Welcome to this bonus episode of "Becoming Barnum: The Journey to Fame and Fortune." In this episode, we delve into the lesser-known aspects of P.T. Barnum's life, particularly his writings and his faith.

As we've discovered throughout this podcast, Barnum had a talent for writing and was a prolific letter writer. Before his circus days, he even published the Herald of Freedom newspaper in Danbury, Connecticut. However, his outspoken opinions led to his imprisonment for a sixty-day sentence. True to his nature, Barnum turned this adversity into an opportunity for profit. Not only did he continue publishing his paper while in jail, but he also expanded his subscriber list and shamelessly promoted himself. Additionally, during this period, he contributed articles to the New York Atlas newspaper.

Beyond his newspaper endeavors, Barnum wrote several books. The most well-known among them is his autobiography, which underwent multiple revisions over the years. He also penned a self-help book titled "The Art of Money Getting," reflecting his insights on financial success.

Throughout our exploration of Barnum's letters, we discovered that he rarely discussed his Christian faith explicitly. While he alluded to it on occasion, his correspondence primarily focused on business and personal matters rather than matters of religion, faith, or philosophy. Nevertheless, it was evident that Barnum's deep faith in God served as an undercurrent in his letters, providing him solace during times of worry and anxiety, such as when he feared for the health of his daughter Helen or the well-being of his wife during childbirth.

Barnum's faith was an integral part of his worldview, albeit with a unique twist. Although he identified as a Christian, he subscribed to Universalism—a belief in the salvation of all people. This perspective differed from the majority of Christian denominations, which endorse some form of limited salvation for the chosen few or those who profess their faith in God.

During Barnum's time, the Universalist church was a prominent and vibrant Christian denomination, distinct from the Unitarian church with which it now shares a name. Unitarians rejected the orthodox Christian doctrine of the Trinity, while Universalists maintained a typical Trinitarian belief system, with the exception of their universalist stance on salvation. Notable figures, including John Adams, were Unitarians.

In 1961, the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America merged, giving rise to the Unitarian-Universalist Association that exists today.

In this episode, we present Barnum's own words on his Universalist beliefs. We feature his short article titled "Why I am a Universalist," a response to an English Secularist's tract called "The Christian Doctrine of Hell." Barnum's article was originally published in the Christian World newspaper in London. It was later included in a booklet published by the Universalist Church in 1897. For those interested, we have provided a link to the booklet in the show notes.

Join us as we delve into P.T. Barnum's unique faith and explore his thoughts on Universalism in this thought-provoking episode.

[Link to the booklet: Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11134/110002:5496]

BECOMING BARNUM: The Journey to Fame and Fortune

The Journey to Fame and Fortune

Learn more about PT Barnum’s Letter Copy Book here: 

https://archive.org/details/historylocofoco02byrdgoog/page/n6/mode/2up

https://tinyurl.com/BarnumArchive

https://tinyurl.com/FAMILY-EXHIBITOR

https://tinyurl.com/Barnumletter

https://tinyurl.com/John-Austin

https://tinyurl.com/Sherwoodletter

https://tinyurl.com/nywonders

https://tinyurl.com/IranistanFeature

https://tinyurl.com/barnumletters

https://tinyurl.com/iranistan

Let us know your thoughts by writing a review for the Podcast!

Want to follow and support the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport Connecticut in more ways?  

Follow us on:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BarnumMuseum

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barnummuseum

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebarnummuseum

Twitter: https://twitter.com/barnummuseum

Website: https://barnum-museum.org/​​

Click to Donate!  

It’s easy and supports the Barnum Museum’s programs, restoration, and ongoing mission to make people happy!

https://barnum-museum.org/donate/

Join as a Member or Sponsor and be part of the Barnum Museum family in Bridgeport CT!

https://barnum-museum.org/membership/

Episode sponsored by:

People’s United Bank: https://www.peoples.com/

CTHumanities: https://cthumanities.org/

City of Bridgeport: https://www.bridgeportct.gov/

Please share this podcast episode with your friends!

