Authentic Hobo Cultural Resources
Description
This collection is dedicated to preserving the hobo's most authentic cultural traits. Items collected from hobos of the Britt, Iowa community who have regularly attended the Hobo Convention held annually in Britt during the first week of August. Collected items include written works by hoboes, postcards, oral histories, tramp art, photographs, 3D cultural objects, and many other materials contributed by the hoboes themselves.
Collection Items
Mountain Dew and Frisco Jack's tin craft cups
Handmade copper wire hobo cups made from a soup can and a mountain dew can. Frisco Jack is printed on the front of one can. The tin cans most likely originated with hoboes Mountain Dew and Frisco Jack, made with scraps found around a hobo jungle.
1987 Britt hobo convention attendance
Reprinted copy of 1987 convention attendance. Names listed in order: Steam Train Maury, The Man Called John, Cardboard McClary, Virginia Slim, Empress Hobo Lump, Fisk/Fry Pan Jack, Red XXXX “87”, Snapshot 8/64, Cinderbox Cindy, Austin John, Charlie…
Iowa Blackie postcard
Image of Iowa Blackie frieght hopping across Iowa.