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

Across the valley, Buchenwald

by Eso Anton Benjamins. Broadsheet printed on cream paper in three columns; first and second columns divided on each side divided by rules. Poem in 15 numbered sections. Place and date of publication from another edition of section 9 (Brown University copy HB31441)

Across the valley, Buchenwald

Printed in black and colors on white paper. Colored ornamental border at left and below; map of Poland and Prussia at lower right. Poem in one stanza of ten lines and two of five. In lower margin: cEso 1978.

Achan's sin

Achan's sin

Brown University

by F.E.W. Harper. Poem. Variant text of her poem, The sin of Achan, as published in her Poems (Philadelphia: Merrihew & Son, Printers, 1871), p. 41-42. Text within double line border. First line: Night closed o'er the battling army.

Ach, Wilheim!: song

Ach, Wilheim!: song

Brown University

by Michael Sweeney. Pages [2] and [4] blank. Ornamental border on page [1] Cover title. Text of song in three eight-line stanzas with eight-line chorus beginning: War time, gay war time, come again, come again.

Accepted odes

Accepted odes

Brown University

Page [4] blank. Within red single line border with corner ornaments.

Academy of Music! Positively two nights only! The beautiful and talented equestrienne, pantomimist & melo-dramatic ac...

Playbill for Sept. 20 performance of Mazeppa! or, The wild horse of Tartary and farce The Irish tutor. Cast of characters matches that of Milner's Mazeppa. Day of performance on item and existence of the Academy of Music in Providence point to 1867 as imprint date. Includes 17 lines from Byron's Mazeppa. At end of text: Providence Press Company, Printers, 16 Weybosset Street.

Abraham May

Abraham May

Brown University

Within border of type ornaments. At head of text: Mr. May lost his eyes and right hand while blasting on the Utica and Black River Railroad, at Redwood, August 10, 1871.

Abraham May

Abraham May

Brown University

Within border of type ornaments. At head of text: Mr. May lost his eyes and right hand while blasting on the Utica and Black River Railroad, at Redwood, August 10, 1871.

Abraham May

Abraham May

Brown University

Within border of type ornaments. At head of text: Mr. May lost his eyes and right hand while blasting on the Utica and Black River Railroad, at Redwood, August 10, 1871.

Abraham May

Abraham May

Brown University

Poem recounts accident in which May was blinded and lost right arm. Poem recounts accident in which May was blinded and lost right arm. By M.H. Smith. "By M.H. Smith, Redwood, N.Y." At head of text: May was blinded and maimed for life while blasting on the Black River & Morristown Railroad at Redwood, Aug. 10th, 1871. At end of text statement about May's dependents and church membership with printed signatures of O.C. Wuest, Pastor, Lutheran Church, Redwood, N.Y. and two other Redwood men. Other Brown University copies of this poem (HB14316; HB12230; HB11916) give author's name as H.M. Smith.

Abide with me

Abide with me

Brown University

Printed in colors on heavy glossy white paper in postcard format; text on verso in blue.. Text surrounded by reproduction of colored photograph of flowers.. Text of first stanza of hymn. Author's name not on item. Suggested publication date from date of postmark on Brown University copy Hay Broadsds Harris copy: Canadian stamp; postmarked in 1932 and mailed to Mrs. Holliday in Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambs[?] with message from "K.M.S."

A**** B***--'s dancing advertisement

Poem. Ascribed to Thomas Green Fessenden. Cf. McCorison. At end of text: Original from the pen of T, G, F, altered and improved by Sambo Fiddlebox. Previously appeared in Vermont intelligencer, and Bellows Falls advertiser, February 24, 1817, under title: Signor Squeak's dancing advertisement. Cf. McCorison. Printed area: 9.6 x 10.8 cm. Printed in two columns separated by two lines of type ornaments; other lines, at top and foot, of different designs; short ornamental line below title. First line: A gentleman of vast agility.

A young girl's fancy

A young girl's fancy

Brown University

Illustrated by Gaar Williams. Published by The French Relief Fund. The Indianapolis Branch of The American Fund for French Wounded.

A year's wooing

A year's wooing

Brown University

Poem in four stanzas of varying length. Suggested range of publication dates from internal evidence.

A world I'd have

A world I'd have

Brown University

At head of title: The Troy Times. Friday evening, June 20, 1924. Reprint from The Troy Times, Friday evening, June 20, 1924. At head of text: Written for the Troy Times on his 93d birthday.

A work of artifice

A work of artifice

Brown University

Marge Piercy. Hand printed on green handmade woven paper. Poem in 24 lines.

A word to Canadians: the U.S. will not reduce their tariff to suit Canada

1 broadsheet. Recto printed in two columns divided by single line; verso printed in single column. On recto article from Detroit News with views of D.M. Dickinson, former U.S. postmaster general; on verso poem in six four-line stanzas. Dated suggested because of mention of Grover Cleveland's election to second term as president.