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Showing Collections: 1 - 20 of 22

Bill Barnes Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0172
Scope and Contents

Programmes, posters and photographs mainly related to the Poole family's travelling Myriorama show.

Dates: 1881 - 2017

Charles Taylor Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0069
Scope and Contents

The Charles Taylor collection is a fine example of Taylor’s of Wombwell printers’ posters, which highlight changes in printing techniques, fashion and taste within the popular entertainment industry. Included are examples of posters for pantomimes, fairs and circuses. The collection also contains handbills and other advertising material.

Dates: c1937 - 1989

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: 1795 - 2020

David Braithwaite Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0053
Scope and Contents

This collection contains photographs taken by David Braithwaite from the 1950s and used towards his publications alongside older images collected from other sources as well as business records, monographs, articles, correspondence, newspaper cuttings, advertising material, bibliographies, catalogues, programmes, films and some other miscellaneous items.

Dates: c1880 - 1989

Dick Scott-Stewart Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0072
Scope and Contents

Slide transparencies created for the 'Fairground Snaps' book and later projects. The material in this archive is all of Scott-Stewart's work relating to fairs and circuses, particularly from an artistic and social angle. This collection covers all the field work completed by the artist in preparing his book, as well as trips following the publication.

Dates: 1970 - 1990

Enquirer Printing Company Collection

 Collection
Reference code: NFA0125
Scope and Contents

This collection of printed material produced by the Enquirer Job Printing Company contains American sideshow and freak show posters mainly from the Ripley’s ‘Believe it or Not’ franchise and a poster sampler that was taken around by salesmen from the company.

Dates: 1869; c1930 - 1949

George McIndoe Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0181
Scope and Contents

Photographs, slides, newspaper cuttings related to the Biddall family and photographs of Kirkaldy Fair created for a documentary on Scottish fairs.

Dates: c1880 - 1969; 18 May 1981

George Williams Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0118
Scope and Contents

Collection of early films related to the first year of film-making in America and the United Kingdom and nineteenth century magic lantern slides, letter, film catalogues and photographic plates.

Dates: 1890 - 1896

Joe Hives Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0023
Scope and Contents

Black and white photographs of fairground rides, transport, sideshows, boxing booths and showmen and women.

Dates: c1890 - 1979

John Martin Turner's Circus Research Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0063
Scope and Contents

This collection contains John Turner’s research on circus people indexes, which lists circus performers from the Victorian age onwards. It contains notebooks, index cards, photocopies and pictures gathered from a number of repositories and libraries during John Turner’s life and used for articles published in a variety of journals and magazines, and for the numerous books that he published during his lifetime. The collection also contains some posters and programmes

Dates: 1990 - 2007

Malcolm Airey Circus and Theatre Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0081
Scope and Contents

This collection contains a large number of books, programmes, photographs, research and related notebooks as well as correspondence. Many programmes contain inserts of tickets, notes from Malcolm Airey and other inserts. Amongst others the collection contains examples from the Bertram Mills Circus, Blackpool Tower Ballroom and Billy Smart's circus. There are also technical plans and drawings

Dates: c1900 - 1998

Marshall and Scott Family Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0028
Scope and Contents

Black and white photographs of the Marshall and Scott families, including photographs and correspondence related to Walter Marshall while serving on the RAF during WWII, the Kayes Brothers' Family Circus, the Baker Family and some images of members of the Testo family as well as other performers and acts. Additionally there are circus programmes, correspondence, newspaper cuttings, birth, marriage and death certificates and Wills.

Dates: c1880 - 1999

Mazelly-Miller Family Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0191
Scope and Contents

Black and white photographs and some documents belonging to the Mazelly and Miller fairground families including documents related to WWI and a ditty box.

