For those interested in the Aztec Children look at Chapter 5 in Robert Bogdan's Freak Show, U. of Chicago Press. Their career and other aspects of their exhibition are discussed. There are also extensive references including some to archives where primary material reside. Bob Bogdan -----Original Message----- From: David Palmquist [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2002 12:01 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Aztec Children exhibit in NYC, 1852... P. T. Barnum, among others, exhibited the "Aztec Children." As you know he was proprietor of the American Museum on Broadway. Check the numerous Barnum biographies, especially the latest and most thorough by A. H. Saxon. Also check Barnum's various autobiographies, "The Life of P. T. Barnum" (1855) and "Struggles and Triumphs of P. T. Barnum," from 1869 on. The major P. T. Barnum archives is housed in the Bridgeport Public Library. Contact Mary Witkowski, head of Historical Collections, at 203-576-7417. David David W. Palmquist Head, Chartering Program NY State Museum State Education Department 3090 Cultural Education Center Albany NY 12230 518-473-3131 FAX 518-473-8496 e-mail: [log in to unmask] web site: www.nysm.nysed.gov/charter/ >>> [log in to unmask] 01/18/02 06:02PM >>> Anyone know what happened to the "Aztec Children" exhibited in New York in 1852? It provoked wide comment, but I cannot find an account of the backer of the exhibit, or what happened to them - did they visit other locations in New York State? An account from Scientific American follows my signature line. Christopher Gray "Streetscapes" Columnist, Sunday Real Estate Section The New York Times office: 246 West 80th Street New York City 10024 voice: 212-799-0520 fax: 212-799-0542 e: [log in to unmask] Scientific American, Volume 7, Issue 17, January 10, 1852: The Aztec Children. There have been on exhibition for some time, at the Society Library Room, this city, what are termed the Aztec Children. It has been stated that they are of a race of pigmies GÇörather the remnant of a raceGÇöaway dewn in Central America. They have created no small sensation in this and other cities, and we do not wonder at it; they are great natural curiosities. We have no faith, however, in their being a distinct race from the South American Indians, nor have we faith in the romantic story published, about their capture and the stealing of them from the place where it is said, they were held as objects of won- der. We believe they are Indian dwarfs. The profile of the boy is exactly like that o' the figures found on the ruins of those cities in Central America, described in" Stephen's Tra- vels :" this proves conclusively that the pre- sent race of Peruvians, &c., are the same as those which built those ancient cities. The Aztec Children are lively, have beautiful black curly hair, and very large black eyes. They are very slender, and the girl appears to be. the best formed; she looks like some Indian children, with the exception of the large eyes structure. and curly hair. The boy would afford strong argument for a believer in the Montboddo theory: he has some distinct trait of the Si- mian tribe. The girl appears to be about 6 years of age, the boy 12; the height of the boy is 34 inches, the girl 29k. The upper lip of the boy projects to a great distance, and he appears to be incapable of ejecting his spittle. They are interesting specimens of undeve- loped humanity, and of a peculiar race of abo- rigines, still living, but descendants of the old- est tribes in America. They are the greatest objects of natural curiosity that we have ever seen; they are fixed curious facts in natural history, and Prof. Agassiz could make a most splendid article out of them, in proof of dis- tinct species of the human race.