Tom Scaperlanda

Thomas Munson Scaperlanda (December 16, 1895 – March 25, 1971) was a San Antonio jeweler and one of the foremost circus historians and collectors of circusana in the United States. The San Antonio chapter was named after Alfredo Codona, considered the world's greatest flying trapeze artist of all time, known for his daring triple somersault. He was a close friend of Scaperlanda and in 1932 gave him a detailed drawing of his trapeze rigging.

He was the president of Bell Jewelers on Houston Street, San Antonio, and retired in 1961.

It has been suggested that Scaperlanda and Hertzberg were longtime partners.

He died on March 25, 1971, and is buried at San Fernando Cemetery #2, San Antonio, Texas.

Legacy In 1976 The San Antonio Public Library opened the Scaperlanda Room at the Hertzberg Circus Collection. On display there were the Scaperland collection of photos, posters and circus novelties. The collection included a sterling silver-trimmed leather briefcase of early day western of movie star Tom Mix complete with the famous Mix brand. Another item is a Barnum and Bailey Circus press agent's scrapbook dated 1905–1906. Also about 35 circus route books from many famous oldtime tent circuses from 1881 to 1910.