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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 1288 Collections and/or Records:

Bertram Mills Circus Plan, 18 December 1962 - 2 February 1963

 Item
Reference code: 178M16.2
Scope and Contents

Colour coded aerial plan of Bertram Mills circus ring at Olympia, Grand Hall.

Dates: 18 December 1962 - 2 February 1963

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 20 December 1935 - 25 January 1936

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.508
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of woman with lion resting its head on her shoulder on a blue and pink background on front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs and illustrations of performers and acts, section covering who is who of Bertram Mills circus and commercial advertising. Printed by Fleetwood Press Ltd, 30p.p.

Dates: 20 December 1935 - 25 January 1936

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 22 December 1936 - 27 January 1937

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.510
Scope and Contents

Olympia, London. Colour illustration of Joe Craston in his signature clown's custome on front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts, some articles, section covering who is who of Bertram Mills circus and commercial advertising. Printed by Fleetwood Press Ltd, 30p.p.

Dates: 22 December 1936 - 27 January 1937

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, April - October 1936

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.511
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of woman with lion resting its head on her shoulder on a blue and pink background on front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts, programme in the centre and commercial advertising. Printed by Fleetwood Press Ltd, London, 10p.p.

Dates: April - October 1936

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 22 December 1937 - 27 January 1938

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.512
Scope and Contents

Olympia, London. Colour illustration of Koringa's head on top section in green and black and crocodiles and snakes below on a black background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, some articles, programme with illustrations in the centre and commercial advertising. Printed by Fleetwood Press Ltd, 28p.p.

Dates: 22 December 1937 - 27 January 1938

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, April - October 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.513
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of Koringa on top section in green and black with crocodiles and snakes below on a purple background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 10p.p.

Dates: April - October 1939

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 22 December 1938 - 26 January 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.514
Scope and Contents

Olympia, London. Colour illustration of three clowns on colourful background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme with illustrations in the centre and commercial advertising. Printed by Fleetwood Press Ltd, 30p.p.

Dates: 22 December 1938 - 26 January 1939

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 1940

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.516
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of Koringa on top section in green and black with crocodiles and snakes below on a purple background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of Bertram Mills, his sons, The Earl of Lonsdale and the Lord Burghley, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 4p.p.

Dates: 1940

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 20 December 1946 - 1 February 1947

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.518
Scope and Contents

Olympia, Londo. Colour illustration of Joe Craston on a blue background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme with illustrations in the centre and commercial advertising, 22p.p.

Dates: 20 December 1946 - 1 February 1947

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 1947

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.519
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of Joe Craston on a red background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of acts and performers, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.

Dates: 1947

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 1948

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.520
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of Joe Craston on a red background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.

Dates: 1948

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.521
Scope and Contents

Colour photograph of white face clown in colourful sequence outfit holding a white circle advertising the circus on a black background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.

Dates: 1949

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 20 December 1949 - 2 February 1950

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.522
Scope and Contents

Olympia, London. Outline illustration of horses head in profile within a star with red dots on a green background with golden stripes on decorative cover, inside colour photograph of two clowns holding a white poster with circus information on front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme with illustrations in the centre and commercial advertising, 24p.p.

Dates: 20 December 1949 - 2 February 1950

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 1950 - 1951

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.523
Scope and Contents

Black and white illustration of elephant standing on a circus platform its back legs on a red background within white leafy circle on decorative cover, inside colour photograph of tight rope walker on a brown background and black and white photographs and illustrations of acts and performers with text, programme with illustrations in the centre and commercial advertising, 24p.p.

Dates: 1950 - 1951

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 1951

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.525
Scope and Contents

Colour photograph of white face clown in colourful sequence outfit holding a white circle advertising the circus on a green background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.

Dates: 1951

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 1952

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.526
Scope and Contents

Colour photograph of lion on a green and red background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.

Dates: 1952

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 1952 - 1953

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.527
Scope and Contents

Golden type on red background on decorative cover, inside colour illustration of seal holding a yellow ball on its nose and penguins on a yellow and green background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photograhs of acts and performers with text, programme with illustrations in the centre and commercial advertising, 24p.p.

Dates: 1952 - 1953

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 1953 - 1954

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.528
Scope and Contents

Black illustration of horse's head in a circle on red background on decorative cover, inside colour photograph of man directing a band of chimpanzees on a blue, green and yellow background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photograhs of acts and performers with text, programme with illustrations in the centre, article on the story of Bertram Mills circus and commercial advertising, 24p.p.

Dates: 1953 - 1954

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 1954 - 1955

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.529
Scope and Contents

Black type on yellow with cut out circle in the centre showing a tiger's face on decorative cover, inside colour illustration of tiger leaping though a hoop on a green background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photograhs of acts and performers with text, programme with illustrations in the centre, article entitled sketch book and commercial advertising, 20p.p.

Dates: 1954 - 1955

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 1954

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.530
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of chimpanzee riding a bicicle with another chimpanzee on its shoulders, both wearing red dungarees and yellow jumpers on green and yellow background on front cover, inside introduction, black and white photograhs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.

Dates: 1954