Circus Friends Association of Great Britain (Established 1934)
Biography
The CFA, formerly known as the Circus Fans Association was stablished on Saturday 20th January 1934 in the ring of Bertram Mills Circus at Olympia, London by a group of enthusiasts. The CFA’s purpose remains the same as in its conception; to stimulate, foster and promote enthusiasm for circus and related performances as part of British culture.
During 1934, the pattern for CFA activities was established, with the formation of the library, the publication of The Sawdust Ring magazine and the first rallies, including ones to the Hippodrome Circus in Great Yarmouth and Blackpool Tower. The annual subscription at the time was one guinea for residents in a radius of 60 miles from London 'as defined by Automobile Association handbook', and half a guinea for those residing outside that area, in the provinces. 'For residents in the Colonies and foreign counties' the subscription was 7/6.
The first President of the CFA was Lady Eleanor Smith (1902-1945), the eldest child of the politician F. E. Smith. Lady Eleanor Smith was an author, a society reporter and cinema reviewer and worked as a publicist for circus companies.
Other notable presidents were; Dame Laura Knight (1877-1970), the most celebrated British impressionist female artist of all time and the first woman to ever be elected to the Royal Academy. The actor Sir Cedric Hardwicke (1893-1964), wine merchant and philanthropist Sir Walter Gilbey (1831-1914), theatrical manager and empresario Sir Charles B. Cochran (1872-1951), Sir William Savory (1882-1961), author Antony Hippisley Coxe and Commander W. J. Gerard.
The first five years of the CFA saw the firm establishment of the Association its activity, although it was active by Alfred 'Dickey' Bird. The post-war years were difficult but the CFA continued operating with the same aims and ambitions.
The library was started in 1937, as a gift of 30 books from A.C. McLachlan. Others titles were acquired by purchase or donation. It contains books on virtually every aspect of circus life from individual acts, to acts of Parliament, from erecting a Big Top, to the logistics of transporting circuses, works of fiction, photography and juvenile literature all of which help to create a greater understanding of the many contrasts in circus life; of the romance, tragedy, spectacle and hardships.
Notable authors who have contributed to the myth and legend of circus include Lady Eleanor Smith, who in 1945, donated all her circus books to the CFA, Ruth Manning-Sanders and Courtney Ryley Cooper, an American writer who, after having first joined a circus aged 16, went on to write crime books and ghost-wrote articles under J. Edgar Hoover’s name in the 1930s.
After the war lists of holdings were printed and distributed to members, who could borrow a book at a time by post. By the mid 1970s, the ‘Library Catalogue’ listed 525 books and a ‘Circusiana’ section was created for valuable books, for reference only.
The CFA continues maintaining the collection, ensuring its growth and establishing it as the primary, national collection of books on circus.
The CFA has also amassed one of the most fascinating and important collection of circus related material in the United Kingdom expanding over 200 years. This material has supported research and literature produced by its members over the years and has ensured that an important part of British circus history will be available for future generations of researchers and enthusiasts.
The association has always welcomed enthusiasts and circus artistes to it’s membership and has always produced a regular publication giving news, reviews and articles on circus artistes and personalities and reviews of British and foreign circuses. The current quarterly magazine King Pole, named after the masts, which support a circus tent, is regarded as one of the leading circus periodicals in the world.
The CFA continues to organise visits, formerly called rallies, for the members, to UK circuses and recognises the achievements of those involved in circus with special awards.
After almost 85 years in existence the CFA continues to flourish with membership being maintained in the region of 500 comprising both British and subscribers from abroad.
Found in 1288 Collections and/or Records:
David Harris' Funeral Cards, 20 March 2019
Funeral service card for David Ernest Harris including colour portrait photograph of David and circus tent.
David Smart Super Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999
Battersea Park. Colour illustration of female equestrian wearing a long red outfit and a top hat, a female's face wearing golden hair dress and necklace and a clown's face on the right hand side and a trapeze act on the left on a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, colour and black and white photographs of performers and acts, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 6p.p
David Smart Super Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999
Battersea Park. Colour illustration of female equestrian wearing a long red outfit and a top hat, a female's face wearing golden hair dress and necklace and a clown's face on the right hand side and a trapeze act on the left on a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, colour and black and white photographs of performers and acts, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 6p.p
David Smart's Super Circus Poster, c1946 - 1999
Battersea Park, London Summer Season. Colour illustration of female equestrian in long red gown and top hat riding a white horse, trapeze act on bottom left and clown and female face on centre right, also aerial act on crescent moon on top left corner, over a blue background and blue and white borders. Printed in England by W. E. Berry Ltd. Bradford.
