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The Life and Hard Times of the Hobo
General article on the history of hoboing.
Goodbye Old Pal - article on Hood River Blackie
Article written about Hood River Blackie's passing, or "catching the westbound".
Tags: culture, history, Hood River Blackie
Photo of early arrivals at the 1986 Hobo Convention
Photo from newspaper article published by the Britt Tribune featuring hoboes at the 1986 convention in Britt, Iowa. Front Row – Arkansas Traveler, Frisco Jack. Back Row- Cardboard, Red XXXX, Steamtrain Maury. Please note: order of names listed under…
Tags: culture, history, National Hobo Convention
Hobo signatures
List of signatures from well-known hoboes in the community. List most likely came from the 1984 Hobo Convention in Britt, Iowa. Names listed from left to right: Hafey “the Bo”, Steam Train Maury, Rambling Rudy, Larry Mierhoff- Gas Can Paddy, Texas…
Tags: culture, history, National Hobo Convention
Hobo Manifesto from Annual Convention of Congress of the Hoboes of America
List of policies and aims of hobo culture and life from the 1894 Convention of Congress of the Hoboes of America in Chicago, IL.
Tags: culture, history, National Hobo Convention
Trinket basket
Small basket made of woven sweet grass, Great Depression-era tramp art, color description: yellow, gold, greeen
Pocketknife
Whittlers three-blade pocketknife, a classic American style of everyday carry knife, myriad uses for this handy pocketknife, whether for whittling sticks, woodcarving, opening packages at the office, or slicing small food items like vegetables and…
Mountain Dews' pocketknife
Used by Mountain Dew, this Whittlers three-blade pocketknife, a classic American style of everyday carry knife, myriad uses for this handy pocketknife, whether for whittling sticks, woodcarving, opening packages at the office, or slicing small food…
Tags: culture, history, Mountain Dew
Wooden cigar box
Geometric shapes, woodworking, tramp art-style. Widespread use of wooden cigar boxes in the 1850s sparked involvement in tramp art.
Small wooden tools
Rivaling a Swiss army knife and carved from a single piece of wood. Hoboes' ability to carve is most evidenced by their monikers, or nicknames, carved like tradesmarks on railroad sheds. Most pieces lack identification. A token or tinket a hobo might…
Featured Item
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…