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 1302 Collections and/or Records:
Various Items, c1800 - 2019
A range of circus related items related to Hassan Ali, Adha Issacs Menken, Barnum and Bailey, funeral items, illustrations of circus parades, circus tickets, discount vouchers and booking forms, circus themed stickers, famous clown clay models, circus themed jigsaw puzzles, circus model figures, comics books and children's books, Circus Friends Association related material, Montecarlo Circus Festival related items, Jesse Fossett's throwing knives and other items.
Various Items of Correpondence, 1966 - 1980
Various items of correspondence including Christmas greetings and letters. Most greeting cards have circus illustrations. Also a letter from Willson's Show Printers to the Pinder Family with a business quote.
Various Items of Research Material, c1900 - 1999
Bundle of notebook pages, loose pages and newspaper cuttings on various circus topics and some correspondence by Hal Thomas (David Harold Thomas). Manuscript and typescript.
Various Items of Trade and Advertising, c1950 - 1985
Various Newspaper Cuttings on Circus, 1930
Newspaper cuttings including E. H. Bostock's wedding report.
Various Newspapers and Newspaper Cuttings, 1927 - 2007
Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian Circus Posters, c1800 - 1930
Early circus and menagerie posters including Polito's menagerie, Astley's Amphitheatre and Pablo Fanque's, Sanger's, Powell's, Ducrow's, Cooke's and Hengler's circuses among others.
Views and Order of the Procession, Barnum and Bailey Show Booklet, 1899
Hard cover fold out booklet with red fabric spine and title printed on yellow paper and glued to the front cover, containing eight monocrhome views in red showing animals and carts parading with titles and order of the procession in the centre in red type for the Barnum and Bailey Show.
W. H. Wilkie Presents the Fabulous Dancing Waters Programme, c1900 - 1999
Colour illustration of woman playing a piano over a multicolour background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs on red background of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 6p.p.
W. H. Wilkie's Super Big Top Circus Programme, 1957
Colour illustration of clown's face on left hand side over a blue background and red, green and black type on yellow background on the right on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs and orange and white illustrations of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.
Weiner Stadthalle Circus Programmes, 1961 - 1971
Circus programmes for Weiner Stadthalle containing colour illustrations and photographs on the front covers, inside introduction, black and white photographs of perfomers and acts with text, programme and commercial advertising.
William Frederick Wallett Print, 1861
Engraving on paper by Mayall, printed by D. J. Pound. Black and white illustration of three quarters figure of a man in a long jacket stood with his right hand on his chest, presented in a golden embossed frame with a royal embossed coin beneath and dedicated to Brown Esq. from his old friend W. F. Wallett.
William Frederick Wallett, The Queen's Jester Print, c1800 - 1899
Engraving on paper by Mayall, printed by D. J. Pound. Black and white illustration of three quarter figure of a man in a long jacket stood with his right hand on his chest.
William Gilbert's Circus Programmes, 1951 - 1966
Programmes for William Gilbert's Circus and Gilbert's International Circus containing monochrome illustrations of equestrian act, text and dancing scene on the front cover, inside programme and some commercial advertising.
Winship and Son's Circus Programmes, 1950 - 1969
Black and white photograph of a cownboy, black and white illustrations of clowns and a horses' head through a horse shoe on the front covers, inside programme and some commercial advertising.
Wombwell's and Bailey's New York Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999
Brown and gold illustrations on off white background showing planet earth, wild animals on the right, people on the left, including African warrior and man in unifor and portrait of George Wombwell on top left corner on the front cover, inside programme, on back cover bird's eye view of Wombwell's menagerie tents and crowds of people, 2p.p.
World's Fair Poster, c1800 - 1899
Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington, open 23rd December till 12th February. Black and white photograph of a horse with extremely long hair on both mane and tail with black type around it advertising Linus, the world's wonder born at Oregon, U.S.A. The only double maned horse in existence. Printed by Sam Lightgow, Art and Decorative Show Printer, 79 Surrey Street, Glasgow.
World's Fairs Newspaper Cuttings
Selection of circus news from the World's Fair newspaper with highlighted text and some collague work, some text compiled by Don Stacey.
World's Largest Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 17 March - 2 April 1966
Birmigham, Hay Mills. Colour illustration of female stood on an elephant with two elephants resting their front legs on that elephant, all on blocks of black colour over a red and orange background with white, blue and yellow type. Printed in England by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.
Yasmine Smart's Circus Programme, 17 June - 12 September 1981
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Presented by Jack and Peter Jay. Colour illustration of roaring lion's head on top left, elephants, white horses, clowns, water fountain, seal and woman holding microphone on a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 6p.p