Broadside ballads collection
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Scope and Content
Collection of broadside ballads from England.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1797-1880
Creator
- Walker, James (printer) (Person)
- Such, H. (printer) (Person)
- Catnach, James (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Historical note
Broadside (or broadsheet) ballads were one of the most common forms of printed material produced between the 16th and 19th centuries in England, Ireland, and North America. They are often associated with the ballad, one of the most important forms of traditional music from these countries. Broadside ballads were generally printed on single pieces of paper, often with two ballads on one sheet; these could then be cut in half or folded to make chapbooks. The ballads centered on popular subject matter such as moral advice, current events and politics, satire, comedy, and crime. Most included an illustration of some kind, though in many cases the image had little or nothing to do with the subject of the text. They also often included the suggested name of a known tune that would fit the lyrics. They were sold in large numbers on street corner and at fairs, and pinned to the walls of ale houses and other public places. In London, many broadside ballads were printed by publishers located in the Seven Dials district including the well-known print shop of James Catnatch.
Extent
0.21 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Collection of broadside ballads from England. Broadside (or broadsheet) ballads were one of the most common forms of printed material produced between the 16th and 19th centuries in England, Ireland, and North America. They centered on popular subject matter such as moral advice, current events and politics, satire, comedy, and crime and were sold in large numbers on street corner and at fairs, and pinned to the walls of ale houses and other public places.
Acquisition
Purchased from Howard Rotenberg; Richard Ford Manuscripts (United Kingdom), April-May, 2014.
Subject
- Walker, James (printer) -- Archives (Person)
- Such, H. (printer) -- Archives (Person)
- Catnach, James -- Archives (Person)
- Title
- Finding aid for the Broadside ballads collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Sue Luftschein
- Date
- 2014 May
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the USC Libraries Special Collections Repository
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles California 90089-0189 United States
specol@usc.edu