Photographic and journal archive of Harrison H. Gunning, an advertising agent and poster maker for Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Barnum & Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth.

"1944 please keep these in the family, their intrinsic value may not be great, but their sentimental value is beyond price."

A fascinating archive of photographs and recollections from Harrison H. Gunning, an advertising agent who toured with the Buffalo Bill Wild West and Barnum & Bailey's Circus throughout Europe in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Most of the documents appear to be recorded in the early 1940s. In Gunning's manuscript narrative of the Buffalo Bill Wild West show, he gives a summary of the founding of the show in North Platte, Nebraska, the hiring of Nate Salsbury, and growing popularity of the tour. The narrative is highlighted by his account of the show performed by Colonel Cody for Queen Victoria on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee (though he identifies it incorrectly as her Diamond Jubilee): "The Wild West Show sailed for London in 1887 and opened at Earl's Court. This was Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Year. Here Buffalo Bill became the companion of Royalty. He gave exhibitions by command for Queen Victoria...the compliment involved may be inferred from the fact that [it] was her Majesty's first public appearance since the death of [her] husband Prince Albert twenty years before. At a single performance there were in the audience the King of Denmark, the King and Queen of Belgium, the King of Saxony, the King of Greece, the Crown Prince of Austria, the Prince + Princess of Saxe-Coburg, the Crown Prince + Princess of Germany (afterward the Kaiser of German), the Crown prince of Sweden + Norway, the Princess Victoria of Prussia, the Duke of Sparta, the Grand Duke Michael of Russia, Prince Louis of Baden[-Baden], and the Prince + Princess of Wales - all to see a man who viewed this assemblage of Royalty in amazement. As the four kings and the prince of wales were seated in the Deadwood Stage Coach the driver of the coach as he gathered up the reins of the four horse train leaned over to Mr. Salsburg who was attending to the arrangements and said 'how will I drive them Mr. Salsburg' and Salsburg yelled back 'let her go Gallagher' & away they went almost making the turns in the arena on two wheels it was a wild ride for Royalty + after it was over + they were back safely on ground, one of the Kings on that occasion the Prince of Wales (Edward Seventh) taking Colonel aside said to him 'Colonel look around you + you will see more royalty than I have ever seen at anytime + undoubtedly more than ever was assembled on any occasion in the world's history or is ever again to be'."

The other diaries go into great detail about "all the advertising for the entire European tour 5 years for Barnum + Bailey + 4 years for Buffalo Bill" which "was done by one advertising Car with no brigade ahead or behind us through...all kinds of conditions + many languages, we never took a day + never behind schedule - in showing France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Holland, Belgium + all countries outside of England, Scotland + Wales". The Circus opened its tour in London, England in 1889 before Gunning returned to "Advertise the opening of the Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World- as following the World's Fair at Chicago where Colonel Cody and His Wild West had been one of the big attractions and was a big money maker - Mr Bailey of the Barnum & Bailey Show became interested and put the show on the road after its opening at the Madison Square Garden New York it toured each season after its opening in New York I being the manager of the No 1 Advertising Car until the fall of 1897 when the Barnum & Bailey Show returned to London England] opening Boxing Day at the Olympia." They toured around Europe in 60 "American style" railway cars built specifically for their entourage.

The narrative recollections include many interesting accounts around Europe's capitals, including extending streetcar lines to their venue in Vienna, contending with different calendars in use in Belgrade, and exorbitant taxes on posters and advertising in France. He gives an account of the transition between the Circus and the Wild West show, all run by James Anthony Bailey: "At the close of the season of 1902, the Barnum & Bailey Show returned to the U.S. and the Buffalo Bill Wild West show came over opening at the Olympia London Boxing Day 1902 for the winter season - and toured England Scotland Wales and all of Europe- and returned to the States in the fall of 1906 on account of the death of Mr Bailey." Gunning praised the shows, but in particular James Anthony Bailey, noting that the shows "awakened Europe as it was never awakened before to the magnitude of American enterprise when engineered by a truly American brain = Mr James A Bailey was absolutely the greatest Circus promoter that ever lived ...he was the true pioneer in doing things on a big scale - Barnum was a greater Showman, but Mr. Bailey was incomparably the greatest show manager." Gunning also includes a transcription of a letter sent to him by Clarence Dean on 4 October 1904 from London praising his hard work and output and in awe that he was able to do the work effectively with only advertising car.

