Harry Ransom CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Popular Entertainment

Poster depicting Houdini's Giant Milk Can
Escape, ca. 1908. Harry Houdini Collection

These collections pertain to vaudeville, the circus, pantomime, magic, stand-up comedy, puppetry, and minstrel shows.

• Circus Collection, ca. 1775-1988 (bulk ca. 1850-1940)
  
• Crain, W. H. (1917-1998). Barnum & Bailey Circus Collection,
        1805-1937 (bulk 1886-1902)
• Fostell, Al Emmett (1856-1920). Papers, 1879-1920
• Houdini, Harry (1874-1926). Collection, 1750-1972 (bulk 1895-
        1926)
• Magicians Collection, 1750-1920
• Marcus, Stanley (1905-2002). Collection of Sicilian
        Marionettes, ca. 1850, ca. 1960
• Matson, Miles (c. 1912- ). Joke Collection, circa 1950s-1990s
• Minstrel Show Collection, 1821-1959 (bulk 1860-1940)
• Pantomime Collection, 1793-1977 (bulk 1860-1910)
• Pastor, Tony (1837-1908). Collection, 1861-1908 (bulk 1866-1890)
• Renfro, Nancy (1937-1993). Puppets, 1984, undated
• Ward, Joe E. (b. 1894 or 1895, d. 1971). Circus Collection, ca. 1811-1970 (bulk 1850-1950)
• Watson, "Sliding" Billy (1876-1939). Collection, 1900-1988
• Ziegfeld, Florenz (1867-1932). Collection, 1893-1979 (bulk 1910-1930)
• Ziegfeld, Florenz (1867-1932). Photograph Collection, 1888-1975 (bulk 1907-1936)

In addition to these major holdings, the Book Collection contains the McManus-Young Collection of books about magic. Costume designs for French music-hall dated ca. 1920-1955 can be found in the W. H. Crain Costume and Scenic Design Collection. For an overview of puppetry holdings, see Carolyn Roark, "The Harry Ransom Center: An Archive for Scholars and Artists," Puppetry International 19 (2006): 36-38.