Book: "Sketch of the Life of General Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren Stratton", 1867 (owned by the Bridgeport History Center)

Paperbound book entitled “Sketch of the Life [. . .] of Charles S. Stratton [. . .] and Lavinia Warren Stratton [. . .]"  The covers are light tan paper, probably yellowed by age, with the front cover being an arrangement of the full title surrounded with a decorative border, while the back cover features a street scene illustration of the Stratton home in Bridgeport, Connecticut.  The publisher and publication date are noted as "New York: Press of Wynkoop & Hallenbeck, 113 Fulton Street, 1867."  The date is four years after the couple's highly publicized wedding.  The full title of the promotional booklet is "Sketch of the Life, Personal Appearance, Character and Manners of Charles S. Stratton, The Man in Miniature Known as General Tom Thumb, and His Wife, Lavinia Warren Stratton, Including the History of Their Courtship and Marriage, with Some Account of Remarkable Dwarfs, Giants, and Other Human Phenomena, of Ancient and Modern Times, Also Songs Given at Their Public Levees."  The levees were public "meet and greet" opportunities augmented with character performances.  The couple toured towns throughout the U. S. following their marriage, and subsequently toured in Europe and around the world giving performances and meeting wtih heads of state and royalty.  Booklets like this were popular souvenirs with the public and undoubtedly increased the couple's name recognition and celebrity.  This one appears very similar, though significantly updated, to one that was published in 1847 when "Tom Thumb" was a young boy. (See EL 1988.160.001 held by the Barnum Museum) 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. Mercy Lavinia Warren (nee Bump) Stratton (October 31, 1841 - November 25, 1919) was a well known entertainer during the latter half of the 1800s.  She first became a schoolteacher, but at the encouragement of a relative, she began her career as a performer on a river boat (Spaulding & Rogers Boat Shows); exhibiting little people (people with dwarfism) was profitable at the time.  Warren signed with showman P. T. Barnum when she was 21.  In December of 1862, Charles S. Stratton (General Tom Thumb) began courting Lavinia and their whirlwind romance led to their famed marriage, "The Fairy Wedding," just two months later on February 10, 1863, with Lavinia's younger sister, Minnie Warren as bridesmaid and "Commodore Nutt" as best man.  The Strattons worked and toured together as celebrities, and had a happy marriage.  Following Stratton’s death in 1883, Warren married Primo Magri, an Italian entertainer of a similar stature, on April 6, 1885.   Magri and Warren toured, and also operated a roadside stand in Middleboro, Massachusetts, her home town.  Warren died at age 78 on November 25, 1919.  She is buried beside Stratton at Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport, Connecticut.