[Carte-de-visite photograph of Millie-Christine with flowers]Bertin, Louis, b. ca. 1827circa 1874-1886A carte-de-visite photograph created by Louis Bertin, circa 1874-1886. Bertin was a photographer in Brighton, England, 1874-1886.Acquired from various sources. For more information refer to the material in the collection.Millie-Christine (1851-1912), also known as Millie McKoy and Christine McKoy were African American conjoined twins and entertainers. Millie-Christine were born on July 11, 1851, to Monemia and Jacob, slaves owned by Jabez McKay on a plantation in Welches Creek, North Carolina. Around eighteen months after their birth, McKay sold the girls to Joseph Pearson Smith (1815-1862) of Wadesboro, North Carolina. Smith and his wife, Mary Aleff Cooper Smith (1822-1893) educated the twins; they could speak five languages, dance, play music, and sing. During their lifetime, Millie-Christine enjoyed a successful career as "The Two-Headed Nightingale." On October 8, 1912, Millie died of tuberculosis, while doctors euthanized Christine.still image