The Otto C. Rice Collection of Robert and Anna Reynolds and Leif Osmundsen’s Circus Photographs and Printed Materials appears to be an informal assembly gathered over the lifetime of the circus affiliated couple Robert (Bob) and Anna Reynolds, which was added on to after a post-mortem transfer of property to fellow circus tent-maker affiliate, Leif Osmundsen. The items collected show the construction/deconstruction of the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus, performers, and acts associated with the show in several significant locations including the Sarasota Winter Quarters and Madison Square Garden.
The collection is divided mostly evenly by printed materials or photographs. More specifically, items in the collection cover a variety of printed materials including circus serials, circus and souvenir programs, a Clyde Beatty Cole 1960 Route Book, two mail correspondences between Leif Osmundsen and Fred Pfenning Sr., circus museum folded sheets, tent exposition materials and promotional photographs, a Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey dining car menu, business cards, a miniature scrapbook cover, and Christmas cards addressed to Bob and Anna. The other half of the collection consists of a variety of circus photographs of professional and personal subject matter including, family photos, photos of backlot, publicity and promotional studio shots of performers addressed to “Bob and/or Ann.”
