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History of the Inter-Cooperative Council of Ann Arbor

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  • Elephants at "Parade Rest"
    Taken from the Kapp scrapbook, this image is inscribed with "Lyndon. 1133" and captioned with sentence "Elephants at 'Parade Rest'". It depicts the Union Circus parade, temporarily paused next to the university campus. White students clad in blackface perform various roles as either elephant trainer or indigenous person. Their costumes depict stereotypes of native peoples and of South Asians. Circus goers watch with interest from the sidelines. The Ann Arbor trolly tracks can be seen along the grass.
  • Indian Braves
    Three white men, costumed as stereotypical Native Americans, wear thin gowns and feathered headdresses. Additionally, the men are covered in brown makeup to mimic some Indigenous skin tones. The photograph is inscribed "INDIAN BRAVES". It's likely these men are part of the Union Circus' "Michigamua Indians" student group. Importantly, all members of this group were white men.
  • Follow the Big "Peerade"
    A lengthy article describing the upcoming "Mammoth Circus" put on by University of Michigan students for the purposes of fundraising. The Union Circus was organized by Director Bert St. John of Detroit. Various acts, including dance routines, horse back competitions, a western stage show with "Michigamua Indians"(white men in brownface), a slide down the big tent's top, and a variety of unspecified children's activities. Students and people beyond Ann Arbor's city limits are encouraged to visit.