Letter: To David Pell Secor from P.T. Barnum, August 10, 1888

Letter to David Pell Secor from P.T. Barnum, August 10, 1888 This letter reads as follows: "I am to old to write much or to have \plans\ and comments on rumors about him and his partner entertaining notions of a possible museum in the dim hereafter. 'First, not sure of having one at all. Second, couldn't compete with the NY Museum of Natural History. So any such would not be a Natural History Museum at all. We have some specimens of stuffed beasts but also have some automatons, working models of machinery, etc. Groups of animals with artistic effect such as lion attacking camel, etc. I have seen numerous specimens in Europe and some are offered him there. But we would not thinking of arranging with any part about producing such specimens in Natural History. My age makes it uncertain whether I shall live long enough to carry out any plans. If you happen to see any living animals, rare, shall be glad to hear of them." P.T. Barnum wrote a large number of letters in his time, and as a public figure, received many in return. These manuscripts offer insight into his personal life via correspondence with friends and family, his business interests including the American Museum and the circus, and his personality. The various correspondents demonstrate how vast his social circle was, and the space he occupied as a public figure during his own lifetime.