I love collecting things. My mom always called me a pack rat when I was a kid because of all my collections, and how I couldn’t get rid of anything. I’ve gotten better about getting rid of stuff that I don’t need, but I still have lots of collections. One of my favorites these days is my collection of antique books, scrapbooks, and journals.
This book is a favorite because of its age, contents, and condition. It is a “Vagrant Record” from the Municipal Court of the City of Minneapolis. The earliest entry in the book is May 12th 1899. I think it is beautiful for how old it is. It is leather bound with some gilt and branded details, it has marbled edges and endpapers, the binding is tight, the paper has very minimal yellowing, and it is completely filled with beautiful handwriting. The size is approximately 16 x 11.5 inches (40.6 x 29.2 cm). Big, heavy book!
My mom presented me with this great book last Christmas, and she had found it at one of our favorite thrift stores for $75. As with most all of my secondhand purchases, I am so curious about the history of this book. After the pages were all filled up, how long did it stay at the court? Who had it after that, or where was it kept? How did it end up at the thrift store? Because the binding is so tight and the pages are so clean and nice, I’m sure it had to be in some sort of storage. It was kept away from sunlight and moisture. I hope I’ll be able to keep it as nice for many more years.
Each entry is filled in with the name/s of defendant/s in question, the name of the judge that saw the case, the defendant’s plea, details of the court proceedings, names of representation for both sides, results (guilty/not guilty), fine/bail to be paid, and days to be served in the state workhouse if fine is not paid. There are men and ladies, and groups of teenagers accused of vagrancy. 
Vagrancy, in this book, is defined in print in each entry:
“…the defendant then and there being, did willfully, unlawfully and wrongfully without any visible means of support, then and there live idly without lawful employment, and did then and there wander about the streets of said City; and not then and there having any known place of residence or abode, and was then and there found traveling about said City begging for the purpose of gain; and was then and there loitering about saloons, gambling resorts and houses of ill fame without giving a good account of his/her conduct, contrary to the provisions of an ordinance passed by the City Council of the City of Minneapolis, and against the peace and dignity of the State of Minnesota…”
Oh, to be alive in those times! Gambling resorts and houses of ill fame in the City of Minneapolis! Imagine…
Today on the way out of work, I got into a discussion about how penguins have red laserbeam eyes (Don’t ask! haha) So for a project today, I made this little pattern for a penguin:
Like the title would lead you to believe, this book is great for beginners. The pieces are simple, and the construction process is shown step-by-step with illustrations and photos. The finished works are very cute too.
