Shropshire Circus Collection, 1914-1950 | Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

By Ashley S. Thacker

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Collection Overview

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

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

Circus--History.

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 3: Photographs & Post Cards

Barcode: 31234013925506

Item 1: Circus train on a railroad bridge: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 2: Circus train in station with crowd, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 3: Circus train at railroad crossing, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 4: circus train cart wreckage from, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 5: circus train passing on bridge, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 6: circus tent take down/put up, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 7: circus tent take down/put up, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 8: Balloon animal performer and two others at circus ticket annex, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 9: Three men (Shropshire on far left) at admissions price cart at circus, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 10: Two men at circus ticket office, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 11: Four circus salesman (swords, stuffed animals) pose for picture, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 12: Circus performer practicing, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X4
Item 13: Circus performer in crowd, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 14: Crowd at circus, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 15: Circus Entrance, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 16: Ms. Rosette. Photo taken at Long Beach, 1925 (September): Photograph; Physical Description: 2.5X4
Item 17: Tall man wearing cowboy hat, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 18: Cracker Jack booth at circus, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 19: Earnest Williams and Suey Shropshire, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 2X3
Item 20: Two men holding fish, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 21: Couple (possibly Shropshire) at circus, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 22: Snapshot of possible circus performers, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X4
Item 23: Four men at circus train, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 24: Two women and a man standing in front of car (appears to be at a residence)., ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X6
Item 25: Group of unidentified men (perhaps business associates), ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 8X10
Item 26: Circus band outside of tent, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 27: Circus band outside of tent, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 28: Circus band outside of tent, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 29: Circus band labeled "Walter L. Main Side Show Band", ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 30: Performers posing on postcard paper, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 31: Performers posing on postcard paper, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 32: Triplets posing, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 33: Performers posing (postcard), ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 34: Henry Emgard and unidentified man at Christy Bros. Annex, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 35: Henry Emgard and Verocolate lablele holding snake, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 36: 3 child performers with dog, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 37: Man and woman holding lion cub, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X4
Item 38: Two dogs pulling a monkey, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 39: Two bears chained up, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X4
Item 40: Two men with a calf, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 41: Man (Shropshire?) and woman with baby elephant, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X4
Item 42: Horses outside of circus tent, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 43: Three performers with horses, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 44: Tall man outstretched over two smaller men. Labeled as Big Ed in West Virginia at Howes Circus (post card), 1921: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 45: Giant Paul Herold, ca. 1921: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 46: Strong man circus performer, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 47: Strong man Joe Lambert at Miller Bros. Show, 1923: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X4
Item 48: Clown posing in front of circus tent, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 49: Young acrobat performer, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 50: Circus boy labeled as Tiny, ca. 1920: Photograph; Creator: Campbell's Photo Art Shop; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 51: Boy performer posing outside of tent, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 52: Verta May Trogdon (midget) posing, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 53: Performer with accordion (possibly Verta May Trogdon), ca. 1920: Photograph; Creator: Theatrical Studio; Physical Description: 8X10
Item 54: Performer posing with sword (post card paper), ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 55: Performer posing with swords, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 56: Performer posing with swords, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 57: Knife throwing performers, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 58: Knife throwing performers posing (post card), ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 59: Man riding bull (post card), ca. 1920: Photograph; Creator: DoubleDay Photo; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 60: Ablello Ben Deb (possibly sword eater) performing with swords and table, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 5X7
Item 61: Ablello Ben Deb with two women performers, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 62: Ablello Ben Deb with two women performers, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 63: Ablello Ben Deb with a man and woman., ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X4
Item 64: Woman performer (possibly fortune teller), ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X4
Item 65: Jacints Perrey, magician, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 66: Man and woman with banjos, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X4
Item 67: Salome James, cross-dresser, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X4
Item 68: Tiny Renaldo, Dancer, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 2X3
Item 69: Woman performer, dancer, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X5
Item 70: Annabella La Vonna, dancer, ca. 1920: Photograph; Creator: Theatrical Studio; Physical Description: 8X10
Item 71: Bud Losey in Ohio on post card, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 72: Man posing with chair on post card, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 73: Man posing with table on post card, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 74: Section of first German Shell to land on American Soil, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 75: Photo of Circus sign, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 3X4
Item 76: Photo of circus sign, ca. 1920: Photograph; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 77: General Forbes Hotel in Pittsburgh addressed to Mrs. Shropshire, 1922: Postcard; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 78: Circus advertisement post card, ca. 1920: Postcard; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 79: Cartoon post card, ca. 1920: Postcard; Physical Description: 4X6
Item 80: Business card for musical master, ca. 1920: Print; Physical Description: 2X3
Item 81: Small advertising card for Royal Italian Circus, ca. 1920: Print; Physical Description: 2X2.5

Browse by Folder:

[Folder 1: Advertisements],
[Folder 2: Newspaper Clippings],
[Folder 3: Photographs & Post Cards],
[Folder 4: Tickets],
[Folder 5: Oversize],
[All]