Browse Items (443 total)

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".

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…

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…

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.

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…

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…