Date: Fri 02-Oct-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: DONNAM

Quick Words:

Barnum-P.T.-Pelton-newspapers

Full Text:

Barnum Museum Receives A Gift Of Original P.T.-Related Newspapers

BRIDGEPORT -- Rare yellowed copies of newspapers published by P.T. Barnum

during the early 1800s recently were donated to The Barnum Museum by the

Universalist Unitarian Association of Fresno, Calif., according to Barnum

Museum curator Robert S. Pelton.

The gift includes 15 issues of the four-page Herald of Freedom and Gospel

Witness published in 1832. At 21 years of age, Barnum, who was born July 5,

1810, in Bethel, was the paper's publisher, editor and featured writer.

The first issue of the weekly newspaper was printed October 19, 1831. The last

issue, the 160th, appeared November 5, 1834, after which Barnum moved to New

York City to launch his worldwide entrepreneurial career.

According to the newspaper's masthead, the Herald of Freedom and Gospel

Witness was "Printed every Wednesday morning, a few rods south of the

Meeting-House in Bethel, by Phineas T. Barnum."

Mr Pelton said the 166-year-old newspapers are invaluable documentation of one

of Barnum's lesser known endeavors, that of a journalist. Barnum also operated

a grocery store in his early years, dabbled in real estate and operated

lottery outlets.

During his political ventures, Barnum served in the Connecticut Legislature in

1867 and 1879, then had a one-year term as mayor of Bridgeport in 1875. He

went on to gain international fame as an entrepreneur, museum owner, promoter,

and as the showman who introduced "The Greatest Show on Earth."

The newspapers will be stored in The Barnum Museum's archives for use by

researchers and will be included in the museum's permanent collections.

In October 1892, in one of the "highlights" of his journalistic career, Barnum

was convicted of libel, fined $100 and sentenced to serve 60 days in the

Danbury jail. He had become involved in religious and political issues and was

jailed for describing Bethel church elder Seth Seeley as "a canting

hypocrite."

Because of his influence in the community, Barnum was treated well during his

confinement in prison. His cell was wallpapered and carpeted, he received

friends and visitors, and he continued to edit and publish his newspaper.

When Barnum was released, he was feted at a dinner in the Danbury courthouse

in which he had been convicted, toasted by several hundred supporters. He was

driven home to Bethel in a six-horse coach in a parade with music, singing and

cannons. Barnum had become a statewide hero, and the January 2, 1833 issue of

the Herald of Freedom carried a front-page story about his triumphant return.

The gift from the Unitarian Universalist Association also contained single

issues of two other newspapers, The Connecticut Repository , dated October 24,

1832, and The Bridgeport Messenger , dated November 21, 1832.

The Connecticut Repository was "printed and published by A. Taylor, every

Wednesday, three doors North of the Bank," in Danbury, and The Bridgeport

Messenger was "published every Wednesday morning by W.S. Pomeroy, Water

Street, Over the Store of O. & W. Sherman, in the room formerly occupied by

the Connecticut Courier ." Mr Pelton pointed out that Barnum had been a

long-time active member of the Universalist Church since childhood.

Mary Gibson, the historian of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno,

contacted Mr Pelton in July to inquire whether The Barnum Museum would be

interested in the rare old newspapers. A similar offer made in May to the

church's headquarters in Boston had received no response, Ms Gibson said, and

she sought to donate the papers to the museum.

In her letter, Ms Gibson explained that the newspapers "arrived in Fresno in

an antique desk shipped from Boston in the mid-1980s and since have been

preserved in protective plastic sleeves and housed in a large portfolio case."

The Fresno church historian also provided a biography of Harvey Howard

Edmonds, who had served two terms as church president and was responsible for

preserving the Barnum newspapers during his tenure in the 1980s.