Call Number
CWM Mss 3
Title
Program Collection, 1820-2019 (44 c.f. 71 boxes, 7 drawers)
History
Almost since the beginning of performance art audiences have been provided slips of paper providing information about the shows they were watching. Known as programs, these items list the various acts and in many cases individual performers that are seen. Circuses were no different from any theater or other traveling entertainment and produced programs which were often kept as souvenirs by the audience.
Early programs were simple, often printed on a single sheet of paper. As printing became cheaper programs grew in size and number of pages. Starting in the mid-19th century programs included local advertisements. By the turn of the 20th century programs had more of a magazine appearance and could contain lithographs or photographs, articles chronicling the history of the circus and various performers, or detailed accounts of the animals in the menagerie.
By the 1970s many circuses produced large oversized programs with extensive color photography. Perhaps the best example of these later programs were the ones produced by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Scope and Content
The program collection is an artificial creation compiled by library staff from multiple accessions over many years and documents the history of a wide variety of circuses. The quantity and quality of information found in the programs varies widely. The collection is arranged into three series U.S. PROGRAMS, SHRINE PROGRAMS, and FOREIGN PROGRAMS.
The U.S. PROGRAMS series is arranged by alphabetically by circus title and then by year. Of special note are a series of programs covering the different locations the Barnum and Bailey Circus performed while in Europe, 1897-1902 including programs for shows in England, Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands, and France.
The pre-1918 (pre-merger) Barnum and Bailey Circus and Ringling Bros. Circus programs have distinctions for shows that opened at Madison Square Garden and “road” shows that performed along the tour route. The Ringing Bros. Barnum and Baily Circus programs (post 1919 merger) evolved over time. Initially the programs were listed only by year. Starting in 1969 the circus identified their annual shows as an "edition" of the show. The numbering scheme established a start date of 1871 - the first year of P.T. Barnum's circus. After 1969 the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus was divided into two units, Red, and Blue. The Blue Unit presents the even-numbered editions on a two-year tour beginning each even-numbered year. The Red Unit presents the odd-numbered editions beginning each odd-numbered year. In 2004 a third unit, Gold, was added. The Gold Unit is not represented in the editions scheme and presents a scaled-back single-ring truck based version of the show (the Red and Blue unites travelled by train) designed to serve smaller markets and communities.
SHRINE PROGRAMS series include circuses produced by the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine or Shriners International, often referred to as “Shriners” for short. First organized in the 1920s, Shriners is a fundraising organization of the Masons supporting children’s hospitals and burn treatment centers. Local Shrine groups, called temples, annually produce circus performances as a major fundraising effort. Shrine circuses sometimes hire individual acts and build their own circus for their specific shows but just as often hire organized circuses or to play their dates. The series is arranged alphabetically by circus title and then chronologically by year.
FOREIGN PROGRAMS series contains programs from numerous circuses based outside the United States. Circuses from across Europe, South America, and Asia are included in this series. The series is arranged alphabetically by country and then by circus title and lastly by date.
Abbreviations
B Box
F Folder
Dwr Drawer
OS Oversize drawer
RBBB Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
CWM Mss 3
Title
Program Collection, 1820-2019 (44 c.f. 71 boxes, 7 drawers)
History
Almost since the beginning of performance art audiences have been provided slips of paper providing information about the shows they were watching. Known as programs, these items list the various acts and in many cases individual performers that are seen. Circuses were no different from any theater or other traveling entertainment and produced programs which were often kept as souvenirs by the audience.
Early programs were simple, often printed on a single sheet of paper. As printing became cheaper programs grew in size and number of pages. Starting in the mid-19th century programs included local advertisements. By the turn of the 20th century programs had more of a magazine appearance and could contain lithographs or photographs, articles chronicling the history of the circus and various performers, or detailed accounts of the animals in the menagerie.
By the 1970s many circuses produced large oversized programs with extensive color photography. Perhaps the best example of these later programs were the ones produced by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Scope and Content
The program collection is an artificial creation compiled by library staff from multiple accessions over many years and documents the history of a wide variety of circuses. The quantity and quality of information found in the programs varies widely. The collection is arranged into three series U.S. PROGRAMS, SHRINE PROGRAMS, and FOREIGN PROGRAMS.
The U.S. PROGRAMS series is arranged by alphabetically by circus title and then by year. Of special note are a series of programs covering the different locations the Barnum and Bailey Circus performed while in Europe, 1897-1902 including programs for shows in England, Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands, and France.
The pre-1918 (pre-merger) Barnum and Bailey Circus and Ringling Bros. Circus programs have distinctions for shows that opened at Madison Square Garden and “road” shows that performed along the tour route. The Ringing Bros. Barnum and Baily Circus programs (post 1919 merger) evolved over time. Initially the programs were listed only by year. Starting in 1969 the circus identified their annual shows as an "edition" of the show. The numbering scheme established a start date of 1871 - the first year of P.T. Barnum's circus. After 1969 the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus was divided into two units, Red, and Blue. The Blue Unit presents the even-numbered editions on a two-year tour beginning each even-numbered year. The Red Unit presents the odd-numbered editions beginning each odd-numbered year. In 2004 a third unit, Gold, was added. The Gold Unit is not represented in the editions scheme and presents a scaled-back single-ring truck based version of the show (the Red and Blue unites travelled by train) designed to serve smaller markets and communities.
SHRINE PROGRAMS series include circuses produced by the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine or Shriners International, often referred to as “Shriners” for short. First organized in the 1920s, Shriners is a fundraising organization of the Masons supporting children’s hospitals and burn treatment centers. Local Shrine groups, called temples, annually produce circus performances as a major fundraising effort. Shrine circuses sometimes hire individual acts and build their own circus for their specific shows but just as often hire organized circuses or to play their dates. The series is arranged alphabetically by circus title and then chronologically by year.
FOREIGN PROGRAMS series contains programs from numerous circuses based outside the United States. Circuses from across Europe, South America, and Asia are included in this series. The series is arranged alphabetically by country and then by circus title and lastly by date.
Abbreviations
B Box
F Folder
Dwr Drawer
OS Oversize drawer
RBBB Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus