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Circus Friends Association of Great Britain (Established 1934)

 Organisation

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:

Gerry Cottle's Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.388
Scope and Contents

Black and white photograph of Gerry Cottle with a circus tent and a BBC truck on the background and a red border with white dots on the front cover, inside black and white portraits of performers in circles with their names and programme towards the bottom right, on the back cover advertising for world tour, 2p.p.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Gerry Cottle's Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.389
Scope and Contents

Black and white photograph of Gerry Cottle with a circus tent and a BBC truck on the background and a red border with white dots on the front cover, inside black and white portraits of performers in circles with their names and programme towards the bottom right, on the back cover advertising for world tour, 2p.p.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Gerry Cottle's Circus Programme, 1978

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.390
Scope and Contents

Black and white photograph of woman and tiger on a platform in a circus ring and a red border with white stars on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of Mary Chipperfield, Gerry Cottle and an elephant act and text and programme, on the back cover black and white photogrphas of The Loonies and The Cimarro Brothers with text, 2p.p.

Dates: 1978

Gerry Cottle's Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.399
Scope and Contents

Red type on cream background with starry border and solid red border.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Gerry Cottle's Circus Programme, 1976

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.402
Scope and Contents

Autumn season. Colour illustration of clown's face with yellow gloves on a blue background and five colour balloons on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of acts and performers within star shapes and programme in the centre, other information on back cover within two flags, 2p.p.

Dates: 1976

Gerry Cottle's Circus Programme, c1980s

 File
Reference code: 178K43.403
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of head of clown on top right holding a circles containing circus acts including a woman in a white outfit holding a tiger, a man with his head inside a lion's mouth, a trapeze act, and elephant and a zebra. Four fold brouchure with information about the Cottle family circus and colour photographs of acts and performers inside and added insert programme, colour photograph of Susan Lacey with tiger on reverse.

Dates: c1980s

Gerry Cottle's Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.407
Scope and Contents

Four fold brouchure with colour photograph of five white face clowns on a black background and red and yellow type on a blue background inside a blue oblong shape on top left, inside information about Gerry Cottle and colour photographs, colour photographs of acts and performers in the centre, commercial advertising and added insert programme.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Gerry Cottle's Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.410
Scope and Contents

Blue type on off white background with illustration of clown's face on top right and introduction on front cover, inside blue and off white photographs of performers and back of house scenes programme and article on being a circus proprietor, commercial advertisement on back cover, 2p.p.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Gerry Cottle's Circus Programme, 1978

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.411
Scope and Contents

Dare to dream and the dream will come true article, blue type and blue photographs on blue background on one side, on the other side programme.

Dates: 1978

Gerry Cottle's Circus Tour List, 1978 - 1979

 Item
Reference code: 178I22.5
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of map of Britian with reference numbers and key of locations of circus performances.

Dates: 1978 - 1979

Gifford Circus Programmes, 2004 - 2015

 File
Reference code: 178K43.627
Scope and Contents

Gifford Circus programmes for Pearl, The Cockerel, Love, Caravan, The Saturday Book, War and Peace at the Circus and Moon Songs shows, containing black and white and colour photographs of acts and performers and illustrations, text and commercial advertising.

Dates: 2004 - 2015

Glasgow Empire Programme, Week commencing Monday 16 December 1946

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.260
Scope and Contents

Blue and orange illustration of three female performers peeping behind a blue screen and a man in checked jacket and trousers performing on stage on the front cover, inside commercial advertising and programme in the centre, 4p.p

Dates: Week commencing Monday 16 December 1946

Glasgow Empire Programme, Week commencing Monday 3 November 1947

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.261
Scope and Contents

Red, grey and white illlustration of woman's face behind of a hand fan on the front cover, inside commercial advertising and programme in the centre, 4p.p

Dates: Week commencing Monday 3 November 1947

Glasgow Empire Programme, Commencing Monday 1 January 1940

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.517
Scope and Contents

Glasgow Empire. Colour illustration of bunch of flowers in wrapping with performers on the flowers on an off white background on front cover, inside programme and commercial advertising on back cover. Printed by John Waddington Ltd, Leeds and London, 2p.p.

Dates: Commencing Monday 1 January 1940

Granada Presents the Robert Brothers Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.154
Scope and Contents

Black and yellow illustration of clown on a step ladder holding a paint brush on his hand and red type on yellow background on front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of acts and performers, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 6p.p.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Granada Presents the Robert Brothers Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.155
Scope and Contents

Black and yellow illustration of clown on a step ladder holding a paint brush on his hand and red type on yellow background on front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of acts and performers, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 6p.p.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Granby Halls Booking Form, 16 December 1973 - 7 January 1974

 Item
Reference code: 178Z50.8
Scope and Contents Advertisment and booking form for Winter Spectacular Circus, Zoo and Fun Fair at Granby Halls, Leicester. Elbriarno high wire, Mighty William strongman, the Shetland ponies and baby llamas, The Juggling Melvilles,Betty Blue's doggy revue, the black bears, Brewer the kicking mule, Sovereign the palomino, Pawnee Joe, Betty James and Otaki and Co. western act, High Nonsense, Scats and Wee Willie, The Comancheros bareback riders. Black and green type, cover has black line illistrations of boughs...
Dates: 16 December 1973 - 7 January 1974

Grand Circus Programme, 27 November 1893

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.20
Scope and Contents Royal Aquarium, Great Yarmouth. Mr. T. Allen, Miss Amelia Swallow equestrian act, J. Brett, clown, Messrs. Walker and W. Allen trick riding act, J. W. Collier clown, Collier the boxing kangaroo, Miss Marie Flexmore equestrian act, Vicini and Vernon, Mdlle. Fredrica performing dog act, Messrs. T. Allen and W. Ware double trick act, A. Walker clown, Walter Allen clown, Miss Queenie Delphine, Florence, Louise and Elba trapeze act, Professor Collier equestrian act, The Great Water Carnival....
Dates: 27 November 1893

Grand Theatre Programme, Week commencing Monday 20 January 1936

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.566
Scope and Contents

Croydon. Lord John Sanger's Animal Arena. Blue type and illustration of showgirl on off white background on front cover, inside commercial advertising and programme in the centre. Printed by Haycock Press, London, 4p.p.

Dates: Week commencing Monday 20 January 1936

Grande Cavalcade Illustrée du Grand Cirque Anglo Américain Booklet, c1800 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178Z50.5
Scope and Contents

Hard cover fold out booklet with green covers with black type on the front and the figure of a woman and of a man on horses on reverse and collour illustrations of circus parade inside showing horses and riders in different custome and themed carriages, signed T. C. Barlow, Glasgow.

Dates: c1800 - 1899