Nickel weeklies collection

This digital collection contains fully text-searchable reproductions of hundreds of titles from the nickel weeklies collection at the Browne Popular Culture Library (BPCL). Nickel weeklies, so named because they were published weekly and cost 5 cents, were a type of 19th and early 20th century serialized popular literature known to be sensationalized, somewhat lurid, hastily-written and closely related to other “dime novels” such as story papers, other weeklies, and even some pulp magazines. Marketed to young, blue-collar males, the stories included escapades by various characters (Buffalo Bill and Frank Merriwell were two), who experienced the wild, wild West, sailed the seven seas, investigated crime in cities big and small, and played football and baseball with the best of them. Immerse yourself in BPCL’s collection of nickel weeklies and experience their version of history for yourself!

All nickel weeklies contained in this digital collection are text-searchable in their entirety. Select Browse Items on the left to view all titles contained in this digital collection, or enter specific terms in the collection search box to search for specific series, titles, or recognized text.

While extensive, this digital collection contains only a selection of titles from the BPCL's vast physical collection of nickel weeklies. All nickel weeklies from the BPCL's physical collection are searchable within the University Libraries' Catalog, and are also available to view onsite in their original formats at the BPCL.

Relatedly, the BPCL has also made text-searchable digital reproductions of hundreds of its story paper titles available in the story papers digital collection.