THM/225
Tom Thumb Collection
1774-1902
V&A Theatre and Performance Collections
Bert Shevelove
English
French
2 boxes
This collection relates to the career of Charles Sherwood Stratton (January 4, 1838 – July 15, 1883) - popularly known as General Tom Thumb - who was born a dwarf, or person of short stature - never growing more than three feet tall. Stratton was 'discovered' by Phineas T Barnum, a businessman who founded the Barnum and Bailey Circus. Stratton was first exhibited by Barnum in his American Museum in New York in 1842 at the age of five, although Barnum claimed he was eleven. Barnum taught Stratton to sing, dance, mime, smoke cigars and impersonate famous figures including Napoleon Bonaparte and Cupid. In 1844, he made his first appearance at the Princess's Theatre in London and on subsequent tours, charmed both public and royalty in England and on the continent. His marriage to Lavinia Warren in 1863 made front page news and 10,000 people attended the ceremony which Barnum had paid for. Stratton became an international celebrity and wealthy man. He owned a house in a fashionable part of New York, a steam yacht and a wardrobe of fine clothes. Stratton made his final appearance in England in 1878. He died six moths later of a stroke aged forty-five, it is thought that over 10,000 attended his funeral.
The collection contains playbills, handbills, programmes, music sheet covers, drawings, lithographs, photographs, newspaper and periodical cuttings, letters and personal ephemera relating to the career of Charles Sherwood Stratton - popularly known as General Tom Thumb. The material also refers to Stratton's wife, Lavinia Warren and fellow performers Minnie Lavina Warren (Lavina's younger sister) and George Washington Morrision 'Commodore' Nutt, and their exhibitor, Phineas T Barnam. The collection was made by Bert Shevelove.
This archive collection is available for consultation in the V&A Blythe House Archive and Library Study Room by appointment only. Full details of access arrangements may be found here:
http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/archives/
.
Access to some of the material may be restricted. These are noted in the catalogue where relevant.
Information on copying and commercial reproduction may be found here:
http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/archives/
.
THM/225/1
Playbills
1794-1866
1 folder
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
Large playbills relating to General Tom Thumb and P. T. Barnum performances and exhibitions.
THM/225/1/1
General Tom Thumb and his Celebrated Little Wifeat the Exchange Hall, Stamford, 15 Aug 1866
15 Aug 1866
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/1/2
The Burletta of Tom Thumb (Young Standen) 10 Oct 1794
10 Oct 1794
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/1/3
Barnum on Money Makingat the Royal Victoria Rooms, Clifton, 4 Mar 1859
4 Mar 1859
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/2
Handbills
ca. 1844
1 folder
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
Handbills relating to the performances of General Tom Thumb.
THM/225/2/1
General Tom Thumb’s Carriageat Lord’s Cricket Ground
ca.1860
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/2/2
First Visit of the Lilliputians Monarchsat the Corn Exchange, Stamford, 18 Apr 1883
18 Apr 1883
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/2/3
General Tom Thumb’s Family Party
ca.1860
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/2/4
Tom Thumb and his beautiful little Wifeat the Town Hall Brighton
ca.1860
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/2/5
The only original Mrs. General Tom Thumb and her company of Liliputiansca. 1898
Ca. 1898
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/2/6
Gen. Tom Thumb and Wife, Coming Soon
ca.1860
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/2/7
Gen. Tom Thumbat the Court House
ca. 1860
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/2/8
General Tom Thumbat the Egyptian Hall Piccadilly, ca. 1844
Ca. 1844
4 items
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/3
Programmes
ca. 1864
1 folder
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
Programmes relating to the performances of General Tom Thumb.
THM/225/3/1
General Tom Thumb’s Family Party,Evening Programme ca. 1864
ca.1856
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/3/2
Barnum Museum, Hippodrom and London, United Circus Menagerie Shows
ca.1856
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/3/3
P.T. Barnum's Greatest Show On Earth, And The Great London Circus, Sanger's Royal British Menagerie and The Grand International Allied Shows United
ca.1881
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/3/4
P.T. Barnum's Greatest Show On Earthat Olympia London, Official Programme
ca.1880
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/4
Lithographs and Drawings
ca.1845
1 folder
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/4/1
Playing Card
ca. 1860
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
Nine of Hearts printed over an illustration of Tom Thumb on a table with spectators.
