Papers of the Colleano family, 1922-1950

The collection comprises personal and professional records of various members of the Colleano family, who performed as "Colleano’s All Star Circus" in Australia and internationally in the early twentieth century. The collection, derived from the contortionist Rubye Mae Colleano (née Browne), wife of Con Colleano’s brother James Bonar Colleano Snr (1893-1957), includes correspondence, professional agreements, material regarding Captain Geoffrey Wikner's Halifax flight to Australia, receipts, programmes, press cuttings, and approximately 500 photographs. The photographs include studio portraits of Colleano family members, inscribed photographs of theatrical entertainers, postcards, and family photographs including parties, holidays, aircraft, sports and pets.