Biographical/historical information

Mille and Christine McCoy were born as enslaved conjoined twins in 1851. They spend their lives forced to perform for crowds in the United States and in Europe. Mille and Christine McCoy were taught to sing, dance, play piano, and speak five languages fluently. The twins were enslaved by Jabez McKay, who then sold them to their new enslaver John C. Pervis. After 1853 Mr. Bower enslaved the twins who then were kidnapped in late 1853. Mille and Christine McCoy made a reappearance in 1854 and were put on display at the P.T. Barnum's American Museum in downtown Manhattan. The twins continued to perform in the United States and in the United Kingdom from 1880 to the first half of 1890. Mille and Christine McCoy eventually retired in Whiteville, North Carolina.

Scope and arrangement

This collection contains 5 photographs. Two are signed by Millie and Christine McCoy. The other 3 are pictures of Millie and Christine McCoy. Additionally, correspondence between the McCoys and Mrs. Mathews of Bath, England, is dated March, 1872. The letter contains 2 locks of the sister's hair and verso of the letter includes "Verse by Millie-Christine the Two Headed Nightengale" in five four line stanzas. The reverse includes an inscription:

"The two Minds composed some verses descriptive of herself"

Verses by

Millie-Christine

The Two Headed Nightingale

1

It's not modest of one's self to speak

But, daily scanned from heads to feet

I freely talk of every thing,

Sometimes to persons wondering.

2

Some persons say I must be two

The doctors say; "This is not true"

Some cry out Humbug!! Till they see,

Then they say—Great Mystery!!!

3

Two Heads, Four Arms, Four Feet,

All in one perfect body meet;

I am most wonderfully made

All scientific men have said

4

None like me since the days of Eve--

None such perhaps will ever live—

A marvel to myself am I,

As well to all the passers by

5

I'm happy quite, because I am good.

I love my Savior & my God;

I love all. Things that God has done,

Whether created Two or One.

Administrative information

Custodial History

November 1, 2018, 1 item; Circa 1900 cabinet photograph of Millie and Christine McCoy, Black conjoined twins enslaved in Columbus County, North Carolina (1851-1912). Photograph was taken by Frank Wendt, Boonton, New Jersey, and is autographed on verso by Millie-Christine. Purchased from Ian Brabner, Rare Americana.

July 23, 2021, 1 item; Carte de visite (ca. 1870) of Millie and Christine McCoy, Black conjoined twins enslaved, printed by Lithographie A. Compan (8 Rue de Strasbourg) in Paris, France. Printed on the verso in red ink is "Christine Millie The 2 Headed Nightingale. Born in Columbus Co. North Carolina in 1851." Purchased from AbeBooks.

May 24, 2024, 4 items; (1) An autographed letter signed by Millie-Christine, to Mrs. Mathews, Bath, England, dated March 1872. The verso of the letter includes "Verse by Millie-Christine the Two Headed Nightengale" in five four-line stanzas; (2) a CDV portrait of the young entertainers seated on a settee printed by the [London] Stereoscopic Company and titled "The Two-Headed Nightengale"; (3 and 4) two locks of hair affixed to the letter. In the letter, the sisters address Mrs. Matthews, In compliance to your request I give my Autographs also a lock of hair from each head with much pleasure." Purchased from Fleischer's Auctions.

October 2, 2024, 2 items; Two carte-de-visites of Millie and Christine McCoy (1851-1912) African American conjoined twins who were born in Columbus County, North Carolina. Items include: (1) 6.5 cm X 10.5 cm cart-de-visite produced by Gihon and Thompson, 812 Arch St., Philadelphia; signed Millie Christine on reverse [This image is identified online in the Wellcome Photograph Collection as being taken in 1871, when the twins were approximately 19 years old]. (2) 6 cm X 10 cm cart-de-visite produced by J.H. Fitzgibbon, Photographer. 116 North Fourth Street, St. Louis, Mo. And titled: 2 Headed Girl, Millie-Crissie." Purchased from John K. King Used and Rare Books.

Source of acquisition

Purchased from Ian Brabner, Rare Americana

Purchased from AbeBooks

Purchased from Fleischer's Auctions

Purchased from John K. King Used and Rare Book

Processing information

Processed by Special Collections Staff, 2021

Processed by Patrick Cash, April, 2025

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Key terms

Personal Names

McCoy, Christine, 1851-1912
McCoy, Millie, 1851-1912

Topical

Conjoined twins--North Carolina--Pictorial works
Conjoined twins--United States--Pictorial works

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