Henry and Elizabeth Baird papers, 1798-1937

The Henry and Elizabeth Baird Papers (1798-1937) document the birth and growth of Wisconsin over the course of the 19th century. The Bairds played a key role in negotiating Indian treaties, establishing state government, and leading political and economic development Wisconsin. Their surviving manuscripts fill six boxes.

Elizabeth Baird (1810-1890) and her husband, Henry (1800-1875), were prominent 19th-century Wisconsin settlers. Henry S. Baird was a territorial politician and the first practicing attorney in Wisconsin. Elizabeth was the daughter of a British fur trader and a French-Ottawa mother and moved easily among both Indian and white communities. During their lives, Wisconsin's environment, politics, economics, culture, and languages were completely transformed, and Henry and Elizabeth were usually involved. They were connected to most of the founders of modern Wisconsin through family ties, marriage, business interests, and politics. Henry played key roles in negotiating Indian treaties, establishing state government, and leading the political and economic development of the new territory and state.

This digital collection includes all the Baird correspondence (3,865 pages in 17 folders) and selected business, family, and personal papers (about 400 pages selected from 10 folders).

Documents may be written in French or English