This episode of the Becoming Barnum podcast explores circus impresario P.T. Barnum’s relationship with his family. A collection of letters written in 1845-46 during a trip to Europe include relatively few to his wife Charity Hallett Barnum.
Although it’s clear that Barnum missed his wife and their young children, the correspondence suggests a marital relationship that was often out of sync, compounded by Charity’s chronic health problems.
You can listen to the latest episode here.
About This Podcast Series
Becoming Barnum: The Journey to Fame and Fortune is a podcast series presented by the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The Barnum Museum’s collections include a 750-page copybook of letters written by Phineas Taylor Barnum, then in his thirties, when he was traveling in Europe in the 1840s, introducing his young protege General Tom Thumb to high society and royalty – as well as millions of ordinary people.
Barnum’s letters reveal him struggling at times to make the three-year tour a success, while also directing the management of his American Museum from afar decades before his name was attracting crowds to the Greatest Show on Earth. The letters also reveal how Barnum went about acquiring, hiring, and commissioning attractions, and promoting his museum and the General Tom Thumb tour in Europe.
Support for this project was provided to the Barnum Museum from the City of Bridgeport American Rescue Plan Act funds, People’s United, a division of M&T Bank, and the Connecticut Humanities and National Endowment for the Humanities as part of the federal American Rescue Plan Act.
Listen to more Becoming Barnum podcasts online here.
For a full list of this week’s New York Almanack podcasts announcements click HERE.
The life and times of PT Barnum became dear to me in 1972 when I entered a contest in school while in the 2nd grade for the crown of Lavinia Warren, the wife of PT’s dear friend Thom Thumb.
To write an essay as to why I wanted to be chosen to represent my school or town for the role (I do not recall which) I dove at 7 years old into the encyclopedia and learned about PT. I wrote the essay with no help and was chosen.
I went to the Shehan Center and was gawked at by adults in high places I guess and with my pipecurls my mom relentlessly put in my hair for every special occasion we went to and a stomp on the large shoe of Jingles the clown who kept poking my side, my personality unbeknownst to me won the prestigious position of General Thom Thumbs wife Lavina Warren.
That was the most rewarding time in my short life up to that moment I ever had. I have never missed a parade before or after 1972. I donated my crown to the Barnum Museum but after the unexpected storm it was given back to me for safe keeping as they repaired the museum of damages it received from a storm.
There was another reason 1972 Lavinia and Thom contest was special as the first black boy was chosen as Thom Thumb. Obviously me and Anthony Burns (winner)were totally oblivious to race and all that stuff. We were just 2 happy kids headed for the summer of a lifetime and we were friends, dear friends the whole time.