Book: Circus Route Book for 1883
Book: Circus Diary for 1883
1883 (Date published)
6 1/2" H
X
4" W
“My Diary or Route Book of P.T. Barnum’s Greatest Show on Earth and Great London Circus for the season of 1883.” Route books are small booklets that document the travels of a particular circus throughout the circus season, spring through fall. They often include a variety of other information. At the least they include venue locations and dates, but also usually include the names of circus employees and their roles, as well as notes for each location, such as weather conditions and incidents that occurred, ranging from injuries and deaths to the births of employees' children. This is why they are also called circus "diaries." They can be likened to high school year books, documenting the individuals and activities of one "institution" across a portion of a year, especially as in the late 1800s route books expanded to include photographs as well. The cover of this route book features a portrait of P. T. Barnum, and gives the names P. T. Barnum, J.A. Bailey, and J. L. Hutchison as the sole proprietors of the circus. The book was compiled by Alvaro Betancourt [Stewart] and published by the Gazette Company, Printers, Elmira, N.Y.
P. T. Barnum (July 5, 1810 - April 7, 1891) is best known for his involvement with the circus that still bears his name, but his circus ventures came about when he was in his 60s, following his career as a museum proprietor. The first show was called P. T. Barnum’s Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan and Circus. The development of railroad transportation helped propel the circus to success, making it easier to reach more locations and at a further distance, as well as expand the size of the shows. The intake was significant. Barnum's next venture was opening the New York Hippodrome with similar acts. In the 1880s, he encountered much more competition from other circuses. A merger between Barnum’s show the Great London Show of Cooper, Bailey, and Hutchinson resulted in forming the Barnum and London Circus. Negotiations and a new partnership in 1887 formed the Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth. The name remained until 1919 when it became the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth. Ringling ended its circus shows in May 2017.
P. T. Barnum (July 5, 1810 - April 7, 1891) is best known for his involvement with the circus that still bears his name, but his circus ventures came about when he was in his 60s, following his career as a museum proprietor. The first show was called P. T. Barnum’s Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan and Circus. The development of railroad transportation helped propel the circus to success, making it easier to reach more locations and at a further distance, as well as expand the size of the shows. The intake was significant. Barnum's next venture was opening the New York Hippodrome with similar acts. In the 1880s, he encountered much more competition from other circuses. A merger between Barnum’s show the Great London Show of Cooper, Bailey, and Hutchinson resulted in forming the Barnum and London Circus. Negotiations and a new partnership in 1887 formed the Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth. The name remained until 1919 when it became the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth. Ringling ended its circus shows in May 2017.
A Gift of the Discovery Museum, Bridgeport, Connecticut
2003.009.025