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Showing Collections: 1 - 12 of 12

Arthur Jones Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0049
Scope and Contents

The photograph library of the Friendship Circle of Showland Fans (FCFS). This collection includes material relating to famous fairs, engines and rides. As well as containing a full bound set of 'Merry-Go-Round' journals and numerous books, letters and other journals. The collection includes various catalogues and notebooks documenting the use of traction engines on the fairground.

Dates: c1900 - 1979

Bill Weeks Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0002
Scope and Contents

This collection contains photographs of fairgrounds and steam engines, journal articles, newspaper cuttings, correspondence and books on railways, engineering, fairgrounds and other related topics.

Dates: c1920 - 2000

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

Harry Poole Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0039
Scope and Contents

Black and white photographs of rides, engines, shows and acts as well as scrapbooks of newspaper cuttings from 'The World's Fair' including British Fairground Society Notes, 1949-1963 and scrapbooks relating to fairs, particularly in the Lancashire area.

Dates: c1900 - 1969

Jack Leeson Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0019
Scope and Contents

Photographs and negatives, both collected and taken by him as well as notebooks with detailed lists of every fair visited. Jack Leeson used an elaborate system of cross-referencing which match the photographs and Jack's account of the fair. Also included are letters, scrapbooks and a collection of records of fairground music and some fairground models.

Dates: 1949 - 1992

Jack Wilkinson Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0168
Scope and Contents Black and white and colour photographs and negatives of fairgrounds, fairground organs, steam engines and other transportation systems with annotations by Jack Wilkinson and other sources, such as William Keating, James Davidson, Philip Bradley and Jack Mellor, as well as notebooks, scrapbooks, journals, books, correspondence, research material, audio tapes of fairground organ music and some 3D items including Jack's recording equipment and a model of a fairground organ. Jack Wilkinson’s...
Dates: c1900 - 1979

O'Connor-Toulmin Family Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0025
Scope and Contents

The collection contains photographs, including early family photographs of the O'Connor family, contemporary research, journal articles and books written by Vanessa Toulmin. Also included in the collection are manuscripts and newspaper cuttings.

Dates: c1900 - 2001

Orton and Spooner Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0070
Scope and Contents

This collection contains a large selection of archives from the Orton and Spooner Company. The collection comprises photographs and cabinet card images showing carved work, structural work and classic painted work, 4 boxes of notes, invoices and clippings, 8 drawers of plans and blueprints, 2 folders of ride specifications and order forms, accounts books and a library of source books showing turn of the century art used by the artists in the company.

Dates: c1870 - 1969

Stuart Johnstone Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0041
Scope and Contents

Photographs of rides, fairgrounds, traction engines and organs taken by a number of individuals as well as detailed notebooks. His notebooks are essentially digested versions of the World's Fair and include chronological guides to fairs, machines for sale, parks, engines and families.

Dates: 1920 - 1980

Testo Family Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0032
Scope and Contents

This collection comprises photographs, business records, articles, correspondence, newspaper cuttings, advertising material, family research and items of personal archive related to the Testo family history in the fairground and circus

Dates: 1898 - 1999

The Showmen's Guild of Great Britain Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0054
Scope and Contents

The main extent of the collection contains yearbooks, meetings and minutes, correspondence and a record of day to day activities within The Showmen's Guild of Great Britain.

Dates: 1904 - 2023

World's Fair Newspaper Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0085
Scope and Contents

This collection consists of the complete run of The World's Fair Newspaper from 1904 to the present day. Including microfilmed copies from 1904 to 1950.

Dates: 1904 - 2020

Filtered By

  • Subject: Musical performances X
  • Subject: Showman X
  • Subject: Transport X

Filter Results

Additional filters:

