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An overview of direct links to the Circus Collection and to historical information about circuses and artists.
Circuses
Names of Circuses and related companies found through historical research by Herman Linssen, including references and direct links to the online theatre catalogue.
For information about the origin of the Linssen collection, see ‘ORIGIN‘ page.
Notes about Circuses
Of some of the found (the largest and most important) circuses (sometimes very detailed) notes are present: of circus 45% of the circuses from before 1945 and of circus 24% of those from 1945. If notes are present, this can be seen to the sign “ks” on top of the circus card of the circus. This card system with notes from circuses has been digitized. It can be accessed via the links below:
Notes Circuses before 1945 A-B
Notes Circuses before 1945 C-I
Notes Circuses before 1945 J-Q
Notes Circuses before 1945 R-Z
Worksheets
Herman Linssen has recorded the history of the circus on “worksheets”, arranged by year and season. These worksheets are the result of his historical research. The sources of this research are mainly the professional journals, but also prints, images in books and clippings. They are, as it were, a ‘circus database’ from 1765.
Some of this information has been transferred from the worksheets to the cards of the individual circuses (see Circuses above), but there is much more detailed information on the worksheets that may be of interest to historical researchers.
The worksheets have been digitized and can be consulted via the links below:
Circus posters
When you click on the various overviews, you will be taken directly to the online theatre catalogue containing a list of the posters, with images.
For information about the origin of the Best and Linssen collections, see the ‘ORIGIN‘ page.
Collection TIN
Collection Theater Instituut Nederland
Collection Best
Collection Linssen:
Austria (also Austria-Hungary)
China
Posters of designers in all circuscollections:
Posters designed by Tom Manders
Posters designed by Oscar Knudsen
Posters designed by M. Colizzi
Posters of printing companies in all circuscollections:
Posters by Louis Galice (France)
Posters by Chabrillac (France)
Posters by Primus Lithos (Germany)
Posters by Lappe und Semmler (Germany)
Circus photographs
When you click on the various overviews, you will be taken directly to the online theatre catalogue.
For information about the origin of the Baudert collections, see the ‘ORIGIN’ page.
Circus graphics
When you click on the various overviews, you will be taken directly to the online theatre catalogue:
For information about the origin of the Best and Linssen collections, see the ‘ORIGIN’ page.
Circus drawings and paintings
When you click on the various overviews, you will be taken directly to the online theatre catalogue:
For information about the origin of the collections, see the ‘ORIGIN’ page.
Drawings collection Theater Instituut Nederland
Circus performers/Circus families
The Linssen collection contains information about circus performers, circus families and circus personalities about whom he found data.
For information about the origin of the Linssen collection, see ‘ORIGIN’ page.
List of Performers and Families before 1945
List of Performers and Families from 1945
The card system with biographical notes on the circus Performers and Families appearing on the above lists before 1945 / from 1945 has been digitized and can be consulted via the links below:
Notes Performers and Families before 1945 A-D
Notes Performers and Families before 1945 E-J
Notes Performers and Families before 1945 K-R
Notes Performers and Families before 1945 S-Z
Notes Performers and Families 1945-2010 A-C
Notes Performers and Families 1945-2010 D-J
Notes Performers and Families 1945-2010 K-P
Notes Performers and Families 1945-2010 Q-Z
Engagements of circus Performers in the period 1945-1966 are listed in a separate card system. This card system has been digitized and can be consulted via the links below:
Engagements circus Performers 1945-1966 A-C
Engagements circus Performers 1945-1966 D-H
Engagements circus Performers 1945-1966 I-L
Engagements circus Performers 1945-1966 M-P
Circus cities/countries
The Linssen collection contains information about cities and countries about which Herman Linssen found circus information.
For information about the origin of the Linssen collection, see ‘ORIGIN’ page.
List of cities and countries before 1945 A-Z
List of cities and countries from 1945 A-Z
The card system with notes about circus in the cities/countries appearing on the above lists before 1945 / from 1945 has been digitized and can be consulted via the links below:
Notes circus in cities and countries before 1945 A-K
Notes cirucs in cities and countries before 1945 L-Z
Notes circus in cities and countries 1945-2010 A-Z
Below are several other overviews that may be relevant for researchers:
-In the Netherlands found circuses 1883-1944 – see: Handgeschreven lijst door Herman Linssen
-In Utrecht found circuses from 1834 – see: Getypte lijst door Ben van Herwerden
-In Limburg found circuses 1906-2016 – see: Getypte lijst Frans Wolff
-In Dordrecht found circuses 1901-2019 – see: Getypte en geschreven lijst door Peter van de Koppel
-Overviews of found circuses per country:
Circus books
For information about the origin of the Hartmans collections, see the ‘ORIGIN’ page.
-Theatercollectie van het Allard Pierson: Click on “Search for Circus in the Theatercollectie” at the top of this page and choose “Bibliotheekcatalogus”.
