James F. Holly Rare Books Room

Locating Broadsides in the Rare Books Room

While a few of our broadsides are framed and hung on our walls, most of them are stored in the flat file cabinet. When searching the catalog for broadsides, you will see them listed in the "Rare Broadsides" location. The drawer they are in is listed under the Item in Place drop-down.

What is a Broadside?

A broadside is a single sheet of paper printed on one side, also known as a poster. Historically, broadsides were used to announce events, proclamations, or advertisements and were wheat-pasted on the broadside of a building. The term "broadside" is used by poets and printmakers alike, but the purpose of them has changed over time. Many of the broadsides in the Rare Books Room are literary in nature and feature poetry or narratives accompanied by illustration.