Brooklyn College opened amidst the Great Depression in 1932 as a tuition-free college, but despite the lack of tuition many students had a hard time without the extra paycheck. The student body was almost entirely white, mostly Jewish, and had more women than men. This trend continued into World War II when many male students or prospective students joined the army. However, throughout these hard times Brooklyn College retained its reputation as an establishment of high academic standards.

Click here to learn more about the historical context of the 1930 and the 1940s.

Click here to learn more about Brooklyn College at the time.