Skip to main content Skip to search results

Showing Collections: 1 - 20 of 32

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

Brian Steptoe Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0061
Scope and Contents

An audio cassette recording of a conversation between Maggie Bird (formerly Mrs. Margaret Waddington and nee Shufflebottom) and Brian Steptoe on 15th June, 1993 at Bramerton, Norfolk. There is a ten page transcript to accompany the recording.

Dates: 1993

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

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

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

David Robinson Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0123
Scope and Contents

This collection contains rare posters, handbills, photographs, postcards, newspaper cuttings, catalogues and books on travelling exhibitions, speciality acts, magic, circus, performing animals and freak shows.

Dates: 1728 - 1997

Decar and Tomato Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0094
Scope and Contents

This collection contains black and white photographs and postcards of several generations of the Decar family with a strong focus on John Decar and his act as Decar and Tomato. It also includes other circus performers as well as autograph books and a scrapbook.

Dates: 1902 - 1951

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

Gerry Cottle Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0097
Scope and Contents

This collection contains material from Gerry Cottle’s personal collection and has examples of flyers, programmes, vouchers and posters from Cottle and Austen, Circus of Horrors and Cottle’s Circus

Dates: c1920 - 2013

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

Hodson Family Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0098
Scope and Contents

Photographs, newspaper cuttings, programmes, memoirs and other items relating to the Hodson family travelling theatre. Also includes family history research material.

Dates: 1828 - 1977

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 F. C. Heather Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0056
Scope and Contents

Black and white photographs related to Joseph Charles Heather, the Sanger Circus and the Bostock Jungle.

Dates: c1897 - 1953

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

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

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

Marisa Carnesky Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0095
Scope and Contents

This collection contains research material, business records, grant applications, project planning documents, contracts, programmes, posters, handbills, newpaper cuttings and other records relating to Marisa Carnesky's career as a showwoman. The records comprise the production and travelling of Marisa's shows including Carnesky's Ghost train, SmutFest, Jewess Tattoess, Dragon Ladies, Chamber of Horrors, Dystopia, Magic War, The Incredible Bleeding Woman and Tarot Drome.

Dates: 1970 - 2010

Filtered By

  • Subject: Showwoman X
  • Subject: Performers X

Filter Results

Additional filters:

Subject
Showman 29
Circus 24
Fairs 21
Animals 19
Variety 15
∨ more  
Language
French 6
German 6
Dutch; Flemish 3
Danish 2
Italian 2
∨ more  
Names
Sanger, George, 1825 - 1911 5
Bertram Mills Circus (1920 - 1967) 4
Billy Smart's Circus (c1946 - 2006) 4
Lord George Sanger Circus (Established c1880) 4
Lord John Sanger Circus (Established c1880) 4
∨ more
Sanger, John, 1819 - 1889 4
The Showmen's Guild of Great Britain (Established 1889) 4
Bostock and Wombwell Menagerie (c1846 - 1931) 3
Buffalo Bill, 1846 - 1917 3
Cairoli, Charlie, 1910 - 1980 3
Chapman, Ellen, 1831 - 1899 3
Chipperfield's Circus (Established c1800) 3
Dodd, Ken, 1927 - 2018 3
Fossett's Circus (Established c1870 - 1879) 3
Gandey's Circus (Established c1918) 3
Jolson, Al, c1886 - 1950 3
Paulo Circus (Established c1900 - 1910) 3
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (1919 - 2017) 3
Rosaire's Circus & Zoo (Established 1904) 3
Shufflebottom Family, c1870 - 1998 3
Waddington's Funfairs (Initiated c1860 - 1899) 3
Wilsons Group Services (Established c1860) 3
World's Fair Publications Limited (Established 1904) 3
Anderton and Rowland (Established c1854 - 1879) 2
Astley, Philip, 1742 - 1814 2
Austen Brothers Circus (Established 1974) 2
Beverly Sisters (c1943 - 2009) 2
Bird, Margaret, c1900 - 1999 2
Blackpool Pleasure Beach (Established 1896) 2
Blackpool Tower Circus (Established 1894) 2
British Fairground Society (BFS) (Established c1950) 2
Chipperfield, Mary, 1938 - 2014 2
Circus Busch-Roland (c1884 - 2018) 2
Circus Friends Association of Great Britain (Established 1934) 2
Circus Krone (Established 1905) 2
Circus Pinder (Established 1854) 2
Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. Circus (Established c1957) 2
Cottle, Gerry, 1945 - 2021 2
Craston, Joe (Joseph), 1868 - 1948 2
Crystal Palace (1851 - 1936) 2
Drury Lane Theatre (Established c1660) 2
Duffy's Circus (Established c1800) 2
Electric (Modern) Printing Company (c1930 - 1991) 2
Forde, Florrie, 1875 - 1940 2
Friendship Circle of Showland Fans. (FCSF) (c1940 - 1969) 2
Great Yarmouth Hippodrome (Established 1903) 2
Grimaldi, Joseph, 1778 - 1837 2
Hall by the Sea (1870 - 1919) 2
Hengler Grand Cirque (1844 - 1924) 2
Holland Amusements (Initiated c1870) 2
J.W. Shaw Amusements (Initiated c1860 - 1889) 2
Jay, Peter, Born 1944 2
King, Hetty, 1883 - 1972 2
Leno, Dan, 1860 - 1904 2
Ling's Family Amusements (Initiated c1850 - 1859) 2
Mellor, Jack, c1894 - 1979 (Fairground Enthusiast) 2
Ohmy Circus (c1867 - 1920) 2
Olympia London (Established 1886) 2
Robert Brothers Circus (Established 1944) 2
Sanger's Allied Circus (Established 1854) 2
Taylor's Printers, Wombwell, Yorks (Established c1890) 2
The Agricultural Hall (1862 - 1943) 2
The Great Ohmy, c1852 - 1931 2
The London Palladium (Established 1910) 2
Toulmin, Vanessa, Professor, Born 1967 2
Victoria, Vesta, 1873 - 1951 2
W. E. Berry Ltd (1888 - 2004) 2
Adams, Albert Victor, 1890 - 1949 1
Adams, Lulu (Louise), c1900 - 1989 1
Adelphi Theatre (Established 1806) 1
Airey, Malcolm, c1938 -1998 1
Althoff Circus (c1675 - 1999) 1
Argyle Theatre of Varieties (c1868 - 1945) 1
Arnold, Tom, 1897 - 1969 1
Askey, Arthur Bowden, 1900 - 1982 1
Assembly Rooms (1810 - 1819) 1
Astley's Amphitheatre (1773 - 1891) 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
Barrett, Norman, Born 1935 1
Battersea Park Amusement Park (1858 - 1972) 1
Batty, William, 1801 - 1868 1
Beatty, Clyde, 1903 - 1965 1
Belle Vue (1836 - 1982) 1
Biddall, c1880 - 1914 1
Big Daddy, 1930 - 1997 1
Bingley Hall (1850 - 1984) 1
Blackpool Hippodrome (1895 - 2014) 1
Blondin, Charles, 1824 - 1897 1
Bobby Robert's Super Circus (1993 - 2011) 1
Booth, William, 1829 - 1912 (The General) 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
+ ∧ less