Learn more about PT Barnum’s Letter Copy Book here: 

https://archive.org/details/historylocofoco02byrdgoog/page/n6/mode/2up

https://tinyurl.com/BarnumArchive

https://tinyurl.com/FAMILY-EXHIBITOR

https://tinyurl.com/Barnumletter

https://tinyurl.com/John-Austin

https://tinyurl.com/Sherwoodletter

https://tinyurl.com/nywonders

https://tinyurl.com/IranistanFeature

https://tinyurl.com/barnumletters

https://tinyurl.com/iranistan

Let us know your thoughts by writing a review for the Podcast!

Want to follow and support the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport Connecticut in more ways?  

Follow us on:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BarnumMuseum

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barnummuseum

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebarnummuseum

Twitter: https://twitter.com/barnummuseum

Website: https://barnum-museum.org/​​

Click to Donate!  

It’s easy and supports the Barnum Museum’s programs, restoration, and ongoing mission to make people happy!

https://barnum-museum.org/donate/

Join as a Member or Sponsor and be part of the Barnum Museum family in Bridgeport CT!

https://barnum-museum.org/membership/

Episode sponsored by:

People’s United Bank: https://www.peoples.com/

CTHumanities: https://cthumanities.org/

City of Bridgeport: https://www.bridgeportct.gov/

Please share this podcast episode with your friends!

BECOMING BARNUM: The Journey to Fame and Fortune

Igniting Interest: Barnum’s Views on the Loco-Foco Party  

Learn more about PT Barnum’s Letter Copy Book here: 

https://archive.org/details/historylocofoco02byrdgoog/page/n6/mode/2up

https://tinyurl.com/BarnumArchive

https://tinyurl.com/FAMILY-EXHIBITOR

https://tinyurl.com/Barnumletter

https://tinyurl.com/John-Austin

https://tinyurl.com/Sherwoodletter

https://tinyurl.com/nywonders

https://tinyurl.com/IranistanFeature

https://tinyurl.com/barnumletters

https://tinyurl.com/iranistan

Let us know your thoughts by writing a review for the Podcast!

Want to follow and support the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport Connecticut in more ways?  

Follow us on:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BarnumMuseum

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barnummuseum

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebarnummuseum

Twitter: https://twitter.com/barnummuseum

Website: https://barnum-museum.org/​​

Click to Donate!  

It’s easy and supports the Barnum Museum’s programs, restoration, and ongoing mission to make people happy!

https://barnum-museum.org/donate/

Join as a Member or Sponsor and be part of the Barnum Museum family in Bridgeport CT!

https://barnum-museum.org/membership/

Episode sponsored by:

People’s United Bank: https://www.peoples.com/

CTHumanities: https://cthumanities.org/

City of Bridgeport: https://www.bridgeportct.gov/

Please share this podcast episode with your friends!

BECOMING BARNUM: The Journey to Fame and Fortune

I Entrust You with a Small Secret  - Episode 35

In this episode of the Becoming Barnum podcast, P.T. Barnum makes a secret trip back to America to check on his wife's health. With conflicting thoughts about returning home, Barnum's plan involves surprising his loved ones without anyone knowing. While Gen. Tom Thumb and his father, Sherwood Stratton, continue their performances in London, Barnum works tirelessly to ensure everything is correct. Tune in now to discover how Barnum pulled off his plan.

Learn more about PT Barnum’s Letter Copy Book here: 

https://tinyurl.com/BarnumArchive

https://tinyurl.com/FAMILY-EXHIBITOR

https://tinyurl.com/Barnumletter

https://tinyurl.com/John-Austin

https://tinyurl.com/Sherwoodletter

https://tinyurl.com/nywonders

https://tinyurl.com/IranistanFeature

https://tinyurl.com/barnumletters

https://tinyurl.com/iranistan

Let us know your thoughts by writing a review for the Podcast!

Want to follow and support the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport Connecticut in more ways?  

Follow us on:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BarnumMuseum

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barnummuseum

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebarnummuseum

Twitter: https://twitter.com/barnummuseum

Website: https://barnum-museum.org/​​

Click to Donate!  

It’s easy and supports the Barnum Museum’s programs, restoration, and ongoing mission to make people happy!

https://barnum-museum.org/donate/

Join as a Member or Sponsor and be part of the Barnum Museum family in Bridgeport CT!

https://barnum-museum.org/membership/

Episode sponsored by:

People’s United Bank: https://www.peoples.com/

CTHumanities: https://cthumanities.org/

City of Bridgeport: https://www.bridgeportct.gov/

Please share this podcast episode with your friends!