Dates: c1870 - 1999

National Fairground and Circus Archive Collection

 Collection
Reference code: NFA0092
Scope and Contents

Contains thousands of posters, programmes, photographs, handbills, original documents, specialist journals, newspapers and a library containing publications on all the areas of collecting

Dates: c1700 - 2020

Norman Family Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0087
Scope and Contents

This collection contains photographs, business papers, newspaper cuttings typed pages and notes (probably for an autobiography) with some correspondence about a proposed book. There are also some costumes and props.

Dates: c1930 - 1969

Rod Spooner Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0011
Scope and Contents

The collection includes photographs taken by Jack Mellor and includes images of fairground rides, sideshows and traction engines. There are copies of Rod Spooner's photographs of South and Midland Fairs from 1952-1953. Also included is a cassette recording of an interview With Kay Smart and other showmen/women.

Dates: c1900 - 1989

Ronald Allen Taylor Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0015
Scope and Contents

The collection contains photographs in twenty two albums taken by Taylor and other photographers, correspondence and a number of catalogues including his Dodgem research material.

Dates: c1900 - 1991

Rowland Scott Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0037
Scope and Contents

Photographs related to all aspects of British travelling fairgrounds including; rides, transport, living wagons, showpeople, fairground shows, circuses and organs by Rowland Scott and other authors, a selection of manuscripts by Rowland Scott and a small amount of correspondence.

Dates: c1899 - 1989

Shufflebottom Family Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0014
Scope and Contents The main part of the collection consists of material relating to the Shufflebottom family and receipts and posters advertising their latest attractions. The second half of the collection relates to the Waddington family and Margaret Shufflebottom's later marriage to Arthur Bird.The Shufflebottom collection consists of photographs, diaries, albums, account books and assorted ephemera associated with the family's history on the fair. The photographic material dates from 1890 to the...
Dates: c1890 - 1989

Smart Family Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0079
Scope and Contents

This collection contains posters, programmes, letters, film, business records and a large number of family and circus photographs. This unique family collection charts the history of the Smart family from their beginnings as fairground showmen to presenting one of the greatest British circuses.

Dates: c1890 - 2014

Filtered By

  • Subject: Fairs X
  • Subject: Performers X
  • Subject: Showman X

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Additional filters:

