Performance and Entertainment

Digital collections that fall within the John Hay Library’s Performance and Entertainment STRATEGIC COLLECTING DIRECTION. Here you will find digitized materials that document the history and creative process of performing arts and provides a window into public life and popular entertainment in the Americas through plays, dance, film, music, photography, and pornography.
This collection is part of Brown University Library, hosted by Brown University.

Items in this collection

The greatest calamity ever seen on earth

By William Withington. Poetry. Printed in three columns divided by single lines. Above title cuts of American flag, American eagle and mounted man with legend "News" issuing from trumpet. Printed area: 26.6 x 19.9 cm. At head of text between double rules: The author would take this method to thank his friends for their liberal patronage to the first edition of this poem, and hopes to have a small share for the second edition, which contains an additional poem. Place of publication suggested because of mention of need for reform in Portland. Imprint date suggested by internal evidence.

The greatest battle song of all

words by Al. Friend & Sam Downing ; music by Harry Ruby. For voice and piano. Caption title. Advertisement for other songs: p. [2] and [6] Cover illustration: photograph of Dorothy Herman; drawing of couple being married / Barbelle.

The greatest battle song of all

words by Al. Friend & Sam Downing ; music by Harry Ruby. For voice and piano. Caption title. Advertisement for other songs: p. [2] and [6] Cover illustration: photograph of Dorothy Herman; drawing of couple being married / Barbelle.

The great physician

The great physician

Brown University

Lura G. Powell. Printed in red. Suggested ranges of publication dates from internal evidence.

The great physician

The great physician

Brown University

Lura G. Powell. Printed in red. Suggested ranges of publication dates from internal evidence.

The great Judgment morning

At head of text vignette of open book. Text of song in six numbered four-line stanzas with four-line chorus beginning: Oh, what weeping and wailing. At end of text: Sung by Rev. P.H. Gunn, address, Ashland, Va., Rt. 3, Box 91. Suggested range of publication dates from internal evidence.

The great jubilee of 1851

Pages [1, 4] blank. Printed on letter quality light blue paper; blind stamp depicting steam -ship with caption "Cunard" in right lower corner.

The great invocation

The great invocation

Brown University

Broadsheet printed in dark blue on heavy white paper. Poem on recto. On verso, headed: Men and women of goodwill throughout the world are using this invocation, information about distribution of the invocation. Suggested publication date from acquisition date of Brown Univeersity copy.

The Great Eastern's coming

Composed in forty-three minutes, by the Steam Machine Poet. Printed in two columns. Poem in twelve eight-line stanzas. Real name of author not on item. Suggested place of publication from references in poem; suggested publication date from launch date of steamship.

The Great Eastern's coming

Composed in forty-three minutes, by the Steam Machine Poet. Printed in two columns. Poem in twelve eight-line stanzas. Real name of author not on item. Suggested place of publication from references in poem; suggested publication date from launch date of steamship.

The Great Eastern's coming

Composed in forty-three minutes, by the Steam Machine Poet. Printed in two columns. Poem in twelve eight-line stanzas. Real name of author not on item. Suggested place of publication from references in poem; suggested publication date from launch date of steamship.

The grave of Bonaparte

The grave of Bonaparte

Brown University

Poetry. Within border of type ornaments. Poem in three nine-line stanzas. At end of text below curvilinear line, within border: Andrews', Printer, 38 Chatham St., N.Y., dealer in songs, games, toy books, motto verses, &c., wholesale and retail. John Andrews printed at this address between 1853 and 1859. Words by H.S. Washburn, music (not on item) by Lyman Heath. Cf. Dichter & Shapiro, Early American sheet music, p. 144. Variant of no. 805a in Edwin Wolf's American song sheets.

The grave of Bonaparte

The grave of Bonaparte

Brown University

Poetry. Within border of type ornaments. Poem in three nine-line stanzas. Suggested range of dates from internal evidence. Words by H.S. Washburn, music (not on item) by Lyman Heath. Cf. Dichter & Shapiro, Early American sheet music, p. 144. At end of text below rule and within border: Thomas M. Scroggy, Publisher, Card & Fancy Job Printer, No. 443 Vine Street, above Twelfth, Phila. Where all new songs can be obtained, wholesale and retail.

The grave of Bonaparte

The grave of Bonaparte

Brown University

Poetry. Within border of type ornaments, with comic heads at corners, lettered S in Wolf. Poem in three nine-line stanzas. Label inside lower border at center: H. De Marsan, Publisher, 54 Chatham str. New-York. Publication date because De Marsan used this address between 1861 and 1864. Words by H.S. Washburn, music (not on item) by Lyman Heath. Cf. Dichter & Shapiro, Early American sheet music, p. 144. Variant of no. 805 in Edwin Wolf's American song sheets.

The grave of Bonaparte

The grave of Bonaparte

Brown University

Poetry. Within border of type ornaments, lettered A in Wolf. Poem in three nine-line stanzas. Label inside lower border at center: H. De Marsan, Publisher, 54[?] Chatham Street, New-York. Publication date from internal evidence; De Marsan was located at 54 Chatham Street between 1861 and 1864 but street number on this item is almost illegible. Words by H.S. Washburn, music (not on item) by Lyman Heath. Cf. Dichter & Shapiro, Early American sheet music, p. 144. Variant of no. 805 in Edwin Wolf's American song sheets.

The grave of Bonaparte

The grave of Bonaparte

Brown University

Poetry. Within border of type ornaments. Within title at left: No. 54. Poem in three seven-line stanzas with two-line chorus. Suggested range of dates from internal evidence. Words by H.S. Washburn, music (not on item) by Lyman Heath. Cf. Dichter & Shapiro, Early American sheet music, p. 144. Variant of no. 805 in Edwin Wolf's American song sheets.

The grave of Ben Bolt

The grave of Ben Bolt

Brown University

Within double line border. Author's name not on item. Publication date approximation from internal evidence. Related to song entitled Oh don't you remember Sweet Alice, Ben Bolt.