Massachusetts Broadsides of The American Revolution – Mason I. Lowance, Jr.

Edited by Mason I. Lowance, Jr. and Georgia B. Bumgardner. Published by The University of Massachusetts Press in 1976.During the American Revolution, the broadside played a major role in communication among the American colonies. Designed to reach society quickly and effectively, it has been a vital means of transmitting news since the invention of the printing press.This handsome volume contains facsimiles of fifty broadsides printed in Massachusetts during the stormy period from 1765 to 1789. Through dramatic narratives relating to political and military events, these broadsides help tell the story of the Revolution from a unique perspective and provide an intimate history of Massachusetts during this time, when it was an important center of colonial printing. Often decorated with woodcuts and interesting typefaces, many of the broadsides are attractive cultural artifacts. They are marked by cogent argument and language which ranges from the decorous and commendatory to the most inflammatory political and personal invective.Selected from thousands located in archives across the country, these documents are linked by an ongoing historical narrative and are accompanied by a general introduction, suggested readings, and a discussion of colonial printing.