E pluribus Barnum: the great showman and the making of U.S. popular culture

78pa104 Guide to the W. B. Griffin Photographic Collection, 1913-1979 Processed by: Staff, Dana Whitaker, Richard N. Leigh; machine-readable finding aid created by:Richard N. Leigh Special Collections

Audio-Visual Archives Special Collections University of Kentucky Margaret I. King Library Lexington, KY 40506-0039 Phone: (859) 257-8611 Fax: (859) 257-6311 Email: sclref@lsv.uky.edu URL: http://www.uky.edu/Libraries/libpage.php?lweb_id=391&llib_id=13

Machine-readable finding aid derived from typescript by rekeying.Date of source: 2003. Digital archival objects created: 2005-09-09. Description is in English. Guide to the W. B. Griffin Photographic Collection, 1913-1979 Collection number: 78PA104 Contact Information Audio-Visual Archives Special Collections University of Kentucky Margaret I. King Library Lexington, KY 40506-0039 Phone: (859) 257-2654 Fax: (859) 257-6311 Email: sclref@lsv.uky.edu URL: http://www.uky.edu/Libraries/libpage.php?lweb_id=391&llib_id=13 Processed by: Staff, Dana Whitaker, Richard N. Leigh Date Completed: 2003 Encoded by: Richard N. Leigh

103 online images

W. B. Griffin Photographic Collection,1913-1979 78PA104 Griffin, W. B., 1904-2000 1 cu. ft. (2 boxes): 103 items The materials are in English. University of Kentucky Special Collections

Lexington, Kentucky 40506

Collection is open to researchers by appointment.

[Identification of item], W. B. Griffin Photographic Collection, 78PA104,Special Collections, University of Kentucky.

Barnum and Bailey Barnum, P. T. (Phineas Taylor), 1810-1891 Circus Circus--posters Ringling Brothers

W. B. Griffin was the founder of W. B. Griffin and Son Insurance Administrators, and treasurer of Local 554 of the American Federation of Musicians. Both of these jobs required him to travel extensively, and he amassed two impressive collections: early pop music recordings (split between vinyl LPs and 78-RPM singles) and circus photographs. Griffin was an avid trumpeter as well, and frequently traveled with circuses to play as part of their 13-person bands. He especially admired Merle Evans, the "bandmaster" for Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. In later life, the two became close friends and carried on a lengthy written correspondence. Griffin died in December of 2000, at the age of 96.

The collection consists of one-hundred and three black and white silver prints. The collection is comprised primarily of portraits and publicity photographs, many of them from the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. The bulk of the collection covers 1939-1967.

Related Material

Adams, Bluford. E pluribus Barnum: the great showman and the making of U.S. popular culture. Minneapolis, Minn.: University of Minnesota Press, 1997.

Eipper, Paul. Circus; men, beasts, and joys of the road. New York, NY: Viking Press, 1931.

Staub, Christian. Circus; a book of photos. London, UK: J Lane, 1957.

