Call Number
CWM Mss 9, CWM Ph 13
Title
Kelley, John M., 1873-1963, Papers, 1892-1963. 3 cubic feet (3 archive boxes, 2 flat boxes)
Biography
John M. Kelley was born on a farm near Portage, WI in 1873. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1903. Moving to Baraboo after graduation Kelley became the city attorney for Baraboo. In 1907, Charles Ringling engaged Kelley in his first law suit for the circus which involved a blowdown, (an event where one or more tents is knocked down by a windstorm) in Missouri. Kelley won not only this case but all other suits brought against the circus relating to this incident. Impressed by this success Charles Ringling retained Kelley as their attorney, a relationship which lasted until 1937. Kelley was also involved in Wisconsin politics and the dairy industry and in later years played an integral part in the establishment of the Circus World Museumin Baraboo, Wisconsin.
Scope and Content
The collection is arranged into two series, MANUSCRIPTS and VISUAL MATERIALS. The MANUSCRIPTS series is arranged alphabetically, with the exception of the correspondence files which have been arranged chronologically, and include Kelley’s correspondence, ephemera, legal papers and news clippings. Of particular note are files relating to a fire that occurred during a show of the Barnum and Bailey Circus at Schenectady, New York in 1910. The general correspondence (1911-63) documents much of Kelley’s activity with the Wisconsin dairy industry, inquiries he made of circus people in 1953, as well as his connections to the Democratic Party and includes correspondence with then New York Governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1932.The remainder of the material is largely clippings regarding court cases and issues with which Kelley was associated. A notable absence in
the papers is any documentation surrounding Kelley’s departure as the attorney for the Ringling Brothers.
The collection also contains four scrapbooks containing clippings and photographs relating to circus performers especially John Agee a rough rider and equestrienne Mae Wirth. Two other scrapbooks document the Fun on the Farm Circus, a circus owned and operated by Kelley in 1924.
The VISUAL MATERIALS series (CWM Ph 13) contains a single file of photographs, primarily personal in nature but also contain some unidentified circus scenes and seven images of the Tom Mix Circus from April 18, 1938.
Donated by the estate of John M. Kelley to the Wisconsin Historical Society on January 15, 1964. Transferred to the Circus World Museum, June 1970.
Container List
Box Folder/Vol.
Box 4 Vol. 7 Agee, John, Scrapbook, 1919-1914
Box 3 Vol. 1 Barnum & Bailey scrapbook, v.1, 1892-93
Box 3 Vol. 2 Barnum & Bailey scrapbook, v.2, 1897-98
Box 1 Folder 1 Biographical material, undated
Box 1 Folder 2 Blowdown, Washington DC, clippings 1936-1951
Box 1 Folder 3 Circus fire, Schenectady NY correspondence, 1910-18, undated
Box 1 Folder 4 Circus fire, Schenectady NY legal briefs, 1910
Box 1 Folder 5 Circus Goodwill clippings, 1933
Box 3 Vol. 3 Taxable Value of Circus Goodwill, legal brief, 1923
Box 1 Folder 6 Correspondence, 1910-1914
Box 1 Folder 7 Correspondence, 1911-1923
Box 1 Folder 8 Correspondence, 1924-1963
Box 1 Folder 9 Coup, W.C. notes, clippings, 1923, 1948, undated
Box 1 Folder 10 Dairy industry clippings, 1922-24
Box 2 Folder 1 Devil’s Lake State Park Conservation Commission clippings, 1947
Fun on the Farm Circus
Box 2 Folder 2 Clippings, ephemera, 1924-47
Box 5 Vol. 5 Scrapbook, undated
Box 5 Vol. 6 Scrapbook, 1924
Box 2 Folder 3 Galt, Azariah estate legal briefs, 1922
Box 2 Folder 4 Justus vs. Ringling Bros. Circus, 1910
Box 2 Folder 5 Memorabilia, undated
Box 2 Folder 6 Mix, Tom Cases clippings, legal brief, 1931-33
Box 2 Folder 7 Newspaper clippings, 1897-1963, undated
Box 2 Folder 8 Pennean vs. Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus Case Legal Briefs, 1936
Box 2 Folder 9 Ringling Bros. Circus Cases clippings, 1910-36
Box 2 Folder 10 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus 50th Anniversary and CFA Convention,1933
Box 2 Folder 11 Sauk County Centennial Celebration clippings, August 1948
Box 2 Folder 12 Speeches, 1923-33
Box 2 Folder 13 State politics clippings, 1924-26
Box 2 Folder 14 Vaudeville Managers Association clippings, court docket, 1919
Box 4 Vol. 4 Wirth, Mae, Scrapbook
Container List
Box Folder
VISUAL MATERIALS
Box 3 Folder 1 Photographs, 1933, 1938
CWM Mss 9, CWM Ph 13
Title
Kelley, John M., 1873-1963, Papers, 1892-1963. 3 cubic feet (3 archive boxes, 2 flat boxes)
Biography
John M. Kelley was born on a farm near Portage, WI in 1873. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1903. Moving to Baraboo after graduation Kelley became the city attorney for Baraboo. In 1907, Charles Ringling engaged Kelley in his first law suit for the circus which involved a blowdown, (an event where one or more tents is knocked down by a windstorm) in Missouri. Kelley won not only this case but all other suits brought against the circus relating to this incident. Impressed by this success Charles Ringling retained Kelley as their attorney, a relationship which lasted until 1937. Kelley was also involved in Wisconsin politics and the dairy industry and in later years played an integral part in the establishment of the Circus World Museumin Baraboo, Wisconsin.
