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Showing Collections: 1 - 20 of 60

Alma Skinner Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0046
Scope and Contents

This collection contains digital scans of black and white photographs from Alma and Skid Skinner, Wall of Death riders, highlighting their travels mainly in Norway and Sweden and featuring other acts of that era. Also scans of the Crown Prince of Sweden opening their show in 1936 and staff working at Butlins, Skegness.

Dates: c1930 - 1939

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

Barbara Buttrick Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0083
Scope and Contents

The collection contains photographs, handbills and programmes relating to Barbara Buttrick’s boxing career and some material she collected related to boxing.

Dates: c1900 - 2001

Ben Jackson Collection

 Collection
Reference code: NFA0106
Scope and Contents

This collection contains 16 posters, 2 handbills, 2 programmes and a small amount of business records, trade material and correspondence relating to Ben Jackson's banjo variety act.

Dates: c1903 - 1923

Bernth Lindfors Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0178
Scope and Contents

Slides of black popular entertainment performers, part of Professor Lindfors research for Early Black Enteratinments Abroad: From the Hottentot Venus to Africa's First Olympians book.

Dates: c1800 - 1899

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

Billy Bellhouse Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0038
Scope and Contents

Photographs, handbills, newspaper reports and financial records relating to Billy Bellhouse and his life as a wall of death rider as well as other performers.

Dates: 1914 - 1960; 2016

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

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 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 Fitzroy Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0078
Scope and Contents

Collection of circus posters, programmes and handbills.

Dates: 1874 - 2001

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

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

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

Electric Modern Printing Company

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0196
Scope and Contents

Collection of posters on variety and music hall printed by Electric Modern Company, mainly on card.

Dates: c1920 - 1969

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Subject
Circus 43
Animals 38
Showman 35
Showwoman 32
Fairs 28
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Language
German 12
French 10
Dutch; Flemish 6
Spanish; Castilian 6
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Names
Bertram Mills Circus (1920 - 1967) 7
Billy Smart's Circus (c1946 - 2006) 7
Chipperfield's Circus (Established c1800) 6
Sanger, George, 1825 - 1911 5
Blackpool Tower Circus (Established 1894) 4
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Cairoli, Charlie, 1910 - 1980 4
Circus Krone (Established 1905) 4
Lord George Sanger Circus (Established c1880) 4
Lord John Sanger Circus (Established c1880) 4
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (1919 - 2017) 4
Rosaire's Circus & Zoo (Established 1904) 4
Sanger, John, 1819 - 1889 4
The Showmen's Guild of Great Britain (Established 1889) 4
Austen Brothers Circus (Established 1974) 3
Barrett, Norman, Born 1935 3
Belle Vue (1836 - 1982) 3
Bostock and Wombwell Menagerie (c1846 - 1931) 3
Boswell's Circus (1882 - 2015) 3
Buffalo Bill, 1846 - 1917 3
Chapman, Ellen, 1831 - 1899 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
Electric (Modern) Printing Company (c1930 - 1991) 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
Mills, Cyril Bertram, 1902 - 1991 3
Paulo Circus (Established c1900 - 1910) 3
Shufflebottom Family, c1870 - 1998 3
The Agricultural Hall (1862 - 1943) 3
W. E. Berry Ltd (1888 - 2004) 3
Waddington's Funfairs (Initiated c1860 - 1899) 3
Wilsons Group Services (Established c1860) 3
World's Fair Publications Limited (Established 1904) 3
Althoff Circus (c1675 - 1999) 2
Anderton and Rowland (Established c1854 - 1879) 2
Argyle Theatre of Varieties (c1868 - 1945) 2
Astley, Philip, 1742 - 1814 2
Battersea Park Amusement Park (1858 - 1972) 2
Beverly Sisters (c1943 - 2009) 2
Bird, Margaret, c1900 - 1999 2
Blackpool Pleasure Beach (Established 1896) 2
British Fairground Society (BFS) (Established c1950) 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 Friends Association of Great Britain (Established 1934) 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
Denver, Hal, 1909 - 1994 2
Drury Lane Theatre (Established c1660) 2
Duffy's Circus (Established c1800) 2
Fisher, Hal, 1909 - 2002 2
Forde, Florrie, 1875 - 1940 2
Friendship Circle of Showland Fans. (FCSF) (c1940 - 1969) 2
Gerry Cottle's Circus (1974 - 2003) 2
Glasgow Empire Theatre (1897 - 1963) 2
Grimaldi, Joseph, 1778 - 1837 2
Hall by the Sea (1870 - 1919) 2
Hengler Grand Cirque (1844 - 1924) 2
Holland Amusements (Initiated c1870) 2
International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo (Established 1974) 2
J.W. Shaw Amusements (Initiated c1860 - 1889) 2
Jamieson, David, 1949 - 2017 2
Jay, Peter, Born 1944 2
Jonsson, Harder, 1912 - 1979 2
Karno, Fred, 1866 - 1941 2
Kelvin Hall (Established 1918) 2
King, Hetty, 1883 - 1972 2
Knight, Laura, Dame, 1877 - 1970 2
Koringa, 1913 - 1976 2
Leno, Dan, 1860 - 1904 2
Ling Soo, Chung, 1861 - 1918 2
Ling's Family Amusements (Initiated c1850 - 1859) 2
Mellor, Jack, c1894 - 1979 (Fairground Enthusiast) 2
Merchant, Billy (Little Billy), 1919 - 2001 2
National Fairground and Circus Archive. NFCA (Established 1994) 2
Norman, Tom, 1860 - 1930 (The Silver King) 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's Allied Circus (Established 1854) 2
Smart, Billy (William), 1894 - 1966 2
Stars in der Manege (1959 - 2008) 2
Taylor's Printers, Wombwell, Yorks (Established c1890) 2
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