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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…
Frying' Pan Jack picture frame
Photo shows Fryin' Pan Jack in 1973 at Albert Lee (Alfred Lee), MN railroad yard. The chip art frame was made by a hobo. Tramp art is a style of woodworking which emerged in America the latter half of the nineteenth century. Some of tramp art's…
Tags: culture, Frying' Pan Jack, history, tramp art
Cigarette box
Color description: orange, geometric shapes and patterns
Matchstick house
Delicate tramp art made from used matches and glue. Artist created a representation of a slave house build on wealthy plantation.
Hobo bottlecap figure
Tramp art, small figure of hobo with arms made from bottlecaps. Small box of mismatch items is a part of the hobo figure.
Boxcar Betty with Scoop Shovel Scotty Photo
Picture of Boxcar Betty in Britt, Iowa.
Inquiry 1973 for hobo king
List of 103 questions given to candidates for hobo king. Used to determine authenticity of hoboing.
Tags: culture, history, National Hobo Convention
Hobo Foundation letter
Letter sent from Concord, Vermont. Text lists Steamtrain Maury as President, Hood River Blackie as Vice President and Feather River John as Secretary-Treasurer. Correspondence of Hood River Blackie's death.
Tags: culture, history, Hobo Foundation
"How It All Began" pamphlet
Brief history of the Britt Hobo Convetion and Tourists Union 63, beginning in 1900.
King of hoboes buried near tracks
Printed newspaper article announcing the death of Mountain Dew. Page frayed, very delicate.
Tags: culture, history, Mountain Dew
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…