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Bridgeport History Center, Bridgeport Public Library
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http://hdl.handle.net/11134/110002:216
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper featuring the Fairy Wedding for February 28, 1863 The front page of the paper is composed of three illustrations with two on the top of the page and one below that takes up the rest of the page. In the upper left, Lavinia's bridal chamber is shown with two women watching Lavinia get dressed for her big day. On the right are illustrations of the various gifts the couple received including fine furs, dining plates, and furniture. The illustration below shows Charles and Lavinia greeting guests at the wedding reception held at the Metropolitan Hotel. On the next page, in the top left corner, is an ad for Barnum's American Museum featuring Minnie Warren, Lavinia's sister. Held on February 10, 1863 at Grace Episcopal Church in New York City, the marriage of Charles S. Stratton, known as General Tom Thumb, and M. Lavinia Warren was also called the Fairy Wedding. It featured not only Charles and Lavinia tying the knot, but fellow Barnum performers and little people George Washington Morris Nutt, known as Commodore Nutt, and Minnie Warren, Lavinia's sister, as the best man and maid of honor respectively. The wedding was promoted relentlessly by P.T. Barnum, and made into a major social event on scale with contemporary celebrity weddings. There was extensive merchandising, especially photographs and illustrations of the wedding party. Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, February 28, 1863.
Dwarfism Entertainers Marriage service Marriage--Press coverage People with disabilities People with disabilities and the performing arts People with disabilities--United States People with disabilities--Marriage
"newspapers"
Magri, M. Lavinia (Mercy Lavinia), 1841-1919 Thumb, Tom, 1838-1883
PTB-tt-il007
http://hdl.handle.net/11134/110002:1423