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groups leading up to prohibition, during the prohibition era, and ending with the 21st amendment in 1933, which repealed the 18th amendment from 1919 prohibiting the manufacturing, sale or transportation of intoxicating liquors.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

125th anniversary proclamation

Cites the organization's work for women's rights and human rights as well as temperance and invites citizens to honor its past and future service Cites the organization's work for women's rights and human rights as well as temperance and invites citizens to honor its past and future service Printed in sepia on heavy tan paper within double-line border with ornamental upper corners. At head of text: Woman's Christian Temperance Union, 125 years of exemplary service.

[The chief aim of our temperance workers...]

"The chief aim of our temperance workers in this day is to cause an arrest of thought, in the minds of the intelligent and well disposed, concerning the reasonableness of total abstinence."

"What! rob a poor man of his Beer!"

by John Barleycorn, Jr. Poetry and prose. Within border of type ornaments. First line same as title. Includes poem in five four-line stanzas and paragraph about male employees'spending two-thirds of wages to saloons. Suggested range of publication dates from internal evidence.

"One glass more."

"One glass more."

Brown University

Poetry printed within double border of type ornaments. Printed area measures: 15.4 x 9.2 cm. At end of text within border: No. 50. American Tract Society. The American Tract Society, headquartered in New York, began printing in 1826. Appearance and type face of this piece suggest publication not later than 1848. First line: Stay, mortal, stay! nor heedless thus.

"It does move, though."

"It does move, though."

Brown University

Pages [1] and [4] blank. Within ornamental border with crossed corners on pages [2]-[3 Type-signed at end of poem: A Brother. In lower margin on page [3]: To be read by the author (L.A.M.) before the Ottaugechee Division of the Sons of Temperance at Woodstock, Vt., Dec. 13, 1873.

"I've got it!" or, The rumseller jubilant

Advertisement for two of Ludlow's temperance songs, "I've got it!" and "What Gracie and God did for me," with first verses of each and reviews. Advertisement for two of Ludlow's temperance songs, "I've got it!" and "What Gracie and God did for me," with first verses of each and reviews. Cut of dancing man holding paper marked "License to sell liquor" below title; at lower left corner cut of little girl holding arm of man about to leave room. Possible range of dates suggested by internal evidence and by publication dates for other songs by Ludlow. Lorin Ludlow is the pseudonym for James Louis Daymude (cf. Verso of title page of Brown University's "Original rum convention" (76-01 L9342 Harris)

"I'll try."

"I'll try."

Brown University

By Rev. Peter Stryker, D.D. At head of title cut of man embracing little girl. Caption title. In upper right corner on page [1]: No. 4.