Category:The Bradfordian

Title: The Bradfordian: A Local Magazine of Original Contributions; In Biography, Essays, History, Literature, Tales, and Poetry

Editor: H. B. Byles

Publisher: Abraham Holroyd

The Bradfordian: A Local Magazine of Original Contributions; In Biography, Essays, History, Literature, Tales, and Poetry is a Victorian periodical published for and by the residents of Bradford, England during the years 1860 and 1861 (at least). The City of Bradford is situated at the center of a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire in Northern England. The journal’s relatively brief run was overseen by bookseller and stationer Abraham Holroyd and edited by H. B. Byles. Reprinted under “The Editor’s Table: Notice” in nearly every issue of the periodical is a call for submissions that offers a telling look into the purpose and aims of the local publication: “As we wish the ‘Bradfordian’ to be an exact reflex of the spirit of the town and the time, we invite contributions on all subjects of human interest from intelligent persons who may wish to lay their views before the reading public.” (It’s humorously worth noting that only contributions “from intelligent persons” are encouraged.)

Written chiefly by the native residents of Bradford, the monthly publication likely appealed most to the same locals, to whom it offered the chance to read the literary efforts of neighbors and friends. The poems and tales in every issue reflect the lifestyles and concerns of middle-sized city life, and even occasionally reference local architecture or assume regional familiarity. Truly the contents of the magazine—essays, poems, songs, histories, tales, biographies, sermons, ballads, notices, literature and all—are imbued with the spirit of the town and the lifeblood of its thoughtful inhabitants.

Notes

Submitted by: Duerden, Jacob: section 1, Winter 2013