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Shropshire Circus Collection

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Photographs & Post Cards

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Title: Shropshire Circus Collection, 1914-1950

Predominant Dates:1920s

Primary Creator: Shropshire, James

Extent: 4.0 Folders

Date Acquired: 02/14/2013

Subjects: Circus--History.

Languages: English

The Shropshire Collection includes a large variety of circus material from the early to mid 1900s that was donated to the Dorris Museum by Mrs. James Shropshire. When the Dorris Museum closed, the collection was transferred to Special Collections and Archives. The items within the collection include photos of performers and circus snapshots, post cards, circus newspapers, programs and newspaper clippings, as well as lifetime circus passes and tickets.

James and Elizabeth Shropshire were circus-lovers at heart. The two travelled in circuses throughout the early 1900s. While James served as a side show manager, Elizabeth usually performed as a mind reader or psychic. Around 1940, the two settled in London, KY and opened the 4-Paw Hotel on Main Street; however, they never completely gave up the circus way of life. As evidenced by the collection, the couple received many lifetime circus passes and frequently visited the circus circuit. Though the circus was a way of life, they ultimately called Kentucky home. James passed away on May 17, 1948, at which point Elizabeth operated the 4-Paw Hotel until her death on May 16, 1959. Both are buried in Maysville, Kentucky.

Repository: Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

Acquisition Source: Shropshire, James, Mrs.

Acquisition Method: Donation

Other Note: Photographs were initially numbered with the accession number; however, a decision was made to change to collection number. The database was changed, but the numbers written on the images were not changed.