The James Weldon Johnson Memorial Collection of African American Arts at Letters at the Beinecke Library includes a rich collection of broadsides, works printed on a single sheet of paper and often intended for easy public distribution. Like its relatives the handbill, poster, and leaflet, a broadside serves as a public broadcast of the text it carries and is often intended to reach a more diverse audience than book publication might allow. Broadsides in the James Weldon Johnson Memorial Collection include a wide variety of texts, such as political statements, poetry, song lyrics, event announcements, and advertisements; some are illustrated and include striking or provocative images that compliment or contrast with the text. Recently acquired broadsides include those listed below; others can be located in Orbis or the Uncataloged Acquisitions Database.
 

Recently Acquired Broadsides

Afro-Americans Against the War in Vietnam, “Afro-Americans Against the War in Vietnam asks, Why Did He Die?”, NY: A.A.A.W.V. [1966].

Democratic Party (Ga.), “Colored Voters Read: Here is One Instance of the Treatment the Colored People of Georgia Receive at the Hands of the State Democratic Party,” [Georgia]: [1894].

Two Versions of a Popular Song: “Flip Flap. As Sung by L. Simmons, the Favorite Banjoist,” NY: Wrigley, [no date], and “Flip Flap. As Sung by Frank Lum, the Celebrated Ethiopian Comedian,” NY: Marsan, [1864].

Two Poetry Broadsides: Haki Madhubuti (Don L. Lee), “Assassination” and “Back Home Again (Confessions of an Ex-Executive)” Detroit: Broadside Press, [1967-8].

Images
Jim Crow’s Last Stand, NY: Negro Publication Society, n.d.
Thomas Rice, …50 Verses of Jim Crow…as sung by Mr. Rice, n.d.