Subject
Showwoman 19
Circus 16
Sideshows 14
Amusement rides 12
Animals 12
∨ more  
Language
German 5
Dutch; Flemish 3
French 3
Spanish; Castilian 3
Chinese 2
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Names
Billy Smart's Circus (c1946 - 2006) 4
The Showmen's Guild of Great Britain (Established 1889) 4
Bertram Mills Circus (1920 - 1967) 3
Buffalo Bill, 1846 - 1917 3
Anderton and Rowland (Established c1854 - 1879) 2
∨ more
Blackpool Pleasure Beach (Established 1896) 2
British Fairground Society (BFS) (Established c1950) 2
Cairoli, Charlie, 1910 - 1980 2
Chipperfield's Circus (Established c1800) 2
Chipperfield, Mary, 1938 - 2014 2
Circus Friends Association of Great Britain (Established 1934) 2
Circus Pinder (Established 1854) 2
Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. Circus (Established c1957) 2
David Smart's Super Circus (c1980 - 1983) 2
Denver, Hal, 1909 - 1994 2
Dodd, Ken, 1927 - 2018 2
Drury Lane Theatre (Established c1660) 2
Fossett's Circus (Established c1870 - 1879) 2
Friendship Circle of Showland Fans. (FCSF) (c1940 - 1969) 2
Gandey's Circus (Established c1918) 2
Hengler Grand Cirque (1844 - 1924) 2
Holland Amusements (Initiated c1870) 2
J.W. Shaw Amusements (Initiated c1860 - 1889) 2
Jolson, Al, c1886 - 1950 2
Ling's Family Amusements (Initiated c1850 - 1859) 2
Lord John Sanger Circus (Established c1880) 2
Mellor, Jack, c1894 - 1979 (Fairground Enthusiast) 2
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (1919 - 2017) 2
Rosaire's Circus & Zoo (Established 1904) 2
Sanger, John, 1819 - 1889 2
Shufflebottom Family, c1870 - 1998 2
Smart, Billy (William), 1894 - 1966 2
The Agricultural Hall (1862 - 1943) 2
Toulmin, Vanessa, Professor, Born 1967 2
Waddington's Funfairs (Initiated c1860 - 1899) 2
Wilsons Group Services (Established c1860) 2
World's Fair Publications Limited (Established 1904) 2
Acres, Birt, 1854 - 1918 1
Airey, Malcolm, c1938 -1998 1
Althoff Circus (c1675 - 1999) 1
Arnold, Tom, 1897 - 1969 1
Askey, Arthur Bowden, 1900 - 1982 1
Assembly Rooms (1810 - 1819) 1
Astley's Amphitheatre (1773 - 1891) 1
Astley, Philip, 1742 - 1814 1
Austen Brothers Circus (Established 1974) 1
Barbette, 1899 - 1973 1
Barltrop, Chris, Born c1958 1
Barnes, Bill (William), 1920 - 2019 1
Barnum & Bailey Circus (1881 - 1919) 1
Barnum, P. T., 1810 - 1891 1
Barrett's Canadian Circus (1925 - 1956) 1
Battersea Park Amusement Park (1858 - 1972) 1
Batty, William, 1801 - 1868 1
Beatty, Clyde, 1903 - 1965 1
Belle Vue (1836 - 1982) 1
Beverly Sisters (c1943 - 2009) 1
Biddall, c1880 - 1914 1
Bingley Hall (1850 - 1984) 1
Bird, Margaret, c1900 - 1999 1
Blackpool Tower Circus (Established 1894) 1
Blondin, Charles, 1824 - 1897 1
Bostock and Wombwell Menagerie (c1846 - 1931) 1
Bostock, Frank C., 1866 - 1912 1
Boswell's Circus (1882 - 2015) 1
Braithwaite, David, 1932 - 1982 1
Braithwaite, Joanna, Born c1960 1
Brick, Hans, 1889 - 1972 1
British Amusement Catering Trade Association (BACTA) (Established 1974) 1
Bruce, Thomas, 7th Earl of Elgin, 1766 - 1841 1
Buller, Redvers Henry, General, Sir, 1839 - 1908 1
Burnaby, Frederick Gustavus, Colonel, 1842 - 1885 1
Butlins (Established c1920) 1
C. Doubtfire (Amusements) Limited (Active c1950 - 1999) 1
Carl Hagenbeck Circus (c1893 - 1907) 1
Carmencita, c1868 - 1910 1
Chapman Circus (1928 - 1940) 1
Chapman, Ellen, 1831 - 1899 1
Chessington World of Adventures (Established 1987) 1
Chipperfield, Jimmy (James), 1912 - 1990 1
Circus Archaos (Established 1986) 1
Circus Barum (1878 - 2008) 1
Circus Busch (1903 - 1999) 1
Circus Busch-Roland (c1884 - 2018) 1
Circus Ginnett (Established c1800) 1
Circus Knie (Established 1803) 1
Circus Krone (Established 1905) 1
Circus Medrano (Established 1875) 1
Circus Roncalli (Established 1976) 1
Circus Sarrasani (c1902 - 1977) 1
Circus of Horrors (Established 1995) 1
Cirque Jean Richard (c1957 - 1990) 1
Cirque d'Hiver Bouglione (Established 1852) 1
Cirque du Soleil (Established 1984) 1
Codona (Established c1790) 1
Cole Bros. Circus (c1884 - 1957) 1
Collins, Pat (Patrick), 1859 - 1943 1
Corrigan's Amusement Arcades (Established c1960 - 1969) 1
Corrigan, Albert, c1920 - 2008 1
Cottle, Gerry, 1945 - 2021 1
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