The Harris Broadsides collection in the John Hay Library contains many poetry ephemera (limited edition posters, broadsides of various sizes, letterpress printed cards). Below is Leonard N. Lawrence’s poem “O Syndia…” (c. 1905), printed in purple all-caps, which seems to have been typeset or stamped in haste. Additional circus-related artwork will be on view beginning this Friday, August 1, 2014, as the Rhode Island School of Design Museum opens its new Circus exhibit (open through February 22, 2015).
“O Syndia O My Syndia Bane” (c. 1905)