.
By Ashley S. Thacker
Collection Overview
Scope and Contents of the Materials
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.
Biographical Note
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.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
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.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Folder:
[
Folder 1: Advertisements],
[
Folder 2: Newspaper Clippings],
[
Folder 3: Photographs & Post Cards],
[Folder 4: Tickets],
[
Folder 5: Oversize],
[
All]
- Folder 4: Tickets
- Barcode: 31234013925514
- Item 1: Tickets & Transactions, ca. 1930
- Lifetime pass to Bailey Bros. Circus to Mr. and Mrs. Shropshire
- Item 2: Tickets & Transactions, ca. 1930
- Lifetime pass to Bailey Bros. Circus to Mr. and Mrs. Shropshire
- Item 3: Tickets & Transactions, ca. 1948
- Courtesy pass from Dales Bros. Circus
- Item 4: Tickets & Transactions, ca. 1935
- Rice Bros Circus Pass
- Item 5: Tickets & Transactions, ca. 1935
- Rice Bros Circus Ticket
- Item 6: Tickets & Transactions, ca. 1930
- Kit Carson's Buffalo Ranch Wild West ticket
- Item 7: Tickets & Transactions, ca. 1930
- Kit Carson's Buffalo Ranch Wild West ticket
- Item 8: Tickets & Transactions, ca. 1930
- Kit Carson's Buffalo Ranch Wild West ticket
- Item 9: Tickets & Transactions, ca. 1945
- C. R. Montgomery Wild Animal Circus ticket
- Item 10: Tickets & Transactions, ca. 1940
- Bradley and Benson's Combined Circus and Rodeo ticket
- Item 11: Tickets & Transactions, ca. 1940
- Baily Bros. Circus Complimentary admit one ticket
- Item 12: Tickets & Transactions, ca. 1940
- Newton Bros. Big Three Ring Circus admit one ticket
- Item 13: Tickets & Transactions, ca. 1950
- King Bros. Circus Ticket
- Item 14: Tickets & Transactions, ca. 1930
- X La Rue show Ticket
- Item 15: Tickets & Transactions, ca. 1930
- M.L. Clark and Sons show ticket
- Item 16: Tickets & Transactions, ca. 1920
- Shropshire's Silver Plate Shows ticket
- Item 17: Tickets & Transactions, ca. 1920
- blank paycheck from Walter L. Main Circus
- Item 18: Tickets & Transactions, ca. 1920
- blank receipt for Bostock Wild Animal Circus
Browse by Folder:
[
Folder 1: Advertisements],
[
Folder 2: Newspaper Clippings],
[
Folder 3: Photographs & Post Cards],
[Folder 4: Tickets],
[
Folder 5: Oversize],
[
All]
