Many 19th century mothers kept a homemade
scrapbook, the paste-pot, blunt-pointed
scissors, and pictures on hand as a rainy day
occupation for her children. Scrap-pictures or
sheets of pictures, colorful and attractive, in
every variety of shape, size, and design, were
bought and kept on hand for these special days.
In 1881, Harper’s Bazaar deemed a
scrapbook activity as a "never-ending source of
delight" for young children. For the nursery
age brood they gave instructions for making a
large scrapbook of brown linen. Each sheet was
three feet by four, with the edges bound with
red braid. The sheets were folded in half like
foolscap paper, and placed one within the other
to form a book. The covers would have all the
youngsters’ names in red braid or wool, and the
date. A basketful of newspaper and colored
scraps to add to the scrapbook would engage the
nursery occupants for hours.
Another idea for children suggested by Harper’s was
making a “comical scrap-book.” These were usually of small
size and were made by combining bits of many pictures to
illustrate well-known nursery rhymes. Thus a large Irish
potato, cut from the colored illustrations in a gardener's
catalog, was ornamented with the celebrated butcher, baker,
and candlestick-maker; the opposite page containing the same
three little men, with cleaver, rolling-pin, and candlestick
used as oars, seated in a tub, taken from a
house-furnisher's list. Little Miss Muffet, the
Man in the Moon, Jack and Jill, the Cat and the
Fiddle—all the
nursery favorites—were other themes to create. A few
watercolor touches would be added here and there to help out
the picture.
Below you can explore the pages
of a rare 1880’s child’s scrapbook. The cover of this large
handmade scrapbook is covered with brown linen. The multi-colored
inside pages are covered in pink, white, red, blue or tan
fabric with the edges hand bound in colorful wools. The pages
are decorated with a lively assortment of multi-hued scraps,
trade cards, and greeting cards – including series and sets.
USE RIGHT SIDE
SCROLL TOOL TO VIEW EACH PAGE OF THE SCRAPBOOK.
