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

O innocent child

O innocent child

Brown University

Title from first line. French fold; printed on double leaves. Received as gift in 1968; publication date supplied by donor.

O give me a home by the sea

Within ornamental border. At end of text: Copies of this song, with piano accompaniment may be procured of Mr. Blanchard. Title same as first line.

O fair dove, O fond dove

Printed in colors on heavy paper; text on verso in black. On recto colored illustration of young woman holding dove, captioned: O fair dove. Poem in two twelve-line stanzas on verso. Caption title. Author's name not on item. Cigarette card advertising tobacco made by W. Duke, Sons & Co., branch of the American Tobacco Co., New York. Suggested range of publication dates from internal evidence.

O Charlie said the loving maid

Title from first line. Advertising card. Cut of man and woman on moonlit beach at head of text; when held to the light, image of sewing machine from verso appears in moon.

O Captain! My Captain!

O Captain! My Captain!

Brown University

Page [4] blank. On cover: First draft manuscript of O Captain! My Captain! Written by Walt Whitman on the death of Abraham Lincoln and now printed in memory of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 1917-1963. Variant of broadsides (HB23655 and HB22592) in the John Hay Library.

O Captain! my Captain!

O Captain! my Captain!

Brown University

Page [4] blank. Printed in red and black. On cover: A keepsake to celebrate the small exhibition of Walt Whitman materials from the collection of Mr. Charles E. Feinberg held at the Grolier Club February 5 - March 30, 1964. First draft manuscript [facsimile] of O Captain! My Captain!

O Canada

O Canada

Brown University

"F.G.S. 1st Canadians. France 1915."

O Abie sails over the ocean

Song and prose passage oppose immigration of Jews into the United States. Song and prose passage oppose immigration of Jews into the United States. Title from first line of poem on recto. Broadsheet; poetry on recto, prose on verso beginning: Excerpt from the Journal of Charles Pinckney of South Carolina. Text of song in five four-line stanzas with four-line chorus beginning: Go back! Go back! Prose passage on recto purports to be passage from Pinckney's journal quoting anti-Jewish speech by Benjamin Franklin. Suggested place of publication and date from ms. notation on Brown University copy; mention of Jewish "refugees" being admitted to Great Britain, France and the United States indicates the late 1930's as date of composition of song.

Nur alleine Jesus

Nur alleine Jesus

Brown University

At end of text: Ephrata: gedruckt bey Jacob Ruch. Printed in two columns; line of type ornaments below each poem. Suggested range of publication dates from internal evidence.

Nowhere such a devious stream

Printed in blue, black and gray on heavy, glossy white paper in postcard format in three columns. At head of text reproductions of photographs of steamboat, bridge and lake; at left reproduction of photograph of staue of Minnehaha. Title from first line of poem in eleven four-line stanzas type-signed: Henry W. Longfellow. Suggested publication date from statement on verso: "Authorized by Act of Congress. May 19, 1898."

Nowell! God sends the mantled snow

Pages [2]-[4] blank. Poetry. On page [1] three lines of poetry in manuscript and watercolor painting of winter landscape signed: E.C. Spiero[?] Title from first line. At end of poem: Christmas 1942.

Nowell! God sends the mantled snow

Pages [2]-[4] blank. Poetry. On page [1] three lines of poetry in manuscript and watercolor painting of winter landscape signed: E.C. Spiero[?] Title from first line. At end of poem: Christmas 1942.

Nowell! God sends the mantled snow

Pages [2]-[4] blank. Poetry. On page [1] three lines of poetry in manuscript and watercolor painting of winter landscape signed: E.C. Spiero[?] Title from first line. At end of poem: Christmas 1942.