Archives & Special Collections

Broadsides

Broadsides are scattered throughout the collections, with examples ranging in date from the 16th to the 20th Centuries. We have many examples of broadside ballads.

Subjects covered are diverse, including:

• accounts of executions
• advertisements for trade ventures
• calls for political agitation

Scottish interest is particularly well represented in the holdings:

• the Murray collection provides many examples with Scottish imprints - for example, over 250 are held at Sp Coll Mu1-x.11 and there are 4 volumes of 19th century broadside ballads at Mu23-y.1-4
• the Spencer collection includes several broadsides related to the Darien scheme

A highlight of the broadside holdings is the major collection of broadside ballads gathered together by William Euing. This important resource consists of some 408 black-letter ballads, many of which are illustrated by woodcuts. 

How to find material from the Broadsides collection

• Search for broadside holdings using the rare books search, using broadsides as a subject term
• Browse through a list of broadside-related subjects found on the main library search
• The Euing Collection black-letter broadside ballads have been digitised and are available to search and view on the English Broadside Ballads website (The collection search within the advanced search option offers Euing as an option in its drop down menu). They are not yet available using the rare books search. Instead use the above website or, The Euing Collection of English broadside ballads in the Library of the University of Glasgow, with an introduction by John Holloway (Glasgow, 1971), available in the Special Collections Department.
• See images of broadsides relating to crime & punishment  and ballads
• The Glasgow Broadside Ballads website is based upon holdings from the