The History of Scrapbooking
Many people who have just discovered scrapbooking think it is a relatively new hobby, but the history of scrapbooking actually goes a long way back.
Scrapbooking is a type of art and craft which can combine pictures, journaling and other elements to create appealing layouts. This way memories and family history can be preserved.
In the early years of scrapbooking, it was not just a hobby. The main reason people started memory books was to speak to the future and educate future generations about life and all aspects involved.
By being able to look at pictures and decorations and read stories and articles from the old days, you get a feeling for what life was like back then. The history of scrapbooking is part of human history!
The principle of scrapbooking has existed for a long time. Already centuries ago the first types of scrapbook albums were made. People kept diaries, journals and friendship albums.
Memorabilia such as newspapers and letters but also pieces of hair, feathers and pressed flowers were often used as what we now call embellishments to accompany names, stories and later also pictures.
When in the first half of the 19th century photography was invented, scrapbook albums got a whole new dimension and a new piece of scrapbooking history was written… or actually pictured! Now people could actually use pictures to preserve their memories and they were not limited anymore to just print media and artwork.
Modern day scrapbooking only started to develop around the 1980s. And it all started with a lady called Marielen Christensen. She designed and decorated pages dedicated to her family history. By 1980 she made over 50 scrapbooking albums and showed them at the World Conference of Records in Utah.
The public was so enthusiastic about the memory books that Marielen Christensen and her husband published a book on how to scrapbook and opened a scrapbook store called Keeping Memories Alive, which still remains open today!
Since then thousands of stores have opened their doors to sell scrapbook supplies and ‘scrapping’ has become a real industry. The common use of internet has had a major influence and many people have switched from paper to digital scrapbooking. Scrappers from all over the world can get in touch and share their ideas and layouts online and buying supplies has never been this easy.
While history books mostly pay attention to important people and events, the real history is written in people’s everyday lives. And because scrapbooking is about keeping memories alive and preserving precious moments you have with your family and the people you love, it will most definitely be something people will enjoy for many years to come!
By sharing your own scrapbook layouts you can be an inspiration to other scrappers and together we can contribute to the history of scrapbooking!
