Circus Friends Association of Great Britain (Established 1934)
Biography
The CFA, formerly known as the Circus Fans Association was stablished on Saturday 20th January 1934 in the ring of Bertram Mills Circus at Olympia, London by a group of enthusiasts. The CFA’s purpose remains the same as in its conception; to stimulate, foster and promote enthusiasm for circus and related performances as part of British culture.
During 1934, the pattern for CFA activities was established, with the formation of the library, the publication of The Sawdust Ring magazine and the first rallies, including ones to the Hippodrome Circus in Great Yarmouth and Blackpool Tower. The annual subscription at the time was one guinea for residents in a radius of 60 miles from London 'as defined by Automobile Association handbook', and half a guinea for those residing outside that area, in the provinces. 'For residents in the Colonies and foreign counties' the subscription was 7/6.
The first President of the CFA was Lady Eleanor Smith (1902-1945), the eldest child of the politician F. E. Smith. Lady Eleanor Smith was an author, a society reporter and cinema reviewer and worked as a publicist for circus companies.
Other notable presidents were; Dame Laura Knight (1877-1970), the most celebrated British impressionist female artist of all time and the first woman to ever be elected to the Royal Academy. The actor Sir Cedric Hardwicke (1893-1964), wine merchant and philanthropist Sir Walter Gilbey (1831-1914), theatrical manager and empresario Sir Charles B. Cochran (1872-1951), Sir William Savory (1882-1961), author Antony Hippisley Coxe and Commander W. J. Gerard.
The first five years of the CFA saw the firm establishment of the Association its activity, although it was active by Alfred 'Dickey' Bird. The post-war years were difficult but the CFA continued operating with the same aims and ambitions.
The library was started in 1937, as a gift of 30 books from A.C. McLachlan. Others titles were acquired by purchase or donation. It contains books on virtually every aspect of circus life from individual acts, to acts of Parliament, from erecting a Big Top, to the logistics of transporting circuses, works of fiction, photography and juvenile literature all of which help to create a greater understanding of the many contrasts in circus life; of the romance, tragedy, spectacle and hardships.
Notable authors who have contributed to the myth and legend of circus include Lady Eleanor Smith, who in 1945, donated all her circus books to the CFA, Ruth Manning-Sanders and Courtney Ryley Cooper, an American writer who, after having first joined a circus aged 16, went on to write crime books and ghost-wrote articles under J. Edgar Hoover’s name in the 1930s.
After the war lists of holdings were printed and distributed to members, who could borrow a book at a time by post. By the mid 1970s, the ‘Library Catalogue’ listed 525 books and a ‘Circusiana’ section was created for valuable books, for reference only.
The CFA continues maintaining the collection, ensuring its growth and establishing it as the primary, national collection of books on circus.
The CFA has also amassed one of the most fascinating and important collection of circus related material in the United Kingdom expanding over 200 years. This material has supported research and literature produced by its members over the years and has ensured that an important part of British circus history will be available for future generations of researchers and enthusiasts.
The association has always welcomed enthusiasts and circus artistes to it’s membership and has always produced a regular publication giving news, reviews and articles on circus artistes and personalities and reviews of British and foreign circuses. The current quarterly magazine King Pole, named after the masts, which support a circus tent, is regarded as one of the leading circus periodicals in the world.
The CFA continues to organise visits, formerly called rallies, for the members, to UK circuses and recognises the achievements of those involved in circus with special awards.
After almost 85 years in existence the CFA continues to flourish with membership being maintained in the region of 500 comprising both British and subscribers from abroad.
Found in 1288 Collections and/or Records:
Austen Circus Painting, c1974 - 1999
Acrylic painting on paper of outside view of Austen Circus with trucks outside a large blue tent, mounted on card.
Bailey's Big Circus and Western Show Programme, 1929
Black and white photocopy of original programme with elephant holding a man by the head in its mouth on the front cover and programme inside over two pages, 3p.p.
