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From: Mark <>
Subject: P.T.Barnum resources & circus history
Date: Sat, 25 Feb 2006 11:39:55 -0500


Phyllis, There isn't any resource library available at the P.T. Barnum
Museum in Bridgeport, Conn. The place to visit or get in touch with is the
resource room of the Bridgeport, Public Library in Brdgeport, Ct
www.bridgeportpubliclibrary.org which is located a couple of blocks from
the museum. They have in closed stacks an extensive number of books and
files on the circus including P.T. Barnum and his circus. Another good
source would be the Somers Historical Society located in Westchester
County, New York P.O. Box 336 Somers, NY (tele 914-277-4977) the area around
Somers extending accross the border into Danbury & Ridgefield Ct was the
birth place of the american circus as we know it back in the early 1800.s
with Hechaliah Bailey as its founder. Hechaliah owned a stage coach line
between Danbury and Sing Sing, N.Y. (now Ossining) and brought in these
elephants & other annimals that came by ship up the Hudson River. When
Hechaliah died about 1843 P.T. Barnum whose home was in Bethel,Ct took over
the circus and the rest is history. ( I might add that Hechaliah's home is
unique in that became the elephant hotel with the name accross the front &
an elephant atop a 50' concrete poll in front-historical society & town
offices are located there) Another source for info would be the Circus
World Museum and research center in Baraboo, Wisc. You can search there
collection on line by going to www.circusworldmuseum.com/library/index.html
or tele 608-356-8341, 550 water street Baraboo,W 153913-2597.Tufts Univ,
located in Medford, Mass has correspondence, Photos , clippings, and
manuscripts documenting P.T Barnums Career
http://nila.lib.tufts.edu/archives/ Mark

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