Search the Wisconsin Historical Society's collections

Searching for

Refine by

Results 1-20 of 64

Photograph

Chimba the Chimpanzee in Madison for the Zor Shrine Circus

Date: 02 17 1961
Description: Chimba the chimpanzee makes an appearance at the final Madison Zor Shrine planning meeting for the annual Shrine Circus held at the Dane County Fairgrounds...
Photograph

Industrial Tractor and Circus Elephant

Date: 08 05 1927
Description: View across grounds towards a man on a tractor on the right, and a man with an elephant on the left. The elephant is hitched to the back of the tractor wit...
Photograph

Competition Between Tractor and Elephant

Date: 08 05 1927
Description: View across field towards a man sitting on an elephant on the left, and a man sitting on a tractor on the right pulling a wagon. The elephant is hitched to...
Photograph

Llama Ride at Circus World

Date: 1967
Description: A man and woman are standing near a child riding a llama, with a young girl on the right standing and holding the llama's lead. In the background, people a...
Photograph

Circus World Parade

Date: 1968
Description: View from a crowd of people watching horse-drawn circus wagons parading on a dirt road at Circus World Museum. Behind the wagon is a man dressed in a red a...
Photograph

Pinckney Street Parade with Elephants

Date: 
Description: Elevated view of a parade of elephants on Pinckney Street, with a man on a horse on the far left, and a crowd of people watching from the sidewalks. The le...
Photograph

Camels Near Farm

Date: 1920
Description: View across road of six camels walking and grazing along the side of a country road near Holloway Farm. They may have been circus animals going from one to...
Postcard

Circus Performers in Front of the Wisconsin Historical Society

Date: 1908
Description: Circus performers posed in front of the Wisconsin Historical Society, then known as the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.
Photograph

World's Columbian Exposition

Date: 1893
Description: A cyanotype view of Cairo Street on the midway of the World's Columbian Exposition. An Egyptian with a large drum rides a camel as men and boys watch. The ...
Photograph

Zor Shriners and Circus Elephants

Date: 04 04 1947
Description: Zor Shriners Band members serenading the Polack Brothers show elephants outside of the Parkway Theater, where they are performing.
Photograph

Whitbeck Motion Picture Elephants

Date: 04 04 1947
Description: Pictured are three elephants from Whitbeck Motion Pictures, California, and Robert Zimmerman, assistant secretary of state and board member of Circus Fans ...
Photograph

Circus Workers Giving Elephants a Drink

Date: 08 05 1927
Description: Two circus workers standing next to a water wagon pulled by a McCormick-Deering tractor. The men are providing water for three elephants outside the tents ...
Photograph

Elephants Drinking from Wagon Pulled by McCormick-Deering Tractor

Date: 08 05 1927
Description: Elephants drinking water from a wagon pulled by a McCormick-Deering industrial tractor outside a circus tent belonging to the Sells-Floto Circus. Circus wo...
Print

McCormick Catalog Art

Date: 1891
Description: Back cover illustration of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company catalog. Shows children and adults, some of them circus performers, inside a large tent...
Photograph

Circus Performers and Animals

Date: 
Description: Fred and Ella Bradna, equestrian director and performer for Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey. There are several other performers and a dog, relaxing in t...
Photograph

Tandem Zebra Team

Date: 1909
Description: Two men sit in a two-wheeled buggy hooked up to zebras, next to a fence near the Ring Barn on the left (which is still standing), with several male spectat...
Photograph

Dogs Performing Stunts

Date: 
Description: Elevated view of crowd watching dogs perform stunts in town.
Photograph

Circus Performers Astride Horses

Date: 1899
Description: Two horses stand next to each other in front of what may be a painted backdrop of a tree-lined street. A male circus performer stands in the center holding...
Photograph

Circus Performers with Mule

Date: 
Description: A male circus performer stands lengthwise on the back of a mule, while a female circus performer stands on the ground next to them.
Photograph

Ringling Brothers Circus

Date: 08 17 1892
Description: Elevated view of crowd gathered to watch elephants parade down Main Street. Probably the Ringling Brothers Circus.

Have Questions?

If you didn't find the material you searched for, our Library Reference Staff can help.

Call our reference desk at 608-264-6535 or email us at: