Thumb, Tom, 1838-1883

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Charles Stratton (1838-1883), stage name General Tom Thumb, was an American showman noted for his small stature. He was the first major attraction promoted by the circus impresario P.T. Barnum. He was not quite five years old when Barnum hired him for his museum, but Barnum publicized him as General Tom Thumb, an 11-year-old dwarf from England. He quickly became a celebrated figure in the United States and abroad. In 1863 Stratton married Lavinia Warren (1841–1919)—another of Barnum’s performers, known as the “Little Queen of Beauty”—in an elaborately staged ceremony at Grace Episcopal Church in New York City.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Portrait photograph album, [ca. 1860-1914] New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Ormsby House (Carson City, Nev.). Ormsby House records, 1877-1884. Nevada State Historical Society
referencedIn Eichenberg, Fritz, 1901-1990. "Have you seen Tom Thumb?" : production material, ca. 1942. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn Miscellaneous ephemera, 19th-20th centuries [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Fogle, Theodore, T. (Theodore Turner), 1834-1864. Theodore T. Fogle letters, 1847-1865. Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
referencedIn Nutt, George Washington, 1844-1881. Commodore George Washington Nutt collection, 1866-1878.
referencedIn Bacon, Irving R. (Irving Ruben), 1875-1962. Irving R. Bacon papers, ca. 1863-1957 (bulk 1929-1945) The Henry Ford, Benson Ford Research Center
referencedIn Human curiosity prints, playbills, broadsides and other printed material, 1695-1937. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Ronald G. Becker collection of Charles Eisenmann photographs, 1840-1930 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Albert, Alphaeus Homer, 1891-. Albert photograph collection : local parades and celebrations, ca. 1880-1978. Hightstown-East Windsor Historical Society
referencedIn Sterrett, Mary Alansa Rounds, 1837-. Memoir of Mary Alansa Rounds Sterrett [manuscript], 1911-1915. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Champion (Ship). Logbook, 1852 Sept. 22-1855 July 3. Old Dartmouth Historical Society Library
creatorOf Palmer, Daniel. Ms. : Genl. Tom Thumb route books, 1872-1880. Boston Public Library, Central Library in Copley Square
referencedIn Photographs of theatrical performers, 1862-1982. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Carte-de-visites, [ca. 1860-1880]. Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Prints of Tom Thumb and Basilio Huaylas, 1844 and n.d. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Magri, M. Lavinia (Mercy Lavinia), 1841-1919. Lavinia Magri memoir, undated. New-York Historical Society Library
referencedIn Stratton, Mercy Lavinia Warren Bumpus, 1841-1919. Some of my life experiences / by Countess M. Lavinia Magri formerly Mrs. General Tom Thumb. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Larry Turnbull Circus Scrapbooks and Audio Recordings, c.1930s-1980s V & A Department of Theatre and Performance
referencedIn Ogden, Charles E., 1859-1934. Charles E. Ogden papers, [ca.1876-1878]. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Circus collection, 1821-1985, 1865-1950 (bulk) New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Desmond, Alice Curtis, 1897-. Barnum presents General Tom Thumb : typescript, 1953-1954 / by Alice Curtis Desmond. Churchill County Museum
referencedIn Gooch, Horace, 1832-1912. Gooch, Horace, 1832-1912, scrapbook, 1853-1874 The Filson Historical Society
referencedIn Chang and Eng Bunker Papers, 1832-1874, 1933-1967, 1998 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Syracuse social life and customs collection, [ca. 19th-20th century]. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Circus images, 1766-1939. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Holmes, Louise Chevallier. Reminiscences of San Francisco and Los Angeles in the late 19th century, ca. 1939. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Brady, Mathew B., ca. 1823-1896,. Mathew Brady portraits, circa 1840s-1850s. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Foster, Benjamin Browne, 1831-1903. Diaries, 1847-1974 (bulk 1847-1853). Raymond H. Fogler Library
referencedIn Harrison, W. R. Private journal: manuscript, 1841-1886. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn American circus collection, 1800-1960. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Kilborne, Mary A. Mary A. Kilborne collection, 1831-1890s. Smith College, Neilson Library
referencedIn Mahoney, Leslie Nell Savage, 1890-1986. Papers, 1890-1986 (bulk 1942-1970). Smith College, Neilson Library
creatorOf Photograph albums of Charles Sherwood Stratton ("General Tom Thumb"), Mercy Lavinia Warren Stratton, and others Houghton Library
referencedIn Arnold, Lycurgus H. Letters, 1853-1856. The Filson Historical Society
referencedIn The diamond wedding [and] Tom Thumb's wedding : Scrapbook, 1859-1864. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn George Brinton Beal papers, circus collection, and other theatrical collections, 1862-1969. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Leslie Nelson Savage Mahoney Papers MS 229., 1890-1986, 1942-1970 Sophia Smith Collection
referencedIn Jackson, Joseph, fl. 1847. Diary of Joseph Jackson, Jr., 1847 January 1 to June 30. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Brady, Mathew B., ca. 1823-1896. Civil War era photograph album, 1860-1870. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Photograph collection, ca. 1853-1980. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Notable Wisconsin fires photographs, 1883-1904. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Shrigley, G. A. Cleveland. Letters received : regarding Tom Thumb, 1866 Oct. 1-1952 Mar. 12 (bulk 1951 May 12-1952 Mar. 12). Buffalo History Museum, Research Library
Role Title Holding Repository

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Connection Graph Radial Graph
Relation Name
associatedWith Arnold, Lycurgus H. person
associatedWith Bacon, Irving R. (Irving Ruben), 1875-1962. person
associatedWith Beal, George Brinton. person
associatedWith Becker, Ronald G. person
associatedWith Brady, Mathew B., ca. 1823-1896, person
associatedWith Bunker, Chang, 1811-1874 person
associatedWith Bunker, Eng, 1811-1874 person
associatedWith Champion (Ship) corporateBody
associatedWith Desmond, Alice Curtis, 1897- person
associatedWith Eichenberg, Fritz, 1901-1990. person
associatedWith Fogle, Theodore, T. (Theodore Turner), 1834-1864. person
associatedWith Foster, Benjamin Browne, 1831-1903. person
associatedWith Gooch, Horace, 1832-1912 person
associatedWith Harrison, W. R. person
associatedWith Holmes, Louise Chevallier. person
associatedWith Jackson, Joseph, fl. 1847. person
associatedWith John Jermain Memorial Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Kilborne, Mary A. person
associatedWith Magri, M. Lavinia (Mercy Lavinia), 1841-1919. person
associatedWith Mahoney, Leslie Nell Savage, 1890-1986 person
associatedWith Museum of the City of New York. corporateBody
associatedWith New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Nutt, George Washington, 1844-1881. person
associatedWith Ogden, Charles E., 1859-1934. person
associatedWith Ormsby House (Carson City, Nev.) corporateBody
associatedWith Palmer, Daniel. person
associatedWith Rowell, Hugh Grant, 1892-1963, person
associatedWith Shrigley, G. A. Cleveland. person
associatedWith Sterrett, Mary Alansa Rounds, 1837- person
associatedWith Stratton, Mercy Lavinia Warren Bumpus, 1841-1919. person
associatedWith Turnbull, Larry person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
People with disabilities and the performing arts
Occupation
Circus performers
Activity

Person

Birth 1838

Death 1883

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