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:
Lord George Sanger's Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1920
Black type on off white background with programme of acts in the centre and black and white photograph of two elephants holding a bycicle outside the Sanger's circus tent on the bottom of the page, other documents glued to the reverse including two handbills and a check. Printed by James Upton Ltd. Printers, Birmingham and London.
Lord George Sanger's Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1922
Black type on orange background with programme in center. Printed by James Upton Ltd. Printers Birmingham and London.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1935
Black and orange illustrations of ringmaster, roaring lion, female equestrian act and performing dog on blue background on the front cover, inside programme and after performance show on back cover. Printed by Stafford and Co., Ltd., Printers, Netherfield, Nottingham, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1937
Black and orange illustrations of ringmaster, roaring lion, female equestrian act and performing dog on blue background on the front cover, inside programme and Circus Fans' Association information on back cover. Printed by Stafford and Co., Ltd., Printers, Netherfield, Nottingham, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1938
Black and orange illustrations of ringmaster, roaring lion, female equestrian act and performing dog on blue background on the front cover, inside programme and Circus Fans' Association information on back cover. Printed by Stafford and Co., Ltd., Printers, Netherfield, Nottingham, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, c1939 - 1945
Black and orange illustrations of ringmaster, roaring lion, female equestrian act and performing dog on blue background on the front cover, inside programme and Circus Fans' Association information on back cover. Printed by Stafford and Co., Ltd., Printers, Netherfield, Nottingham, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1949
Green and white illustration of laughing clown's face and paragraph by George Sanger on front cover, inside programme and Sanger circus facts and information on what happens before the circus comes to town on back cover. Printed by Willsons, Leicester, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1951
Green and white illustration of laughing clown's face and paragraph by George Sanger on front and programme on reverse.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1952
Green and white illustration of laughing clown's face and paragraph by George Sanger on front cover, inside programme and Sanger circus facts and information on what happens before the circus comes to town on back cover. Printed by Willsons, Leicester, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1954 Christmas season
Sophia Ganderns' Pavilion, Cardiff. Colour illustration of laughing clown's face wearing a black top hat and red and black type on yellow background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of family members and text on the history of the Sanger circus, programme in the centre, black and white photographs of acts and the Royal family with text and commercial advertising. Printed by Priory Press Ltd., The Friary, Cardiff, 8p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1954
Red and white illustration of laughing clown's face and paragraph by George Sanger on front cover, inside programme and Sanger circus facts. Printed by Willsons, Leicester, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, c1962
Colour photograph of head of roaring lion on a yellow background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of acts, animals and performers with text, programme in the centre andshort article on back cover, also two newspaper cuttings found inside, see 178G21.89. Printed by Hasting Printing Co., Portland Place, Hastings, 4p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Revue Programme, Commencing Monday 8 March 1937
The Opera House, Cheltenham. Black type and small illustration of a landscape and scrolls on centre over an off white background on front cover, inside programme. Printed by Frod and Branch Ltd., Gloucester, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Equestrian and Zoological Exhibition Programme, 17 July 1899
Windsor Castle. Navy blue type on silk with coat of arms on top section, listing acts, some of the performers and animals.
Lord George Sanger's Grand Colosseum Circus Programme, c1908
Marron type on off white background with illustrations of circus performers along the right and left edges including, highwire walking, clowns, acrobats, animals and equestrian act, programme in the centre. Printed by Willson's Printers, Leicester, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Great Hippodramatic and Spectacular Circus Programme, c1800 - 1899
Lord John Sanger Scrapbook, 1911
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings on the death and funeral of Lord George Sanger, also contains some correspondence and other items of ephemera, 17p.p.
Lord John Sanger's Circus Programme, c1921
Black and white illustration of clown's torso holding a sign reading programme on the front cover and black type on off white background, inside 100 years of Sangers article with black and white photograph and programme as well as commercial advertising, on back cover article continues also with black and white photographs. Printed by Wiles and Co., Printers, 6 George Street, Richmond, Surrey, 2p.p.
Lord John Sanger's Circus Programme, c1927
Black and white illustration of clown's torso holding a sign reading programme on the front cover and black type on off white background, inside 106 years of Sangers article with black and white photograph and programme as well as commercial advertising, on back cover article continues also with black and white photographs. Printed by Wiles and Co., Printers, 6 George Street, Richmond, Surrey, 2p.p.
Lord John Sanger's Circus Programme, c1928
Black and white illustration of seal holding a large ball on its nose and circus parade on background on front cover, inside 107 years of Sangers article with black and white photograph and programme as well as commercial advertising, on back cover article continues also with black and white photographs. Printed by Wiles and Co., Printers, 6 George Street, Richmond, Surrey, 2p.p.