The National Fairground and Circus Archive (NFCA) was born out of the PhD research, lifetime commitment and passion of Professor Vanessa Toulmin, Director of the NFCA from its inception until 2016. The Archive is part of the Special Collections and Archive Division of the University of Sheffield Library. The collection embodies the history of popular entertainment in the United Kingdom from the seventeenth century onwards, covering every aspect of the travelling fair, circus and allied entertainments, including; early film, sideshows, magic, boxing, variety and amusement parks, as well as the culture, business and life of travelling showpeople.