Resources for tracing circus kin
As well as the usual family history tools such as census records, there are some specialist resources that will help you find out more about your performing ancestors.
The National Fairground Archive nfa.dept.shef.ac.uk
nfa@ sheffield.ac.uk This archive at the University of Sheffield holds documents, photos and audio visual material relating to the history of fairs, circuses and travelling show people. Some of its material is online. It has a complete collection of the trade paper The World’s Fair on microfiche.
The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) vam.ac.uk
info@ vam.ac.uk The V& A has a large collection relating to the performing arts and early circus history. The British Library bl.uk A major repository for British newspapers as well as a range of source material relating to the circus including recordings, programmes and related books. Its website and catalogue are searchable online. The British Newspaper Archive britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk This website gives access to a vast collection of newspapers from British Library collections. Newspapers are searchable by name and subject and provide local and national coverage relating to circuses and individuals. The same newspapers can be searched on Findmypast. Circopedia circopedia.org A free online circus encyclopaedia, which contains information on various circuses, circus history, circus biographies and related topics. Circus Friends Association (CFA) circusfriends.co.uk The CFA fosters and promotes enthusiasm for circus and performance arts. Its magazine,
King Pole, is a trove of information on circuses and performers. Its historical collection is held by the National Fairground Archive. The Circus Historical Society circushistory.org A major resource for the history of the circus, although it mainly covers the US. It has a search facility and holdings include digitised books and articles on the early circus. It also has ‘ The
Olympians of the Sawdust Circle’– an online dictionary of 19th century US circuses. The Ringling ringling.org/ archives The website for the Ringling, Barnum & Bailey’s Circus. It does not have an online searchable database, but there’s an archive request service. The Institute of Historical Research british-history.ac.uk The institute provides an online library which includes printed sources for the medieval and modern history of Britain. Holdings are searchable by name and subject. A useful resource for matters relating to the circus in medieval and Tudor times, through exploration of the Close Court Rolls. The site has material relating to 19th century London boroughs, where some early circus buildings were situated. The Circus Museum of the Netherlands circusmuseum.nl An online website of circus posters, photos and prints, which includes a collection of 8,000 posters dating from the late 19th century. The Stage thestage.co.uk Click on ‘Archive’ to access a payable online portal. Copies of The Stage have now also been uploaded to the British Newspaper Archive and Findmypast. Palace of Variety palaceofvariety.co.uk A website devoted to celebrating speciality acts on the Variety stage. BOOKSA History of the Circus by G Speaight ( Tantivy, 1980) The Golden Age of the Circus by H Loxton (Grange Books Plc, 1997) Beneath the Big Top by S Ward ( Pen & Sword, 2014) Sawdust Sisterhood by S Ward ( Fonthill Media Ltd, 2016)