Tim Holliday has published an encyclopedia article on “Burlesque” in the Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia (an online encyclopedia produced by Rutgers). You may find it here: http://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/burlesque/
Tim’s dissertation is: “"Bodies on Display: Looking at Intimate Violence in Early America.” His committee: Prof. Kathleen Brown (Advisor); Prof. Daniel Richter; and Prof. Robert St. George.