Harris Broadsides

Broadsides are single-sheet publications, often issued as ephemera or announcements. The Harris Broadsides Collection is a comprehensive collection of American poetry published in broadside format from colonial times to the present. The collection offers materials covering a broad spectrum of American life, and includes poetry of every description: 18th and 19th century ballads, verse describing newsworthy events, poetic effusions of sentimentality and patriotism, comic verse, and much more. When completed, this digital project will include over 20,000 titles.
This collection is part of Brown University Library, hosted by Brown University.

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Items in this collection

The lay of the lost traveler

Poetry. At head of text: The following lines are supposed to have been written for the "Burlington Clipper," by E.J.P. Poem in four thirteen-line stanzas about waiting for a train at Essex Junction. Suggested range of dates from internal evidence.

The lay of the lone fish ball

At end of text: This is a truthful narration of what happened to a Professor of Mathematicks in those simple ante-Bellum days..... "This first separate edition is dedicated to William Coolidge Lane ..."

The lay of the lone fish ball

At end of text: This is a truthful narration of what happened to a Professor of Mathematicks in those simple ante-Bellum days..... "This first separate edition is dedicated to William Coolidge Lane ..."

The lay of the lone fish ball

At end of text: This is a truthful narration of what happened to a Professor of Mathematicks in those simple ante-Bellum days..... "This first separate edition is dedicated to William Coolidge Lane ..."

The lay of the lone fish ball

At end of text: This is a truthful narration of what happened to a Professor of Mathematicks in those simple ante-Bellum days..... "This first separate edition is dedicated to William Coolidge Lane ..."

The lay of the last rebel

Poem in five stanzas lamenting defeat of Confederacy. To be sung to the tune: Joe Bowers. Date suggested by appearance of item and because it must have been written after the end of the Civil War.

The lawyer's promotion: To an excellent new tune.

Printed in three columns, divided by line of various type ornaments Wood-engraving of lawyer at left of title. Printed area measures: 30.1 x 18.6 cm. At end of text below single line: Sold at the Bible and Heart in Cornhill, Boston This edition not in Ford or Evans. The Bible and Heart (Boston) was the sign of Thomas (1732-1797) and John Fleet from 1780 to 1797 of John and Thomas (1768-1827) Fleet from 1797 to 1803 and of Thomas Fleet (1768-1827) from 1803 Hay Broadsds Harris copy: Edges trimmed; mutilation along edges. Pencilled notation in upper right corner: F3224?

The lawyer outwitted

The lawyer outwitted

Brown University

Poetry in 88 lines printed in two columns divided by line of type ornaments; below columns line of same type ornaments divides advertising and text of poem. Trumbull is listed as printer in the Providence Directory from 1824 to 1836.

The laws

The laws

Brown University

At end of text: Season's Greetings, 1958; John, Doris, Johnny, Evan and Margaret Holmes. Border of type ornaments at top and bottom. White paper printed in black and orange-red; printed as a holiday greeting.

The Lawrence tragedy! or, Fallen mill

Recounts collapse of mill followed by fire. Recounts collapse of mill followed by fire. By Ebenezer Mann. To be sung to the tune: The Lexington miller. Printed in two columns divided by single line within ornamental border. Text of song in 23 four-line stanzas.

The Lawrence tragedy! or, Fallen mill

Recounts collapse of mill followed by fire. Recounts collapse of mill followed by fire. By Ebenezer Mann. To be sung to the tune: The Lexington miller. Printed in two columns divided by single line within ornamental border. Text of song in 23 four-line stanzas.

The latter day attack on Roger Williams

Poem, in 15 stanzas. Title from caption. At end of text: Isaac P. Noyes. Dec. 24, 1906, Washington, D.C. Pages [3]-[4] blank. First line: Where the wish is the father of the thought.

The latter day attack on Roger Williams

Poem, in 15 stanzas. Title from caption. At end of text: Isaac P. Noyes. Dec. 24, 1906, Washington, D.C. Pages [3]-[4] blank. First line: Where the wish is the father of the thought.

The latest comic songs of Harry Bailey, with Whittier's show

Page [2] blank. Folded at top. Printed in two columns divided by single line, within double-line border with ornamental corners on page [1] only. At center of title wood-engraving of Harry Bailey. Cover title. Text of six songs beginning with Yankee duet. Suggested range of publication dates from internal evidence.

The late, last rook

The late, last rook

Brown University

Poetry in two six-line stanzas. At head in upper right above illustration: Price - Twopence, plain. Fourpence, coloured. Typesigned at end of poem: Ralph Hodgson. Above title, illustration of church and houses against evening sky; above colophon medallion-type illustration of scarecrow. Colophon at end in lower margin: Printed by A.T. Stevens, of 55 St. Martins Lane, in the city of Westminster, for Flying Fame, 45 Roland Gardens, London, S.W., where copies may be had from the Secretary. "One thousand copies of each were printed towards the end of 1913"--Millard,C. Printed work of C.L. Fraser, p.4. Decorations by C. Lovat Fraser. Cf. Millard, p. 1.