Scope and Content
The collection is arranged into two series, MANUSCRIPTS and VISUAL MATERIALS. The MANUSCRIPTS series is arranged alphabetically, with the exception of the correspondence files which have been arranged chronologically, and include Kelley’s correspondence, ephemera, legal papers and news clippings. Of particular note are files relating to a fire that occurred during a show of the Barnum and Bailey Circus at Schenectady, New York in 1910. The general correspondence (1911-63) documents much of Kelley’s activity with the Wisconsin dairy industry, inquiries he made of circus people in 1953, as well as his connections to the Democratic Party and includes correspondence with then New York Governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1932.The remainder of the material is largely clippings regarding court cases and issues with which Kelley was associated. A notable absence in
the papers is any documentation surrounding Kelley’s departure as the attorney for the Ringling Brothers.
The collection also contains four scrapbooks containing clippings and photographs relating to circus performers especially John Agee a rough rider and equestrienne Mae Wirth. Two other scrapbooks document the Fun on the Farm Circus, a circus owned and operated by Kelley in 1924.
The VISUAL MATERIALS series (CWM Ph 13) contains a single file of photographs, primarily personal in nature but also contain some unidentified circus scenes and seven images of the Tom Mix Circus from April 18, 1938.
Donated by the estate of John M. Kelley to the Wisconsin Historical Society on January 15, 1964. Transferred to the Circus World Museum, June 1970.
Container List
Box Folder/Vol.
Box 4 Vol. 7 Agee, John, Scrapbook, 1919-1914
Box 3 Vol. 1 Barnum & Bailey scrapbook, v.1, 1892-93
Box 3 Vol. 2 Barnum & Bailey scrapbook, v.2, 1897-98
Box 1 Folder 1 Biographical material, undated
Box 1 Folder 2 Blowdown, Washington DC, clippings 1936-1951
Box 1 Folder 3 Circus fire, Schenectady NY correspondence, 1910-18, undated
Box 1 Folder 4 Circus fire, Schenectady NY legal briefs, 1910
Box 1 Folder 5 Circus Goodwill clippings, 1933
Box 3 Vol. 3 Taxable Value of Circus Goodwill, legal brief, 1923
Box 1 Folder 6 Correspondence, 1910-1914
Box 1 Folder 7 Correspondence, 1911-1923
Box 1 Folder 8 Correspondence, 1924-1963
Box 1 Folder 9 Coup, W.C. notes, clippings, 1923, 1948, undated
Box 1 Folder 10 Dairy industry clippings, 1922-24
Box 2 Folder 1 Devil’s Lake State Park Conservation Commission clippings, 1947
Fun on the Farm Circus
Box 2 Folder 2 Clippings, ephemera, 1924-47
Box 5 Vol. 5 Scrapbook, undated
Box 5 Vol. 6 Scrapbook, 1924
Box 2 Folder 3 Galt, Azariah estate legal briefs, 1922
Box 2 Folder 4 Justus vs. Ringling Bros. Circus, 1910
Box 2 Folder 5 Memorabilia, undated
Box 2 Folder 6 Mix, Tom Cases clippings, legal brief, 1931-33
Box 2 Folder 7 Newspaper clippings, 1897-1963, undated
Box 2 Folder 8 Pennean vs. Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus Case Legal Briefs, 1936
Box 2 Folder 9 Ringling Bros. Circus Cases clippings, 1910-36
Box 2 Folder 10 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus 50th Anniversary and CFA Convention,1933
Box 2 Folder 11 Sauk County Centennial Celebration clippings, August 1948
Box 2 Folder 12 Speeches, 1923-33
Box 2 Folder 13 State politics clippings, 1924-26
Box 2 Folder 14 Vaudeville Managers Association clippings, court docket, 1919
Box 4 Vol. 4 Wirth, Mae, Scrapbook
Container List
Box Folder
VISUAL MATERIALS
Box 3 Folder 1 Photographs, 1933, 1938