Container List Elephant standing on "1/2 ton of peanuts" in Suffolk, Virginia, at Dowmey Bros. Circus, 1 001 1939 Subjects: Animals Circus Sports and Recreation. Two elephants with a trumpet player , 1 002 [undated] Subjects: Animals Circus Music and Performing Arts Sports and Recreation. Bridge over Salt River on U.S. Highway 60, Arizona, 1 003 [undated] Subjects: Bridges. Stevens Bros. Circus tents, 1 004 [undated] Subjects: Circus Sports and Recreation. "Trooping the Colors," London; mailed from Middlesex, England, to Sarasota, Florida, 1 005 1975 Subjects: Military. Tent at Aspen, Colorado, Music Festival, 1 006 [undated] Subjects: Music and Performing Arts. Clyde Beatty Band , 1 007 1946 Subjects: Music and Performing Arts. Man in formal coat and shoe-string tie [possibly Henry Kyes], 1 008 [undated] Subjects: Men. Tige Hales Band [circus band], 1 009 1951 Subjects: Circus Music and Performing Arts. Kitty Rostrum, Henry Kyes and Rex Rostrum with drum set marked "Polack Bros. Circus", 1 010 [undated] Subjects: Circus Music and Performing Arts. Parade floats and beauty queens, Tampa, Florida, 1 011 [undated] Subjects: Sports and Recreation. Henry Kyes, Ziggy Elman, Sammy Steffer and Jerry Gold at Polack Circus, Los Angeles, 1 012 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men Sports and Recreation. Circus fans of America; Henry Kyes, Tent #31, Springfield, Illinois, 1 013 1942 Subjects: Circus Men Sports and Recreation. Mrs. Karl King, a French horn player, Soike McKechnic, Henry Kyes, Karl King; Ft. Dodge, Iowa at King's home, 1 014 [undated] Subjects: Men Music and Performing Arts Women. Man playing trumpet on a balcony [probably Henry Kyes], 1 015 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts Men Music and Performing Arts Men Music and Performing Arts. Win' Danielson, organist, and Henry Kyes at airport in Sarasota, Florida, 1 016 1960 Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Rehearsal at Ringling quarters in Venice, Florida, 1 017 1961 Subjects: Circus Sports and Recreation. Postcard of Gold Medal Circus Band, sent to Henry Kyes, Bandmaster, c/o Polack Bros. Circus, Boise, Idaho, 1 018 1951 Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts Sports and Recreation. Postcard featuring clown Ed Raymond, 1 019 [undated] Subjects: Circus Sports and Recreation. Kyes and Ringmaster with majorette , 1 020 [undated] Subjects: Circus Sports and Recreation. Postcard of Long Beach Municipal Band, sent to Henry Kyes in Sarasota, Florida, mailed from Long Beach, California, 1 021 1951 Subjects: Music and Performing Arts. Clyde Beatty Circus Band, 1 022 1947 Subjects: Circus Music and Performing Arts. William Stephens and Henry Kyes in Hollywood, California, published in Billboard Magazine, November 12, 1938, 1 023 1938 Subjects: Circus Men. Autographed on back: "Harry Armstrong, old trouper, trumpet and Band Leader.", 1 024 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Color postcard of "The Great Wallendas," a circus troupe, 1 025 [undated] Subjects: Circus. Group of men, women and children taken at an Indian War Dance before the show at Polack Bros. Circus, Eastern Unit; Gallup, New Mexico [names are on back], 1 026 1952 Subjects: Children Circus Men Women. Henry Kyes in band uniform with a lady and gentleman, 1 027 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts Circus Men Women. Henry Kyes playing trumpet with bass drummer, 1 028 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Henry Kyes with Polack Bros. Circus Band, 1 029 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Henry Kyes and his band in circus tent, 1 030 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. The Hanneford family outside trailer [circus performers], 1 031 1956 Subjects: Circus Family life. 91-year-old clown Al Ackerman from Polack Circus taken at Camp Pendleton, California, 1 032 1967 Subjects: Circus Men. Henry Kyes with two other men and a chimp, 1 033 [undated] Subjects: Animals Circus Men. Al Ackerman and drummer Richard Evangelista at Camp Pendleton, California, 1 034 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Win Danielson, organist of Ringling Bros. Circus, 1 035 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Denver Band with Henry Kyes at Polack Circus , 1 036 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Clown in cowboy costume, 1 037 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men. Henry Kyes in Springfield, Illinois, 1 038 1970 Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Henry Kyes with "Soldier," boss of props and mailman, 1 039 1970 Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Henry Kyes with pipe, 1 040 1971 Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Henry Kyes onstage with circus act at Ford Bowl in San Diego, California, 1 041 1958 Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Big top at Aspen Music Festival; Minneapolis Symphony with Metropolous, conductor, and Dorothy Maynard, soprano, onstage, 1 042 [undated] Subjects: Circus Music and Performing Arts. Henry Kyes in band uniform, 1 043 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Circus clown, autographed "to Henry Kyes, Pete Mardo, Tent #34, Akron, Ohio", 1 044 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men. Man made up as a woman, autographed to Henry Kyes: "Karl A. Denton", 1 045 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men. Montage featuring Joe Basile, titled "Five by Five - Mr. Basile, if you will", 1 046 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men. Joe Basile with baton, autographed: "Best wishes to Henry Kyes from Joe Basile, 1953", 1 047 1953 Subjects: Circus Men. Circus ringmaster, autographed: "Best wishes . . . to the Paul Whiteman of the Big Top