Collection of 20 albums of vernacular circus photographs. American, ca. 1940s-60s. 20 snapshot and photograph albums (sizes 10 1/4 x 13" to 9 1/4 x 6"), with hundreds of unpublished vernacular images documenting the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus over an approximately 15-year span (mainly 1941-55; one 1964) by Chicago photographer Frank R. Parker. Predominantly glossy or matte finish silver prints, with some color photographs.

Photographs (generally 5 x 4" or slightly smaller) neatly pasted or cornered on album pages (and two with photos in sleeves), some albums also with Parker's inked annotations, Chicago address label, or inked captions, most also with dates on spines or internally. 

The albums contain an array of candid and back lot images of circus performers, wagons, animals, posters and signage, equipment, and workers, including stars such as Emmett Kelly, Felix Adler, Cecil B. DeMille (presumably from the filming of "The Greatest Show on Earth"), Antoinette Concello, Harold Alzana, Merle Evans, and more. A quantity of various family photos are interspersed throughout the albums. 

Lot also include three of Parker's Kodak cameras. 

A tidy and well-maintained archive. Overall, fine.