Broadsides and Posters
Broadsides, dating from 1590 to the present, number approximately 23,000 items, including interfiled posters. Categories include New Jersey, New Jersey political, New Brunswick, United States (excluding New Jersey), and foreign. Within each category, the broadsides are arranged chronologically in two sequences: oversize and non-oversize. Ballads, political controversies, estate sales, patriotic celebrations, and theatrical performances are among the myriad subjects represented. The posters present in the collection include examples from both World War I and II, including posters gathered by E.H. Tepper and donated in her memory.
All of the broadsides and posters are stored in closed stacks and must be requested via call slips at the New Jersey Room reference desk.
Online checklists exist for portions of the collection:
- Oversize New Jersey Broadsides, 1683-1850
- Oversize New Jersey Broadsides, 1851-1900
- Oversize New Jersey Political Broadsides, before 1901
- Oversize United States Broadsides, 1620-1855
- World War I Liberty Bond Posters
- The E.H. Tepper Collection of Posters Relating to W.W. II
Ephemera
In addition to newspapers, maps, and broadsides, Special Collections and University Archives maintains a separate collection of ephemera that encompasses a multitude of formats, such as bank notes, calendars, lottery tickets, menus, and watch papers. In some categories of the ephemera collection, the New Jersey examples are mixed together with those from other states; in other instances, the New Jersey materials are stored separately. A list of genre headings for the ephemera collection is available at the New Jersey Room reference desk. As the ephemera collection is stored in closed stacks, all items must be requested via call slips. Online finding aids exist for two categories in the collection: