Long before cities had garbage trucks and recycling centers, there were the rag-and-bone collectors—wandering figures with pushcarts, sacks, and sharp eyes trained on the gutters and alleys of the industrial world. These scavengers were among the earliest forms of organized waste management, turning trash into treasure in a time when nearly everything had some kind of second life.
Though rarely respected in their time, these individuals were vital to the ecosystem of 18th- and 19th-century cities. Their work supplied raw materials to soap makers, glue manufacturers, paper mills, and even farmers. They lived on the fringes of society, but their role supported entire industries. In many families, rag-picking or bone collecting wasn’t just a temporary job—it was a generational trade.
What Did a Rag-and-Bone Collector Do?
A rag-and-bone collector (or ragpicker, as they were sometimes called) roamed city streets—often with a handcart, sack, or even a wheelbarrow—collecting discarded items of value. This included:
- Rags, which were sold to paper mills or cloth dealers
- Bones, which were boiled down for glue, fertilizer, and even knife handles
- Metal scraps, especially copper and iron, which fetched decent prices
- Ash, used in soap making or to enrich soil
- Glass and bottles, which could be reused
- Animal fat and grease, scraped from discarded butcher scraps and sold to tallow chandlers
They didn’t just pick through trash—many negotiated door to door, offering pennies or small items in exchange for junk others were happy to part with.
Children often helped, either alongside parents or on their own. For poor families, rag-picking was often a child’s first introduction to work. In fact, during the Victorian period in Britain, entire neighborhoods were known for producing generations of rag-and-bone men, with children following in their father’s footsteps, learning which alleys yielded the best finds and which factory doors might accept a bundle of bones.
From the Gutter to the Workshop
What happened to the things they collected? Here’s a look at how the pieces came together:
- Rags were sorted by quality. Fine linen rags went to paper mills, where they were pulped to make high-quality paper. Cotton or woolen rags might be reprocessed into felt or stuffing.
- Bones were sold to renderers. Boiled down, they produced glue, fertilizer, and were sometimes refined into buttons and combs.
- Grease and fat were used by soap makers and candle makers.
- Ash from coal stoves was spread on icy roads or sold as an additive in agricultural lime.
In many ways, the rag-and-bone trade was an early version of recycling. Little went to waste. These collectors formed an informal supply chain for emerging industries that relied on cheap raw material.
Where Did You Find Them?
The trade flourished in large cities like London, Paris, and New York—anywhere with dense populations and lots of waste. In Britain, they were a familiar sight throughout the 1800s, often calling out their presence with shouts like “Rags and bones!” or using horns and bells. In the United States, similar roles were played by “junk men” and “scavengers,” who sometimes ran secondhand shops filled with discarded goods they found and restored.
They tended to live in poor neighborhoods, and often operated without licenses, making them targets of police scrutiny. But by the mid-19th century, some cities began issuing permits, especially as municipal governments realized how valuable these workers were in managing urban filth.
Famous Mentions and Cultural Impact
Rag-and-bone collectors may not have left memoirs, but their presence made its way into literature and popular culture. Charles Dickens often referenced them in his novels, portraying the harsh conditions of the urban poor. In Our Mutual Friend, the character of Mr. Boffin inherits a fortune made from collecting dust heaps—mounds of refuse sorted for anything of value.
The 20th-century British TV show Steptoe and Son followed the life of a father-and-son team of rag-and-bone men. It became a cultural touchstone, reminding viewers of a way of life that was quickly disappearing.
While there are fewer known individuals who rose to fame from the rag trade, many working-class families in industrial cities had ties to this world. Some entrepreneurs began as junk collectors before opening hardware stores, secondhand shops, or recycling businesses. In this way, the rag-and-bone trade sometimes served as a stepping stone out of poverty.
How to Find Rag-and-Bone Collectors in the Records
They didn’t always advertise their trade, but there are ways to spot them in your family tree:
- Census records: Look for job titles like “ragpicker,” “scavenger,” “junk man,” “secondhand dealer,” or “bone collector.”
- City directories: These often list individuals by occupation, especially in larger towns.
- Newspaper ads and court reports: Rag collectors sometimes appeared in court for trespassing, disputes, or unlicensed trading. Newspapers occasionally ran ads offering to buy bones or rags—sometimes signed with a name.
- Death certificates and obituaries: These sometimes listed the deceased’s occupation, particularly in urban areas.
- Workhouse and poorhouse records: Rag-and-bone collecting was often a last resort. Those who entered poor relief systems may have previously made a living this way.
The Rise and Fall of the Trade
As city sanitation departments expanded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, rag-and-bone collectors began to fade. Organized trash collection and landfills reduced the availability of salvageable materials. Factory production made rags and bones less critical as raw materials. And changing social views placed increasing stigma on those who continued the work.
By the mid-1900s, the trade had all but disappeared in the United States. In Britain, some rag-and-bone men worked into the 1960s and 70s, but by then, most were selling scrap metal rather than household waste. Still, echoes of their work live on in modern recycling programs, scrap yards, and antique shops.
Why They Matter in Family History
If you discover a rag-and-bone collector in your ancestry, you’ve found someone who survived on ingenuity and resourcefulness. These workers navigated a world of scarcity, making something from almost nothing. Their role may have been humble, but it was important.
They remind us that value isn’t always obvious. That resilience often lives in the shadows. And that the story of what people throw away is just as revealing as the story of what they keep.
