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:
Bertram Mills' Circus at Olympia Programme, 20 December 1926 - 22 January 1927
Colour illustration of half clown, half white horse creature on a black background on the front cover, bound in black leather cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text pink insert with programme and commercial advertising, 33p.p.
Bertram Mills' Circus at Olympia Programme, 21 December 1927 - 24 January 1928
Colour illustration of Astley performing an equestrian act in 1827 and black and white illlustration of a recreation act on bottom of page on decorative cover, inside elephant's head covered in Spanish head dress and net and holding a tamborin with its trunk on a yellow background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs and illustrations of performers and acts with text, various articles and commercial advertising, 24p.p
Bertram Mills' Circus at Olympia Programme, 22 December 1930 - 24 January 1931
Colour illustration of Astley's amphitheatre showing an equestrian act in 1808 on decorative cover, inside nine lions on a blue and orange background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs and illustrations of performers and acts, programme in the centre with road map, various articles and commercial advertising, 32p.p.
Bertram Mills Circus Business Records, 1947 - 1966
Various original and copies of documents relating to Bertram Mills business activities including, copies of annual statements of the Chairman, report and accounts, rules to staff and press guide, description of circus acts, correspondence relating to the sale of assets and photocopies of circus plan.
Bertram Mills Circus Correspondence, 1913 - 1989
Correspondence relating to the Bertram Mills Circus including business and courtesy letters, a staff memorandum and an invitation to a performance.
Bertram Mills Circus Drawing, 24 December 1933
Ink on board drawing by Arthur Ferrier (1891-1973). Black and white illustration of circus acts including clowns, call-boy, boxing, kangaroo, female lion tamer, acrobat and juggling seal in individual windows with text, signed by Arthur Ferrier on bottom left corner in ink, on reverse in pencil 'Our artists sketches at Olympia', 'To Bertram Mills with the Editor's Compliments', 'Original of Arthur Ferrier cartoon from the News of the World Dec 24th 1933'.
Bertram Mills Circus Drawing, 22 December 1929
Bertram Mills Circus Drawing, 23 December 1934
Ink on board drawing by Arthur Ferrier (1891-1973). Black and white illustration of circus acts including; a female equestrian act, elephant on platform, trapeze act, clowns, Hagenbeck's tigers and tightrope act and a call boy on bottom right corner reading a notice, signed Arthur Ferrier on bottom right in ink, on mount board 'Original of Arthur Ferrier's cartoon from News of the World, Dec. 23rd 1934'.
Bertram Mills Circus Gala Performance for Jewish Child's Day Programme, 21 December 1953
Three colour illustrations of Grimaldi the clown on the front cover over a white background, inside introduction, loose programme, some articles and commercial advertising. Printed by Woburn Printing Co, Ltd, Upper Woburn Place, 4p.p.
Bertram Mills Circus Gala Performance in Aid of the Animal Health Trust Programme, 22 December 1959
Olympia, London. White and yellow type on blue background and illustration of a rearing horse in red on the top section on the front cover, inside black and white photograph the Queen, introduction, commercial advertising, articles and programme, 36p.p.
Bertram Mills Circus Gala Performance in Aid of the Animal Health Trust Programme, 23 December 1960
Olympia, London. White and yellow type on red background and illustration of a leaping leopard on the top section on the front cover, inside black and white photograph the Queen, introduction, commercial advertising, articles and programme, 38p.p.
Bertram Mills Circus Gala Performance in Aid of the Animal Health Trust Programme, Thursday 20 December 1962
Olympia, London. Black type on blue background and colour illustration of a clown seating on the floor on the front cover, inside black and white photograh of the Queen, introduction, commercial advertising, articles and programme, 36p.p.
Bertram Mills Circus Gala Performance in Aid of the Animal Health Trust Programme, 20 December 1963
Olympia, London. Green, black and red type on yellow background and coloured black and white photograph of rearing elephant and man in red outfit on the front cover, inside black and white photograh of the Queen, introduction, commercial advertising, articles and programme, 26p.p.
Bertram Mills Circus Gala Performance in Aid of the Animal Health Trust Programme, Monday 21 December 1964
Olympia, London. Colour illustration of ringmaster wearing a red tail jacket, black trousers and top hat and colourful curtains on the sides on the front cover, inside black and white photograh of the Queen, introduction, commercial advertising, articles and programme, 28p.p.
Bertram Mills Circus Gala Performance in Aid of the Animal Health Trust Programme, Wednesday 22 December 1965
Olympia, London. Black and white photograph of head of lion on the front cover, inside black and white illustration of the Queen, introduction, commercial advertising, articles and programme, 28p.p.
Bertram Mills' Circus Gouache, c1920 - 1967
Gouache on card, poster design. Olympia Grand Hall, 22 December to 27 January, featuring The Great Frederico. Colour illustration of a man swinging from a rope by his teeth, background image of circus ring, type multicoloured.
Bertram Mills Circus, Menagerie and Fun Fair Advertising Booklets and Cards, c1920 - 1969
A range of booklets with different designs containing several pages with mainly black and white photographs of performers and acts, time tables of performances and booking information for shows at Olympia, Manchester, Hastings, Lincoln, Liverpool and York.
Bertram Mills Circus Mirror Publication, c1900 - 1999
Second, third and special edition of the a publication by Bertram Mills circus about the circus, colour illustrations on front cover, inside they contain black and white illustrations of acts and performers and articles.
Bertram Mills Circus Mirror Third Edition Gouache, c1920 - 1967
Gouache on card. Design for cover of Bertram Mills Circus Mirror, signed by Leon Chossley. Colour illustration of a woman riding a white horses with smaller images of five clowns, a ringmaster, two elephants with trainer, a ballerina standing on the back of a horse and three high wire performers, background multicoloured, type black and red.
Bertram Mills Circus Photographs, c1900 - 1950
Black and white photographs of circus performers and animals including Coco the clown, Nicolia the animal tamer, Mills' horses and circus scenes.