International Association of Libraries and Museums of the Performing Arts
Société Internationale des Bibliothèques et des Musées des Arts du Spectacle
Minutes of the First Meeting of the Circus Commission of SIBMAS
The Theatre and Theatre Collections / Le théâtre et les collections de documents
International
Association of Libraries and Museums of the Performing
Arts
16th International Congress, London, 9-13 September 1985
Proceedings of the Congress
Société Internationale
des Bibliothèques et des Musées des arts du spectacle
16ème Congres Internationale, Londres, 9-13 september
1985
Procès-Verbal
London 1986, pp.115-116
The Circus Commission of SIBMAS held its first meeting on 12 September during the XVIth International Congress. Present were: Mme Christout (France), Messers Eric Alexander and Paul Blum (The Netherlands), David Cheshire and Paul Ging (UK), together with the Congress host Alexander Schouvaloff and the Misses Catherine Haile and Jane Broughton-Perry of the Theatre Museum. Also present by invitation were Miss Jennifer Aylmer, Mr George Speaight and Mr J. C. Cavanagh, and A. Hippisley Coxe, Chairman.
Committee members had received a paper, prepared by the Chairman, on the Classification of Circus Acts. In introducing this paper for discussion the author pointed out that it was designed primarily for critics and historians rather than those concerned with cataloguing circus libraries and collections. It was agreed that this form of classification was more suitable for those witnessing a performance than those working in museums and libraries; and for those present an international method of classification which could be applied to collections was what was most urgently needed. Although the most international of all the performing arts, any system of classification was complicated by two other characteristics: circus performers covered a remarkably wide field literally ranging from acrobats to zebras; and those who collected circus memorabilia drew on equally diverse items which could be as small as a postage stamp or as large as a band wagon.
After some discussion it was agreed that most collections fell into one or more of three distinct categories:
- Books, either printed or in manuscript.
- Flat objects, either drawn, painted, written or printed, such as posters, programmes, contracts, letters, photographs, prints, etc.
- Three dimensional or solid objects, such as costumes, props, ceramics, toys, models, sculpture etc.
Books, it was decided, should conform to the classification used for other aspects of the performing arts, such as ballet, opera, etc.
Objects covered by the second category, should be catalogued wherever possible, first under the name of the circus or, where this was not known, under the artiste concerned. Furthermore the Committee considered that enough information should be included to enable cross references to be made to establish other circuses in which the performer(s) appeared. It was also considered desirable to include the names of the illustrator and printer where applicable.
The same principle should be applied to the solid objects in category 3 although an exception would have to be made for toys, ceramics, etc., which represented imaginary circus scenes.
Although these three groups covered most items found in circus collections, two other categories remained: music and recorded interviews or performances. The Committee agreed that circus music should be treated in exactly the same way as ballet music, opera music etc. Interviews should be transcribed and treated as books, but official sound and film archives should be informed. The existence of film records of acts should also be listed in the photographic library catalogue.
Two other items were discussed. After a brief discussion it was agreed that a central register of circus collections, both official and private, should be compiled, and also a register of organisations interested in circus research.
Finally a motion was proposed and unanimously adopted that:
"The University of California, Santa Barbara, be requested to publish without delay the Fifth volume of Raymond Toole-Stott's magnificent bibliography, The Circus and Allied Arts so that the author's intention might be fulfilled and his work made available to historians and archivists all over the world, and remain for the sole benefit of one American University."
The Chairman thanked the delegates for attending and brought the session to a close.
Antony D. Hippisley Coxe
[Minutes]
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Last updated: 27.11.2002
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