Manning-Sanders, Ruth, 1886 - 1988
Dates
- Existence: 21 August 1886 - 12 October 1988
Biography
Ruth Manning-Sanders was born in Swansea, Wales on 21 August 1886. She was the youngest daughter of John Edmondson Manning, a Unitarian minister, and Emma Manning (nee Browne Brock). The family moved to Sheffield when she was three, and then, relocated to Manchester in 1902.
She went on to study English literature and Shakespearean studies at Manchester University. Due to an illness, she was forced to leave university and whilst convalescing in Devon she met artist, George Sanders (later known as George Manning-Sanders). They married in 1911 and spent much of their early married life touring England in a horse-drawn caravan with Rosaire’s Circus, owned by Fred Ross (also known as Fred Rosaire or ‘The Count’).
She wrote about her experiences with the circus extensively. Her novel titled ‘The Golden Ball: A Novel of the Circus’ (1954) is said to include parallels with the life of Leon LaRoche, a famed circus performer with Barnum & Bailey Circus from 1895 through 1902. She also wrote about the origins and history of the circus in her book titled, ‘The English Circus’ (1952).
Ruth Manning-Sanders had a very successful writing career with her first work published in 1919. Two of her early poetry collections were published by The Hogarth Press run by Leonard and Virginia Woolf. She went on to write ninety books in varying genres, including prose, poetry and non-fiction. She is best known for her children’s’ stories and retelling of fairytales and ancient legends, which she began writing after the Second World War.
She died in Penzance, Cornwall aged 102 on 12 October 1988.
Found in 31 Collections and/or Records:
Aubrey Rosaire, Zena Rosaire, Johnny Swallow and 'Little Freddie' Halles, c1936 - 1942
Black and white photograph of Aubrey Rosaire (dressed as a clown), Zena Rosaire, Johnny Swallow and 'Little Freddie' Halles, standing in front of a circus tent.
Circus Performing Family with a Horse, c1935 - 1938
Photographic negative of a man and a women in costume, with a young boy and a older women, thought to have been taken at Fossett's Circus.
Circus Performing Family with a Horse, c1935 - 1938
Black and white photograph of a man and a women in costume, with a young boy and a older women, thought to have been taken at Fossett's Circus.
Circus Performing Family with a Horse, c1935 - 1938
Black and white photograph of a man and a women in costume, with a young boy and a older women, thought to have been taken at Fossett's Circus.
Cissy Rosaire and Wally Shufflebottom Riding Elephants on Their Wedding Day, 1936
Black and white postcard, taken from height, looking down at Cecilia Rosaire (also know as Cissy Rosaire) and Wally Shufflebottom on their wedding day, shown riding an elephant with another elephant and a large crowd surrounding them outside St. Mary Magdalen Church on the High Street, Billericay, Essex. The elephants are possibly 'Salt' and 'Saucy'. Florence Rosaire (also known as 'The Countess') can be seen in the middle of the photograph smiling at the camera.
Correspondence, 1932 - 1949
Includes correspondence sent to Ruth Manning-Sanders from performers that she met whilst travelling with the circus, including Freddie Pickford and various members of the Rosaire family, notably Fred Rosaire (also known as The Count) and Florence Rosaire (known as The Countess).
Correspondence from the Rosaire Family, 23 December 1938 - 22 November 1949
Fossett’s Circus Photographs, c1930 - 1940
Fred Rosaire and Florence Rosaire with Circus Performers, c1938 - 1945
Black and white photograph of Fred Rosaire (also known as 'The Count' or 'Count Rosaire') and his wife, Florence Rosaire (also known as 'The Countess' or 'Countess Rosaire'), with circus worker, Douglas Burrage, two clowns (one possibly 'Little Freddie'), and four unidentified children (possibly their grandchildren).
Group of Circus Performers and Elephants, c1936 - 1942
Black and white photograph of a large group of circus performers and workers, with four elephants. The group is thought to include the following members of the Rosaire family: Aubrey Rosaire (dressed as a clown), Ivor Rosaire, Dennis Rosaire, Zena Rosaire (also known as Zenita Rosaire) and Cissy Rosaire (also known as Cecilia Rosaire).
Ivor Rosaire and Derrick Rosaire, c1936 - 1950
Black and white photograph of two shirtless men standing in front of a circus tent, thought to be Ivor Rosaire and Derrick Rosaire (possibly before or after a gymnastic performance on rings).
Ivor Rosaire, Lucy Rosaire, Juliette Rosaire and Derrick Rosaire, 1948
Black and white photograph of Ivor Rosaire, with his wife, Lucy Rosaire and their two children, Juliette (aged 7) and Derrick (aged 4).
Ivor Rosaire, Lucy Rosaire, Zena Rosaire and Stanley Perkins, 1948
Black and white postcard of Ivor Rosaire, with his wife, Lucy Rosaire and Zena Rosaire (also known as Zenita Rosaire) standing on the steps of a living caravan in Jersey. Includes inscription on the reverse that reads as follows: 'Ivor, Zena, Lucy and Stanley Perkins. Taken 1948 Jersey'.
Juliette Rosaire, 1949
Studio black and white photograph of Juliette Rosaire aged 8, shown in a sequined costume and wearing a crown, taken during a trip to Stockholm, Sweden.
Juliette Rosaire, 1949
Studio black and white photograph of Juliette Rosaire aged 8, shown in a sequined costume and wearing a crown, taken during a trip to Stockholm, Sweden.
Juliette Rosaire, 1949
Studio black and white photograph of Juliette Rosaire aged 8, shown in a sequined costume and wearing a crown, taken during a trip to Stockholm, Sweden.
Juliette Rosaire and Two Lion Cubs, c1940 - 1941
Black and white photograph of Juliette Rosaire aged about 1, with two lion cubs.
Juliette Rosaire Dancing, 1949
Studio black and white photograph of Juliette Rosaire aged 8, shown dancing in a sequined costume and wearing a crown, taken during a trip to Stockholm, Sweden.
Juliette Rosaire Dancing, 1949
Studio black and white photograph of Juliette Rosaire aged 8, shown dancing in a sequined costume and wearing a crown, taken during a trip to Stockholm, Sweden.
Juliette Rosaire Dancing, 1949
Studio black and white photograph of Juliette Rosaire aged 8, shown dancing in a sequined costume and wearing a crown, taken during a trip to Stockholm, Sweden.
Filtered By
- Subject: Family X
Additional filters:
- Type
- Archival Object 30
- Collection 1
- Subject
- Acrobats 2
- Aerialists 3
- Animal trainers 7
- Animals 13
- Caravans 4
- Caricatures and cartoons 2
- Circus 30
- Clowning 6
- Dwarfs (Persons) 5
- Equestrians 5
- Exhibitions 1
- Fairground art 3
- Fairs 2
- Gymnasts 4
- Performers 19
- Stunt performers 5
- Tightrope walking 3
- World War, 1939-1945 2 + ∧ less