Fred Graham circus collection
MSS.232
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit
September 24, 2014
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Ball State University Archives and Special Collections
Alexander M. Bracken Library
2000 W. University Avenue
Muncie, Indiana, 47306
765-285-5078
libarchives@bsu.edu
Fred Graham circus collection MSS.232
Table of Contents
Summary Information ................................................................................................................................. 3
Biographical Note.......................................................................................................................................... 4
Scope and Contents....................................................................................................................................... 4
Arrangement...................................................................................................................................................4
Administrative Information .........................................................................................................................5
Controlled Access Headings..........................................................................................................................6
Collection Inventory...................................................................................................................................... 8
Series 1: Fred Graham circus advertisements, brochures, programs, and other promotional material,
1859-2001.................................................................................................................................................8
Series 2: Fred Graham circus and genealogy research files, 1858-2001.............................................. 10
Series 3: Fred Graham collected circus publications, 1848-2001.........................................................13
Series 4: Fred Graham Wait for the Muncie Boys book documents, 1856, 1994-1997........................ 21
Series 5: Fred Graham circus research oversize collection, 1875-1996............................................... 21
Series 6: Fred Graham circus research photographs, 1811-1996..........................................................22
Series 7: Fred Graham circus research negatives, 1811-1996.............................................................. 22
Series 8: Fred Graham oversize photographs, undated.........................................................................22
Series 9: Fred Graham photographs, undated....................................................................................... 22
Series 10: Fred Graham slide collection, undated................................................................................ 22
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Fred Graham circus collection MSS.232
Summary Information
Repository
Ball State University Archives and Special Collections
Title
Fred Graham circus collection
Date
1811-2001
Extent
2.3 Cubic feet 7 boxes
Language
English
Preferred Citation
Fred Graham circus collection, Archives and Special Collections, Ball State University Libraries
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Fred Graham circus collection MSS.232
Biographical Note
The son of the great high wire artist William Graham, who was a member of the renowned circus group
nicknamed the “Wirettas,” Frederick H. Graham was born in Muncie, Indiana, where he attended primary
and secondary school. Subsequently, he went to the University of Michigan to study architecture, and
he received the George C. Booth Graduate Scholarship for study in Europe. Working in the studio of
Alden B. Dow, Graham began his career as an architect in Midland, Michigan. Later, he established his
own architectural firm in Muncie, Indiana, where he presently resides. Graham married artist Mary E.
"Bette" (Hook) Graham, and they had three children. Graham wrote several books on local architecture
and history, including one book on early circuses in Indiana ( Wait for the Muncie Boys: Indiana's Early
Circuses, 1994). Graham was an enthusiast, researcher, and historian of the circus and a collector of
circus material. He was also a member of the Circus Historical Society, the Circus World Museum, and
the Circus Hall of Fame, which he helped found in Peru, Indiana in 1994. Frederick H. Graham died in
2007
Source: Frederick H. Graham, Wait for the Muncie Boys
Scope and Contents
The Fred Graham Circus Research Collection contains a variety of circus-related materials including
papers, advertisements, book materials, various publications, research material correspondence,
genealogical work, membership information, postcards, show materials, programs, tickets/ticket stubs,
Wait for the Muncie Boys, yearbooks, oversize material, photographs, and photograph negatives.
Arrangement
Series 1: Fred Graham circus advertisements, brochures, programs, and other promotional
material, 1859-2001
Series 2: Fred Graham circus and genealogy research files, 1858-2001
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Fred Graham circus collection MSS.232
Subseries 2.1: Fred Graham circus personnage and circus family genealogy research, 1858-2000
Subseries 2.2: Fred Graham Muncie circus location and show documents, 1876-1996
Subseries 2.3: Fred Graham circus research correspondence, 1990-2001
Series 3: Fred Graham collected circus publications, 1848-2001
Subseries 3.1: Fred Graham academic history papers, 1973, 1984, and undated
Subseries 3.2: Fred Graham book excerpts and jackets, 1956-1990
Subseries 3.3: Fred Graham circus periodicals, articles, and other written material, 1848-2001
Series 4: Fred Graham Wait for the Muncie Boys book documents, 1856, 1994-1997
Series 5: Fred Graham circus research oversize collection, 1875-1996
Series 6: Fred Graham circus research photographs, 1811-1996
Series 7: Fred Graham circus research negatives, 1811-1996
Series 8: Fred Graham oversized photographs, undated
Series 9: Fred Graham photographs, undated
Series 10: Fred Graham slide collection, undated
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Ball State University Archives and Special Collections
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
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Fred Graham circus collection MSS.232
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Archives and Special Collections, Ball State
University Libraries, Muncie, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to
Archives and Special Collections.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Archives and Special Collections as a donation from Fred Graham on
2003/08/29.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2003/09/18 by A. Stone. EAD finding aid created 2012/10/18 by Julie
Hausknecht. EAD finding aid revised 2013/10/30 by Rebecca Marangelli.
