American MemoryThe National Digital Library Program: Archived Documentation

The Library of Congress / Ameritech National Digital Library Competition (1996-1999)

Image from collection

University of Iowa

Traveling Culture: Circuit Chautauqua in the Twentieth Century

Amount of award: $73,348

The collection consists of 9,600 talent flyers and promotional pamphlets maintained by the Redpath Chautauqua Bureau, the booking agent for the Midwest Chautauqua circuit at the turn of the century. During its heyday in the 1920s, Chautauqua performers appeared in 10,000 cities before some 40,000,000 people. The flyers represent text and images from performers and public speakers, including educational, cultural and religious lecturers, polititicians, as well as vaudeville and variety acts. The University of Iowa collection also includes business records illuminating the commercial and financial side of cultural movements. The collection documents late nineteenth and early twentieth century American entertainment and education, reflecting changes in popular, commerical, and political culture.

Online Collection


Image Caption: Florence E. Maybrick. [190-?] (University of Iowa Libraries, Special Collections Department, Redpath Chautauqua Collection.)