The Broadside Collection reflects the nation’s history from revolutionary beginnings through the Civil War. Made up primarily of work from local printers, the collection was largely given by Francis T.P. Plimpton ’17. The handbills and broadsides offer an intimate glimpse of the news that affected daily life in a typical 19th-century American town and provide a valuable resource for historians.

One of the most significant items in the collection was produced for the Provincial Congress that met in Exeter in January 1776 to establish the first state government of the United States. Intended to spread the news throughout the colony, the handbill foreshadows the Declaration of Independence in spirit and language. Subsequent posters trace the course of the American Revolution, announcing the raising of troops, appeals for funds, and the “cessation of arms."

Other pieces in the collection include speeches of presidents, congressional pronouncements, state and local decrees, and publicity for special events. A poster advertising the sale of slaves in Charleston, SC, in 1833 was given to the Library by David Granger ’19.