Glasier Photographic Collection

Artist Frederick Whitman Glasier (American, 1866 – 1950)

Date1895 - 1942, bulk 1900 - 1930

Dimensions15 linear feet; approx. 4,150 items - including all formats: approximately 1450 8"x10" & 400 5"x7" glass plate negatives, 1800 copy prints, and approx. 500 polyester copy negatives

ClassificationsCollection, Archival

Object number1963.1

Researchers interested in the late 19th- and early 20th- century photography and popular culture will find the Glasier Photographic Collection an important resource for the American circus, Wild West shows, and Native Americans. Glasier's portrait style is typical of the commercial photography of the time: the personality and presence of the subject are presented directly to the viewer. With the use of the speeded-up lens, he was able also to take action shots that were unique. The Glasier Photographic Collection is an important record "of a way of life and of a photographic approach that no longer exists" [see Burke, p. 64]. The great appeal of Glasier's photographs also comes from the "strength and personality of the people he chose to photograph" [see Burke, p. 26]. Since Glasier did sell his photographs to make a living, many Glasier prints can be found in other collections. The Collection at the Ringling Museum of Art is important because of its size for the circus and Wild West shows. A number of glass plate negatives are known to be missing from the circus photographs; these were bought and later donated to the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin, by Robert Good, a circus collector, who had been interested in buying the Glasier Collection at one time. A collection of copyrighted Glasier prints can be found in the Prints and Photographic Division of the Library of Congress. Also Gerald Beale of Easton, MA, has a collection of lantern slides that Glasier used for his lectures. Mr. Beale is active in the Brocton Historical Society. Glasier took most of the photographs between 1896 and the 1930's; he began to copyright his photographs in 1902. Glasier took publicity photographs for most of the major circuses (Barnum and Bailey, Adam Forepaugh, Sells Floto, Ringling Brothers [later Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey], and Sparks Circus). Because of his fascination with the West and Native Americans, he also took many photographs of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and the 101 Real Wild West Show. There are many shots taken of the Brockton Fair, in Massachusetts. The Glasier Collection includes practically every aspect of circus operations. There are images of the circus owners and administrators, as well as ushers and ticket sellers. There are also shots of concession stands, cookhouses, wagons, the Midway, train cars, and the exterior and interior of the Big Top. The photographs of circus performers and animal trainers consist of many action shots of performances, as well as posed shots. In total, the circus photographs "document the golden age of the circus when its size, scope and social impact was unrivaled" [see Burke, p. 1]. The Wild West show photographs are similar to the circus photographs. Famous performers, owners (Gordon William "Pawnee Bill" Lillie, "Buffalo Bill" Cody, and the Miller family, for example), performances, and backyard scenes, can be found. The Native American images contain many posed shots (such as a portrait of Iron Tail, whose profile is on the buffalo nickel). The Native costumes are clearly identifiable, as well as personal names and tribal affiliations for many of the pictures. He also photographed many tribal customs. Photographs from the collection have been used for a number of statewide circulating exhibits and exhibitions at The John and Mable Museum of Art, as well as for the backdrop for the Backyard at the Circus Galleries. They were also used in the Ringling Museum's exhibition, "A Day the Circus Came to Town," at the 1964 World's Fair. The Hallmark Gallery in New York City exhibited 100 prints from the Glasier Collection, "Circus Reminiscence", in 1966. PBS used some of the Glasier photographs for the show The American Experience - P. T. Barnum in 1990. For more information, see full finding aid in the attached PDF.

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