LibGuides: Special Collections Center: Ringling College History & Resources

Contact Special Collections

Sign-up for a Special Collections
Research Consultation
or Viewing Appointment

Contact the Special Collections Librarian, Cheri:

cmarks@ringling.edu

Call Cheri: 941-359-7583

Cheri Marks (she, her) MFA, MSI
Special Collections Librarian and Archivist

specialcollections@c.ringling.edu

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Ringling College's Website Over Time

Explore Ringling College's website over time via the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine

Finding Aids

The Archives have both processed and unprocessed materials relating to the college's history. Below are links to the finding aids for collections that are readily available for use.

Off Campus Research

A list of resources for conducting research on Ringling College history on the web:

Florida Memory
A digital outreach program that provides free online access to select archival resources from collections in the State Library and Archives of Florida. These digitized materials highlight Florida's history and culture.
Newspaper Archives of Sarasota County
Search through all of the local Sarasota and Bradenton newspapers. Do a keyword search for "Ringling School," "Ringling College," or "Ringling Rumors"--a column written by Ringling staff about the happenings on campus.
The Ringling Museum Archives
Archival collections dedicated to preserving the history of the Ringling Museum, the Ringling family, the Circus Arts, Wild West shows, and allied arts.
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Digital collections: https://emuseum.ringling.org/emuseum/collections
Sarasota County Historical Resources
Preserves and maintains collections of materials that document Sarasota County's history, including materials on the Ringling family and the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus.
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PastPefect catalog: https://scgov.pastperfectonline.com/
Search the catalog for the following search terms:
- Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
- John Ringling
- Mable Ringling
- The Ringling
- The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
The State Archives of Florida
The State Archives of Florida have archival materials related to the John and Mable Ringling family estate and the Ringling Museum.
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Search the following subject access fields through the archives' catalog:
- Ringling, John, 1866-1936
- Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Combined Shows
- John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art

Books & Publications

Books and publications in the Library and Archives:

The First Fifty Years--Ringling School of Art and Design, 1931-1981 by Robert E. Perkins
Call Number: LD4711.R722 P47 1982
Publication Date: 1982
Ringling Magazine: A Student Publication
Call Number: ARCHIVES FIC.005, Periodicals/Annuals
Publication Date: 1977-1994
Contxt.
Call Number: ARCHIVES FIC.005
Publication Date: 2013-present
CONTXT is published by the Office of the President of Ringling College of Art and Design. The magazine is designed and produced in-house by the Ringling College Design Center.
Perspectives: A magazine for alumni and friends
Call Number: ARCHIVES FIC.005
Publication Date: 2005-2012