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Showing Collections: 1 - 17 of 17

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

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

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 Williams Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0118
Scope and Contents

Collection of early films related to the first year of film-making in America and the United Kingdom and nineteenth century magic lantern slides, letter, film catalogues and photographic plates.

Dates: 1890 - 1896

Hal Fisher Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0024
Scope and Contents

The collection comprises Hal Fisher’s extensive research on Blackpool Tower Circus including an index of performers and a variety of research materials. The collection also contains photo albums and programmes taken from his work and travels.

Dates: 1894 - 1999

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

Rod Spooner Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0011
Scope and Contents

The collection includes photographs taken by Jack Mellor and includes images of fairground rides, sideshows and traction engines. There are copies of Rod Spooner's photographs of South and Midland Fairs from 1952-1953. Also included is a cassette recording of an interview With Kay Smart and other showmen/women.

Dates: c1900 - 1989

Ronald Allen Taylor Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0015
Scope and Contents

The collection contains photographs in twenty two albums taken by Taylor and other photographers, correspondence and a number of catalogues including his Dodgem research material.

Dates: c1900 - 1991

Rowland Scott Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0037
Scope and Contents

Photographs related to all aspects of British travelling fairgrounds including; rides, transport, living wagons, showpeople, fairground shows, circuses and organs by Rowland Scott and other authors, a selection of manuscripts by Rowland Scott and a small amount of correspondence.

Dates: c1899 - 1989

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

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

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Subject
Showman 15
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Circus 13
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Language
German 4
Dutch; Flemish 3
French 3
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Names
Billy Smart's Circus (c1946 - 2006) 5
Bertram Mills Circus (1920 - 1967) 3
Buffalo Bill, 1846 - 1917 3
Cairoli, Charlie, 1910 - 1980 3
Chipperfield, Mary, 1938 - 2014 3
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Lord John Sanger Circus (Established c1880) 3
Sanger, John, 1819 - 1889 3
Shufflebottom Family, c1870 - 1998 3
The Showmen's Guild of Great Britain (Established 1889) 3
Waddington's Funfairs (Initiated c1860 - 1899) 3
Althoff Circus (c1675 - 1999) 2
Anderton and Rowland (Established c1854 - 1879) 2
Astley, Philip, 1742 - 1814 2
Austen Brothers Circus (Established 1974) 2
Belle Vue (1836 - 1982) 2
Bird, Margaret, c1900 - 1999 2
Blackpool Pleasure Beach (Established 1896) 2
British Fairground Society (BFS) (Established c1950) 2
Chapman, Ellen, 1831 - 1899 2
Chipperfield's Circus (Established c1800) 2
Chipperfield, Jimmy (James), 1912 - 1990 2
Circus Busch (1903 - 1999) 2
Circus Friends Association of Great Britain (Established 1934) 2
Circus Knie (Established 1803) 2
Circus Krone (Established 1905) 2
Circus Pinder (Established 1854) 2
Cirque d'Hiver Bouglione (Established 1852) 2
Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. Circus (Established c1957) 2
Cottle, Gerry, 1945 - 2021 2
David Smart's Super Circus (c1980 - 1983) 2
Denver, Hal, 1909 - 1994 2
Dodd, Ken, 1927 - 2018 2
Fossett's Circus (Established c1870 - 1879) 2
Friendship Circle of Showland Fans. (FCSF) (c1940 - 1969) 2
Gandey's Circus (Established c1918) 2
Gerry Cottle's Circus (1974 - 2003) 2
Great Yarmouth Hippodrome (Established 1903) 2
Holland Amusements (Initiated c1870) 2
J.W. Shaw Amusements (Initiated c1860 - 1889) 2
Jamieson, David, 1949 - 2017 2
Ling's Family Amusements (Initiated c1850 - 1859) 2
Lord George Sanger Circus (Established c1880) 2
Mellor, Jack, c1894 - 1979 (Fairground Enthusiast) 2
Merchant, Billy (Little Billy), 1919 - 2001 2
Norman, Tom, 1860 - 1930 (The Silver King) 2
Popov, Oleg, 1930 - 2016 2
Rogana, Born 1933 2
Rosaire's Circus & Zoo (Established 1904) 2
Sanger's Allied Circus (Established 1854) 2
Sanger, George, 1825 - 1911 2
Smart, Billy (William), 1894 - 1966 2
Thames Television (Established 1968) 2
W. E. Berry Ltd (1888 - 2004) 2
Wilsons Group Services (Established c1860) 2
Yokoi, Lilly, Born 1929 2
Acres, Birt, 1854 - 1918 1
Anderson, Moira, Born 1938 1
Arnold, Tom, 1897 - 1969 1
Askey, Arthur Bowden, 1900 - 1982 1
Astley's Amphitheatre (1773 - 1891) 1
Aznavour, Charles, 1924 - 2018 1
Barbette, 1899 - 1973 1
Barltrop, Chris, Born c1958 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
Beverly Sisters (c1943 - 2009) 1
Bingley Hall (1850 - 1984) 1
Blackpool Tower Circus (Established 1894) 1
Blondin, Charles, 1824 - 1897 1
Boone, Pat, Born 1934 1
Booth, William, 1829 - 1912 (The General) 1
Bostock and Wombwell Menagerie (c1846 - 1931) 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
British Amusement Catering Trade Association (BACTA) (Established 1974) 1
Butlins (Established c1920) 1
C. Doubtfire (Amusements) Limited (Active c1950 - 1999) 1
Carl Hagenbeck Circus (c1893 - 1907) 1
Carmencita, c1868 - 1910 1
Chapman Circus (1928 - 1940) 1
Chessington World of Adventures (Established 1987) 1
Circus Archaos (Established 1986) 1
Circus Barum (1878 - 2008) 1
Circus Boltini (Established c1939) 1
Circus Busch-Roland (c1884 - 2018) 1
Circus Ginnett (Established c1800) 1
Circus Medrano (Established 1875) 1
Circus Roncalli (Established 1976) 1
Circus Sarrasani (c1902 - 1977) 1
Circus Togni (Established c1880) 1
Circus of Horrors (Established 1995) 1
Cirkus Arnardo (Established 1949) 1
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