BECOMING BARNUM: The Journey to Fame and Fortune

Instructive Entertainments: Early 19th Century Panoramas - Episode 34

In this episode of the Becoming Barnum podcast, P.T. Barnum rented breathtaking panoramas for his museum from a Scottish painter named Marshall. But he was afraid Marshall would charge extra if he found out Barnum wanted to send them to other museums. So, Barnum schemed to get the panoramas cheaply, even considering copying them. Eventually, he agreed to pay 6000 francs, after shaving off 2000 from another artist's quote. Barnum was determined to get a first-rate artist to paint the scenes, but refused to pay in advance. Tune in now for Barnum's relentless efforts to ensure everything is perfect.

If you didn’t have an opportunity to see it at Mystic Seaport or at the New Bedford Whaling Museum you can learn about the exhibition, titled Spectacle in Motion, and see videos on their websites:

https://www.whalingmuseum.org/exhibition/original-spectacle-in-motion/

https://www.mysticseaport.org/exhibit/the-grand-panorama/

Or you can enjoy the voyage via a digital story-map created by Michael Lapides and Christina Sewall–which is a really great way to learn about it too.

https://nbwm.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=19513a5d13964a48aa9d00973c8a9674

Let us know your thoughts by writing a review for the Podcast!

Want to follow and support the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport Connecticut in more ways?  

Follow us on:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BarnumMuseum

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barnummuseum

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebarnummuseum

Twitter: https://twitter.com/barnummuseum

Website: https://barnum-museum.org/​​

Click to Donate!  

It’s easy and supports the Barnum Museum’s programs, restoration, and ongoing mission to make people happy!

https://barnum-museum.org/donate/

Join as a Member or Sponsor and be part of the Barnum Museum family in Bridgeport CT!

https://barnum-museum.org/membership/

Episode sponsored by:

People’s United Bank: https://www.peoples.com/

CTHumanities: https://cthumanities.org/

City of Bridgeport: https://www.bridgeportct.gov/

Please share this podcast episode with your friends!

BECOMING BARNUM: The Journey to Fame and Fortune

Imitators & Followers will get Poor Gleanings - Episode 33

In this episode of the Becoming Barnum podcast, P.T. Barnum was managing multiple projects and corresponding with agents and friends in London and Paris. He commissioned copies of two paintings from an American artist in France and hoped to commission a large-scale painting of a pivotal moment in American history. He also had plans for statues to install around the perimeter of the American Museum's rooftop. Barnum relied on trusted agents like Monsieur Huet to keep things moving forward and remained dedicated, strategic, and persistent to make his vision a reality. Don't miss the drama and excitement in this episode! Tune in now and experience Barnum's journey as he works tirelessly to ensure everything is correct.

Learn more about PT Barnum’s Letter Copy Book here: 

https://tinyurl.com/BarnumArchive

https://tinyurl.com/FAMILY-EXHIBITOR

https://tinyurl.com/Barnumletter

https://tinyurl.com/John-Austin

https://tinyurl.com/Sherwoodletter

https://tinyurl.com/nywonders

https://tinyurl.com/IranistanFeature

https://tinyurl.com/barnumletters

https://tinyurl.com/iranistan

Let us know your thoughts by writing a review for the Podcast!

Want to follow and support the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport Connecticut in more ways?  

Follow us on:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BarnumMuseum

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barnummuseum

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebarnummuseum

Twitter: https://twitter.com/barnummuseum

Website: https://barnum-museum.org/​​

Click to Donate!  

It’s easy and supports the Barnum Museum’s programs, restoration, and ongoing mission to make people happy!

https://barnum-museum.org/donate/

Join as a Member or Sponsor and be part of the Barnum Museum family in Bridgeport CT!

https://barnum-museum.org/membership/

Episode sponsored by:

People’s United Bank: https://www.peoples.com/

CTHumanities: https://cthumanities.org/

City of Bridgeport: https://www.bridgeportct.gov/

Please share this podcast episode with your friends!

