For years now, scrapbooking has had many
enthusiasts, from Mark Twain to President Thomas Jefferson.
This hobby involves creatively putting
together printed memorabilia – from photos, articles from
newspapers, stamps, calling cards, receipts, movie tickets,
postcards, dried flowers, even candy wrappers – as long as the item
represents a memorable occasion in a person’s life.
Scrapbooking enthusiasts all over the world have grown significantly
over the years. These people are referred to as scrapbookers, and
they often hold gatherings to share ideas about cropping photos and
improving their craft.
The popularity of scrapbooking was further enhanced by companies
which offer a line of scrapbooking products.
The idea in scrapbooking is to use decorated, colorful and
personalized scrapbooks to showcase the photos and other
memorabilia. Thus, companies came up with many different products
specifically used for scrapbooking purposes.
Many of accessories have been sold, such as stickers, colored and
patterned paper, lettering stick-ons and templates, and a host of
other things to personalize scrapbooking.
History of Scrapbooking
Here is a brief run-through of the history of scrapbooking:
1598 –
The earliest form of scrapbooking started out from as early as the
time of Aristotle, where men kept records of religious and political
discussions. During these times, public notices were also recorded
on paper or “white tablets”.
1769 –
William Granger published England’s history. This included drawings
aside from the text itself, as well as blank pages where readers
could add their own comments or illustrations.
1800’s –
President Thomas Jefferson saved newspaper clippings during his term
in the White House and compiled them into albums. People also saved
articles from newspapers, drawings and other memorabilia and
compiled them into book-like materials.
During this period, albums were also more intricately designed, with
locks and covers which have an embossed design or lettering.
Personal journals and friendship albums were also made.
1826 –
John Poole published “Manuscript Gleanings and Literary Scrapbook”.
This publication featured how-to instructions for displaying
personal items such as poems, diary entries, and other “scrap”.
Scrapbook is a word which came from the pieces of colored paper
which were pasted into albums.
During the late 1800’s, Mark Twain became a scrapbooking enthusiast
by creating personal albums which he later sold for almost $50,000.
1839 –
The daguerreotype was invented and was introduced to the public by
Louis-Jacques Daguerre. This paved the way toward the invention of
photography – which would further enhance the art of scrapbooking.
1888 –
George Eastman marketed the first ever Kodak camera and rolled film
for photographs. This momentous event later on changed the way that
people “recorded” events on their lives, as there is no better way
to capture a moment than with the use of photographs.
