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

A Penny-worth of wit. Or, The merchant reclaimed

Printed in two columns; headband of type ornaments on page [1] Caption title. Poem in three parts and 63 four-line stanzas. Third verse of pt. 1 mentions a William Lane. The use of laid paper and the presence of the "long s" suggest an 18th century date of publication.

A penny for your thought?

Poetry printed in terracotta on beige laid paper. Cover title. Typesigned at end of poem on page [3]: C.W.B. Colophon on page [4]: Copyrighted 1915 by C.W. Birrell.

A patriotic song

A patriotic song

Brown University

by Rev. Benjamin Danforth, Providence, R.I. Poetry. Within border of type ornaments, printed in three columns divided by rules; in red and blue. Date approximation because of events mentioned in poem.

A patriot creed: I believe

Printed in red and black. Poetry, listing five believes, beginning with: The moral order [First line: In God and the might of right]

A pastor's soliloquy

A pastor's soliloquy

Brown University

Within ornamental border. At head of text: Dedicated to Rev. Bert J. Glazier on laying down his charge at Massena, New York April 6, 1930. First line: 'Tis done; my last work is finished.

A pastor's soliloquy

A pastor's soliloquy

Brown University

Within ornamental border. At head of text: Dedicated to Rev. Bert J. Glazier on laying down his charge at Massena, New York April 6, 1930. First line: 'Tis done; my last work is finished.

A pastor's farewell to his flock

Printed in two columns divided by curvilinear line. To be sung to the tune: Milan. Text of hymn in six numbered eight-line stanzas. Suggested range of publication dates from internal evidence.

A parody on the lament of the Irish emigrant

Within border of type ornaments. At head of text: Composed by Elder J. Adams, while traveling on Martha's Vineyard, from North Shore to Edgartown and sent to Sarah Adams, his wife, at New Haven, Conn., Feb. 16, 1846.

A parody on The lament of the Irish emigrant

composed by Elder J. Adams. Within border of type ornament sections. Printed area measures: 19.9 x 11.9 cm. At head of text: While travelling on Martha's Vineyard, from North Shore to Edgartown, and sent to Sarah Adams, his wife, at New Haven, Conn., Feb. 16, 1846. Poem in five four-line sections. Printed on single sheet with The lament of the Irish emigrant, each in own border; possibly intended to be separated.

A paradoxical memoir on the Raymond Hotel

At head of title: Extract from Pasadena Star, May 13, 1887. At head of text: By a guest and respectfully dedicated to Walter Raymond .. At end of text: South Pasadena, Cal., April 30, 1887.

A night thought

A night thought

Brown University

Printed in two columns divided by line of type ornaments. Wood-engraving of parents and two kneeling children at head of text in first column. Poem in 22 numbered four-line stanzas. Suggested place of publication and range of publication dates from internal evidence and because Brown University item backed by newspaper clippings from Massachusetts dated 1814.

A New-Year's Wish, from the Farrier's Lad

Verse in three stanzas, bordered by single line at top and bottom. At end of text: Boston, January 1769. Printed from the same setting of type as a New-Year's wish, from the baker's lad (Bristol B3053), with changes in title and text in the last three lines. Dated: Boston, January 1769. Presumably printed late in 1768 for distribution on or about New Year's Day. First line: The New-born year now dawns again.

A New-Year's piece

A New-Year's piece

Brown University

Line of type ornaments (four-petaled flowers; variant Reilly 494) at head and end of text. Type ornament: variant of Reilly 494.

A New Year's address to the citizens of Lynn

Describes modern fashions and manners, then deplores Crimean War and urges readers to patronize author's grocery stores, for cash. Describes modern fashions and manners, then deplores Crimean War and urges readers to patronize author's grocery stores, for cash. Printed in two columns divided by curvilinear line within border of type ornament sections. Type-signed at end of poem: George H. Harwood, corner of Union & Silsbee Sts., and 101 & 103 North Common St. Lynn, Jan. 1, 1855. Colophon below rule within lower border: N.H. Nichols, Printer, No. 12 Healey's Arcade, Lynn. Brown University copy has ms. poem "Ocean burial" by E.H. Chapin on verso.