Subject
Amusement rides 10
Fairground art 8
Sideshows 8
Caravans 6
World War, 1939-1945 6
∨ more  
Language
German 2
Arabic 1
Chinese 1
Czech 1
Danish 1
∨ more  
Names
World's Fair Publications Limited (Established 1904) 6
Anderton and Rowland (Established c1854 - 1879) 2
Belle Vue (1836 - 1982) 2
Bertram Mills Circus (1920 - 1967) 2
Bostock and Wombwell Menagerie (c1846 - 1931) 2
∨ more
Chipperfield's Circus (Established c1800) 2
Collins, Pat (Patrick), 1859 - 1943 2
Friendship Circle of Showland Fans. (FCSF) (c1940 - 1969) 2
Horne, Thomas, Reverend, c1850 - 1918 2
Olympia London (Established 1886) 2
The Showmen's Guild of Great Britain (Established 1889) 2
Thurston, Charles, c1882 - 1928 2
Whimsical Walker, 1851 - 1934 2
Althoff Circus (c1675 - 1999) 1
Arnold, Tom, 1897 - 1969 1
Aspland, George, 1836 - 1911 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
Barnum & Bailey Circus (1881 - 1919) 1
Barrett's Canadian Circus (1925 - 1956) 1
Bartlett, John Norman, c1892 - 1972 1
Battersea Park Amusement Park (1858 - 1972) 1
Batty, William, 1801 - 1868 1
Beatty, Clyde, 1903 - 1965 1
Billy Smart's Circus (c1946 - 2006) 1
Bingley Hall (1850 - 1984) 1
Blackpool Pleasure Beach (Established 1896) 1
Blackpool Tower Circus (Established 1894) 1
Blondin, Charles, 1824 - 1897 1
Bostock, Frank C., 1866 - 1912 1
Boswell's Circus (1882 - 2015) 1
Bradley, Philip W, Active 1920 - 1999 1
Braithwaite, David, 1932 - 1982 1
Brick, Hans, 1889 - 1972 1
British Fairground Society (BFS) (Established c1950) 1
Browns Foundry Co. (Established 1869) 1
Buffalo Bill, 1846 - 1917 1
Cairoli, Charlie, 1910 - 1980 1
Calladine, Neil, Born 1951 1
Carl Hagenbeck Circus (c1893 - 1907) 1
Chapman Circus (1928 - 1940) 1
Chapman, Ellen, 1831 - 1899 1
Chessington World of Adventures (Established 1987) 1
Chipperfield, Jimmy (James), 1912 - 1990 1
Chipperfield, Mary, 1938 - 2014 1
Circus Archaos (Established 1986) 1
Circus Barum (1878 - 2008) 1
Circus Busch (1903 - 1999) 1
Circus Busch-Roland (c1884 - 2018) 1
Circus Friends Association of Great Britain (Established 1934) 1
Circus Ginnett (Established c1800) 1
Circus Knie (Established 1803) 1
Circus Krone (Established 1905) 1
Circus Medrano (Established 1875) 1
Circus Pinder (Established 1854) 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
Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. Circus (Established c1957) 1
Cole Bros. Circus (c1884 - 1957) 1
Cottle, Gerry, 1945 - 2021 1
Court, Alfred, 1883 - 1977 1
Cranes (Dereham) Ltd (1865 - 2005) 1
Craston, Joe (Joseph), 1868 - 1948 1
Crystal Palace (1851 - 1936) 1
Danter, Establish c1880 (Fairground Showmen) 1
Darby, Herbert, Active c1880 - 1929 (Fairground Artist) 1
David Smart's Super Circus (c1980 - 1983) 1
Denver, Hal, 1909 - 1994 1
Dodd, Ken, 1927 - 2018 1
Doddles, c1877 - 1967 1
Drury Lane Theatre (Established c1660) 1
Ducrow, Andrew (1793-1842) 1
Duffy's Circus (Established c1800) 1
Fairweather, John, 1867 - 1942 (Architect) 1
Farrar's Fun Fairs (Established 1876) 1
Farrar, Enoch, c1860 - 1935 1
Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain (Established 1977) 1
Fossett's Circus (Established c1870 - 1879) 1
Gandey's Circus (Established c1918) 1
George Orton, Sons & Spooner Ltd (1875 - 1977) 1
Gerry Cottle's Circus (1974 - 2003) 1
Giffords Circus (Established 2000) 1
Glasgow Empire Theatre (1897 - 1963) 1
Great Yarmouth Hippodrome (Established 1903) 1
Grimaldi, Joseph, 1778 - 1837 1
Hassan, Ali, Born c1876 1
Hengler Grand Cirque (1844 - 1924) 1
Holland Amusements (Initiated c1870) 1
Horn, Rudy, 1933 - 2018 1
Huxter, Percy, 1890 - 1960 1
International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo (Established 1974) 1
J. Whiting & Son Funfairs (Established c1899) 1
James Noyce & Sons Funfair (Established c1800) 1
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