Newspaper: "The Fairy Wedding - The Marriage Ceremony of Charles S. Stratton (Gen. Tom Thumb) and Miss Lavinia Warren (the Queen of Beauty)", Frank Leslie's Illustrated, color version
Frank Leslie (created by)
Charles S. Stratton (General Tom Thumb)
Southworth, Mary (associated with)
M. Lavinia Warren (associated with)
Huldah Pierce Warren Bump Newell (Minnie Warren) (associated with)
George W. M. Nutt (Commodore Nutt) (associated with)
Charles S. Stratton (General Tom Thumb)
Southworth, Mary (associated with)
M. Lavinia Warren (associated with)
Huldah Pierce Warren Bump Newell (Minnie Warren) (associated with)
George W. M. Nutt (Commodore Nutt) (associated with)
February 21 1863 (Date manufactured/created)
Hand-colored illustration of the marriage ceremony of Charles S. Stratton, known as "General Tom Thumb," to Mercy Lavinia Warren Bump ("Lavinia Warren"). The wedding took place on February 10, 1863 at Grace Church on Broadway in New York City. The event was popularized by P. T. Barnum and was dubbed "The Fairy Wedding" because all four members of the wedding party were little people with the condition of proportionate dwarfism. Soon after the wedding this large illustration was published in Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, on February 21, 1863. The view emphasizes the great contrast between the soaring height of the cathedral and the diminuitive bridal party at the altar. Three ministers officiated at the ceremony, including the pastor from Lavinia Warren's church in Massachusetts; the minister from St. John's Episcopal Church in Stratton's home city of Bridgeport, Connecticut, who had baptised Charles as an infant, and the Reverend Thomas H. Taylor, rector of Grace Church. A lavish reception followed the wedding, with 2000 guests attending.
The wedding took place only two months after the couple first met at Barnum's Museum, where Lavinia had recently been hired as a performer. Charles had been employed by Barnum from the age of five, and he was twenty-five years old when he married Lavinia. Lavinia's younger sister, Minnie Warren, served as her bridesmaid, and George Washington Morrison Nutt, also a Barnum performer known as "Commodore Nutt," was the best man. Barnum's promotion of the event escalated it to front page news, breaking for a brief time the pattern of Civil War news appearing on the front page, a welcome change to a war-weary public. Newspapers and magazines in both the U. S. and in England, where Stratton had previously toured, covered the story, and included lengthy descriptions of the lavish reception and gifts presented to the couple. Numerous mementoes such as carte de visite photographs and small trinkets were also produced to satisfy popular interest in the event.
The wedding took place only two months after the couple first met at Barnum's Museum, where Lavinia had recently been hired as a performer. Charles had been employed by Barnum from the age of five, and he was twenty-five years old when he married Lavinia. Lavinia's younger sister, Minnie Warren, served as her bridesmaid, and George Washington Morrison Nutt, also a Barnum performer known as "Commodore Nutt," was the best man. Barnum's promotion of the event escalated it to front page news, breaking for a brief time the pattern of Civil War news appearing on the front page, a welcome change to a war-weary public. Newspapers and magazines in both the U. S. and in England, where Stratton had previously toured, covered the story, and included lengthy descriptions of the lavish reception and gifts presented to the couple. Numerous mementoes such as carte de visite photographs and small trinkets were also produced to satisfy popular interest in the event.
T 2013.011.001
Frank Leslie's illustrated newspaper
Magri, M. Lavinia (Mercy Lavinia), 1841-1919
Nutt, Commodore, 1848-1881
Thumb, Tom, 1838-1883
Magri, M. Lavinia (Mercy Lavinia), 1841-1919
Nutt, Commodore, 1848-1881
Thumb, Tom, 1838-1883