Controlled Access Headings
Genre(s)
•
•
•
•
Photographs
Programs
Publications
Slides (Photography)
Geographic Name(s)
• Delaware County (Ind.)
• Muncie (Ind.)
Personal Name(s)
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Fred Graham circus collection MSS.232
• Graham, Frederick
Subject(s)
•
•
•
•
•
•
Authors
Brochures
Circus
Circus parades
Circus--History
Stoeckel Archives of Local History
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Fred Graham circus collection MSS.232
Series 1: Fred Graham circus advertisements, brochures, programs, and othe...
Collection Inventory
Series 1: Fred Graham circus advertisements, brochures, programs, and other promotional
material, 1859-2001
5th Annual Peru Circus City Festival, 1962 Aug.
American play programs, 1963, 1995
British play programs, 1954
Business cards, undated
Circus flyers, 1996-2001
Circus Hall of Fame brochures, undated
Circus Historical Society membership certificate, 1990 Sept.
Circus ticket stubs, 1991-1994
Circus video advertisement, 1995 May
Circus World Museum brochures, undated
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Box
Folder
1
1
1
2
1
3
1
4
1
5
1
6
1
7
1
8
1
9
1
10
Fred Graham circus collection MSS.232
Series 1: Fred Graham circus advertisements, brochures, programs, and othe...
Circus World Museum souvenir program, 1992-1993
Clyde Beatty - Cole Bros. World's Largest Circus souvenir program, 1997
Cole Bros. Circus advertisement, 1997/11/3
Cook & Whitby circus newspaper advertisement, 1892
Dalhart, Vernon, Bobby Gregory, and Joe Davis. The Wreck of the Circus
1
11
1
12
1
13
1
14
1
15
1
16
1
17
1
18
1
19
1
20
1
21
1
22
1
23
Train (song). New York: Joe Davis, Inc., 1937
Forepaugh and Sells Brothers circus posters and advertisements,
1882-1895
The Great Wallace shows poster, undated
Hall of Fame Circus inaugural season brochure, 1991
Harlem Globetrotters souvenir program, 1969
Holiday on Ice souvenir programs, 1962-1993
Miami County, Indiana heritage brochures, undated
Muncie, Indiana circus advertisements, 1877-1885
Orton Bros. Circus advertisements, undated
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Fred Graham circus collection MSS.232
Series 2: Fred Graham circus and genealogy research files, 1858-2001
Orton Bros. Circus program, 1927
Program, ticket stubs, and other material from Stratford-Upon-Avon, UK,
1
24
1
25
1
26
1
27
1
28
1
29
1
30
1
31
1
32
1954
Promotional circus layouts and articles from Indiana newspapers,
1993-2000
Rachmaninoff program, undated
Ringling Bros. circus galleries brochure, Sarasota, Florida, 1997
Sarasota International Circus Festival and Parade souvenir program, 1992
Texas State Fair flyer, 1962 Oct.
Vincennes, Indiana circus advertisements, 1859-1864
West Baden Springs Hotel brochure, undated
Series 2: Fred Graham circus and genealogy research files, 1858-2001
Subseries 2.1: Fred Graham circus personnage and circus family genealogy research, 1858-2000
Annie Oakly, Buffalo Bill, and Pawnee Bill research file, 1890-1998
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Box
Folder
1
33
Fred Graham circus collection MSS.232
Subseries 2.1: Fred Graham circus personnage and circus family genealogy r...
