Before Zoom and Slack: 17 Vintage Photos That Show What Office Life Used To Look Like

Written by Rachel Schneider on May 27, 2025 updated June 3, 2025

Four people work in a vintage computer room with large IBM mainframes, tape drives, and a typewriter. Two people operate machines while two others stand nearby reviewing paperwork. The scene has a retro, 1970s look.

In 2025, a day at the office looks like running to Chipotle on your lunch break to take bites back in front of dual monitors in between meetings. Or maybe you’re working from home, heating up leftovers in between Zoom calls. Either way, office life today is a far cry from what it looked like in decades past. From the earliest office days in the 1900s to bulky computers in the 1980s, these photos show just how much office life has changed over the years.

1. Workers Posing by the Office Christmas Tree in the 1950s

Four women pose by a silver Christmas tree decorated with red and blue ornaments. Wrapped gifts are piled underneath. Two women stand, two kneel, all in vintage clothing, in an office with metal filing cabinets and large windows. — FNaXQ

2. Receptionist Answering Phones in 1982

Black-and-white photo of a smiling woman with dark hair, wearing a light blouse, sitting at a desk while talking on a corded telephone. One hand holds the receiver; the other rests near a notepad. — baroquesun

3. Working at a Law Office in the 1940s

A man in a suit sits at a large wooden desk in an office lined with bookshelves filled with books. Papers and books are spread across the desk, and a glass water dispenser is visible in the corner. — spidey3diamond

4. Working at NASA in 1986

A man in a suit sits at a desk in an office, looking thoughtful with his hand on his chin. Behind him is a 1986 wall calendar, shelves with binders, and framed photos on the wall. Documents and office items are on the desk. — sonokoroxs

5. Makeup Touch-Ups Without Leaving the Desk in the 1960s

Two women in an office, one sitting at a desk with a typewriter and looking into a compact mirror, the other leaning on a pile of papers, both appearing relaxed and engaged in casual conversation. — soylent_dream

6. Taking Notes at Work in 1971

A woman in a patterned dress sits on a chair beside a desk with papers and a typewriter, holding a cup and saucer. Behind her, posters and notices are pinned to the wall. The photo is black and white. — Rarecoin101

7. 1980s Technology in the Office

Two women in an office with large windows; one stands holding a notepad, the other sits at a desk using a vintage computer system with a printer and large disk drive, reflecting 1980s office technology and fashion. — A_Born_Legend

8. Workplace Whisky Dispenser in the 1950s

A woman fills a paper cup from a vintage vending machine labeled "Ice Cold Whisky" with options for water and soda, in a black-and-white photo. — Justsoinsane

9. The Typewriter Took Up the Whole Desk in the ’50s

A man in a suit sits at a desk typing on a vintage typewriter. A sign on the wall behind him reads "SHOTON + VESKER." The setting appears to be an office or workspace. — Reasonable-Pear2358

10. Architect in the Office, 1988

A man in an office sits at a desk using a computer, with an architectural program visible on the monitor. A large printer prints blueprints. There’s a plant and framed artwork on the wall behind him. — JohnApples1988

11. Hard at Work With a Computer and Two Calculators, 1985

A man with dark hair and a mustache sits at a desk with papers, a calculator, and office supplies, holding a pen to his mouth. Behind him are a typewriter and an old television. — UnusualAmbassador

12. Human Computers Working at NASA in 1955

Black and white photo of women working at desks with vintage adding machines and paperwork in a large office with many windows; a few people stand or talk in the background. — notbob1959

13. Working in the Office During the 1920s

A man in a vest and tie sits cross-legged on an office chair, holding a sheet of paper. He looks at the camera, with a desk, papers, and a door visible in the background. — thestolenroses

14. No Central Air at Work in 1951

A woman in a dress sits at a desk, resting her head on one hand, with her feet soaking in a basin of water under the desk. A fan is on the desk, and another fan is on the floor nearby. — notbob1959

15. Taking Calls at Work, 1975

A woman in a suit sits at a desk, holding a telephone receiver to her ear and writing in a notebook. The desk is cluttered with papers, a typewriter, and office supplies. She looks away thoughtfully. — thestolenroses

16. New York City Secretary, 1956

A woman in a polka-dot dress types on a typewriter at a cluttered desk with books, papers, a rotary phone, and a small purse. A sign reads “PATIENCE and FORTITUDE” on the wall above her workspace. — notbob1959

17. A Day at the Office in Detroit, 1902

A man and woman sit at desks in an early 20th-century sunlit office, working with papers and ledgers. Large windows reveal a city street outside, and wooden furniture fills the room. — RadioMars

Interested in more vintage work life content?

Be sure to read 10 Photos That Capture the American Workplace in the 1970s. You might also be interested in 12 Vintage Photos of the Roller Skating Craze and 14 Photos of Life Before Smartphones.