Request Material





Edgeworth Bird family papers

Edgeworth Bird family papers

Descriptive Summary

Title: Edgeworth Bird family papers
Creator: Smith, Victor Edgeworth
Creator: Baxter, Mary, active 1839-1851
Creator: Smith, Saida Bird
Creator: Bird, Wilson Edgeworth
Creator: Bird, Sallie, 1828-1910
Creator: Bird, Edgeworth, 1825-1867
Creator: Baxter, Thomas W.
Inclusive Dates: 1806-1949, bulk 1861-1902
Bulk Dates: 1861-1902
Language(s): English
Extent: 2 Linear Feet (5 document boxes)
Collection Number: ms1987
Repository: Hargrett Library

Collection Description

Historical Note

Edgeworth Bird (1825-1867), planter of Hancock County (Ga.) and soldier in the 3rd Georgia Infantry Regiment, married Sallie C. Baxter (1828-1910). Their children included Wilson Edgeworth, and Saida B. who married Victor Smith and had a son, Victor Edgeworth Smith.

A selection of the Civil War correspondence was published in The Granite farm letters : the Civil War correspondence of Edgeworth & Sallie Bird published by the University of Georgia Press in 1988.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of papers of Edgeworth Bird and the Bird family from 1806, 1835-1949. The papers include correspondence, clippings, photographs (ca. 1848-1900) of the Bird family, a commonplace book (1843-1848) of Sallie C. Baxter containing extracts from her readings, an autograph book, an 1806 diary (author unknown) describing activities in Hancock and surrounding counties in Georgia, and genealogies of the Baxter, Bird, and allied families. Early correspondence (1839-1851) is between members of the Baxter family including letters between Thomas W. and Mary Baxter discussing his health, taxes, and land values; and letters from Leroy M. Wiley to Thomas detailing Wiley's trip to England in 1839.

The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence between Bird and Smith family members including Edgeworth Bird, Sallie Bird, Saida Bird (Smith), Wilson Edgeworth Bird, and Victor Edgeworth Smith. Of particular interest are letters (1856) from Edgeworth to Sallie describing his visit to New York City, Fire Island (N.Y.), and U.S. politics and letters written between family members during the Civil War. The Civil War letters from Edgeworth discuss the battles of Gettysburg (Pa.), Richmond (Va.), 2nd Bull Run (Va.), Chickamauga, the Atlanta Campaign, and Sherman's March through Georgia. The letters also detail the management of Granite Farm (Hancock County, Ga.), slavery, and Saida's studies.

Organization and Arrangement

Arranged by record type.


Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Edgeworth Bird family papers. MS 1987. Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding aid prepared on: 2009 December 30.

General Notes

Cataloged as part of the Georgia Archives and Manuscripts Automated Access Project: A Special Collections Gateway Program of the University Center in Georgia.


Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Atlanta Campaign, 1864.
Baxter family
Bird family
Bull Run, 2nd Battle of, Va., 1862.
Byrd family -- Photographs
Chickamauga, Battle of, Ga., 1863.
Confederate States of America. Army. Georgia Infantry Regiment, 3rd
Diaries.
England -- Description and travel.
Farm management -- Georgia.
Fire Island (N.Y.) -- Description and travel.
Genealogy.
Georgia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns.
Gettysburg, Battle of, Gettysburg, Pa., 1863.
Granite Farm (Hancock County, Ga.)
Hancock County (Ga.)
New York (N.Y.)
Pennsylvania -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
Sherman's March to the Sea.
Slavery -- Georgia -- History.
Soldiers -- Georgia.
Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns.
Wiley, Leroy M.

Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

Correspondence, 1835-1949 undated

boxfolder
111835
121838
131839
141844
151847
161849
171852
181856
191857
1101861
1111862
1121863
1131864
1141865
1151866
boxfolder
211867
221868
231869
241870
251871
261873
271874
281875
291876
2101877
2111881
2121882
2131888
2141889
boxfolder
311890
321891
331894
341895
351896
361897
371898
381899
391900
3101901
3111902
3121904
3131905
3141906
3151909
3161911
3171913
3181914
3191928
3201949
321undated
322Fragments, undated
 

Genealogy



Genealogy Files

boxfolder
41Baxter, Sallie C.J.; commonplace book
42Bird, Sallie C.; autograph book
43Clippings
44Diary, 1806
45Envelopes
46Genealogy: Barnett
47Genealogy: Baxter
48Genealogy: Bird
49Genealogy: Casey
410Genealogy: Dalton
411Genealogy: Edgeworth
boxfolder
51Genealogy: Huling
52Genealogy: miscellaneous
53Genealogy: Robeson
54Genealogy: White-Lyons
55Indenture, 1819
56Miscellaneous



Photographs

boxfolder
57A-CPhotos: Bird, William Edgeworth Family (4 Folders)
57 O & EPhotos: Gresham Family (2 Folders)
58Photo: Smith, General
59Photo: Smith, Sadie Bird
510Photo: Smith, Victor



Miscellaneous Writings

boxfolder
511Trip, 1804
512Writings
513Writings: Bird, William Edgeworth