The Gollmar Bros: Stewards of the Wisconsin Circus

While the most famous circus owners associated with Wisconsin may be the Ringling Bros., their cousins the Gollmar Bros. also form an important part of the Born in Wisconsin archives. The Gollmar Bros. started their own circus in 1891 and operated until 1916, spending the winters in Baraboo, Wisconsin. After 1916 the Gollmar name was leased to other circuses, and last used in 1926. UW-Madison alum and Circus World Archivist Pete Shrake provided both images of and information about this fantastic collection.

The records of the Gollmar Bros. Circus are located at Circus World in Baraboo, Wisconsin. The ten cubic foot collection is primarily comprised of the business records of the Gollmar Bros. Circus. While a few years are not represented, the records provide fascinating documentation into how the increasing size of the circus required more specialized occupations such as canvas-men, hostlers, and property men. By 1916 the records show that the Gollmar Bros. Circus had nineteen different payroll classifications, with other records documenting how the circus used railroad transportation to travel bring their show to their audience. Records also detail the distribution of advertising materials and include commissary ledgers, showing how the circus interacted with the public and part of the daily life of circus workers.

The Gollmar Bros. collection is an important part of Circus World, which houses what may be the largest collection of circus artifacts in the world. Over 210 original vehicles and wagons are on the grounds, as well over 9,500 multi-colored circus posters. Also included are thousands of journals, manuscripts, business records, original oil paintings, hand bills, programs, and rare photographs and negatives documenting the legacy not just of circuses, but of circuses that were born in Wisconsin.

[Post written by Pete Shrake with the assistance of Eric Willey]