The Ringlings spent Christmas in Sarasota in the late 1920s and 30s, and upon John Ringling’s passing, a collection of holiday cards was found in Ca’ d’Zan. Today, several hundred cards are safely stored in the Archives. According to The Ringling’s Chief Archivist, Heidi Connor, The Ringlings received holiday cards from business professionals, circus performers, and personal friends throughout the time they spent at the home.

Spreading goodwill and cheer by sending holiday cards has its origins in the late nineteeth century. As they became more popular in the twentieth century, they became mass produced, and by the 1920s in America, Hall Company, the precursor to Hallmark, became the largest producer of holiday cards in the US. By the 1930s, holiday greeting cards expanded to allow for personalized messages and diversified to include Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.

Enjoy a sampling of holiday cards sent to The Ringlings from popular circus performers, most of whom performed in The Ringing Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in the 1920s and 30s. These cards were sent by some of the biggest circus celebrities of the time and include Dorothy Herbert, Lillian Leizel, and Orin Davenport, along with business professionals connected to the circus such as Bev Kelley, the Ringlings’ press agent, and John Hagenbock.