Photograph of Commodore Nutt and Minnie Warren. Warren stands on the left hand side of the image, looking at the viewer. Nutt, dressed in a military uniform, stands on the right, holding his hat in his hand. 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. George Washington Morrison Nutt (April 1, 1848-May 25, 1881), known as Commodore Nutt, was an entertainer who worked for P.T. Barnum. Nutt was exhibited for his small stature at a young age, and he signed with Barnum at age 13. He became the new star at the American Museum. Nutt was sometimes paired with Charles S. Stratton, the first little person Barnum worked with, and later Nutt joined forces with Stratton, and Stratton's wife Lavinia and Lavinia's sister Minnie for a world tour. He quit the company in 1872, and his own attempts to start a company never quite took off, and his financial resources dwindled. Nutt died of Bright's disease on May 25, 1881 in New York City. 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 two 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. New York Photographic Company, n. 453 Broadway New York
