The Origin of Scrapbooking
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. | 
