The Circus
In the 1920s and 30s Louise spent her summers traveling with the Ringling Brothers Circus, where she took hundreds of photos, from which she later painted clowns, circus animals, and scenes from the festivities. She befriended many members of the circus community, from members of the administration, clowns, musicians, and other performers to Henry Ringling North himself.
Our collection includes fascinating letters from her correspondence with them, which lasted for over forty years. Even after she stopped traveling with the circus, the managers made a point of keeping her informed about their season plans, so that she could attend whichever shows were convenient. She was granted special passes which gave her free access to performances, but also let her into the menagerie to paint the animals.
Ringling Bros. Circus
Ringling Brothers Circus The Ringling Brothers Circus was started in 1884 by five brothers. Although it started small touring the Midwest by wagon, the circus grew quickly after acquiring its first elephant in 1888. In 1906, the Ringlings purchased their largest competitor, the Barnum and Bailey Circus. World War I forced them to combine to one large show in 1919, the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows.
In 1936, the last of the brothers died and management was assumed by their nephews John and Henry Ringling North. Although times were difficult during the Depression and World War II, the circus survived and even thrived.
In 1956, the performances left the big top, preferring instead to use permanent arenas. By 2015, the circus had America's largest elephant herd, 43 in number, and under pressure from animal activist groups, the circus promised to phase out the elephant acts over the coming years. This resulted in a decline in ticket sales, and in 2017, Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus announced that it would close, with its last shows taking place in May of that year.