Framed items: P. T. Barnum's Tom Thumb Memorial Archive

Framed collection of items pertaining to Charles S. Stratton, better known as General Tom Thumb, assembled in 1889, six years after Stratton’s death at age 45.  The arrangement of three photographs, an engraved portrait of Barnum, a silver medallion souvenir of Tom Thumb, and a letter, is believed to be the work of P. T. Barnum, who signed his name and the date, January 21, 1889, in one of the captions.   The handwriting in all the captions is Barnum's, as is the majority of the letter written to a gentleman in Frankfurt, Germany on September 4,1858.  A postscript in Charles Stratton's hand appears at the bottom of the letter, a rare example, since he so rarely put pen to paper.  Although the exact reason for the creation of the framed collection is unknown, the 1889 date is significant in Barnum's life as the year he took the Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth circus to London, England.  That November, a major banquet was held to honor P. T. Barnum.  Possibly, the preparations for the trip were underway earlier in the year and Barnum wished to "include" his younger friend in the fete, though Stratton had passed away in July 1883.  "Tom Thumb" was well-known to the English, having risen to great fame and fortune there in 1844, so a remembrance of him would have been well-received.   The items chosen for the framed display include hand-colored photographs that were copied from daguerreotype images made in 1858, when Stratton and Barnum did another tour of Europe.  Stratton was twenty years old at that time. Two of the images depict Charles in his character roles, one as a Scottish Highlander, the other as Napoleon Bonaparte, while the top center image shows him in the attire of a gentleman.  The portrait of Barnum in the center of the group is a fine engraving, published in 1855, the year when his first autobiography was published.  Beneath the Barnum portrait is coin-like medallion or souvenir depicting Charles Stratton standing next to a stack of books on a desk, a contrast with his miniature proportions.  The image on the medallion was copied from a lithograph portrait made by Charles Baugniet in the mid-1840s, when Stratton and Barnum were on their first tour, and Stratton was just six years old.   The brief letter included at the bottom was written to thank a Mr. Fay, with whom Barnum had done business on his recent tour with Charles Stratton.  It appears that Mr. Fay operated a concert hall, that Barnum had rented for "Tom Thumb's" performances.  Barnum commented on the neatness and cleanliness of the Hall and wished Fay future success.  How or why the letter came back into Barnum's hands is unknown.  The decorative gold frame, featuring a scrolled design of oak leaves and acorns, is appropriate for the 1880s period and is almost certainly original to the piece. 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.