Reynolds (Dyer M.) circus history collection, 1878-1980

Printable guide [HTML]

Summary

Title:

Dyer M. Reynolds circus history collection

Dates:

1878-1980

Creators:

Reynolds, Dyer Marion, 1930-1980

Abstract:

This collection consists of the historical circus materials and personal correspondence amassed by circus worker, artist, and historian Dyer M. Reynolds. Materials included are circus programs, window cards, lithographs, banners, various letterheads, route books, albums of photographs, negatives, 8mm film reels, reel to reel and disc audio recordings, books, ephemera, souvenirs, and clippings.

Containers:

Box: D1
Box: D2
Box: D3
Box: D4
Box: D5
Box: D6
Box: D7
Box: D8
Box: D9
Box: D10
Box: D11
Box: D12
Box: D13
Box: D14
Box: D15
Box: D16
Box: D17
Box: D18
Box: D19
Box: D20
Box: D21
Box: D22
Box: D23
Box: D24
Box: D25
Box: D26
Box: D27
Box: D28
Box: D29
Box: D30
Box: D31
Box: D32
Box: D33
Box: D34
Box: D35

Extent:

50 Linear Feet 35 boxes

Language:

English .

Preferred citation:

[Box/folder no. or item name], Dyer M. Reynolds circus history collection, Collection no. 2182, Cinematic Arts Library, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Collection is unprocessed.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of items collected and created by circus worker, artist, and historian Dyer M. Reynolds. Materials included are circus programs, window cards, lithographs, banners, various letterheads, route books, albums of photographs, negatives, 8mm film reels, reel to reel and disc audio recordings, books, ephemera, souvenirs, clippings, and a large amount of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey materials. Materials range in age from 1878 to 1980.

Box D1 contains an inventory of items as of 1970 when the collection was sold to Memphis State University. Additionally Reynolds' personal and business correspondence from the 1970s are included in this collection.

Biographical / historical:

Dyer Reynolds (1930-1980) was an American circus worker, artist, and circus historian. Reynolds, also known by the nickname Ichabod, given by supervising electrician Edward R. Versteeg, for his tall and thin frame, was considered a "young old-timer" for his 20 years in the circus business. It is recorded that Reynolds worked with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus from 1951-1956, and again from 1961-1969, and the Foley & Burk Carnival in 1961.

Reynolds collected circus materials believing that the medium was in decline. He embraced the nuances of the circus - not merely as a form of entertainment, but as a business and as an artform.

Acquisition information:

Gift of Dyer Reynolds, May 22, 1977.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:: Circus
Circus -- History
Dolls (figurines)
Souvenir programs
Names:: Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Combined Shows -- Archives
Reynolds, Dyer Marion, 1930-1980 -- Archives

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:: Sarah Jardini for History Associates Incorporated
Date Encoded:: This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2022-11-23 13:52:28 -0800 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is currently unavailable for access.

Terms of access:

Finding aid description and metadata are licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Cinematic Arts Library at ctlibarc@usc.edu. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Cinematic Arts Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.