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 first fan

The first fan

Brown University

Caption title. At head of text: Read at a meeting of the Boston Bric-a-Brac Club, February 21, 1877. On page [1]:Reprinted from The Atlantic monthly for June, 1877. Actually printed before the Atlantic. cf. Currier, p. 160; Wilson, II, 584.

The first Easter

The first Easter

Brown University

Broadsheet with arched top folded like a triptych. Printed in gold on heavy white paper. On left flap illustration of lamb, on right flap menorah; on inner side of flaps two sepia illustrations pasted on, one of the angel and women at the tomb of Jesus, the other of Jesus appearing to two women. Poem in seven four-line stanzas. Type-signed at end: M. G. G.

The First Brigade

The First Brigade

Brown University

Air: Joe Bowers. Within ornamental border. At head of text: By T.J. Manchester, 57th Regiment Illinois Volunteers.

The fireman's boy

The fireman's boy

Brown University

Printed in two columns divided by curvilinear line. To be sung to the tune: The American boy. Text of song in 22 four-line stanzas. Suggested range of publication dates from internal evidence.

The firelight shedding over all

At upper left at head of title illustration of room captioned: The public parlor, the Wayside Inn. The subject of Longfellow's "Tales of a wayside inn," near Sudbury, Mass. Title from first line of nine line passage of poetry. At end of text: Excerpts from "Tales of a wayside inn"--Longfellow.

The fine Kentucky gentleman

Printed in two columns divided by curvilinear line within curvilinear border with corner ornaments. At head of title cut of American eagle under starry sky. Account of "now retired" Kentucky Senator to whom the people may offer their "highest gift" appears to refer to Henry Clay between his retirement from the Senate in 1842 and his death in 1852.

The fighting fifteenth

The fighting fifteenth

Brown University

words by J.C. Crisler ; music by Amber G. Lasley. For voice and piano. Caption title. "Written expressly for a company of soldiers known as the Fifteenth Separate Company California Infantry, Company headquarters State Armory Exposition Park [Los Angeles"--p. [4] Advertisement for other songs: p. [4] Cover illustration: drawing of soldiers marching.

The Fighting 26th

The Fighting 26th

Brown University

words and music by Cherlotte Williams. March for voice and piano. Caption title. Cover illustration: drawing of American flag.

The field of Monterey

The field of Monterey

Brown University

Within border of type ornaments, printed in two columns divided by curvilinear line; tailpiece at end of text. At head of title: Price two cents. At head of text woodcut of white couple and child standing before tent watching departing Indians, with caption: "The sweet church bells are pealing out." Text of song in four eight-line stanzas with three-line chorus beginning: On the field of Monterey. Author's name not on item. Suggested range of publication dates from internal evidence.

The field of Monterey

The field of Monterey

Brown University

Within border of type ornaments, printed in two columns divided by curvilinear line; tailpiece at end of text. At head of title: Price two cents. At head of text woodcut of white couple and child standing before tent watching departing Indians, with caption: "The sweet church bells are pealing out." Text of song in four eight-line stanzas with three-line chorus beginning: On the field of Monterey. Author's name not on item. Suggested range of publication dates from internal evidence.

The female soldier: and the very excellent song called The Hornet and Peacock

Poetry. Printed in two columns divided by line of type ornaments. At end of second column below line of type ornaments: Printed and sold at No. 25, High Street, Providence, where are kep [i.e. kept] for sale 100 other different kinds of songs. Henry Trumbull's establishment is listed in the Providence directory at this address from 1824 to 1836.

The female sailor

The female sailor

Brown University

Poem. Preceded by a biographical introduction about the travels of Anne Jane Thornton, disguised as a man, between England and North America. Woodcut of a female sailor, with sailing ship and anchor. At end of text: Printed and sold at No. 42, North Main street (opposite the Museum.) Providence. Where are kept for sale 100 other kinds. Printed area: 24.7 x 19.6 cm. Printed in two columns, separated first by the ill., then by a double line.

The fellowship drinking song

written for the club by Eugene Field. "Collected in (reprinted from?) 'Songs,' 1896, where it appears as 'A Drinking Song'"--BAL. Below author statement: Air: The bogie man. Printed in blue on single leaf of stiff card. First line: Come, brothers, share the fellowship.

The fellow that looks like me

Within border of type ornament sections. Text of comic song in six eight-line stanzas with four-line chorus beginning: Oh! wouldn't I like to catch him. At end of text below curvilinear line inside lower border: Wanamaker & Brown, Oak Hall clothing, Corner Sixth & Market Sts., Philada. Pa. At end of text below lower border: A.W. Auner's Printing Office, Phila. Pa. Suggested range of publication dates from internal evidence.

The FB eye blues

The FB eye blues

Brown University

Richard Wright. French fold; printed on blue paper on double page. Cover title. Poem in nine six-line stanzas.

The favorite song of sweet Betsey Baker

Poetry. Printed in two columns divided by line of type ornaments within border of type ornaments. Date from appearance of item. Poem in ten stanzas.

The fatherland, the motherland: the land of my best girl

words by Ballard Macdonald ; music by Harry Carroll. For voice and piano. Caption title. Advertisement for "Tip-tip Tipperary Mary": p. [2] Advertisement for "The gem dance folio for 1915", in blue ink: p. [6] Cover illustration: seated man envisaging battle scene / E.H. Pfeiffer. Photographs of Ballard Macdonald, Harry Carroll, Alfred Bryan and eleven other songwriters: p. [6]