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Long before scrapbooking became a hobby stocked with patterned borders, colorful stamps and cartoon-style speech bubbles, memory books were simpler—and often stuffed so full they barely closed.

A childhood scrapbook might hold hay from a first kiss on a hayride, programs from high school plays and ticket stubs from memorable movies. There were 4-H ribbons earned for baking yeast rolls and sewing a dress, along with a Girl Scout sash and dried flowers saved from dance corsages.

Creating such a collection required little more than an album and whatever souvenirs came home from important events. “Memory book” might have been a more fitting name because the contents never felt like scraps.

Autograph books offered another way to preserve personal history. One especially unusual version was a dachshund-shaped “autograph dog” received as a Christmas gift. It came with a pen so friends could sign its long fabric body. Unfortunately, both the dog and its signatures were ruined after getting caught in the rain.

A far older autograph album belonging to a maternal grandmother survived. Covered in red velvet, it features a floral border and the word “Album” pressed into the fabric.

Its pages preserve an inscription dated Oct. 9, 1888, written by Joseph W. Robbins, who would become the grandmother’s first husband.

Two more entries came from Arlington, Indiana, on Dec. 9, 1888. John P. Downey advised against pursuing worldly fame and urged preparation for eternal rest. Mary R. Downey offered a warmer message, promising to remember her friend even while they were apart.

The final inscription, dated July 28, 1892, was addressed to the newly married Mr. and Mrs. Robbins. Kittie Riegger wished that their lives would resemble snowflakes—leaving a mark without leaving a stain.

Scrapbooks, autograph albums and even signature-covered toy dogs may seem decidedly old-fashioned, but each gave ordinary keepsakes a lasting place in a family’s story.