Scrapbooks

Albums and scrapbooks are as varied as the tastes and interests of the children and adults who create them. Originating in manuscript commonplace books, keepsakes and albums, the scrapbook grew into theme collections of news cuttings, greeting cards, religious and sentimental pictures, sticker albums and pressed flower albums, and family records to which all members contributed prose, poems and art.

Examples of scrapbooks in the Osborne Collection range from Susanna Moodie’s family album of watercolours and cutouts to entire books of Victorian valentines and Christmas cards. One family album, that of the important literary family the Taylors of Ongar, contains sketches of family members made when it became obvious that a serious illness had struck, and each last loving portrait is followed by an account of his or her funeral. Each house the family occupied is also carefully drawn and dated. This album, spanning the years 1824-1939, was a valuable source of information to the Ongar Historical Society during the compilation of the town of Ongar’s history for a centennial project.

The scrapbook reproduced on this page is a combination of stickers and cards. Scrapbooks were popular as keepsake material when cards were more carefully produced and when photography was both difficult and expensive. Try cutting and pasting to create your own Victorian memento or card for a gift.

Scrapbook of Mary McKinlay, signed and dated "Jan. 1899" on front page. 32 x 25 cm. Green paper cover, half-bound in imitation russet leather, "Album…made in Germany" in decorative lettering gilt-stamped on front cover.

Gift of Ethel McLaren.