Sioux on Tour with Circus Sarrasani
1928
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This photograph shows a group of Sioux Indians who toured Germany with Circus Sarrasani. The Circus was founded in Germany in 1902 by Hans Stosch Sarrasani. It regularly sold out its 6,000-seat shows, and grew rapidly in fame for its colorful performances, which included animal acts and multi-national performers such as Asian acrobats — and, starting in 1912, a Wild West show featuring Oglala Sioux.
The Native Americans from the Pine Ridge Agency in South Dakota who worked for Circus Sarrasani agreed to: take part in all regular performances of the circus, faithfully portray “Indian life and entertainments,” and furnish all “headdress and other Indian regalia” needed for performances. In exchange, the circus would pay for transportation from the Pine Ridge Agency to the circus in Germany, and, among other things, to protect the performers from “immoral influences.”
Circus Sarrasani continued to employ Native Americans from Pine Ridge at least through 1936, when the Pine Ridge Agency last recorded correspondence with the circus. Circus Sarrasani performed in its theater in Dresden, Germany, until the escalation of World War II made it too difficult. The theater was destroyed when the British Air Force fire-bombed the city on February 13, 1945.
The Native Americans from the Pine Ridge Agency in South Dakota who worked for Circus Sarrasani agreed to: take part in all regular performances of the circus, faithfully portray “Indian life and entertainments,” and furnish all “headdress and other Indian regalia” needed for performances. In exchange, the circus would pay for transportation from the Pine Ridge Agency to the circus in Germany, and, among other things, to protect the performers from “immoral influences.”
Circus Sarrasani continued to employ Native Americans from Pine Ridge at least through 1936, when the Pine Ridge Agency last recorded correspondence with the circus. Circus Sarrasani performed in its theater in Dresden, Germany, until the escalation of World War II made it too difficult. The theater was destroyed when the British Air Force fire-bombed the city on February 13, 1945.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
National Archives Identifier: 285597
Full Citation: Sioux Indians in native dress on tour with Circus Sarrasani in Dresen, Germany; 1928; Main Decimal Files, 1900 - 1965; Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group 75; National Archives at Kansas City, Kansas City, MO. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/sioux-circus-sarrasani, December 12, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.