Anonymous group play cast photocopied photograph, undated
Botkin clown autograph, 2000
Buckskin Ben Stalker research file, 1910-1993
Carnival exhibits and John Wilkes Booth's body, 1940-1998
Charlie Murray research file, 1905-1987
Circus Fans Association of America roster, 1994-1999
Clown sources at the Robert L. Parkinson Library and Research Center,
1
34
1
35
1
36
1
37
1
38
1
39
1
40
1
41
1
42
1
43
1
44
1
45
1
46
Circus World Museum, 1997/02/24
Della Melvin correspondence and genealogy documents, 1996/03/27
Forepaugh family genealogy documents, 1975-1993
Graham's Western Riders photocopied photographs, undated
M. M. Robinson and J. A. Headley photocopied photographs, undated
Notes and profiles of circus performers, undated
Orton and Woodcock photocopied photographs, undated
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Fred Graham circus collection MSS.232
Subseries 2.2: Fred Graham Muncie circus location and show documents, 1876...
Orton Bros. Circus research file, 1858 June-1996 Feb.
Orton family photocopied photographs, 1918-1947
Ringling Brothers employee rules, undated
Robinson family correspondence and genealogy documents, 1992-1994
Robinson family trees and genealogy correspondence,
1
47
1
48
1
49
1
50
1
51
1
52
1
53
1
54
1990/12/04-1997/05/18
Terrell Jacobs research files, 1941 Dec.-1985 Dec.
W. W. Graham and Billy Wiretta genealogy documents, 1894-1958 May
Woodcock photocopied photographs, undated
Subseries 2.2: Fred Graham Muncie circus location and show documents, 1876-1996
Minnetrista Circus Days, 1996 Aug.
Muncie circus and show locations, 1876, 1884, 1894, 1902, 1994
Muncie driving park, 1881, 1978
Patterson rinks, 1882
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Box
Folder
2
1
2
2
2
3
2
4
Fred Graham circus collection MSS.232
Subseries 2.3: Fred Graham circus research correspondence, 1990-2001
Petty auditorium, 1901-1911
Wysor Grand, 1882-1947
2
5
2
6
Box
Folder
2
7
2
8
2
9
2
10
2
11
2
12
2
13
2
14
Subseries 2.3: Fred Graham circus research correspondence, 1990-2001
Carson & Barnes Circus correspondence, 1992-1996
Circus Hall of Fame and Fred Graham correspondence,
1990/11/01-1993/04/23
Donald Ream and Fred Graham correspondence, 2002 Apr.-June
John Martin correspondence, 1996/05/05
Lena M. Whitney correspondence, undated
Linda Moher postcard to Fred Graham, 1990/09/15
Melissa Ballard and Fred Graham correspondence,
2001/03/14-2001/04/26
Ruth Orton Miller and Fred Graham correspondence,
1996/02/06-1996/02/24
Series 3: Fred Graham collected circus publications, 1848-2001
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Fred Graham circus collection MSS.232
Subseries 3.1: Fred Graham academic history papers, 1973, 1984, and undate
Subseries 3.1: Fred Graham academic history papers, 1973, 1984, and undated
Fishback, Debbie. Our Circus Heritage: History of the Circus in Peru,
Box
Folder
2
15
2
16
2
17
Box
Folder
2
18
2
19
2
20
2
21
Indiana, undated.
Hanners, John. Early Entertainments in Terre Haute, Indiana, 1810-1865.
Master's thesis, Indiana State University, 1973 Dec.
Smith, Ricka. A Splendid Circus Town-The Circus in Muncie: 1890-1905,
1984.
Subseries 3.2: Fred Graham book excerpts and jackets, 1956-1990
Armstrong, David and Elizabeth Metzger Armstrong. "Medicing Shows:
Pitch Doctors Take to the Road.: The Great American Medicine Show,
1173-184. New York: Prentice Hall, 1991. (book excerpt)
Culhane, John. The American Circus: an Illustrated Circus. New York:
Henry Holt and Company, 1970. (book excerpt)
Johnson, Janet Kirk. The Ballards in Indiana. C. E. Literary Trust, 1984.
(book excerpt)
McKennon, Joe. Horse Dung Trail: Saga of American Circus. Sarasota,
FL: Carnival Publishers of Sarasota, 1975. (book jacket)
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Fred Graham circus collection MSS.232
Subseries 3.3: Fred Graham circus periodicals, articles, and other written...