THM/225/4/2
Minnie Warren and Willie coloured illustration by McLoughlin Brothers
ca.1850
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/4/3
Tom Pouce in evening dress standing in chair with flowered seat
ca.1850
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/4/4
C. S. Stratton as General Tom Thumb in the character of Napoleon with furniture
ca.1850
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/4/5
Tom Thumb in carriage drawn by two ponies, coloured lithograph
ca.1850
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/4/6
Tom Thumb and his Equipage, Fashion plate, Feb 1846
Feb 1846
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/4/7
Tom Thumb as he appeared before Her Majesty Queen Victoria
ca.1850
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/4/8
General Tom Thumb, Barnum's Gallery of Wonders No.1
ca.1850
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/4/9
C. S. Stratton known as Tom Thumb, standing on table by quill
ca.1850
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/4/10
Comodore Nutt, The Smallest Man Alive, Standing on Chair by Table
ca.1850
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/4/11
Le General Tom Pouce in Ten Different Outfits
ca.1850
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/4/12
De Generaal Tom Thumb as Napoleon, with Dutch text
ca.1850
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/4/13
Commodore Nutt and Minnie Warren
ca.1850
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/4/14
Tom Thumb astonishing British Lion by Alfred Crowquill
ca.1850
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/4/15
The Pigmies in Piccadilly: Lucia Zarate and General Mite with the Exhibitor
ca.1850
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/4/16
Mr and Mrs General Tom Thumb
ca.1850
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/4/17
P. T. Barnum of the Great American Show
ca.1850
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/4/18
C. S. Stratton known as Gen Tom Thumb in the character of Napoleon by table
ca.1850
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/4/19
General Tom Thumb in carraige with rearing dog drawing
ca.1850
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/5
Illustrated Music Sheet Covers
ca. 1845 - ca. 1945
V&A Theatre and Performance Collections
1 folder
Contains music score
THM/225/5/1
Le General Tom-Pouce a Paris Quadrillepar Bosisio, lithograph
ca. 1845
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/5/2
Humbug, or That's the Way the Money's Made, dedicated to Barnum by J. E. Carpenter lithograph
ca. 1845
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/5/3
Trois Belles Amoureuses du General
ca. 1845
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/5/4
General Tom Thumbby Bruton, lithograph
ca. 1945
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/5/5
The Commodore Nutt Polkaby T. Baker, coloured lithograph
ca. 1845
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/5/6
The True Tom Thumb Quadrillesby the Smallest Musician in the World, lithograph
ca. 1945
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/5/7
The Fairy Bride Polka, lithograph
ca. 1945
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/5/8
Maid of Mineby Cromwell, lithograph
ca. 1865
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/5/9
Minnie Warren's Quadrilleby S. Glover, coloured lithograph
ca. 1845
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/5/10
Le General Tom-Pouce Quadrille and Polkaby C.Schubert, lithograph
ca. 1845
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/5/11
The Old Maid's Lamentby Cromwell, lithograph
ca. 1845
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/5/12
General Tom Thumb's Bridal Polkaby F. Katzenbach, coloured lithograph
ca. 1845
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/5/13
The Female Auctioneerby Cromley
ca.1845
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/5/14
General Tom Thumb Quadrilles, lithograph by J Brandard
1844
V&A Theatre and Performance Collections
1 item
THM/225/5/15
Bosisio's Tom Thumb Quadrilles, lithograph
Mid 19th century
V&A Theatre and Performance Collections
1 item
THM/225/6
Illustrated Periodicals and Newspaper Cuttings
ca. 1845 - 1978
2 folders
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
Folder 1 of 2 contains cuttings from illustrated periodicals ca. 1845, folder 2 of 2 contains more recent cuttings about General Tom Thumbs life and work.
THM/225/7
Letters and Cards
ca. 1850-1902
1 folder
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/7/1
Hand-written letter with picture addressed to Tom Thumb from Lu. Yeun Yew, Shanghai, 1869
1869
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
Includes typed transcript of letter.
THM/225/7/2
Ornate greetings Card
ca. 1850
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/7/3
Signed compliments card by Charles Stratton, 22nd Apr 1873
22nd Apr 1873
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/7/4
Signed compliments card by Charles Stratton on photographic negative paper
ca. 1862
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/7/5
Tiny Tom Thumb visiting card
ca.1850
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/7/6
Complimentary admissions ticket for General Tom Thumb's Entertainment
ca.1850
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/7/7
Handwritten letters from P. T Barnum
ca. 1856
5 items
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/7/8
Handwritten letter from Countess Lavinia Magri to H. Holden, 26th Dec 1902
1902
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/7/9
Handwritten quotation by Mrs Gen. Tom Thumb, 23rd Feb 1884
23rd Feb 1884
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/7/10
Typed invitation from F. W Homan on behalf of Mrs. Gen. Tom Thumb
ca. 1902
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/7/11
Signed compliments card by Charles Stratton with address, 28th May 1859
28th May 1859
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/7/12
Handwritten letter by acquaintance of Lavinia Warren, 28th Sep 1889
28th Sep 1889
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/7/13
Ornate envelope addressed to C. S. Stratton
ca.1850
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/7/14
Signed compliments card by Commodore Nutt
ca. 1873
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/8
Photographs
ca. 1862
12 items
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/8/1
Portraits of General Tom Thumb with his wife Lavinia Warren
ca. 1862
8 items
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/8/2
Portraits of General Tom Thumb with titles and captions
ca. 1862
2 items
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/8/3
General Tom Thumb standing on chair
ca. 1862
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance
THM/225/8/4
Countess Lavinia Magri
ca. 1883
1 item
V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance