Found 2 collections related to Barnum, P. T. (Phineas Taylor), 1810-1891

Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810-1891) was an American showman. He originated the traveling circus, and in 1881 with his leading rival, James Bailey, formed the Barnum and Bailey Circus. Barnum also was active in Connecticut politics and served as mayor of Bridgeport from 1867 to 1869. Collection consists of letters written by P.T. Barnum to Moses Kimball, Gordon Lester Ford and others, 1846-1890; press clippings and newspapers containing references to Barnum's "Fiji Mermaid" exhibit in the southern United States, 1843; and autograph passes, a calling card and other miscellaneous items. less

Robert Bonner (1824-1899) was a newspaper publisher and trotting horse breeder. He owned and published the New York Ledger. Collection consists of general correspondence, trotting horse papers, financial documents, writings, photographs, and artifacts. General correspondence includes letters to Bonner as proprietor of the New York Ledger, with a few drafts of his replies, mostly from contributors offering stories, suggesting plots, soliciting money, acknowledging remuneration, and relating to personal matters; letters from Presbyterian clergymen about church affairs; and letters from the owners of the New York Sun, New York Herald, and New York Times, revealing Bonner's willingness to lend financial aid to those newspapers. Papers relating to the breeding, development, and shoeing of trotting horses contain letters from owners, breeders, veterinarians, editors of sporting journals, and others from all parts of the United States, especially Kentucky; notes on horses; accounts; scrapbooks of newspaper clippings containing biographical data and other material on the horse and on the Scotch Irish Society of America; and photographs, sketches and artifacts. less