Agency through Otherness: Portraits of Performers in Circus Route Books, 1875-1925Main MenuIntroductionIntroduction to the book and information about ways to navigate the content.The American Experiment: Circus in ContextCircus performers and American history timelineRouting the Circus: The Things They CarriedCircus Routes Map, 1875-1925Ethnological Congresses and the Spectacleby Rebecca FitzsimmonsOutsiders in Demand: Chinese and Japanese Immigrant Performersby Angela Yon and Mariah WahlShattering Gender Roles: Women in the Circusby Elizabeth HarmanSide Show Sounds: Black Bandleaders Respond to ExoticismAnnexed Circus Musicians by Elizabeth C. HartmanNative Performance and Identity in The Wild West Showby Mariah WahlShowmen's Rests: The Final CurtainCircus Cemetery Plots by Elizabeth C. HartmanList of PerformersPerformers covered in this exhibitBibliography & Further ReadingsBibliography and readings for each chapterAcknowledgementsAngela Yon72f2fd7a28c88ceeba2adcf2c04fee469904c6f1
Her real name unknown, Elvira Sansoni was one of the early strong women of the circus, performing for the Great Wallace Shows from 1895-1897. Described as a ‘Female Sandow’, her performance was likely associated with the strong man Eugen Sandow, comparing her strength to his. Elvira was performing around the same time as strong woman Katie Sandwina (Katie Brumbach).
Katie was an undefeated strongwoman and wrestler who eventually bested Eugen Sandow in a lifting battle in front of a live audience. She then took his name as a constant reminder that she was stronger than a strong man, changing her last name to Sandwina.16Katie was one of the most famous strong women in history, and was likely a role model for other strong women.
