History of the CFA Library
by John Turner, CFA Librarian
The library was started in 1937, as a gift of 30 books
from ‘Cosmopolite’ (A.C. McLachlan). When Arthur Cecil McLachlan
died, in 1953, the World’s Fair eulogised this “Circus fan and
historian, a keen critic but a good friend of the circus, a pillar of
the CFA, founding the Library with a gift of many books”.Others were acquired
by purchase or donation including the collection of Lady Eleanor Smith.
After the war lists of hldings were printed and distributed to members.
In 1945 the Honorary Librarian was W.S. Meadmore (editor of ‘King Pole’
and author of ‘The Circus Book’ in 1948). In 1946, the Librarian was Stanley
Bult, responsible for 200 titles. A 1950s list was prefaced by the stipulation
borrowing, “one volume at a time, for a period not exceeding two weeks,
properly packed for the post to be so returned, parcel post only (9d)
to be used both ways”!
At some stage Stanley Bult was succeeded by R. Hawksbee,
later, D.F. Howarth then Miss D.M. Longdin.
After her marriage she became Mrs D.M. Strachan.
This must have been about 1971, the year of decimalisation, because
the Parcel Post minimum charge changed from 3/- to 25p.
In the 1970s there was a problem controlling the return of books
because Mrs Strachan complained “two books have been out for five months
and I only got them back yesterday after many requests”.
By the mid 1970s, the duplicated ‘Library Catalogue’
listed 525 books and “Officially the Hon. Librarian has an insatiable
appetite for circus literature, and will be glad to acquire this by gift
or purchase”. Members could borrow a maximum of four at a time, “the borrower
to pay postage both ways”. A ‘Circusiana’ section was for valuable
reference books, for reference only. By about 1978, a list gave
details of 551 titles.
The later history of the Library, its location
and record of loans, is not clear. Some CFA members recall that the collection
was stored under unsuitable conditions and that it ceased to function
as a postal lending library. It was rescued, rehoused and maintained by
the late Malcolm Airey who produced a “List of Titles Missing at 27 April
1981”, comprising 55 volumes! Malcolm acquired additional volumes, replaced
some of those missing, established a card index and prepared to reopen
a postal lending service.
In 1985 John Turner took over responsibility for the
Library, then consisting of 699 books. Plans for the reopening were
announced in ‘King Pole’ of March 1986 and the first loan was posted
on 18 July 1986. In the September 1989 issue of‘King Pole’, John
reported that the Library had loaned 48 volumes since then, but said that
postal charges were a problem and could cost the borrower as much as £3.50. In
the December 1989 ‘King Pole’ he gave the first list of new accessions
which included their weights (for postal calculations!). Over the next
15 years borrowing from the Library declined. It seemed that that the
days of the postal lending library were numbered and a new role for the
Library was sought. Housing books was also becoming a problem. Following
discussions with the University of Sheffield, it became obvious that the
library of the NFA could be complemented by the CFA Library. In 2000
it was agreed by CFA Council that the transfer should go ahead.
The books were moved to Sheffield in 2001 and formally handed over at
the Association’s AGM, in March 2002. At that time, there were 863 books
in the Library. The CFA is committed to maintaining the collection, ensuring
its growth and establishing it as the primary, national collection of
books on circus.
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