David Smart's Super Circus Poster, c1946 - 1999
Battersea Park. Colour illustration of female equestrian in long red gown and top hat riding a white horse, trapeze act on bottom left and clown and female face on centre right, also aerial act on crescent moon on top left corner, over a blue background. Printed in England by W. E. Berry Ltd. Bradford.
Den Curtis' Photographic Albums, 1936 - 1969
Photographic albums put together by Den Curtis, containing black and white photographs of circuses, performers and animals with annotations, including Sanger, Chipprefields, Bertram Mills, Smarts, Hoxie Bros., Blackpool Tower, Belle Vue, Robert Bros., Fossett and Luckens Continental Circus and others, also some loose photographs removed from the albums.
Den Curtis' Photographic Albums, 1936 - 1969
Photographic albums put together by Den Curtis, containing black and white photographs of circuses, performers and animals with annotations, including Sanger, Chipprefields, Bertram Mills, Smarts, Hoxie Bros, Blackpool Tower, Belle Vue, Robert Bros, Fossett and Luckens Continental Circus and others, also some loose photographs removed from the albums.
Deutschlandhalle Circus Programmes, 1960 - 1971
Deutschlandhalle Menschen Tiere Sensationen programmes, most containing star illustration on the front cover with different colour background for each year, inside introduction, black and white photographs of perfomers and acts with text, programme and commercial advertising.
Directories of Circus Acts Research Material, c1900 - 1999
Directories of circus acts, including one on tamers and trainers and other short essays, also includes some newspaper cuttings. Manuscript.
Don Juan Poster, c1800 - 1899
Mr. Cornwall will appear as Mehammet the Brave with his horse of pastime equestrian act, Historic and Magnificent Tournament, Lists of Ashby, Battle Field. Blacky type on off white paper with black and white armour and shield scenes around the edges.
Don Ross's Royal Imperial Circus Programmes, 1944 - 1950
Programmes for Don Ross's Royal Imperial Circus, Don Ross's Colossal Combined Circuses and Don Ross's Circus containing blue and white illustrations, a flamenco dance scene and other illustrations on front cover, inside programme, World War Two soldiers act and some commercial advertising.
Doyles Circus International Programme, c1900 - 1999
Colour illustration of lion tamer's hat and stick laid on a yellow chair inside a cage in a circus ring on front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 10p.p.
Drury Lane Attraction Poster, 1838
Madame Albertazzi, Mdlle. H. Elsler, Mr. Ducrow, Double stud of horses, Mr. Van Amburgh animal trainer, Grieve's New Scenery, Charlemagne or the Fete of the Forest. Black type on off white backgound. Printed by W. Wright Printer, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
Ducrow Royal Amphitheatre Poster, 29 October 1829
Ducrow's Benefit Poster, 7 September 1829
Bonaparte's Passage of the Great St. Bernard, panoramic drama, Mr. Ducrow's enactment of the Venetian Statue, Mr. Ducrow and Miss Woolford double tightrope act, St. George and the Dragon, Miss Woolford equestrian act, Herr Adolphe Berg equestrian act, Liberty or the Flight of the Saracens, Messrs. J. Ducrow, Lloyd and MacDonald clowns, Messrs. Yates and Widdicomb equestrian act, Cataract of the Ganges. Black type on off white background.
Ducrow's Royal Amphitheatre Poster, Monday 26 October - Wednesday 28 October 1829
Durrant's Press Cuttings, 1930 - 1955
Early Circus Programmes, c1800 - 1999
Early British circus and variety programmes including Astley's, Batty's and Lord George Sanger's circus.
Early Circus Scrapbook, 1876 - 1893
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings and black and white illustrations, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Sanger's, Ginnett's and Barnum's, 80p.p.
Early Circus Scrapbook, 1879 - 1898
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings, programmes and black and white illustrations, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Barnum's, Chiarini's Royal Italian Circus, Ginnett's and Sanger's, 128p.p.