Miscellaneous book excerpts, undated
Murray, Marion. From Rome to Ringling. New York: Appleton-Century-
2
22
2
23
2
24
2
25
2
26
2
27
Crofts, Inc., 1956. (book excerpt)
Reynolds, Chang. Pioneer Circuses of the West. Los Angeles: Westernlore
Press, 1966. (book excerpt)
Sutton, Felix. The Big Show: a History of the Circus. Garden City, New
York: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1971. (book excerpt)
Thayer, Stuart. Annuals of the American Circus, Vol. III, 1848-1860.
Seattle, WA: Dauven & Thayer, 1992. (book excerpt)
Vail, R. W. G. Random Notes on the History of the Early American Circus.
Barre, MA: Barre Gazette, 1956. (book excerpt)
Subseries 3.3: Fred Graham circus periodicals, articles, and other written material, 1848-2001
American Heritage volume 13, number 1, 1961 Dec.
American Heritage volume 13, number 3, 1962 Apr.
American Heritage volume 16, number 1, 1964 Dec.
Articles related to John Robinson, 1875
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Box
Folder
2
28
2
29
2
30
2
31
Fred Graham circus collection MSS.232
Subseries 3.3: Fred Graham circus periodicals, articles, and other written...
Artscope magazine, 1995/09/27
Back Yard volume 2 issue 20, 1997/05/30
Bandwagon. Columbus, OH: Circus Historical Society, 1966-1968, 1990
Bandwagon. Columbus, OH: Circus Historical Society, 1990 Sept./
2
32
2
33
2
34
3
1
3
2
3
3
3
4
3
5
3
6
4
1
Oct.-1991 Sept./Oct.
Bandwagon. Columbus, OH: Circus Historical Society, 1991 Nov./
Dec.-1992 Sept./Oct.
Bandwagon. Columbus, OH: Circus Historical Society, 1992 Nov./
Dec.-1993 July/Aug.
Bandwagon. Columbus, OH: Circus Historical Society, 1993 Sept./
Oct.-1994 July/Aug.
Bandwagon. Columbus, OH: Circus Historical Society, 1994 Sept./
Oct.-1995 May/June
Bandwagon. Columbus, OH: Circus Historical Society, 1995 July/
Aug.-1996 Mar./Apr.
Bandwagon. Columbus, OH: Circus Historical Society, 1996 May/
June-1997 Jan./Feb.
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Fred Graham circus collection MSS.232
Subseries 3.3: Fred Graham circus periodicals, articles, and other written...
Bandwagon. Columbus, OH: Circus Historical Society, 1997 Mar./
4
2
4
3
4
4
4
5
4
6
4
7
4
8
4
9
4
10
4
11
5
1
Apr.-1997 Nov./Dec.
Bandwagon. Columbus, OH: Circus Historical Society, 1998 Jan./
Feb.-1998 Nov./Dec.
Bandwagon. Columbus, OH: Circus Historical Society, 1999 Jan./
Feb.-1999 Nov./Dec.
Bandwagon. Columbus, OH: Circus Historical Society, 2000 Jan./
Feb.-2000 Sept./Oct.
Bandwagon. Columbus, OH: Circus Historical Society, 2000 Nov./
Dec.-2001 May/June
Chin, Ruth. "Circus Hall of Fame to Open in June." Muncie Star (Muncie,
IN), 1993/04/25
Circus articles from Indiana and Florida, 1923-2001
Circus Chat. Circus Hall of Fame, 1990-1992, 1996
Circus Chimera, 1997/12/10
Circus clowns postcards, undated
"Circus Issue." Ideals volume 7, number 4, 1950-1961 Aug.
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Fred Graham circus collection MSS.232
Subseries 3.3: Fred Graham circus periodicals, articles, and other written...
Classic Theater viewer guide, 1975
Clippings from the Indianapolis News, 1994 Aug.-Sept.