After the death of Mr. Bailey and completion of the long-running tours, Gunning returned to his hometown of Toledo, before moving to Youngstown, and then Dayton, Ohio, managing poster plants in each. He acknowledges his remarkable life: "A story of the tour of the Buffalo Bill Wild West from the Irish Sea to the Golden Horn- if you had spent ten years of your life traveling with tow of the greatest shows ever brought together if during the time you had covered Europe with Posters and had charge of the Publicity of these two big shows advertising them in 25 or 30 languages - could you settle down again - of course you would, if you had a wife and two Boys who wanted you to be at home you would settle down into a domestic existence far different from the strenuous life of man who goes ahead of the Circuses and advertises them."

Gunning closes his narrative by writing: "There were many things learned on the big tours but there was one thing I never did learn and that was how to pronounce the town of P-R-Z-ELM-Y-S-I-L (PRZEMYSL)"

Also included with the narratives is "An Open Letter to Robert Sherwood, Author of "Here We Are Again"" written by Gunning, and noted as having been published in 1926. The 7 page document is an account of the factual errors and inaccuracies in the book "Here We Are Again," by Robert Edmund Sherwood (1864-1946), who claimed to be a clown who performed with the Barnum & Bailey Circus. In one of his narrative pages, Gunning writes: "[with regard to this] so-called "Barnum's Clown," my facts and dates are authentic and indisputable...I have yet to find a single person who even remotely ever heard of him." The letter outlines the perceived inaccuracies, noting: "The more I read into your book, of the many things that never happened, I sometimes had several doubts that you were ever there at all."

An incredible account of the greatest shows of the era from a man intimately familiar with their inner workings. Another scrapbook kept by Harrison H. Gunning is housed at the McCracken Research Library, William F. Cody Collection (MS6.3678.092.00).

Contents of this lot include:

1. Autograph diary with history of Buffalo Bill Wild West and 1887 Performance for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. [January 1942]. 23 pages, 8vo, approx. 5 3/8 x 8 3/4 in.
2. Autograph diary signed by H.H. Gunning with account of European tour. [1941], 27 pages, 2 pages, 3 pages, and 9 pages with collaged images.
3. An Open Letter to Robert Sherwood, Author of "Here We Are Again" typed document. Toledo, Ohio, [published 1926]. 4to, 7 copies. Includes second incomplete (5 pages) copy.
4. Typed diary recounting European tour. [after 1906, 1940s?]. 12 pages (with 1 blank leaf), 3 13/16 x 6 3/4 in.

Photographs include:

1. Outdoor group oversize albumen portrait in front of the Buffalo Bill train car. North Kensington, [London, England], Jas. E. Hunt. Presumably Gunning and other behind-the-scenes workers. Advertising for the show can be clearly read on the train car
2. Portrait of William "Buffalo Bill" Cody. Denver, Colorado, Deluxe Studio. Visible 10 x 14 in. Presented in period frame 12 1/4 x 16 1/4 in.
3. Outdoor group oversize albumen portrait in front of "Buffalo Bill's Rough Riders Wild West." Grafton, West Virginia: Loar
4. Portrait of Buffalo Bill seated at desk talking to a man writing (possibly Harrison Gunning). Denver, Colorado: Deluxe Studio, January 1916. 8 x 10 in. Framed. Verso pencil inscription reads: "Col. Wm. F. Cody signing application for member. of National Order of Cowboy Rangers / Jan. 1916".
5. Vignetted albumen cabinet card portrait of a woman wearing a large brooch. Atlanta, Georgia: Atlanta Photo Co., n.d. Photographer's imprint to mount recto.
6. Studio group albumen cabinet card portrait of four men. Anvers [Antwerp], [Belgium]: Arthur Verbeck, n.d. Photographer's imprint to mount recto.
7. Snapshot of Gunning and a woman outside. 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 in.

Condition: some toning, worn edges. A complete condition report is available upon request.

[Wild West Shows, Circuses, Entertainment, Carnivals, Native American, Wild West, Buffalo Bill]