Learn more about PT Barnum’s Letter Copy Book here: 

https://tinyurl.com/BarnumArchive

https://tinyurl.com/FAMILY-EXHIBITOR

https://tinyurl.com/Barnumletter

https://tinyurl.com/John-Austin

https://tinyurl.com/Sherwoodletter

https://tinyurl.com/nywonders

https://tinyurl.com/IranistanFeature

https://tinyurl.com/barnumletters

https://tinyurl.com/iranistan

Let us know your thoughts by writing a review for the Podcast!

Want to follow and support the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport Connecticut in more ways?  

Follow us on:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BarnumMuseum

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barnummuseum

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebarnummuseum

Twitter: https://twitter.com/barnummuseum

Website: https://barnum-museum.org/​​

Click to Donate!  

It’s easy and supports the Barnum Museum’s programs, restoration, and ongoing mission to make people happy!

https://barnum-museum.org/donate/

Join as a Member or Sponsor and be part of the Barnum Museum family in Bridgeport CT!

https://barnum-museum.org/membership/

Episode sponsored by:

People’s United Bank: https://www.peoples.com/

CTHumanities: https://cthumanities.org/

City of Bridgeport: https://www.bridgeportct.gov/

Please share this podcast episode with your friends!

BECOMING BARNUM: The Journey to Fame and Fortune

Poetical Puffing - Episode 31

In this episode of the Becoming Barnum podcast, Barnum was worried about his employees at the American Museum. He wanted Emile Guillaudeu to create a pose for a pony's skin that suggested motion with dignity and speed, but it is uncertain if he was successful. Professor Swift had difficulty setting up the museum's new projection equipment, but Barnum thought the Physioscope was excellent and urged Swift not to give up on it.Don't miss the drama and excitement in this episode! Tune in now and experience Barnum's journey as he works tirelessly to make sure everything is just right.

Learn more about PT Barnum’s Letter Copy Book here: 

https://tinyurl.com/BarnumArchive

https://tinyurl.com/FAMILY-EXHIBITOR

https://tinyurl.com/Barnumletter

https://tinyurl.com/John-Austin

https://tinyurl.com/Sherwoodletter

https://tinyurl.com/nywonders

https://tinyurl.com/IranistanFeature

https://tinyurl.com/barnumletters

https://tinyurl.com/iranistan

Let us know your thoughts by writing a review for the Podcast!

Want to follow and support the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport Connecticut in more ways?  

Follow us on:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BarnumMuseum

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barnummuseum

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebarnummuseum

Twitter: https://twitter.com/barnummuseum

Website: https://barnum-museum.org/​​

Click to Donate!  

It’s easy and supports the Barnum Museum’s programs, restoration, and ongoing mission to make people happy!

https://barnum-museum.org/donate/

Join as a Member or Sponsor and be part of the Barnum Museum family in Bridgeport CT!

https://barnum-museum.org/membership/

Episode sponsored by:

People’s United Bank: https://www.peoples.com/

CTHumanities: https://cthumanities.org/

City of Bridgeport: https://www.bridgeportct.gov/

Please share this podcast episode with your friends!

In this episode of the Becoming Barnum podcast, join us as we follow Barnum as he tries to navigate a problem at the theater and make sure everything is running smoothly. He's also eager to get a play about General Tom Thumb ready for an audience. Despite the play not being ready yet, Barnum is in London waiting for it and writes letters to his friends for help. Eventually, he gets the play and makes a big announcement in the newspaper about the General's upcoming performance. Don't miss the drama and excitement in this episode! Tune in now and experience Barnum's journey as he works tirelessly to make sure everything is just right.

Let us know your thoughts by writing a review for the Podcast!

Want to follow and support the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport Connecticut in more ways?  

Follow us on:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BarnumMuseum

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barnummuseum

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebarnummuseum

Twitter: https://twitter.com/barnummuseum

Website: https://barnum-museum.org/​​

Click to Donate!  

It’s easy and supports the Barnum Museum’s programs, restoration, and ongoing mission to make people happy!

https://barnum-museum.org/donate/

Join as a Member or Sponsor and be part of the Barnum Museum family in Bridgeport CT!

https://barnum-museum.org/membership/

Episode sponsored by:

People’s United Bank: https://www.peoples.com/

CTHumanities: https://cthumanities.org/

City of Bridgeport: https://www.bridgeportct.gov/

Please share this podcast episode with your friends!