The Ueckert Circus Wardrobe Collection, part of Milner Library’s Circus and Allied Arts Collection, is an unparalleled assemblage of circus costuming, accessories, and props dating from the 1880s to the early 2000s. It includes over 1200 artifacts from many notable American circuses and a handful of international circuses. The collection contains a wide variety of items, including functional staff uniforms, practice leotards, performance costumes, elaborate headdresses, parade and spec wardrobe, clown costumes, animal blankets, shoes and slippers, and so much more. Garments range from high quality constructed pieces worn on large, high-budget circuses to hand-made wardrobe used on smaller shows and everything in between.
Notable items in this collection include a wide variety of wardrobe worn by aerial contortionists Fred and Blanche Lasere as well as the contents of their traveling trunk; a collection of spec wardrobe from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey; pieces worn by world renowned animal trainer Gunther Gebel-Williams; turn of the century parade costumes; and a ringmaster costume owned by Illinois native Harold Ronk, just to name a few.
The Ueckert Circus Wardrobe Collection is home to not only exquisite examples of circus wardrobe but also to hundreds of stories about the circus artists and circus culture. This collection will be of interest not only to historians of circus and performing arts, but also those interested in textile and costume research.