Connoisseur magazine articles, undated
Cotter, Gordon. "Copenhagen P.M.", undated
The Courier: a Quarterly Publication of Circus World Museum number 55,
5
2
5
3
5
4
5
5
5
6
5
7
5
8
5
9
5
10
1998 Spring
Courier Times articles realting to the Sedro-Woolley Museum and Tusko,
2002 Mar.-May
Cox, Vernon. Muncie's Music, Musicians, and my Memories. Muncie, IN,
1991
Documenting Circus History, undated
Don Marcks Presents Circus Reports numbers 23, 25, 48,
1994/11/28-1996/05/17
Box
Durant, John, and Alice Durant. Pictorial History of the American Circus. New York:
7
A.S. Barnes and Company, 1957
The Faces and Voices of 1991. Culpepper & Merriweather Circus, 1991
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Box
Folder
5
11
Fred Graham circus collection MSS.232
Subseries 3.3: Fred Graham circus periodicals, articles, and other written...
Feiler, Bruce. "Walk in my Shoes." Live!, undated
Grotefent, Dorothy. "Life is a Circus" column. The Longboat Observer,
5
12
5
13
5
14
5
15
5
16
5
17
5
18
5
19
5
20
5
21
5
22
5
23
1985/10/31-1995/05/01
"This Guy Really Clowns Around." Traveling Times, 1995 Fall
Hinds, Stephanie. "Milwaukee's Greatest Party." H&A Indiana Addition,
1993 July-Aug.
Historical Preservation, 1974 Apr./June
Jackson, Cari. "Circus Girl." Holiday Inn Express Navigator, 1999 Oct.Nov.
Miami County Historical Society bulletins, 1988-1996
Miscellaneous and anonymous magazine, undated
Muncie Star, Muncie Press, Muncie Times circus articles, 1848-1996
National Geographic volume 93 number 3, volume 141 number 3, 1948
Mar, 1972 Mar.
Petit, Philippe. "Profiles: Alone and in Control." The New Yorker,
1987/05/15
Playbill, 1959
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Fred Graham circus collection MSS.232
Subseries 3.3: Fred Graham circus periodicals, articles, and other written...
Box
Pond, Irving K. Big Top Rhythms: A Study in Life and Art. Chicago: Willett, Clark and
7
Company, 1937
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Magazine. Circus Magazine,
Box
Folder
5
24
5
25
5
26
1950
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey postcard, 1999
The Rotarian magazine, 1994 Apr.
Box
Sanders, Francis E. The Cole Bros. Circus from Rochester, Indiana: A complete history
7
from 1934 to 1940 (Wintering in Rochester). Bourban: Harmony Press Inc., 1986
Sarasota International Circus Festival & Parade, 1995 Sept.
Saxon, A. H. "PT Barnum: Universalism's Prince of Humbugs." The
Box
Folder
5
27
5
28
6
1
6
2
6
3
Worldvolume 2, number 3, 1988 May-June
Showfolks of Sarasota yearbooks 1989-1995
Traces. Indiana historical society, 1998 Winter, 2001 Winter
"Vanishing Act." Modern Maturity, 1992 Aug.-Sept.
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Fred Graham circus collection MSS.232
Series 4: Fred Graham Wait for the Muncie Boys book documents, 1856, 1994-...
The White Tops volume 68-70, 1995 Nov./Dec.-1997 Sept./Oct.
The White Tops volume 70-71, 1997 Nov./Dec.-1998 May/June
The White Tops volume 71-72, 1998 July/Aug.-1999 Jan./Feb.
The White Tops volume 72, number 2-3, 1999 Mar./Apr.-1999 May/June
6
4
6
5
6
6
6
7
Series 4: Fred Graham Wait for the Muncie Boys book documents, 1856, 1994-1997
Earl Armstrong and Fred Graham correspondence,
Box
Folder
6
8
6
9
6
10
6
11
6
12
6
13
1997/03/21-1997/03/28
"Kid" Beeson article, 1856
Wait for the Muncie Boys advertisement, 1996 Jan./Feb.
Wait for the Muncie Boys appendix, bibliography, glossary, 1994
Wait for the Muncie Boys first draft, 1994
Wait for the Muncie Boys unpublished chapters, 1994
OVA.089 Series 5: Fred Graham circus research oversize collection, 1875-1996
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Fred Graham circus collection MSS.232
Series 6: Fred Graham circus research photographs, 1811-1996
P.075 Series 6: Fred Graham circus research photographs, 1811-1996
PN.075 Series 7: Fred Graham circus research negatives, 1811-1996
POVA.076 Series 8: Fred Graham oversize photographs, undated
P.076 Series 9: Fred Graham photographs, undated
S.076 Series 10: Fred Graham slide collection, undated
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