Photograph: Portrait of Minnie Warren

Minnie Warren, the sister of Lavinia, stands in front of a chair draped with fabric. She wears a dark color dress with a bustle, her hands folded and resting on top of a book. She looks directly at the camera. Photographs like this one were often sold as a part of exhibitions, and in the case of performers whose claim to fame was related to their physical appearance or a developmental disability, the staging in photographs helped to emphasize their differences. This was accomplished by consciously manipulating clothing, props, the backdrop, and all other elements of the photograph in order to draw attention to their particular traits. The question of who was responsible for the staging, be it photographer, manager, or performer, varied greatly. Huldah Pierce Warren (Bump) Newell, known better as Minnie Warren (June 2, 1849-July 23, 1878) was a performer associated with P.T. Barnum. She was the sister of M. Lavinia Warren, and the two sisters had an excellent relationship. Minnie married fellow little person Edmund Newell in 1877, who was also a Barnum performer. The couple had one child together, but the child died a few hours after birth. Minnie herself died from the delivery of the baby on July 23, 1878, a loss which devastated her sister. Minnie is buried in Nemasket Hill Cemetery in Middleboro, Massachusetts. Bradley and Rulufso, Montgomery Street, San Francisco. Measures 4.25 by 6.5 inches.