Bailey's Circus Advertising Pamphlet, c1900 - 1999
Four black and white photographs of circus acts on front cover and red and black type, inside list of available acts and other details on back cover, 2p.p.
Barnard's New Royal Circus Programme, c1800 - 1899
Barnum and Bailey Greatests Show on Earth Programme, Last six weeks, closing 2 April 1898
Twelve enourmeous canvas pavilions, Four hundred blue ribbon horse fair, Menaries of wild and trained beasts, The famous collection of wonderful freaks, Clowns, The Mahdi: or, For The Victoria Cross. Black type on off white background with black and white illustration of equestrian parade on top section, from The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News.
Barrett's Circus Programmes, 1929 - 1956
Programmes for Barrett's Circus and Barrett's Great Canadian Circus containing monochrome illustrations of animals and clown and one with a colour illustration, some only text on the front cover, inside programme.
Barum Circus Programmes, 1967 - 1982
Barum Circus programmes, containing colour illustrations and photographs on the front covers, inside black and white and colour photographs of perfomers and acts with text, introduction, programme and commercial advertising.
Basil Afarasieff Scrapbook, 1922 - 2000
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings, photographs and correspondance, relating to the life of contortionist Basil Afarasieff, or Asief, who was involved with the Royal Italian Circus, 43p.p.
Batty's Great London Circus Programme, c1800 - 1899
Beautiful Black Tiger Poster, c1800 - 1899
Behold the Calliope Print, c1960 - 1969
Colour screenprint of a calliope wagon from the Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus showing a lion and a tiger stood on top of elephant head in golden colours and a red carriage carrying the calliope which golden whistles can be seen in the centre printed on pink paper with information on the bottom section, artwork by George Da Deppo. Print presented by the artist to the Circus Friends Association of Great Britain accompanied by correspondence and artist business card.
Belle Vue 20th International Circus Programme, 1948 - 1949
Manchester. Black type on red, yellow and blue illustrations of circus acts on the background, inside introduction, black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre, other short articles and commercial advertisement, 18p.p.
Belle Vue 21st International Circus Programme, 1949 - 1950
Manchester. Colour illustration of elephant seating down and squirting water out of its trunk and two clowns on bottom section on front cover, inside introduction, black and white illustrations and photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre, other short articles and commercial advertising, 18p.p.
Belle Vue 22nd International Circus Programme, 1950 - 1951
Manchester. Red, black and white illustration of man playing the sousaphone on a yellow background on front cover, inside introduction, black and white illustrations and photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre, other short articles and commercial advertising, 18p.p.
Belle Vue 23rd International Circus Programme, 1951 - 1952
Manchester. Colour illustrations of circus performers and animals around the globe on a red and yellow background on front cover, inside introduction, black and white illustrations and photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre, other short articles and commercial advertising, 18p.p.
Belle Vue 24th International Circus Programme, 1952 - 1953
Manchester. Colour illustration of circus performers and animals in a circus ring with illustration of George Lockhart on the right on yellow background on front cover, inside introduction, black and white illustrations and photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre, other short articles and commercial advertising, 18p.p.
Belle Vue 26th International Circus Programme, 1954 - 1955
Manchester. Colour illustrations of circus acts including clowns, wild west, bear, elephant and tiger on a blue background with yellow, black and white type on a red background on the top section on front cover, inside introduction, black and white illustrations and photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 18p.p.
Belle Vue 27th International Circus Programme, 1955 - 1956
Manchester. Colour illustration of George Lockhart, a tiger, a horse and a clown on a red background on front cover, inside introduction, black and white illustrations and autographed photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 18p.p.
Belle Vue 31st International Circus Programme, 24 December 1959 - 6 February 1960
Manchester. Colour illustration of chimpanzee playing a drum on a white and yellow background on front cover, inside introduction, black and white illustrations and photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 18p.p.
Belle Vue 35th International Circus Programme, 20 December 1963 - 1 February 1964
Manchester. Colour illustration of lions and acrobats on front cover, inside introduction, black and white illustrations and photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 18p.p.