Skip to main content Skip to search results

Showing Collections: 1 - 17 of 17

Argyle Theatre Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0117
Scope and Contents

This collection contains a large number of posters as well as business records including records of artist bookings, accounts, scrapbooks, contracts and correspondence.

Dates: 1865 - 1941

Cyril Critchlow Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0089
Scope and Contents The Cyril Critchlow collection contains programmes, posters, handbills, books and magic journals, many of which relate to shows in Blackpool where Cyril resided and includes material on entertainment venues such as Blackpool’s North Pier, Central Pier, South Pier, Tower Circus and a small collection of programmes from other national venues. Additionally, it contains circus photographs and postcards mainly of the Ohmy Circus and Sanger Circus including individual circus troupes and performers...
Dates: c1837 - 2008

Digger Pugh Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0179
Scope and Contents

Archive of the Digger Pugh family including newspaper cuttings, photographs, negatives, business records, programmes, research material, posters and films.

Dates: c1930 - 2010

George Tucker Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0020
Scope and Contents

This collection comprises fairground photographs and 3 members' cards, two from Yorkshire Stall Holders Association and one from the Yorkshire section of the Showmen's Guild

Dates: c1912 - 1969

Handby Celeine Collection

 Collection
Reference code: NFA0107
Scope and Contents

Posters, photographs, programmes, 1 piece of sheet music for six instruments and a small amount of business records and correspondence relating to the dancing and burlesque comedy on skates.

Dates: c1920 - 1945; 2020

Harry Paulo Family Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0144
Scope and Contents

This collection contains black and white photographs, postcards and negatives, newspaper cuttings, scrapbooks, posters, programmes, books and other miscellaneous items related to the Paulo Circus family. Other circuses and performers are also represented.

Dates: 1921 - 2000

Joe Stumcke Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0162
Scope and Contents

This collection contains scrapbooks, programmes, photographs of performers at the Kursaal, Bertram Mills Circus and sideshows as well as some business records related to the Stumcke family and their work at the Kursaal and Bertram Mills Circus.

Dates: 1829 - 1974

Lulu Adams Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0042
Scope and Contents

This collection contains business records, newspaper cuttings, programmes, notebooks and handbills, as well as a collection of black and white photographs, some original artwork and other items relating to Lulu Adam’s personal life and career

Dates: c1880 - 1959

Monte-Williams Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0161
Scope and Contents

Research material by Pauline Tindale and a small amount of original archive related to Randall Williams and his descendants, including birth, death and marriage certificates and photographs.

Dates: 1797 - 1998; 2018 - 2021

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

Sanger Circus Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0154
Scope and Contents

Black and white and some colour photographs, negatives, handbills, programmes and other items of ephemera relating George Sanger's circus and the Hall by the Sea.

Dates: c1850 - 1945

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

Skinning the Cat Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0157
Scope and Contents

This collection contains the archive of Skinning the Cat, aerial circus company including press cuttings relating, promotional material, programmes, photographs, costumes and costume designs and business records. It also contains DVDs of footage of performances, a book by Rebecca Truman and digital born files.

Dates: 1988 - 2018

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

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

Filtered By

  • Subject: Circus X
  • Subject: Business X

Filter Results

Additional filters:

