The Periodical Poetry Index, Version 2.0

Abstract

Abstract This article describes the latest iteration of the Periodical Poetry Index, an open-access database that reveals the variety and complexity of nineteenth-century periodical poetry and its material presentation on the printed page. The project design, data ontology, and indexing methodology follow a sociohistorical model of the literary text and represent the distinctive features of each periodical printing of a given poem. The database foregrounds this publication context by indexing information about the arrangement of poems within and across periodical issues, variations in contributor signature, and the appearance of different languages, paratextual elements, typography, and page design. This article situates the project in the heritage of periodical studies and demonstrates the importance of new digital tools for research.