The papers of St. John Terrell document the business aspects of a music circus, with fragmentary files concerning the productions. Records of all of his music circuses are present and are generally integrated together, but those of the Lambertville Music Circus predominate.
There are numerous folders of general correspondence, and correspondence with unions, other music circuses, lawyers, and accountants, documenting general business practices. One folder contains background and biographical information on both Terrell and his business enterprises, while another has scattered business records for the Brandywine, Rosecroft, and Rye Music Circuses. Advertising and publicity techniques for the Lambertville and Neptune Music Circuses are seen in the files of art and printing bills, correspondence about outdoor advertising, signs, and window ads; press releases and press lists; advertising copy and correspondence soliciting ads for Music Circus programs; and correspondence concerning tours and tour bus arrangements.
Terrell's business operations are illustrated further in the casting and staffing files of correspondence, audition records, cast lists, resumes, and applications from actors, singers, dancers, musicians, apprentices, and technical production staff seeking employment with the Music Circuses. Personnel records, mainly consisting of payrolls, payroll work sheets and summaries, general employee records, and unemployment compensation records also document hiring and employment practices.
The physical aspects of production are shown in material concerning costume and wardrobe costs, and correspondence and inventories concerning equipment, supplies, and repairs of the physical plant. The latter include orders, invoices, price quotations, letters of inquiry, samples of new products, seating layouts, and property maps, all showing how Terrell established and managed a music circus. Correspondence concerning tickets, purchase agreements, ticket and printing orders, and other records indicate the heavy emphasis of the Music Circuses on tours and group visits. Individual production files, arranged alphabetically by title, are quite fragmentary, containing only a few items about each production. They serve, however, to indicate the type of show most popular with music circus audiences.
Financial records consists of bank statements; box office statements for the Haddonfield, Lambertville, Miami, and Neptune Music Circuses; promissory notes; annual financial reports; production and operating statements for all circuses; budgets; gross receipts; and tax records. There are comprehensive files of insurance policies and summaries, correspondence, and accident reports. Legal files include numerous Actors' Equity Association and Chorus Equity Association contracts with cast members, and other general contracts, deeds, and property leases.
Smaller files give a glimpse of Terrell's related activities, including the Motor Music Circus, represented by financial statements and an itinerary; Musical Arena Theatres' Association, with articles of association, by-laws, minutes, lists of members, form letters, and bulletins; and a separate file of manager's reports and a financial statement from Neptune Music Circus.
