Book Covers
With its key role in the country’s transition from prohibition to the modern addictions field, scholars at the Center of Alcohol Studies developed an interest in temperance and prohibition issues, too. Over the years, historical items were donated by Center faculty and other researchers. In 1988, the Center accepted the donation of the complete library collection from the headquarters of the National Council on Alcoholism (NCA), the major national organization advocating for the treatment of alcoholism as a disease. Included in this collection were nearly 200 historical items dealing with temperance and prohibition. In 1989, the center accepted another donation of one hundred temperance fiction and nonfiction monographs used in a research project at Moravian College in Pennsylvania.
Images on this page are from rare books related to temperance from the original Alcohol Library Rare Book Collection and cataloged for the Alcohol Collection in the Special Collections & University Archives of the Rutgers University Libraries. Click on the image to read more about the individual titles. Click on the links below the pictures to access the books available online in the public domain, where applicable. For the availability of the print version from the Alcohol Collection of the Special Collections & University Archives, use the link to the bibliographic record from RU Libraries. The physical items are stored off site, and an advance notice of two working days is required to consult them.
Blair, H. W. (Henry W. (1888). The temperance movement, or, The conflict between man and alcohol. William E. Smythe Company.
Available online from HathiTrust, print from RU Libraries
Shaw, E. R. (1910). The curse of drink, or, Stories of hell’s commerce; a mighty array of true and interesting stories and incidents ... by John G. Wooley, John P. St. John, Eli Perkins ... and many others ... Edited by Elton R. Shaw, special introduction by Samuel Dickie. c1910.
Available online from HathiTrust, print from RU Libraries
Golden thoughts on mother, home, and heaven. From poetic and prose literature of all ages and all lands. With an introduction by Theo. L. Cuyler. (1878). E.B. Treat, 1878.
Available online from HathiTrust, print from RU Libraries
Centennial temperance volume: a memorial of the international temperance conference, held in Philadelphia, June, 1876 ... (1877).
Available online from HathiTrust, print from RU Libraries
Arthur, T. S. (Timothy S., & Porter & Coates, publisher. (1877). The bar-rooms at Brantley, or, The great hotel speculation. Porter & Coates, 822 Chestnut Street.
Available online from HathiTrust, print from RU Libraries
Kirton, J. W. (1893). The standard temperance reciter: a collection of dialogues, recitations, and readings, in prose and poetry, suitable for anniversary, social, lodge and other meetings, with hints to readers and reciters. Ward, Lock and Co.
Available in print from RU Libraries
Iglehart, F. C. (1917). King alcohol dethroned. The Christian Herald Bible House.
Available online from HathiTrust, print from RU Libraries
Monahan, M. (1921). Dry America. Nicholas L. Brown.
Available online from HathiTrust, print from RU Libraries
Gift of affection: a Christmas and New-Year’s present. (1856). Published by Leavitt & Allen, no. 379 Broadway.
Available online from HathiTrust, print from RU Libraries
White, J. E., & Avery-Stuttle, L. D. (Eds.) (1912). The man that rum made: With temperance lessons and stories. Southern Publishing Association.
Available online from the Internet Archive
Ellis, J. (1886). The wine question in the light of the new dispensation. Author publication.
Available online from HathiTrust, print from RU Libraries
Arthur, T. S., Hale, S. J. B., Pardoe, Strickland, A., Jackman, W. G., Sons of Temperance of North America, dedicatee, Arthur, T. S. (Timothy S., & Pardoe, (Julia). (1849). The Sons of Temperance offering for 1850. published by Nafis & Cornish.
Available online from HathiTrust, print from RU Libraries