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Circus Friends Association Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0122

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

Dates

  • Creation: 1795 - 2020

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Items are available to view in the NFCA reading room. Rare books available by appointment only. Some items are not available to view due to poor condition

Conditions Governing Use

Copies may be supplied or produced at the discretion of National Fairground and Circus Archive, subject to copyright law and condition of the material

Biographical / Historical

This collection consists of two distinctive areas, the Library which was donated in 2002 and the Archive which was donated in 2016. The Circus Friends Association (CFA), library is the largest circus book collection in the UK, comprising over 1,000 volumes. The CFA archive contains thousands of posters, photographs and other items of ephemera, compiling a wealth of circus history from the 1800s to today.

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 foreign subscribers www.circusfriends.co.uk/

Extent

70 Linear metre(s) (50 linear metres and 20 planchest drawers)

Language of Materials

English

Portuguese

German

French

Dutch; Flemish

Czech

Italian

Russian

Chinese

Arabic

Danish

Polish

Hungarian

Additional Description

Arrangement

Catalogued according to type

Accruals

Further accruals expected

Related Materials

Smart Family Collection, Malcolm Airey Collection, Harder Johnson Collection, Marshall and Scott Family Collection, Christopher Palmer Collection, Eyres Family Circus Collection, Gerry Cottle Collection, Harry Paulo Collection, Sanger Family collection, Noel Drewe Collection and Sanger Circus Collection

Related Names

Subject

Subjects

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Status
In Progress
Author
Arantza Barrutia
Date
24 April 2018
Description rules
International Standard for Archival Description - General
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the National Fairground and Circus Archive Repository

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/library/special-collections-heritage-and-archives/national-fairground-and-circus-archive
Contact:
The University of Sheffield
Western Bank
Sheffield South Yorkshire S10 2TN United Kingdom
0114 222 7231

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