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various groups leading up to prohibition, during the prohibition era, and ending with the 21st amendment in 1933, which repealed the 18th amendment from 1919 prohibiting the manufacturing, sale or transportation of intoxicating liquors.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 lost house

The lost house

Brown University

Printed on cotton cloth in three columns divided by lines of type ornaments within border of small illustrations. Illustrations include row of animals at side borders, row of buildings and objects (hat, plow, etc.) at top border, row of ships at bottom border; at head of first column boy pointing out house to another boy; at head of center column tavern scene with men fighting; at head of third column man entering tavern; in third column at head of third poem man seated beside table. At head of third poem, in brackets below illustration: [From The temperance minstrel At end of center column within border: By N. Boynton, Boston; at center below lower border: H. Bowen's Chemical Print. Suggested range of publication dates from internal evidence.

The loafer's lament

The loafer's lament

Brown University

by Wm. T. Bishop. Poem, in 10 stanzas. Tune: Air--"The Indian hunter" Printed area: 18.3 x 8.8 cm. Printed within border of large type ornaments. First line: Bless'd with plenty and peace, contented at home.

The little temperance preachers

The little temperance preachers

Brown University

By Mrs. E.J. Richmond. At head of title cut of two girls talking to man. Caption title. Poetry and prose. In upper right corner of page [1]: No. 57. Suggested range of publication dates from internal evidence.

The liquor-dealer's prayer

The liquor-dealer's prayer

Brown University

In verse. At head of title: No. 16. Printed area: 19:6 x 11.1 cm. At head of text, quotation beginning: "When ye spread forth your hands ..."; at end: Isaiah i.15, 16. Another quotation from Isaiah at end of text. Text within decorative and single line borders; decorative initial "A" First line: At evening he retired to pray.

The liquor traffic forced to "show its hand"

The liquor traffic forced to "show its hand"

Brown University

Printed in two columns divided by single line. At head of title wood-engraving of large hand grasping woman, baby and little girl. Below title two-line verse caption beginning: The lips of the mother are cold with grief, and her children shiver and shrink. Verse dialogue between a mother and a saloon-keeper, entitled: The mother's appeal. Suggested range of publication dates from internal evidence.

The liquor problem to date

The liquor problem to date

Brown University

by John Woolley. Cover title. An address delivered before the Woman's Temperance League of America, at Richmond, Virginia, January 29, 1913.

The lectures of Dr. Nott

The lectures of Dr. Nott

Brown University

Printed letter beginning: "Boston, April 12, 1847. To the Editors of the Christian Reflector. Rev. and Dear Sirs"

The last glass

The last glass

Brown University

Poetry. Poem tells how speaker has given up drink. At end of text: Since the above gay and festive youth swore off, he has braced up and purchased a hat, a pair of cuff buttons, a sett of shirt studs, and a biled shirt at Franklin's 99 Cent Store, 252 Essex St., the cheapest place in Salem. Date from appearance of item. First line: No, thank you, not any to night, boys, for me.