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Broadsides

Broadsides are often called songsheets. The Center’s collection consists of approximately 4900 lyrics-only items. Most are from the 19th century, and are printed on inexpensive paper, with or without illustration. The Kenneth S. Goldstein Collection of American Song Broadsides, totaling approximately 3300 items, forms the heart of the Center’s collection.

The digitization and cataloging of the Goldstein Collection was supported by a Preservation and Access grant from the National Endowment for Humanities. A result of that grant was the construction of the following website explicating and contextualizing broadsides in American culture and allowing for enhanced images, text searches, and bibliographic information. To access the broadsides website, CLICK HERE.

Search Our Collections

To limit your search to broadsides, use the Center's Advanced Search and select the check box beside "Song Broadsides" before performing your search. You may also search directly from the broadsides website.