Extent:

approximately 130 items in 10 oversized folders

Scope and content:

This series contains more than 120 printed 19th and early 20th century circus broadsides, handbills, and related advertisements. These bills publicize shows for approximately 60 different American circuses between the 1820s and 1930s, with the bulk of the items dating from 1860 to 1920. The printed text typically includes the name of the circus, featured attractions, acts, and performers, admission prices, and the date and location of shows.

The materials range in size from approximately 10 x 6 inches to 42 x 7 inches and consist primarily of single-sheet advertisements for circus shows that were intended to be distributed by hand, left in stacks in public places, or posted on walls, fences, or in windows in advance of the circus’s arrival in a town. Among the names given to these advertisements, according to their size and mode of distribution, are broadsides, dodgers, handbills, hangers, heralds, posters, playbills, and show bills. The notices in this series are primarily long, narrow broadsides printed on newsprint paper in black ink using letterpress type of varying fonts and sizes, though some have colored ink, colored paper, or woodcut illustrations. The series also includes one 1881 circus courier (a four-page bill) and four newspaper issues with articles or advertisements about circuses.

Among the most commonly credited printers in this series are Clarry & Reilley (New York, New York); the Courier Company (Buffalo, New York); Erie Litho & Printing Co. (Erie, Pennsylvania); and the Russell & Morgan Printing Company (Cincinnati, Ohio). The bills that include show location information promote shows in the following states: California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, and Washington, D.C.

Arrangement:

This series is arranged alphabetically by the name of the circus in ten oversized folders.

• Folder 1: A-Bai (Bailey - Barnum)
• Folder 2: Barr-C (S. H. Barrett & Co. - W.C. Coup)
• Folder 3: D-F (Howard Damon - A.K. Fulford & Co.)
• Folder 4: G-L (Grand Circus Royal - J.H. LaPearl)
• Folder 5: M (Sam MacFlinn - Mullen & Quinette)
• Folder 6: N-Ric (New York Circus - George W. Richard)
• Folder 7: Rin-Sc (Ringling Bros. - William K. Schulz)
• Folder 8: Se (Sells Bros. - Sells-Floto)
• Folder 9: Sp- Z (Sparks - Wheeler Bros.)
• Folder 10: Couriers and Newspapers

Individual items are described in the following format:

• Circus name, Date
• Printer (when identified)
• Show location (when applicable)

Contents

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