Bound in Time: Exploring Women’s Journeys through Scrapbooks and Photo Albums

This exhibit showcases the journeys of various women who traveled through or lived in California between 1901 and 1956. The exhibit recreates pieces of their journeys through the pages included in their scrapbooks and photo albums. The photographs and descriptions detail journeys full of friendship, family and independent achievements. They also reveal more about the woman behind the album.

What defines a journey?

JOURNEY

noun [C] (TRIP):

the act of traveling from one place to another, especially in a vehicle

noun [C] (EXPERIENCES)

a set of experiences that someone has over a period of time, especially when they change the person in some way

— Cambridge Dictionary

The journeys women experienced before the 20th century were often limited by their mobility. The mobility of women, which can be defined in both physical and metaphorical senses (such as social status and employment opportunities), was limited as they were primarily confined to the activities they could undertake with their families. However, as more societal changes occurred at the turn of the 20th century, women’s journeys began to change.

scrapbook
n. A blank book, often with a simple string binding, used to store a variety of memorabilia, such as clippings, pictures, and photographs.

album

n. A volume of blank pages, bound or loose leaf, used to collect photographs, documents, clippings and the like.

Between 1880 and 1920, significant changes were particularly notable for single American women, who now had new options available for education, careers and freedom from family responsibilities. Some women turned to creating photograph albums and scrapbooks, a socially accepted activity due to its association with expressing family unity. However, these scrapbooks reveal much more than just family history and unity. They document a women’s journey, with each decision made on a page revealing scraps of individuality and personality using photographs, glue and pens.

References:

Motz, M. F. (1989). Visual autobiography: Photograph albums of turn-of-the-century midwestern women. American Quarterly, 41(1), 63-64.

Visit the exhibit at Shields Library

From September 24, 2025 – March 20, 2026 come view the physical exhibit at Shields.

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