Robert L. Parkinson Library & Research Center at Circus World

Circus World Museum
550 Water St.
Baraboo, WI 53913
608-356-8341
http://circusworld.wisconsinhistory.org/About/ResearchCenter.aspx

Erin E. Foley, Archivist
efoley.cwm[at]baraboo.com

Circus World Museum is a national-class museum and research center dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of the circus in America. It is located in Baraboo, Wisconsin, because that was the winter home of the Ringling Bros. Circus between 1884 and 1918, a period during which the show grew from traveling on 12 wagons, into a huge operation that required three trains to move all the equipment, people and animals.

The Museum opened in 1959. Owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Circus World is operated by an independent board. The grounds include eight of the ten remaining buildings from the Ringling Bros. Circus winter quarters. Open year round, the summer season adds two professional circus performances and other activities each day.

Circus World’s Library and Research Center was established in 1965, and is located at 415 Lynn St., adjoining the south side of the Museum. The artifacts and archives in the building document circus and Wild West shows throughout North America. Highlights of the archival collection include 4200 books and serials; 8000 posters; 80,000 photos; 300 original poster sketches; 900 reels of film; and 1800 cu. ft. of archival collections, including 300 cu. ft. of administrative records from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, 1920-1960. The Library and Research Center also holds smaller collections of materials from allied entertainments such as carnivals, tent theaters, and medicine shows. The artifact collection includes everything from 200 full-sized circus wagons to the tiny pieces from a flea circus.



Between the 1880s and the 1920s, more than 100 circuses went on the road every summer, performing in a different city every day between April and October. This photo shows the biggest circus of them all, Ringling Bros., set up outside Red Wing, Minnesota, in 1915. The big top (top of the picture) could seat 14,000 spectators at each show. This photo is one of 80,000 historical images available to researchers by Circus World Museum’s Library and Research Center. (Steve "Heck" Albasing photo)


Circus is famous for its advertising. This woodcut advertisement for the Great India Elephant is one of more than 8000 posters in the collection at Circus World Museum. Dating to 1832, it is one of the earliest American circus posters.


Circus World Museum’s collection continues to grow with regular additions from current shows. This photo of a troupe of Chinese acrobats was taken in 2007 at one of Circus World Museum’s performances.

Top image: The Robert L. Parkinson Library and Research Center, 415 Lynn St., Baraboo, Wisconsin, is open year round for visits by researchers. Generally the library is open Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., year round. Reservations are recommended.

Images courtesy of Circus World Museum, Baraboo, Wisconsin.

Entry compiled by Heather Heckman