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Circus Friends Association of Great Britain (Established 1934)

 Organisation

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 1302 Collections and/or Records:

Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1951

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.576
Scope and Contents

Green and white illustration of laughing clown's face and paragraph by George Sanger on front and programme on reverse.

Dates: 1951

Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1952

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.578
Scope and Contents

Green and white illustration of laughing clown's face and paragraph by George Sanger on front cover, inside programme and Sanger circus facts and information on what happens before the circus comes to town on back cover. Printed by Willsons, Leicester, 2p.p.

Dates: 1952

Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1954 Christmas season

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.580
Scope and Contents

Sophia Ganderns' Pavilion, Cardiff. Colour illustration of laughing clown's face wearing a black top hat and red and black type on yellow background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of family members and text on the history of the Sanger circus, programme in the centre, black and white photographs of acts and the Royal family with text and commercial advertising. Printed by Priory Press Ltd., The Friary, Cardiff, 8p.p.

Dates: 1954 Christmas season

Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1954

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.581
Scope and Contents

Red and white illustration of laughing clown's face and paragraph by George Sanger on front cover, inside programme and Sanger circus facts. Printed by Willsons, Leicester, 2p.p.

Dates: 1954

Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, c1962

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.585
Scope and Contents

Colour photograph of head of roaring lion on a yellow background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of acts, animals and performers with text, programme in the centre andshort article on back cover, also two newspaper cuttings found inside, see 178G21.89. Printed by Hasting Printing Co., Portland Place, Hastings, 4p.p.

Dates: c1962

Lord George Sanger's Circus Revue Programme, Commencing Monday 8 March 1937

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.567
Scope and Contents

The Opera House, Cheltenham. Black type and small illustration of a landscape and scrolls on centre over an off white background on front cover, inside programme. Printed by Frod and Branch Ltd., Gloucester, 2p.p.

Dates: Commencing Monday 8 March 1937

Lord George Sanger's Equestrian and Zoological Exhibition Programme, 17 July 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.24
Scope and Contents

Windsor Castle. Navy blue type on silk with coat of arms on top section, listing acts, some of the performers and animals.

Dates: 17 July 1899

Lord George Sanger's Grand Colosseum Circus Programme, c1908

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.552
Scope and Contents

Marron type on off white background with illustrations of circus performers along the right and left edges including, highwire walking, clowns, acrobats, animals and equestrian act, programme in the centre. Printed by Willson's Printers, Leicester, 2p.p.

Dates: c1908

Lord George Sanger's Great Hippodramatic and Spectacular Circus Programme, c1800 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.17
Scope and Contents Mdlles. Marie and Yetta on the lofty wire, Brothers Artois on the horizontal bar, James Holloway, Brothers Austin, Mr. Joseph Craston with clairboyant and talking horse, Tipster, Mdlles. Violet, Topsy and Rose, on the slack wire, H. Austin, equestrian act, Dance Linwood, clown, Prof. James in ladder act, Mdlle. Florezell, contorsionist act, Mdlle. Lillian equestrian act, James Holloway clown, Madame Pauline de Vere lion tamer, Harry Whitely's singing donkey, Messrs. Cottrell and Austen,...
Dates: c1800 - 1899

Lord John Sanger Scrapbook, 1911

 Item
Reference code: 178G21.88
Scope and Contents

Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings on the death and funeral of Lord George Sanger, also contains some correspondence and other items of ephemera, 17p.p.

Dates: 1911

Lord John Sanger's Circus Programme, c1921

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.555
Scope and Contents

Black and white illustration of clown's torso holding a sign reading programme on the front cover and black type on off white background, inside 100 years of Sangers article with black and white photograph and programme as well as commercial advertising, on back cover article continues also with black and white photographs. Printed by Wiles and Co., Printers, 6 George Street, Richmond, Surrey, 2p.p.

Dates: c1921

Lord John Sanger's Circus Programme, c1927

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.557
Scope and Contents

Black and white illustration of clown's torso holding a sign reading programme on the front cover and black type on off white background, inside 106 years of Sangers article with black and white photograph and programme as well as commercial advertising, on back cover article continues also with black and white photographs. Printed by Wiles and Co., Printers, 6 George Street, Richmond, Surrey, 2p.p.

Dates: c1927

Lord John Sanger's Circus Programme, c1928

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.558
Scope and Contents

Black and white illustration of seal holding a large ball on its nose and circus parade on background on front cover, inside 107 years of Sangers article with black and white photograph and programme as well as commercial advertising, on back cover article continues also with black and white photographs. Printed by Wiles and Co., Printers, 6 George Street, Richmond, Surrey, 2p.p.

Dates: c1928

Lord John Sanger's Circus Programme, 1934

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.562
Scope and Contents

Green, black and white illustration of showgirl in the centre with the head of a laughing clown above her and two roaring lion heads on the bottom corners on the front cover, inside programme and after performance shows on back cover. Printed by Willsons' Leicester, 2p.p.

Dates: 1934

Lord John Sanger's Circus Scrapbook, 1937 - 1954

 Item
Reference code: 178G21.6
Scope and Contents

Scrapbook relating to Lord John Sanger's Circus, contains advertisments, black and white photographs, programmes and newspaper cuttings, 34p.p

Dates: 1937 - 1954

Lord John Sanger's Circus Scrapbook, 1939 - 1955

 Item
Reference code: 178G21.12
Scope and Contents

Scrapbook relating to Lord John Sanger's Circus, contains posters, newspapering cuttings, programmes and advertisments, 53 p.p.

Dates: 1939 - 1955

Lord John Sanger's Combined Shows Programme, c1920 - 1929

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.556
Scope and Contents

Black and white illustration of clown's torso holding a sign reading programme on the front cover and black type on off white background, inside programme and large black and white photograph of women holding lion cubs on back cover the Empire Zoo with illustrations, 2p.p.

Dates: c1920 - 1929

Louis Barber Mammoth Circus Programmes, 1947 - 1949

 File
Reference code: 178K43.672
Scope and Contents

Programmes for Louis Barber Mammoth Circus, Big Top Circus and Circus Royale. Three colour illustration of a woman's face covered by a fan and other theatre scenes on the front covers, inside programme and commercial advertising.

Dates: 1947 - 1949

Lucken's Circus Programmes, 1952 - 1968

 File
Reference code: 178K43.664
Scope and Contents

Programmes for Lucken's Circus, Lucken's Mammoth Continental Circus, Walter Lucken's All Star Circus, Wally Luckens Circus and others, containing clown and equestrian illustrations on the front cover, inside programme, some black and white photographs of performers with text, some illustrations and commercial advertising.

Dates: 1952 - 1968

Magical Tower Circus Around the World with Mooky Programme, 2005

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.40
Scope and Contents

Colour photograph of clown's head on top right holding the world with white gloves with cut outs showing circus acts through and the Tower on top of the world over a dark blue and starry background, introduction, colour photographs of performers and acts inside with text and photograph of the circus ring in the centre, 12p.p.

Dates: 2005