Collection of approximately 75 items (correspondence and ephemera) related to the Circus, 1944-1955, belonging to Charles Davitt of Springfield, MA

A wonderful collection of correspondence and ephemera related to the circus addressed to Charles Davitt, Esq. of Springfield, Massachusetts, collector of circus history and circus routes and a member of the Circus Fans Association of America and The Circus Builders & Owners Association. According to the December 12, 1944 issue of The Billboard, Davitt’s home featured miniature circus wagons and colorful circus rooms (39). More than 30 envelopes addressed to Davitt, including multiple ALS by Jack McCracken, ALS by Bill Donahue on Sparks Miniature Circus letterhead, a number of TLS and a signed postcard by John J. Crowley, TLS from J.A. Havirland, TLS and price list from Sverre O. Braathen, Esq., ALS from William Koford, ALS and TLS from John B. Lyon, Secretary of the Circus Historical Society. Circusiana price and want lists include those from C. Spencer Chambers (Syracuse, NY), A. Morton Smith (Gainesville, TX), The Gunroom Booksellers (North Castine, ME), and The Seven Bookhunters (New York, NY). Typed Official Routes include Barnum & Bailey 1909 Season (from collection of circus routes of John J. Crowley), Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey 1943 Season (from J.A. Havirland), Walter L. Main Circus (1901), Sig Sautelle’s Nine Big Railroad Shows (1913), and Scribner & Smith’s Circus (1893-1894). Also included are Davitt’s 1955 membership card for The Circus Model Builders & Owners Association, a small (3" x 5.5”) advertisement for Wagner’s Circus (“World’s Largest Miniature Circus), postcard requests to buy Davitt’s memorabilia, ALS by Davitt, Holiday Issue of The Bandwagon (Vol. 3, No. 6, December 15, 1944), Spudpile Gazette/Two Hemispheres Bandwagon Div. Vol. 7, and Official Route Card for Cole Bros. Circus 1944. Numerous mentions of Sparks, Ringling Barnum, Cole Bros., Dailey Bros., Arthur Bros., and Clyde Beatty circuses, among others. A rich collection of material that deserves further research.