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Showing Collections: 1 - 19 of 19

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

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

Christopher Palmer Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0105
Scope and Contents

Circus programmes and VHS tapes from Billy Smart’s Circus and Chipperfields’s Circus collected during the 1970s and early 1980s by the TV producer, Christopher John Palmer. There are also a number of promotional photographs of artistes and other ephemera related to the circus.

Dates: 1973 - 1983

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 Harris Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0129
Scope and Contents

This collection contains colour photographs of circus, circus performers, transport and performing animals.

Dates: 1960 -1990

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

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

Geoff Stevens Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0130
Scope and Contents

Collection of circus books, journals and films.

Dates: 1930 - 2002

George Dawson Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0018
Scope and Contents

The collection contains numerous photographs, newspaper cuttings relating to traction engines and 40 rally programmes.

Dates: 1902 - 1983

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

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

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

O'Beirne Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0146
Scope and Contents

Amateur Super8 cine reels filmed by Thomas O’Beirne, black and white and colour photographs and slides, circus and theatre posters, a watercolour and a small amount of other ephemera.

Dates: 1950 - 1975

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

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

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Subject
Animals 18
Circus 18
Performers 18
Showman 13
Animal trainers 12
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Language
French 6
German 6
Dutch; Flemish 3
Italian 3
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Names
Billy Smart's Circus (c1946 - 2006) 5
Bertram Mills Circus (1920 - 1967) 4
Blackpool Tower Circus (Established 1894) 4
Cairoli, Charlie, 1910 - 1980 4
Chipperfield's Circus (Established c1800) 4
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Circus Krone (Established 1905) 4
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (1919 - 2017) 4
Austen Brothers Circus (Established 1974) 3
Boswell's Circus (1882 - 2015) 3
Chipperfield, Mary, 1938 - 2014 3
Circus Knie (Established 1803) 3
Circus Pinder (Established 1854) 3
Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. Circus (Established c1957) 3
Cottle, Gerry, 1945 - 2021 3
Dodd, Ken, 1927 - 2018 3
Fossett's Circus (Established c1870 - 1879) 3
Gandey's Circus (Established c1918) 3
Great Yarmouth Hippodrome (Established 1903) 3
Jolson, Al, c1886 - 1950 3
Paulo Circus (Established c1900 - 1910) 3
Rosaire's Circus & Zoo (Established 1904) 3
The Showmen's Guild of Great Britain (Established 1889) 3
W. E. Berry Ltd (1888 - 2004) 3
Althoff Circus (c1675 - 1999) 2
Argyle Theatre of Varieties (c1868 - 1945) 2
Barrett, Norman, Born 1935 2
Belle Vue (1836 - 1982) 2
Beverly Sisters (c1943 - 2009) 2
Blackpool Pleasure Beach (Established 1896) 2
Bostock and Wombwell Menagerie (c1846 - 1931) 2
Buller, Redvers Henry, General, Sir, 1839 - 1908 2
Chipperfield, Jimmy (James), 1912 - 1990 2
Circus Busch (1903 - 1999) 2
Circus Busch-Roland (c1884 - 2018) 2
Circus Medrano (Established 1875) 2
Cirkus Merano (1975 - 2015) 2
Cirque d'Hiver Bouglione (Established 1852) 2
Cole Bros. Circus (c1884 - 1957) 2
Craston, Joe (Joseph), 1868 - 1948 2
Crystal Palace (1851 - 1936) 2
David Smart's Super Circus (c1980 - 1983) 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
Gerry Cottle's Circus (1974 - 2003) 2
Glasgow Empire Theatre (1897 - 1963) 2
Grimaldi, Joseph, 1778 - 1837 2
Hengler Grand Cirque (1844 - 1924) 2
International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo (Established 1974) 2
Jamieson, David, 1949 - 2017 2
Jay, Peter, Born 1944 2
Karno, Fred, 1866 - 1941 2
King, Hetty, 1883 - 1972 2
Knight, Laura, Dame, 1877 - 1970 2
Leno, Dan, 1860 - 1904 2
Ling Soo, Chung, 1861 - 1918 2
Lord George Sanger Circus (Established c1880) 2
Lord John Sanger Circus (Established c1880) 2
Merchant, Billy (Little Billy), 1919 - 2001 2
Mills, Cyril Bertram, 1902 - 1991 2
Ohmy Circus (c1867 - 1920) 2
Olympia London (Established 1886) 2
Polyakov, Nikolai Petrovich, 1900 - 1974 (Coco the Clown) 2
Popov, Oleg, 1930 - 2016 2
Robert Brothers Circus (Established 1944) 2
Roberts, Frederick Sleigh, 1st Earl Roberts, 1832 - 1914 2
Rogana, Born 1933 2
Sanger, George, 1825 - 1911 2
Sanger, John, 1819 - 1889 2
Smart, Billy (William), 1894 - 1966 2
Stars in der Manege (1959 - 2008) 2
Taylor's Printers, Wombwell, Yorks (Established c1890) 2
Thames Television (Established 1968) 2
The Agricultural Hall (1862 - 1943) 2
The Great Ohmy, c1852 - 1931 2
The London Palladium (Established 1910) 2
Tilley, Vesta, 1864 - 1952 2
Victoria, Vesta, 1873 - 1951 2
Whimsical Walker, 1851 - 1934 2
Wilsons Group Services (Established c1860) 2
World's Fair Publications Limited (Established 1904) 2
Yokoi, Lilly, Born 1929 2
Adams, Albert Victor, 1890 - 1949 1
Adams, Lulu (Louise), c1900 - 1989 1
Adelphi Theatre (Established 1806) 1
Anderson, Moira, Born 1938 1
Anderton and Rowland (Established c1854 - 1879) 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
Aznavour, Charles, 1924 - 2018 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
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