Subject
Performers 14
Showman 14
Animals 13
Showwoman 11
Family 10
∨ more  
Language
German 6
Dutch; Flemish 4
French 4
Spanish; Castilian 4
French 1
∨ more  
Names
Bertram Mills Circus (1920 - 1967) 4
Billy Smart's Circus (c1946 - 2006) 3
Lord John Sanger Circus (Established c1880) 3
Sanger, John, 1819 - 1889 3
The Showmen's Guild of Great Britain (Established 1889) 3
∨ more
Argyle Theatre of Varieties (c1868 - 1945) 2
Blackpool Tower Circus (Established 1894) 2
Boswell's Circus (1882 - 2015) 2
Chipperfield's Circus (Established c1800) 2
Circus Krone (Established 1905) 2
Duffy's Circus (Established c1800) 2
Electric (Modern) Printing Company (c1930 - 1991) 2
Fossett's Circus (Established c1870 - 1879) 2
Lord George Sanger Circus (Established c1880) 2
Mills, Cyril Bertram, 1902 - 1991 2
Norman, Tom, 1860 - 1930 (The Silver King) 2
Paulo Circus (Established c1900 - 1910) 2
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (1919 - 2017) 2
Sanger, George, 1825 - 1911 2
The Kursaal (1894 - 2020) 2
Adams, Albert Victor, 1890 - 1949 1
Adams, Lulu (Louise), c1900 - 1989 1
Adelphi Theatre (Established 1806) 1
Astley, Philip, 1742 - 1814 1
Austen Brothers Circus (Established 1974) 1
Barrett, Norman, Born 1935 1
Beverly Sisters (c1943 - 2009) 1
Big Daddy, 1930 - 1997 1
Bird, Margaret, c1900 - 1999 1
Blackpool Hippodrome (1895 - 2014) 1
Bobby Robert's Super Circus (1993 - 2011) 1
Booth, William, 1829 - 1912 (The General) 1
Bostock and Wombwell Menagerie (c1846 - 1931) 1
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (Established 1920) 1
British Fairground Society (BFS) (Established c1950) 1
Buller, Redvers Henry, General, Sir, 1839 - 1908 1
Butcher, Caroline, [?] 1
Butcher, Henry, c1840 - [?] 1
Cairoli, Charlie, 1910 - 1980 1
Cashmore, Martha, 1870 - 1957 1
Chaplin, Charles, 1889 - 1977 1
Chapman, Ellen, 1831 - 1899 1
Chester Royalty Theatre (1882 - 1966) 1
Circus Busch-Roland (c1884 - 2018) 1
Circus Friends Association of Great Britain (Established 1934) 1
Circus Medrano (Established 1875) 1
Circus Pinder (Established 1854) 1
Cirkus Merano (1975 - 2015) 1
Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. Circus (Established c1957) 1
Cole Bros. Circus (c1884 - 1957) 1
Collins, Pat (Patrick), 1859 - 1943 1
Cooper, Millicent, c1900 - 1995 1
Craston, Joe (Joseph), 1868 - 1948 1
Craston, Joe (Joseph), c1900 - 1989 1
Craston, Victoria, c1902 - 1989 1
Critchlow, Cyril, 1923 - 2008 1
Crystal Palace (1851 - 1936) 1
David Smart's Super Circus (c1980 - 1983) 1
Denver, Hal, 1909 - 1994 1
Deveen, D., c1900 - 1989 1
Dodd, Ken, 1927 - 2018 1
Downie, Graham, Born 1941 (Fairground Enthusiast) 1
Duke of York Theatre (Established 1892) 1
Egyptian Hall (1812 - 1905) 1
Empire Theatre (1914 - 1955) (Tonbridge) 1
Forde, Florrie, 1875 - 1940 1
Friendship Circle of Showland Fans. (FCSF) (c1940 - 1969) 1
Gandey's Circus (Established c1918) 1
Gitana, Gertie (1887 - 1957) 1
Glasgow Empire Theatre (1897 - 1963) 1
Grand Theatre (1898 - 1957) (Luton) 1
Great Yarmouth Hippodrome (Established 1903) 1
Grimaldi, Joseph, 1778 - 1837 1
Hall by the Sea (1870 - 1919) 1
Handby & Celeine (Active 1932 - 1939) 1
Haydon & Urry Ltd (c1890 - 1916) 1
Heeley Green Theatre (1920 - 2004) 1
Hippodrome (1880 - 1956) (Keighley) 1
Horne, Thomas, Reverend, c1850 - 1918 1
Hylton, Millie, 1870 - 1920 1
Jay, Peter, Born 1944 1
Jolson, Al, c1886 - 1950 1
Karno, Fred, 1866 - 1941 1
King, Hetty, 1883 - 1972 1
Leno, Dan, 1860 - 1904 1
Mills, Bertram, 1873 - 1938 1
Monte, Richard, 1877 - 1953 1
National Fairground and Circus Archive. NFCA (Established 1994) 1
Ohmy Circus (c1867 - 1920) 1
Olympia London (Established 1886) 1
P.C. Sorcar, Junior, Born 1946 1
Palace Theatre (1898 - 1955) (Attercliffe) 1
Paulo, Frank Frisco, c1879 - 1929 1
Paulo, Harry, 1916 - 1966 1
Paulo, Thomas, [?] 1
Prince of Wales Theatre (Established 1884) (London) 1
Pugh, Digger, c1902 - 1985 1
Pugh, John Wallace, Born 1938 1
Raffles, Joan, 1925 - 2009 1
Raffles, Mark, Born 1922 1
+ ∧ less