Summary
Overview
McCaddon Collection of the Barnum and Bailey
Circus
1871-1907 (mostly 1895-1905)
85 linear feet, 25 archival boxes, 1 half-size archival box. 2 record
center cartons, 57 flat boxes of various sizes
This collection is stored at Firestone Library and Firestone Library.
This collection is stored on site at Firestone Library. Box 63
(glass plate negativces)is stored in special vault facilities.
Requests will be delivered to Manuscripts Division, RBSC Reading Room
.
Princeton University. Library. Dept. of Rare
Books and Special Collections
Manuscripts Division
One Washington Road
Princeton, New Jersey 08544 USA
Abstract
The McCaddon Collection of the Barnum and Bailey Circus consists of
correspondence, photographs, scrapbooks, and other material collected by business
manager Joseph T. McCaddon prior to the 1907 merger of the circus with Ringling
Bros.
Description
Description
Consists of the working papers of the Barnum and Bailey partnership prior to its
merger with Ringling Bros. in 1907. In addition to correspondence, scrapbooks,
posters, couriers, parade, costume and wagon designs, music, and memorabilia
collected by Joseph T. McCaddon, who was the business manager of the circus at
the turn of the century, there are hundreds of photographs documenting the
American circus of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Collection Creator
Biography
Joseph T. McCaddon was born on January 31, 1859, in Beverly, Washington County, Ohio.
McCaddon began his career with the circus as manager of the Adam Forepaugh Circus.
Later, as James A. Bailey's brother-in-law and business manager of the Barnum and
Bailey Circus, he represented Bailey in many business matters, including
correspondence with William F. Cody (“Buffalo Bill”) regarding the acquisition of
his Wild West Show.
[1824]John Robinson Circus formed1867Adam Forepaugh Circus formed1871P. T. Barnum begins “P.T. Barnum's Museum, Menagerie, & Circus” in
Brooklyn, N.Y.1873James A. Bailey buys interest in Hemmings and Cooper's Circus from James
E. Cooper, changes name to Cooper and Bailey Circus.1875Sells Bros. Circus formed1879-80Bailey, along with Cooper and James L. Hutchinson, purchases show owned
by Seth B. Howes, forming Howes' Great London Circus and Sanger's Royal
British Menagerie and Cooper & Bailey's International Allied
Shows1881Cooper retires; Bailey and Hutchinson form partnership with Barnum,
creating the Barnum and London Circus.1883Buffalo Bill's Wild West founded1884The Ringling Brothers establish their circus.1885Bailey sells his interest in the circus to Cooper and W. W. Cole.1888Barnum and Bailey begin sole partnership, forming the “Barnum and Bailey
Circus.”1890Bailey and Cooper buy Adam Forepaugh Circus.1891Barnum dies; Bailey assumes full ownership of Barnum and Bailey
Circus.1894Bailey buys a controlling interest in Buffalo Bill's Wild West.1896Bailey joins with W. W. Cole and two of the Sells Brothers; Sells Bros.
Circus becomes Adam Forepaugh and Sells Bros. Circus1897-19025-year Barnum and Bailey European Tour. Ringling Bros. Circus becomes
dominant American Circus.1898Ringling Bros. begin to lease John Robinson Circus.1905Bailey acquires full ownership of Adam Forepaugh and Sells Bros. Circus,
sells half interest in it to the Ringling Bros.1906Bailey dies; Ringling Brothers buy remaining share of Forepaugh-Sells
Circus from Bailey's widow.1907Ringling Brothers purchase “Barnum and Bailey Circus” (shows remain
separate).1919“Ringling Brothers Circus” combined with “Barnum and Bailey Circus” to
create “Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus”1929Ringling Brothers purchase American Circus (which consisted of
Sells-Floto, Al G. Barnes, Sparks, Hagenbeck-Wallace, and John Robinson
Circuses).1956Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus gives last big top
performance.1957Irvin Feld purchases “Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus”
and transforms it into an indoor show.
Collection History
Acquisition
The collection was a gift to the Library by the McCaddon family in 1941.
Additions were purchased at auction in July 1978.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Melanie Papasian,
Princeton Class of 2003 and Rachel
Jordan in 2002 and 2004 . Finding aid written by Melanie Papasian, Princeton Class of 2003 and Rachel Jordan in 2002 and 2004.
Access and Use
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research use. However, Box 63 (glass plate negatives) is
restricted.
Use Restrictions
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication
of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University
Library does not own the original. Permission to publish material from the
collection must be requested from the Associate University Librarian for Rare
Books and Special Collections. The library has no information on the status of
literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for
determining any questions of copyright.
Preferred Citation
McCaddon Collection of the Barnum and Bailey
Circus; 1871-1907 (mostly 1895-1905), Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.
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