Well, it has certainly been an exciting week in the Special Collections room.

Firstly, we received a response from our pal, Fred, about our elephant skin! Through Fred (thanks Fred!) we have determined that our elephant hide is one of two elephants, either Vance or Tommy (personally, I'm leaning towards Vance). Apparently back in 1935 the Al G. Barnes circus was performing in Canada. A worker in the elephant department, Jesse Wardlow, slipped in the menagerie and was crushed under the foot of an elephant (Vance). This incident was published as an accident, but it is believed that this was a more deliberate act by Vance. Both Tommy and Vance were determined dangerous and sent to Peru, Indiana for execution. I am kind of curious how one determines if it was accidental or intentional on part of the elephant. Interesting. I'm rather excited that I now have a name for our little chunk of elephant :)

We've been rather busy this past week preparing for the Circus Historical Society convention. We've been rearranging the reading room, hanging posters and pictures on the 2nd and 6th floors of the library (they look awesome!), and I've been plenty busy putting together displays that hopefully will wow the masses. I know they wow me!! Earlier this week, Maureen and Mark went out to archives to pick up a few more of our larger circus artifacts that we can put on display. Some of the items they brought back include a tom-tom, a shield used in Ringling Bros spec acts, three chairs from different seating sections, a tent flap and Mickey King's rigging! All of these items are outstanding, but I really got a kick out of seeing the actual rigging that Mickey King used.
Mickey King is considered to be one of the greatest aerialists in circus history. Of the women aerialists of her time, she was one of the few who performed the incredible one armed plange(Lillian Leitzel being another). The best way I can describe a plange is that the aerialist holds her body horizontally with her arms holding the ring or rope behind her. It's incredibly hard and takes a ton of strength. I was so excited when Maureen showed me the rigging for this. In fact, I think I may have squealed and jumped up and down for joy when I first saw this.
Here's a few links to an article about Mickey King written by our own Steve Gossard
http://www.circus4youth.com/res_det.php?res_id=8
http://www.circus4youth.org/res_det.php?res_id=15
http://www.circus4youth.org/res_det.php?res_id=17


In other news, I, Rainie Themer, am now a card carrying member of Circus Historical Society :) I just got my card and certificate in the mail the other day. I was pretty darn excited. I think I may even get my membership card laminated :)


Well, I do believe that is all for now. I'll leave you with lovely little video my pal, Kevin shared with me the other day (Thanks Kevin!)

Enjoy :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id4i9iJNHqs&feature=channel