Scope and Contents

This collection consists of a large library of books and journals, as well as archival material including posters, programmes, photographs, films, handbills, research material, scrapbooks, original artwork and many other items of ephemera relating to British, Irish and European circuses

Scope and Contents Black and white and some colour photographs of circus scenes, animals, people and personalities including; Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Dame Laura Knight, Bertram Mills, Cyril Mills, Winston Churchill, Coco, Whimsical Walker, A. Pearson equestrian director at Bertram Mills Circus, Percy Huxter, Lulu Adams, Cissie Rosaire, Aubry Rosaire and Zena Rosaire, also Rosaire Circus, Bertam Mills Circus, Tom Arnold's Circus, Ginnett's and Fossett's Circus and a large Barnum shows...

Scope and Contents

Letters and telegrams primarily relating to the performing lives of Ralph Norman (aka Hal Denver) and his wife, Olga Norman, known as The Sensational Denvers, in the 1950s, as well as Ralph Normans's family life and later career endeavours in both the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

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Envelope, post-marked 28 February 1956, addressed to Hal Denver, care of Music Corporation of America, Dallas, Texas, with ‘Tom Arnold’ written across the left-hand corner; typescript, 1p.

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Letter from John M Hall to Hal Denver, concerning Wild West shows and referring to Tom Mix, and the Tom Arnold Harringay Rodeo ‘Texas’; manuscript, 1p.

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Letter and envelope, both headed Tom Arnold and signed by Clem Butson, regretting their inability to offer Hal Denver work in the coming season; typescript, 2pp.

Scope and Contents

A collection of newspaper cuttings on circus, circus proprietors and performers and scrapbooks containing newspaper cuttings, posters, programmes and other items of ephemera, covering mainly British circuses and venues such as Belle Vue and also some international circuses.

Scope and Contents This collection comprises letters, business contracts and agreements, advertising material, printed ephemera and photographs, relating to the life and career of Ralph Norman (also known as Hal Denver), a knife thrower who performed as part of The Sensational Denvers. There are also writings by Ralph Norman, concerning his father, Tom Norman (aka 'The Silver King'), as well as draft chapters for his autobiography, which he titled, 'Knife and Hatchet Man'. Accompanied by a set of throwing...

Scope and Contents

Black and white and colour photographs, negatives and photographic albums mainly containing images of British circus, circus performers, animals and circus personalities but also some menageries such as Bostock and Wombwell and other associated entertainments and non-British circuses taken by David Jamieson, Lindsay Temple, Den Curtis, Capt. Middleton, Jack Niblett and other photographers.

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A collection of mainly British and international circus programmes and some variety and music hall programmes containing circus acts.

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Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings and black and white photographs, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Moscow State Circus, Bertram Mills, Billy Smarts, Harringay Circus, 37p.p.

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Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings and black and white photographs, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Chipperfield's, Harringay Circus, 50p.p.

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Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings and photographs, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Bertram Mills, Jack Hylton's, Chipperfield's and Harringay's, 14p.p.

Scope and Contents

Programmes for Tom Arnorld's Harringay Circus and Wild West Show and Tom Arnold presenting Big Top, Mammoth Circus and others at various locations containing black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, illustrations, programme and commercial advertising.