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Ruth Manning-Sanders Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0177

Scope and Contents

This collection comprises correspondence, photographs and newspaper cuttings, relating to Rosaire’s Circus, compiled by the writer and poet, Ruth Manning-Sanders. Accompanied by correspondence with, and photographs of, Freddie Pickford, an elephant trainer, during his time working for Fossett’s Circus, as well as various printed items and further photographs, thought to be accumulated in the course of her career as an author, who wrote extensively on the circus, including a book titled, ‘The English Circus’ published in 1952.

Dates

  • Creation: c1920 - 1959

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Closed until processed

Conditions Governing Use

Closed until processed

Biographical / Historical

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.

Extent

1 Box(es)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

Catalogued according to type

Related Materials

Circus Friends Association Collection

Status
Completed
Description rules
International Standard for Archival Description - General
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the National Fairground and Circus Archive Repository

Contact:
The University of Sheffield
Western Bank
Sheffield South Yorkshire S10 2TN United Kingdom
0114 222 7231