The late Miss Jennie E. Cramer: New Haven, Conn

Broadsheet advertising card printed on heavy paper. On recto lithograph of head-and-shoulders portrait of young woman on easel; at lower right on palette: Compliments of Geo. Wm. Reed Bitter Co., New Haven, proprietors Reed's Gilt Edge Tonic, a true specific for malaria & indigestion; at lower left: Shober & Carqueville Chicago. Illustration caption: The late Miss Jennie E. Cramer, New Haven, Conn., found dead on the beach at West Haven, Conn. Aug. 5th, 1881, supposed to have been murdered. On verso poem in three eight-line stanzas entitled: The death of Jennie E. Cramer, beginning: Dying, away from home and friends.

The last words of Polly Goold

Poetry. Printed in two columns divided by line of type ornaments and line of advertising. Printed area measures: 23.0 x 14.5 cm. Wood-engraving of coffin at left of title. Poem in sixteen six-line stanzas. Printed vertically between columns: Printed by Nathaniel Coverly, jun'r. Corner of Theatre-Alley, Boston. Boston directories first list Coverly at this address in 1810; American Antiquarian Society copy presented to society in 1814. First line: Give ear to me, ye sons of men.

The last words of Polly Goold

Poetry in sixteen six-line stanzas printed in two columns divided by ruled line of advertising with type ornaments at each end: Sold wholesale and retail, by Hunts & Shaw, No. 2, Mercantile Wharf, Boston. Within border of type ornament sections. The firm was listed at above address between 1837 and 1841. Cut of landscape with weeping willow at head of title in first column. Not in Checklist Amer. imprints.

The last words of Polly Goold

Poetry in sixteen six-line stanzas printed in two columns divided by ruled line of advertising with type ornaments at each end: Sold wholesale and retail, by Hunts & Shaw, No. 2, Mercantile Wharf, Boston. Within border of type ornament sections. The firm was listed at above address between 1837 and 1841. Cut of landscape with weeping willow at head of title in first column. Not in Checklist Amer. imprints.

The last words of Polly Goold

Poetry in 16 six-line stanzas printed in two columns divided by line of type ornaments. Printed area measures: 24.7 x 16.2 cm. At left of title wood-engraving of coffin lettered P.G. Type and type setting are identical to those of Hay Broadsds copy (HB19548) with cut of Virgin in Glory, authoratively attributable to the printer Nathaniel Coverly, Jr., who is known to have printed in Salem, Mass., in 1798 and 1799; internal evidence suggests an 18th century publication date.

The last words of Polly Goold

Printed area measures 27.3 x 15.9 cm. Poetry in sixteen six-line stanzas printed in two columns divided by line of type ornaments. Cut of the Virgin in glory at left of title. Same cut used on broadsides authoritatively attributed to the printer Nathaniel Coverly, Jr; internal evidence suggests an 18th century publication date. Coverly is known to have printed in Salem, Mass.,in 1798 and 1799.

The last words of Polly Goold

Poetry printed in two colums. Printed area measures:24.7 x 16.4 cm. At left of title wood-engraving of coffin. Type closely resembles that used for " Polly Goold" broadsides attributed to the printer Nathaniel Coverly, Jr., but type setting and spacing differs. The latter suggests Joseph White as printer, who from 1788 to 1809, first in partnership, then alone, printed in Boston and later Charleston, Mass., continuing to use the long s into the 19th century. Cf. Ford 3214.

The last words of Polly Goold

Printed in two columns divided by single line with type ornament below title. Individual broadsides would measure: 29 x 23 cm. Printed area measures: 24.1 x 14.5 cm. Poem in sixteen six-line stanzas. The poem is a combination of two poems; the last eight stanzas are Wells Currier's Elegy on the death of Miss Gould. Possible range of publication dates suggested by internal evidence, especially type faces. Sheet with four broadsides, meant to be separated; two broadsides printed upside down in relation to other two. Sheet contains following broadsides: The major's only son, and his true love's overthrow (First line: Come all young people, far and near) -- A night watch, or the Song of a young convert, on his bed, during the silent watches of the night (First line: How can I sleep while angels sing) -- The happy child (First line: You parents that have children dear) -- The last words of Polly Goold (First line: Give ear to me, ye sons of men)

The last sensation

The last sensation

Brown University

Printed in two columns divided by single line. Within border of type ornaments. Date suggested by appearance of item.