The Baliot Collection
The Baliot Collection is comprised of black and white print photographs, contracts, card photographs, printed materials, programs, a scrapbook, and a published book. The materials date from 1902 to 1997, the bulk ranging from 1910-1928. A significant portion of card and print photographs capture scenes of the Baliot aerial performers, acts, and publicity shots, primarily of Emma and Anton Riedler, stage named Erna and Tony Baliot.
View the CollectionBuster Bailey Collection
Buster Bailey was a circus fan, amateur cinematographer and much more. Bailey was a familiar face on the circus lot and was given full access to a variety of circuses, including Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus, AL G. Barnes Circus, Clyde Beatty Circus, Amsterdam Circus, Moscow Circus, Russian Ice Show and Circus Benneweis. These circuses are captured in this film collection.
View the collectionCoolidges visit The Biggest Show on Earth
This almost two-minute film clip includes footage of President Coolidge and his wife, Grace entering the Big Top of the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows. John Ringling escorts the presidential couple to their front row seats. Performers costumed as fairytale figures parade around the hippodrome track.
View the collectionOtto C. Rice Collection of Robert and Anna Reynolds and Leif Osmundsen’s Circus Photographs and Printed Materials
This is an informal assembly gathered over the lifetime of the circus affiliated couple Robert (Bob) and Anna Reynolds, which was added to after a post-mortem transfer of property to fellow circus tent-maker affiliate, Leif Osmundsen. The items collected show the construction/deconstruction of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, performers, and acts associated with the show in several significant locations including the Sarasota Winter Quarters and Madison Square Garden.
View the collectionThe Tibbals Circus Collection of Heralds
The Tibbals Circus Collection of Heralds comes from the holdings of The Ringling Circus Archives. Heralds were a popular form of advertisement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
View the collectionThe Tibbals Circus Collection of International Newspapers
This collection is a series in the Tibbals Circus Collection of Serials. From the newspapers in this collection, a virtual clipping collection has been created, drawing from over 150 different newspapers dating from 1685–1907.
View the collectionThe Tibbals Circus Collection of Trade Cards
This collection is comprised of 848 lithographic and print trade cards. The contents of the collection date from approximately 1876 to 1940, with the bulk of the dates unknown.
View the collectionRecords of the Governing Boards, Meeting Minutes 1948-present.
This record series is a compilation of official meeting minutes of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art governing boards and committees.
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