Finding Aid for the Dyer M. Reynolds circus history collection 2182
Sarah Jardini for History Associates Incorporated
USC Libraries Cinematic Arts Library
2022 February
Doheny Memorial Library G4
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California 90089-0185
ctlibarc@usc.edu
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Cinematic Arts Library
Title: Dyer M. Reynolds circus history collection
Creator:
Reynolds, Dyer Marion, 1930-1980
Identifier/Call Number: 2182
Physical Description:
50 Linear Feet
35 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1878-1980
Abstract: This collection consists of the historical circus materials and personal correspondence amassed by circus worker, artist,
and historian Dyer M. Reynolds. Materials included are circus programs, window cards, lithographs, banners, various letterheads,
route books, albums of photographs, negatives, 8mm film reels, reel to reel and disc audio recordings, books, ephemera, souvenirs,
and clippings.
Language of Material:
English.
Container: D1
Container: D2
Container: D3
Container: D4
Container: D5
Container: D6
Container: D7
Container: D8
Container: D9
Container: D10
Container: D11
Container: D12
Container: D13
Container: D14
Container: D15
Container: D16
Container: D17
Container: D18
Container: D19
Container: D20
Container: D21
Container: D22
Container: D23
Container: D24
Container: D25
Container: D26
Container: D27
Container: D28
Container: D29
Container: D30
Container: D31
Container: D32
Container: D33
Container: D34
Container: D35
This collection consists of items collected and created by circus worker, artist, and historian Dyer M. Reynolds. Materials
included are circus programs, window cards, lithographs, banners, various letterheads, route books, albums of photographs,
negatives, 8mm film reels, reel to reel and disc audio recordings, books, ephemera, souvenirs, clippings, and a large amount
of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey materials. Materials range in age from 1878 to 1980.
Box D1 contains an inventory of items as of 1970 when the collection was sold to Memphis State University. Additionally Reynolds'
personal and business correspondence from the 1970s are included in this collection.
Dyer Reynolds (1930-1980) was an American circus worker, artist, and circus historian. Reynolds, also known by the nickname
Ichabod, given by supervising electrician Edward R. Versteeg, for his tall and thin frame, was considered a "young old-timer"
for his 20 years in the circus business. It is recorded that Reynolds worked with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
from 1951-1956, and again from 1961-1969, and the Foley & Burk Carnival in 1961.
Reynolds collected circus materials believing that the medium was in decline. He embraced the nuances of the circus - not
merely as a form of entertainment, but as a business and as an artform.
This collection is currently unavailable for access.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
Finding aid description and metadata are licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Cinematic Arts Library
at ctlibarc@usc.edu. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Cinematic Arts Library as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Dyer Reynolds, May 22, 1977.
[Box/folder no. or item name], Dyer M. Reynolds circus history collection, Collection no. 2182, Cinematic Arts Library, USC
Libraries, University of Southern California.
Collection is unprocessed.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Circus
Circus -- History
Dolls (figurines)
Souvenir programs
Reynolds, Dyer Marion, 1930-1980 -- Archives
Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Combined Shows -- Archives