Surkuss Solly (alt. Circus Barker, The Barker) Issues

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 31/00/127

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Collection contains issues of the annual Northwestern University circus publication, sometimes called the “Surkuss Solly” and sometimes the “NU Barker".

Dates

1914 - 1931

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research.

Extent

2 Boxes (1 SB, 1 BV)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Northwestern's circus began in 1908 as a YWCA fundraiser outside of the old Willard Hall (later the Music Administration Building) and then moved to the once-huge Patten Gym. Performed every spring until 1933 (with the exception of 1918 because of the United States’ entry into World War I), the weekend-long circus featured acts by fraternities and sororities, gymnists, trapeze artists and even the occasional elephant,