Manuscript letters sent to Ruth Manning-Sanders from Fred Rosaire (known as 'The Count') and Florence Rosaire (known as 'The Countess') of Rosaire’s Circus, as well as other members of the Rosaire family, including: ‘Martin and Ida’, ‘Dennis and Emilia’, Zena Rosaire, ‘Helen’ (wife of Aubrey Rosaire) and ‘Lucy’ (wife of Ivor Rosaire). Interspersed with letters from Frank Geddes, Bernard C. Harris and Douglas G. H. Burrage, all of which worked for, or were connected with, Rosaire’s Circus.

The letters contain primarily news of family members who were circus performers, their lives, work and the different acts that they performed, as well as the difficulties faced by their circus business, and then later the success and the expansion of the business during the Second World War. There are also references in the letters to the elephants, lions, bears, horses and dogs that were part of Rosaire’s Circus, their living accommodation and transportation, equipment purchased from Sangers Circus, the death of Aubrey Rosaire, arrangements for Ruth Manning-Sanders to come and work for Rosaire’s Circus as a Publicity Agent, and other performers that worked with Rosaire’s Circus, including Wally Shufflebottom (husband of Cissy Rosaire), Tommy Kayes, John Swallow (also known as Johnny Swallow) and Charles Lawrence.

Notable letters include: Letter written by Fred Rosaire from Billericay, Essex, dated 21 October 1939 (Insert reference). Includes references to animals being destroyed, and uncertainty of future due to the outbreak of the Second World War.

Letter written by Fred Rosaire from the Show Ground at Market Drayton, Shropshire dated 14 November 1941. Contains news of the death if his son, Aubrey, and his plans for an upcoming show at the Aston Hippodrome, Birmingham.

Letter written by Fred Rosaire whilst performing at the Empire in Sunderland dated 24 February 1942. Found with a poster enclosed, which lists the acts that performed with Rosaire’s Circus at the Aston Hippodrome. Birmingham (January [1942]).

Letter written by Douglas G. H. Burrage from Oakley Studios, Chelsea, dated 7 November 1942. Includes comments on the success of Rosaire’s Circus during the summer season of 1942, and descriptions that provide an insight into atmosphere of the circus in 1940s.

Letter written by Douglas G. H. Burrage from Oakley Studios, Chelsea dated 23 August 1943. Illustrated with an ink drawing of a living caravan, and contains details of family disagreements and news of his decision to leave Rosaire’s Circus.

Some of the letters are written on yellow headed paper advertising Rosaire’s British and Continental Circus and Animal Jungle. There are also a number of letters on headed paper illustrated with photographs of Fred Rosaire and Florence Rosaire. Later letters are written from the family’s permanent address at Willoughby Farm, Billericay, Essex.