Description
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.
Background
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.