Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Dawn V. Rogala Circus Photographs and Papers

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.1427
Creators:
Rogala, Dawn V.
Dates:
1990-2015
bulk 1992-1999
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
4 Cubic feet
12 boxes
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The collection, compiled and photographed by Dawn Rogala, documents daily life in traveling, tented circuses in America, including: Clyde Beatty-Cole Brothers, Circus Vargas, Sterling & Reid Brothers, Culpepper and Merriweather, Carson and Barnes, Vidbel's Olde Tyme Circus, Big Apple Circus, Carson and Barnes Circus, Culpepper and Merriweather Circus, Franzen Brothers Circus, Roberts Brothers Circus, Sterling and Reid Brothers Circus, and Walker Brothers Circus. The collection consists primarily of photographic materials such as slides, prints and negatives. It also includes Rogala's project files containing schedules, programs, notes, correspondence, pictures of Rogala on the road, etc., and transcribed interviews that Rogala conducted.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is divided into seven series.
Series 1: Black-and-White Negatives, and Color Transparencies, 1992-1995
Series 2: Xerographic Prints, 1992-1998
Series 3: Low Resolution Xerographic Prints, 1992-1998
Series 4: Interview Transcripts, 1995, 1998
Series 5: Early Organization of the Book, 2005
Series 6: Miscellaneous Ephemera, 1990-2015
Series 7: Miscellaneous Materials, 1993-1996
Series 8: Oversize, 1992-1993

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
A paintings conservator and photographer, Rogala traveled with every tented, full time, traveling American circus which traveled at least eight months of every year, during the years 1992-1998. She photographed not only the performances, but the behind-the-scenes activities of setting up and breaking down, and activities such as animal care (especially elephants), costuming, make-up, and day-to-day life on the road.

Administration

Author
Dawn Rogala and Kira Leinwand
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Collection donated by Dawn V. Rogala, 2017.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Kira Leinwand, intern, 2019.

Digital Content


Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
Dawn V. Rogala Circus Photographs and Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Conditions Governing Use
Reproduction restricted due to copyright or trademark. Photographer retains copyright until death.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Acrobats Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Circus Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Circuses (performances) Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clowns Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Correspondence -- 1990-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Elephants Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Interviews -- 1990-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Negatives -- 1990-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Notes -- 1990-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- 1990-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- Color photoprints -- 1990-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Programs -- 1990-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Schedules -- 1990-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Slides (photographs) -- 1990-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sterling and Reid Bros. Circus Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Vidbel's Olde Tyme Circus Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Culpepper and Merriweather Circus Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Circus Vargas Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Carson & Barnes Circus Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Roberts Bros. Circus Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Franzen Bros. Circus Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Walker Bros. Circus Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Kelly Miller Circus Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Big Apple Circus Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
archivescenter@si.edu