Collections A-Z
In addition to general collections and online subscription databases, journals, and ebooks, the Library holds more than 500 named collections which are distinguished by their specialized subject matter, age, uniqueness, or value. Most of the listed collections on this page are located in the John Hay Library. To locate digitized collections, see the list available at the Center for Digital Scholarship site and search the Brown Digital Repository.
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Harris Collection of American Poetry and Plays
The Harris Collection of American Poetry and Plays is composed of approximately 250,000 volumes of American and Canadian poetry, plays, and vocal music dating from 1609 to the present day. It is perhaps the largest and most comprehensive collection of its kind in any research library. The works of most well-known (and many thousands of little-known) American and Canadian poets and playwrights, from the 18th century to the present day, are held comprehensively. There are significant holdings of early American literature, hymnals, songsters, little magazines, contemporary fine printing, extensive collections on Walt Whitman and Edgar Allan Poe, women's writings, gay and lesbian literature, modern first editions, Yiddish-American literature, and French-Canadian literature. The Collection is fully cataloged, with records available in Josiah, the Library's online catalog.. Includes periodicals, broadsides, recordings, films, electronic resources, manuscripts, prints and photographs.Format(s): Books, Serials, Pamphlets, Manuscripts, Microform, Broadsides, Scores, Museum Objects, Graphics, Audio Files, Video Files, Computer Files, Scrapbooks
Library: John Hay, Collections Annex
NOTE: Portions of this collection are housed off-site. Prior notice is needed for retrieval
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Access to the collection:
Online Catalog (BruKnow):
Other Online Access:
Exhibit: Carriers Addresses in 19th Century America
Exhibit: Forty Years of Burning Deck Press
Exhibit: Broadway: The American Musical
Exhibit: Langston Hughes: The Black Bard at 100
Exhibit: Leaves of an Hour: Developing Literary and Popular Culture Collections at Brown University
Exhibit: The Night Before Christmas
Exhibit: Imamu Amiri Baraka
Collection Web Site: Harris Collection of American Poetry and Plays
Other: Harris Small Books
Related Collections:
Broadsides Collection
Phonorecords (Special Collections) Collection
Photographs Collection
Sheet Music Collection