I'm playing through the original Fallout and I have a question about lock-picking. Do I have to have the Lock Pick item in order to pick a lock similar to the bobby-pin requirement in Fallout 3? If not, how do I pick a lock without one? Any help would be appreciated.

No. Lock picks (and Electronic Lock Picks) give a skill bonus when used on their corresponding door type (Put it in your active inventory slot and then use it like a gun on the door, or right click the door, select the backpack and then the lockpicks), but betware there is a (small) chance they'll break on a failure.

In fallout 2, there's also an improved version which increases the bonus.

To lockpick without, select the Skill/Skilldex button, then Lockpick and then select the door (or just press 3, and then click the door).

Thank you! That was exactly what I needed to know.