If you're someone that's asked the question, Where did scrapbooking originate, the bad news is that there is no real definitive answer.  Putting keepsakes and mementos in albums or other safe places is something that has been practiced probably since the beginning of time.  Imagine Caveman Grog hiding away the dinosaur tooth from his first successful hunt and scratching out a symbol he thought represented him, so that his sons could remember what a great caveman father he was – and you have the world's first scrapbook.  Okay, it probably didn't happen quite that way, but when talking about the question of where did scrapbooking originate, you might want to fast forward several million years.

More of a Male Hobby

Believe it or not, when considering the question of where did scrapbooking originate, you need to pay homage to men like Thomas Jefferson and Mark Twain, both of whom were known to keep their favorite mementos in decorated books.  Wanting to remember souvenir and reminders was actually more of a male hobby for many years.  Mark Twain actually received a patent for a self-pasting scrapbook in 1873.

Where Did Scrapbooking Originate as It's Known Today?

The history of modern scrapbooks as they’re typically referred to now began in 1976 in Utah, when a woman named Marielen Christensen began designing creative pages for her family’s photo memories.  She kept these pages in 3-ring binders, and after assembling over 50 volumes of these memories, was invited to display her albums at the World Conference on Records in Salt Lake City.

The interest that Marielen generated led to her actually traveling to demonstrate her techniques and materials, and eventually to her opening the world’s first scrapbooking supply store in Spanish Fork, Utah, in 1981.

Where Did Scrapbooking Originate Online?

Of course it's impossible to say who opened the first online scrapbooking supply store, as many scrapbook supplies were probably used from simple craft supplies at first.  However, these online supply stores generate tremendous success, as they are easier to operate and manage and have such low overhead.

So chances are you didn't realize all those interesting facts when you began thinking about the question of where did scrapbooking originate, but there you have it.  From a caveman's dinosaur tooth to important historical figures to modern-day websites, scrapbooking is a hobby that grown to worldwide success and is obviously here to stay.