Peggy Williams, circus clown

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Peggy Williams, while a speech pathology major at the University of Wisconsin where her focus was on working in deaf education, thought clowning might sharpen her nonverbal communication skills. She became interested in Clown College and became the first female graduate of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circuses Clown College in 1970. Following completion of the program of study, she went on the road with The Greatest Show on Earth, distinguishing herself during her nine years of travel with the circus. In 1973, she was asked to join the teaching staff at Clown College where she assisted students in nurturing the relationship between performers and the public.

She worked on special assignments at the Circus's corporate headquarters in Washington, DC where she initiated a series of new educational programs often revolving around a clowning theme. In 1981, Peggy became the assistant performance director for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' Blue Unit. Peggy became the Performance Director of the circus's tour of Japan. She has spoken at the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian Institute and NASA. Additionally, she has directed a circus camp for disadvantaged youth in Belfast, Ireland