Request Material
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.