Textile: Miniature top hat belonging to Charles S. Stratton
Image
Textile: Miniature top hat belonging to Charles S. Stratton
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Handle
http://hdl.handle.net/11134/60002:1482
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Persons
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Title |
Title
Title
Textile: Miniature top hat belonging to Charles S. Stratton
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Origin Information |
Origin Information
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Resource Type
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Digital Origin |
Digital Origin
reformatted digital
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Description |
Description
Top hat made of felted black fur, custom made for Charles S. Stratton (better known by his stage name, General Tom Thumb). Stratton was a little person who became a celebrity as a performer employed by P. T. Barnum. The small size of the hat, just 5 1/2-inches high and 9 inches from front to back, reflects Stratton's miniature stature; he was likely a boy or teen when he acquired this hat while traveling with Barnum in the British Isles in the 1840s or 1850s, and at that age would have been between about 2 to 2 1/2-feet tall. Since Barnum was presenting Stratton to British society as a young gentleman, it was appropriate that he be dressed to fit that image. The hat has a straight-sided crown, and a narrow brim with a slightly curled edge, bound with satin. A narrow black silk ribbon covers the join between the brim and the crown. The brim is well worn at the proper right front, where Stratton would have grasped it when taking his hat off, which he undoubtedly did frequently on his tours when being introduced to ladies and gentlemen. The hat's silk lining is stamped at the top with the seller's name, Gillham Brothers, and five cities in the British Isles where the shops were located: Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool (all in England), Dublin (in Ireland), and Glasgow (in Scotland). The imprint features a large heraldic crest, under which appears the seller's information. Charles S. Stratton (January 4, 1838 - July 15, 1883) was an entertainer who got his start with P. T. Barnum in the early 1840s. Stratton's parents signed him with Barnum when the boy was barely five years old. The family went to live in New York City where Stratton performed at Barnum's American Museum, located on Broadway at Ann Street. The little boy took quickly to performing, and on tours he entertained audiences worldwide, including royalty. Stratton's performances brought him renown, becoming one of the biggest celebrities at the time, and considerable wealth. In 1863, Stratton married fellow performer and little person M. Lavinia Warren; the two had a happy marriage, and continued touring and performing. On July 15, 1883, Stratton suffered a stroke and passed away. He is buried at Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
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Genre
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Held By |
Held By
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Use and Reproduction |
Use and Reproduction
This item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. Images and data from The Barnum Museum are intended for public access and educational use only. This material is owned, held, or licensed by The Barnum Museum and is being provided solely for the purpose of teaching or individual research. All other use, including commercial reuse, mounting on other systems, or other forms of redistribution requires permission of the appropriate department of The Barnum Museum; fees may be applicable.
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Local Identifier |
Local Identifier
EL 1988.111.001
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Persons |
Persons
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Title |
Title
Title
Textile: Miniature top hat belonging to Charles S. Stratton
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Origin Information |
Origin Information
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Parent Item | |||
Resource Type |
Resource Type
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Digital Origin |
Digital Origin
reformatted digital
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Description |
Description
Top hat made of felted black fur, custom made for Charles S. Stratton (better known by his stage name, General Tom Thumb). Stratton was a little person who became a celebrity as a performer employed by P. T. Barnum. The small size of the hat, just 5 1/2-inches high and 9 inches from front to back, reflects Stratton's miniature stature; he was likely a boy or teen when he acquired this hat while traveling with Barnum in the British Isles in the 1840s or 1850s, and at that age would have been between about 2 to 2 1/2-feet tall. Since Barnum was presenting Stratton to British society as a young gentleman, it was appropriate that he be dressed to fit that image. The hat has a straight-sided crown, and a narrow brim with a slightly curled edge, bound with satin. A narrow black silk ribbon covers the join between the brim and the crown. The brim is well worn at the proper right front, where Stratton would have grasped it when taking his hat off, which he undoubtedly did frequently on his tours when being introduced to ladies and gentlemen. The hat's silk lining is stamped at the top with the seller's name, Gillham Brothers, and five cities in the British Isles where the shops were located: Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool (all in England), Dublin (in Ireland), and Glasgow (in Scotland). The imprint features a large heraldic crest, under which appears the seller's information. Charles S. Stratton (January 4, 1838 - July 15, 1883) was an entertainer who got his start with P. T. Barnum in the early 1840s. Stratton's parents signed him with Barnum when the boy was barely five years old. The family went to live in New York City where Stratton performed at Barnum's American Museum, located on Broadway at Ann Street. The little boy took quickly to performing, and on tours he entertained audiences worldwide, including royalty. Stratton's performances brought him renown, becoming one of the biggest celebrities at the time, and considerable wealth. In 1863, Stratton married fellow performer and little person M. Lavinia Warren; the two had a happy marriage, and continued touring and performing. On July 15, 1883, Stratton suffered a stroke and passed away. He is buried at Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
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Genre |
Genre
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Subject | |||
Held By |
Held By
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Use and Reproduction |
Use and Reproduction
This item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. Images and data from The Barnum Museum are intended for public access and educational use only. This material is owned, held, or licensed by The Barnum Museum and is being provided solely for the purpose of teaching or individual research. All other use, including commercial reuse, mounting on other systems, or other forms of redistribution requires permission of the appropriate department of The Barnum Museum; fees may be applicable.
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Local Identifier |
Local Identifier
EL 1988.111.001
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