American circus collection, 1800-1960.

ArchivalResource

American circus collection, 1800-1960.

Materials relating to circuses in America and a miniature circus, including pamphlets on circus animals, Buffalo Bill, Siamese twins, Tom Thumb and other circus figures, 1831-1954; correspondence on circus matters, including correspondence of P.T. Barnum, 1821-1928; lithographs, prints, broadsides, route books, and programs, 1831-1960; sheet music, 1823-1886; and clippings and articles, 1854-1939.

1000 items.

Related Entities

There are 5 Entities related to this resource.

Thumb, Tom, 1838-1883

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6mx394c (person)

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...

Barnum, P. T. (Phineas Taylor), 1810-1891

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6524q6z (person)

Phineas Taylor Barnum was an American showman, businessman and politician remembered for promoting celebrated hoaxes and founding the Barnum & Bailey Circus (1871–2017) with James Anthony Bailey. He was also an author, publisher and philanthropist. Barnum became a small-business owner in his early twenties and founded a weekly newspaper before moving to New York City in 1834. He embarked on an entertainment career, first with a variety troupe called "Barnum's Grand Scientific and Musical The...

Buffalo Bill, 1846-1917

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6gq6x36 (person)

Buffalo Bill was employed as a scout by the United States 5th Cavalry, 1868-1872. In 1869 he participated in the Battle of Summit Springs, Colorado, in which the 5th Cavalry defeated Cheyenne Indians. From the description of Letter : Saint Louis, Missouri, to Joseph Witherspoon Cook, Greenwood, South Dakota, 1896 May 23. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702162229 From the description of Letter : Saint Louis, Mo., to Joseph Witherspoon Cook, Greenwood, S.D., 1896 May 23. (Unkno...

P.T. Barnum (Firm)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w67m4wt7 (corporateBody)

Rowell, Hugh Grant, 1892-1963

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6pg51r1 (person)

Physician, author. From the description of American circus collection, 1800-1960. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 155534135 ...