Chas. Milvo Circus Clown and Acrobat Letters

Collection

Identifier: MSSP_10013

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Content Description

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This collection consists of 26 letters written from the road by a travelling circus clown and acrobat to his wife or girlfiend. The author of the letters, identified only as "Chas.", was a member of "The Milvo's Comedy Acrobats" two-man act then performing with Sells and Gray's Circus. The act consisted of acrobatics and clown antics. The letters written during the summer and fall of 1900 were posted from various cities in southern and southwestern states, including Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma ("Indian Territory"), Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. The letters discuss the travels of the circus, the towns they visited, the crowds, the circus animals, the performance of the act, and other details of life on the road. The author discusses giving haircuts and shaves for extra money while traveling. Although no envelopes are present, the recipient of the letters, identified as "Sweetheart" in 25 letters and as "Mandie" in 1 letter, lived in Cortland, New York.

Dates

Creation: July 22, 1900-November 11, 1900

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright status for collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Biographical / Historical

One of the letters in this collection was written on the letterhead of "The Milvo's Comedy Acrobats" and promised "original and difficult feats on the revolving ladder." The letterhead identified the two-man act as consisting of "Karl C." and "Dever S.," and includes a photo of the the duo dressed as acrobats and a photo of the duo dressed as clowns. According to newspaper accounts the Milvos toured with various circuses for about the first 20 years of the twentieth century under a variety of names, including "the Milvo Brothers" and "the three Milvos." Karl C. Milvo gained some fame as a well-known clown and often performed for Ringling Brothers circus. The author of the letters in this collection is unclear.