
Originally published in Life Magazine 1951

Text Transcription ©Glamourdaze.com

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