ABOUT THE CIRCUS WORLD MUSEUM DIGITAL COLLECTIONS WEBSITE
Circus World's Robert L. Parkinson Library and Research Center is the world's foremost research facility for circus history. The holdings document the history of the American circus from its inception in 1793 to the present day. Among the thousands of photographs, books and manuscripts found at the library is a large collection of audio and film materials.
The library holds several hundred audio tapes, both reel-to-reel and cassettes as well as 33 rpm and 78 rpm phonograph records. The audio recordings include interviews with a variety of circus owners and performers.
The film collection consists of over 700 items, dating from 1904 through the 1950s. The collection also includes the only known footage of the 1904 Barnum & Bailey Circus street parade and the only existing film interview with the late John M. Kelley, founder of the Circus World Museum. The film was recorded in 1961, when Kelley was 88-years-old.
Although the audio and film collections are extensive only a small portion has been cataloged and digitized. This website serves as the access portal to those items which have been fully cataloged and transferred into digital format. Due to preservation concerns access to the remainder of the audio and film collections is restricted.
For more information about the Robert L. Parkinson Library and Research Center and access to our complete online catalog please click on the link below.
Circus World's Robert L. Parkinson Library and Research Center is the world's foremost research facility for circus history. The holdings document the history of the American circus from its inception in 1793 to the present day. Among the thousands of photographs, books and manuscripts found at the library is a large collection of audio and film materials.
The library holds several hundred audio tapes, both reel-to-reel and cassettes as well as 33 rpm and 78 rpm phonograph records. The audio recordings include interviews with a variety of circus owners and performers.
The film collection consists of over 700 items, dating from 1904 through the 1950s. The collection also includes the only known footage of the 1904 Barnum & Bailey Circus street parade and the only existing film interview with the late John M. Kelley, founder of the Circus World Museum. The film was recorded in 1961, when Kelley was 88-years-old.
Although the audio and film collections are extensive only a small portion has been cataloged and digitized. This website serves as the access portal to those items which have been fully cataloged and transferred into digital format. Due to preservation concerns access to the remainder of the audio and film collections is restricted.
For more information about the Robert L. Parkinson Library and Research Center and access to our complete online catalog please click on the link below.