from... Al Springer, 1951", 1 048 1951 Subjects: Circus Men. Jackson Kyes, nephew of Henry Kyes, 1 049 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men. Henry Kyes, 1 050 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men. Clown, autographed: "To my dear friend, Dave Murphy... Rube Simonds", 1 051 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men. Clown with mirror, autographed: " To Wallace... Sincerely, Lawrence Cross", 1 052 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men. Clown with book, 1 053 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men. Two clowns, 1 054 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men. Armand Guerra with seals, Jacksonville Beach, Florida, 1 055 [undated] Subjects: Animals Circus Men. The Yelton Twins with accordions , 1 056 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Clown Harold Conn, 1 057 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men. "Tajana, Indian Goddess of Flight", 1 058 [undated] Subjects: Circus Women. Jeanne Sleeter in leotard, 1 059 [undated] Subjects: Circus Women. Sparks Circus Big Show Band with Henry Kyes, leader; roster on back, 1 060 1947 Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Alfredo Landon and his Midgets, 1 061 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men. Eddie Kuhn and wife, 1 062 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men Women. Joannides Troupe circus performers, 1 063 [undated] Subjects: Children Circus Family life Men Women. The Great Barton circus act , 1 064 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men. Henry Kyes and Boy Scout with trumpets at Harold Bros. Circus; note on back lists the circuses Kyes has played for, 1 065 1958 Subjects: Children Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Circus balancing act with band on balcony , 1 066 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Circus balancing act, 1 067 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men. Circus performer in a balancing act, 1 068 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men. Lady on a circus trapeze, 1 069 1949 Subjects: Circus Women. Man on a circus trapeze above audience, 1 070 1949 Subjects: Circus Men. Man and woman performing a circus act, 1 071 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men Women. Man and woman on a pedestal for a circus act, 1 072 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men Women. Circus balancing act; "Galasso" , 1 073 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men. Henry Kyes with trumpet, a piano player, and a drummer, 1 074 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Henry Kyes in uniform directing a band, 1 075 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Barker in front of a crowd at a circus sideshow, 1 076 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men. Henry Kyes playing trumpet for a young girl and man , 1 077 [undated] Subjects: Children Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Balancing act in a circus ring in Detroit, Michigan; autographed on back, 1 078 1948 Subjects: Circus Men. Henry Kyes in a tuxedo leading a circus band, 1 079 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Henry Kyes in a tuxedo leading Polack Circus Band , 1 080 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Jo and Slivers Madison in front of three elephants; autographed on front, 1 081 1952 Subjects: Animals Circus Men. Henry Kyes with twenty-piece band; written on back: "Please return to Robbins Bros. Circus.", 1 082 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Henry Kyes in tuxedo with eleven-piece circus band in uniform, 1 083 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Seven-piece band with Charles Cuthbert, leader; band members names appear on back, 1 084 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Group of men at a restaurant table for a union officials banquet in Havana, Cuba, with the caption: "Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey"; on back: "Henry Kyes, Bandmaster, Ringling Bros. Circus", 1 085 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men. Henry Kyes and circus performers in front of elephants in Norfolk, Virginia, 1 086 1952 Subjects: Animals Circus Men. Henry Kyes with circus advertisements, 1 087 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men. Fred Mullen in band uniform playing a calliope, 1 088 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men Music and Performing Arts. Two circus clowns , 1 089 [undated] Subjects: Circus Men. Captain Eddy Kuhn with lions, 1 090 [undated] Subjects: Animals Circus Men. Circus advertisements, 1 091 [undated] Subjects: Circus. Large group of performers in circus ring, 1 092 [undated] Subjects: Circus. Circus trapeze act in front of audience, 1 093 [undated] Subjects: Circus. Band in a circus wagon; stamped on back: "distributed to members of the Circus Historical Society", 1 094 [undated] Subjects: Circus Music and Performing Arts. Circus trailer being unloaded from railroad flatcar, 1 095 [undated] Subjects: Circus Railroads Transportation. Horses pulling circus wagon in street, 1 096 [undated] Subjects: Animals Circus Horses and Horse Industry. Line of railway cars; on back: "Kit Carson Show", 1 097 1913 - 1914 Subjects: Circus Railroads Transportation. Group of people in front of circus tent in New Haven, Connecticut, 1 098 1934 Subjects: Circus. Group of girls in front of Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey trailer, 1 100 1935 Subjects: Children Circus. Collage of 300 circus performers, 1 101 [undated] Subjects: Circus. Three ring circus, 1 102 1929 Subjects: Circus. Parade of horses at a three ring circus, 1 103 1926 Subjects: Animals Circus Horses and Horse Industry.