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

J. Adams' spiritual railway: while travelling in the cars on the continent of Europe

Title from caption and first line. Poetry in six five-line stanzas printed within border of type ornaments. Entered under title rather than author. Possible range of publication dates suggested by border of type ornaments as well as e-mail information from Dr. R. Hulan in February 1998: :The earliest I have on record so far is dated Oct. 31, 1849 and then every few years (or months, sometimes) through 1867."

Ivy ode

Ivy ode

Brown University

Tune: Bright college years.

Italia

Italia

Brown University

Broadsheet; folded to create three panels. Cover title. Poetry printed in brown on beige paper. Type-signed at end of each poem: Edith Orthwein Burr. Colored flag of Italy below title on title page. Date from stamp on page [2]

It's simple

It's simple

Brown University

David Meltzer. Caption title. Title and first line same. Poetry in twenty lines printed in brown on copper laid paper. Type-signed at end: David Meltzer. At end of text: A free poem for Seattle, May 1971. Arranged by Toothpick, Lisbon and the Orcas Islands.

It's simple

It's simple

Brown University

Caption title. Title same as first line. Poetry in twenty lines printed in black within green border of type ornaments. Type-signed at end: David Meltzer. At end of text: Mudra Windrose Series / Printed at Hermes Free Press. Not later than 1972 when acquired with another edition dated "1972."

It's only Pennsylvania: most respectfully dedicated to the "Powers that be"

by John Phœnix, Jr. Poetry. Printed area: 19.4 x 7.7 cm. Poem in nine stanzas complaining of badly-made uniforms issued, after long wait, to Fourth Pennsylvania Regiment in Washington. Cannot be by George Horatio Derby who used pseudonym of John Phoenix, since he was not a Civil War soldier. First line: On the sixteenth of April, four weeks ago.

It's Morgan's

It's Morgan's

Brown University

Advertises books written by Cooke and others.

It's mighty hard luck to be dead broke

Text of song in two twelve-line stanzas with five-line chorus beginning: It's mighty hard luck to be dead broke. At end of text: Copyright 1906 by H.H. Jones.

It's dark outside

It's dark outside

Brown University

Title from first line. On verso: A free poem in the public interest from WCDC-TV.

It's a long way down to the soup line

by Joe Hill. Printed on pink paper. Page [1] within double line border with cut of wreathed torch. Page [2] contains appeal for Joe Hill Defense Fund. Page [3] poem entitled: It's a long, long way down to the soupline. Air: Tipperary. Page [4] lists I.W.W. locals and branches in San Francisco.

It's a cold day when I get left

Humorous account of life of a man about town. Humorous account of life of a man about town. words and music by Harry Miller. Text of song in three eight-line stanzas with four-line chorus beginning: It's a very cold day when I'm left, you bet. At end of text below curvilinear line: A.W. Auner's Card and Job Printing Rooms, Tenth and Race Sts., Philadelphia, Pa. Not in Wolf, Amer. song sheets. Entered under title rather than author. Suggested range of publication dates from internal evidence, especially mention of electric light.

It was many years ago: song

by Michael Sweeney. Pages [2] and [4] blank. Page [1] within ornamental border. Text of song in three eight-line stanzas with eight-line chorus.