Alcohol, Temperance & Prohibition

The digitized items in the Alcohol, Temperance and Prohibition Collection are from the Alcoholism and Addiction Studies Collection, as well as from various collections in the Brown University Library — broadsides, sheet music, pamphlets and government publications. The items have been collected at Brown for over three centuries for researchers and scholars at Brown and worldwide interested in American history, including the history of alcoholism, how the media was used for spreading ideas and information, and in how the arts presented various movements. The purpose of this digital collection is to give researchers and interested individuals a glimpse into the rich and diverse resources at Brown's library. All of the digital items are in the public domain. The digitized pamphlets were published by various groups leading up to prohibition, during the prohibition era, and ending with the 21st amendment in 1933, which repealed the 18th amendment from 1919 prohibiting the manufacturing, sale or transportation of intoxicating liquors.
This collection is part of Brown University Library, hosted by Brown University.

Items in this collection

The potato rot ; or, A curse on distilling potatoes, rye, and other eatables

The potato rot ; or, A curse on distilling potatoes, rye, and other eatables

Brown University

By Withington Poetry. Printed in two columns divided by curvilinear line. At head of title wood-engraving of armed man and flying woman with American eagle, British lion and French cock. To be sung to the tune: Yankee Doodle. Suggested place of publication from Withington's home; suggested range of publication dates from internal evidence.

The pope and sultan

The pope and sultan

Brown University

Dedicated to "a church without a bishop," and "a state without a king"

The petition of a drunkard's horse

The petition of a drunkard's horse

Brown University

Poetry in twenty-five stanzas. Printed area measures 22.2 x 11.4 cm. Printed in two columns divided by single line. Type and other internal evidence suggests a Boston imprint with Leonard Deming as possible publisher. Dated because broadside was part of a lot of Deming broadsides printed between 1829 and 1831. This edition not in Checklist Amer. imprints or Ford. First line: Humbly sheweth poor old Jack.

The outlook. Vol. 1, no. 2. Providence, March 27, 1886

The outlook. Vol. 1, no. 2. Providence, March 27, 1886

Brown University

Includes poem by F. Denison, discussion of proposed R.I. constitutional amendment for Prohibition, and quoted views of President Wayland of Brown University Includes poem by F. Denison, discussion of proposed R.I. constitutional amendment for Prohibition, and quoted views of President Wayland of Brown University Printed in three columns.

The next president and Prohibition

The next president and Prohibition

Brown University

Campaign literature in favor of H. Hoover, the Republican candidate and choice of prohibitionists for president; against A.E. Smith, the democratic candidate, perceived to be anti-prohibition. Campaign literature in favor of H. Hoover, the Republican candidate and choice of prohibitionists for president; against A.E. Smith, the democratic candidate, perceived to be anti-prohibition. Caption title. Printed in black on off-white paper. Dated from internal evidence. At end of text on page [4]: (Paid for and circulated by Campaign Committee of the Anti Saloon League of America, F. Scott McBride, Chairman, 30 Bliss Building, Washington, D.C.). Printed by the American Issue Publishing Company, Westerville, Ohio.

The Nebraska Prohibitory Amendment campaign songs

The Nebraska Prohibitory Amendment campaign songs

Brown University

Broadsheet printed in two columns divided by single lines. At head of text: Issued by the Prohibition State Committee, 128 Burr Block, Lincoln, Neb. Contains text of ten songs, several to be sung to the tunes of Civil War songs; the first song is entitled: Vote, vote, vote, the boys are marching. Suggested publication date from internal evidence.

The murderer's confession

The murderer's confession

Brown University

by Miss Hannah M. Bryant. Within ornamental border, printed in three columns divided by double lines. Aged wife-murderer returns home and is forgiven by daughter. Date from internal evidence.