There is a fascination with the Hobo.  Who was he and why did he even exist.  At some periods the Hobo numbered in the millions.  Some of the history of the Hobo is pure fiction  other parts are exaggerated  and some of the hobo research and writings are professional and well thought out.  There are also a wealth of hobo reminiscences and auto biographies.

Many sites are devoted to the Hobo and as I have organized this hobo section of vanished I have thought - how will it be different?

How do we create a site that is different from those who:

• have a fasination with hobo"s and have done an excellant job in describing  the various aspects of Hobo life
• or those who have taken a scholarly approuch and added much hard research that has resulted in solid professional history to explain hobo's and their way of life?

I think the answer lies in the over all purpose of this website which is to provide research, data, and Genealogical training to individuals interested in Family History.  The Hobo's after all had families and when they disappeared into the vastness of America and disappeared from most databases because they were drifters often looking for workthey ceased to exist and those Hobo ancestors are often the brick wall that Genealogists run into when looking for family.

What background do I bring to this subject?

• My Father was a Hobo before he left the road to raise a family and blend into mainstream America.
• I have been fascinated with Hobo's for 50 years

• I have an M.A in Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate program University of New York which gives me some professional expertise in researching  the subject of Hobo's
• Over the years I have served as Executive Director of a number of State and regional historical Societies.

If you are interested in Hobo's or have ancestors that you know or think might have been Hobo's I hope you will join our community as a member and help to build a database of these individuals wh are lost to history.