Entries drawn from collection & document descriptions
Spencer Fullerton Baird (1823-1887) was a Dickinson College graduate (class of 1840) and a professor of natural history and science at the college from 1845 until 1850, when he became assistant secretary of the Smithsonian Institute (1850-1878). He was later promoted to secretary of that...
Location: MC 2000.11
Subject: Science and Technology, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
Collection Inventory: 
mc2000.11.pdf
The papers of the Board of Trustees of Dickinson College, 1833-1879, include correspondence, reports, financial statements, printed materials, and legal documents, and have been arranged into thirteen series.
...
Location: RG 1/2
Subject: Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College Student Life, Economics and Finance, Education, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Certificates and Diplomas, Engravings and Illustrations, Financial Documents, Legal and Government Documents, Letters/Correspondence, Meeting Minutes, Reports
Time Period: 1820-1839, 1840-1859, 1860-1879, 1880-1899, 1900-1919
Collection Inventory: RG 1-002.pdf
The records contained in the President Jesse Truesdell Peck record group pertain only to his time and affairs as president of Dickinson College. As such, no personal papers or papers pertaining to Peck’s tenure as a faculty member are included in this record group. For records concerning Peck’s...
Location: RG 2/4
Subject: Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Administration, Education, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Collection Inventory: RG 2/4 - Jesse Truesdell Peck
"Synopsis of the Birds of Pennsylvania" compiled by Spencer F. Baird from John James Audubon, Alexander Wilson, and Nuttal in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Includes sections on land and water birds.
Spencer Fullerton Baird compiles a "List of the Birds of the United States (from Aububon), prefixed to which is a List of the Birds found near Carlisle, Pennsylvania" The document contains the type of bird, time when first shot, and "when known."
Location: I-Original-1840-2
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Science and Technology
Format: Reports
Time Period: 1840-1859
Spencer F. Baird, a Professor of Natural Sciences at Dickinson, publishes "Contributions Towards a Catalogue of the Trees and Shrubs of Cumberland County, PA" in the Literary Record and Journal of the Linnaean Association of Pennsylvania College (Vol. 1, No. 4) in February 1845.
Location: I-Original-1845-1
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Science and Technology
Format: Essays and Dissertations
Time Period: 1840-1859
Spencer F. Baird, a Professor of Natural Sciences at Dickinson, publishes "Catalogue of Birds Found in the Neighborhood of Carlisle, Cumberland County, PA" in the Literary Record and Journal of the Linnaean Association of Pennsylvania College (Vol. 1, No. 12) in October 1845. 1845.
Location: I-Original-1845-1
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Science and Technology
Format: Essays and Dissertations
Time Period: 1840-1859
Spencer F. Baird (Class of 1840), the Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, publishes "General Directions for Collection and Preserving Objects of Natural History" in 1848. Baird, who is responsible for the Natural History Department, also includes an overview ("Special Desiderata...
Location: I-Friends-1975-18
Subject: Science and Technology
Format: Letters/Correspondence, Reports
Time Period: 1840-1859
Smithsonian Institution Secretary Joseph Henry writes to George P. Marsh, requesting favors before Marsh travels to the Ottoman Empire. One wish is that Marsh will write a letter "in favor of our friend Prof. [Spencer Fullerton] Baird [Class of 1840] as a suitable person should one be required...
Location: I-AsbellY-2005-3
Subject: Education, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Spencer F. Baird ('40) writes to Dickinson College Professor James W. Marshall ('48) regarding books (Congressional volumes)that were sent to the Dickinson College library by mistake. As "The State Department is very anxious to have back," Baird asks Marshall to send them to the Smithsonian in...
Location: I-Original-1852-5
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Education, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Spencer Fullerton Baird writes to A. Haen & Company about the redrawing of some plates. Dr. John Newberry has left, and Baird has no authority in the matter but will write to Newberry.
Location: I-BeachW-1983-2
Subject: Science and Technology
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Spencer Fullerton Baird (Class of 1840) writes to Osmond Tiffany, responding to the latter's request for documents about the Pacific Rail Road and the Mexican Boundary.
Location: I-Friends-1982-7
Subject: Business and Industry, International Affairs, Science and Technology
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Naturalist Spencer Fullerton Baird (Class of 1843) writes to Professor Josiah Dwight Whitney, sending his regrets that he will not able to attend a meeting in Northampton the following week "on account of severe strain experienced a few days ago."
Location: I-Friends-1986-4
Subject: Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution Spencer F. Baird writes to George Lawrence regarding an order for 4 dog blankets. Baird provides specific instructions, such as including "a G... in the middle of each" blanket.
Location: I-SpahrB-1966-15
Subject: Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
Spencer Fullerton Baird writes to an unspecified H. Foster about stamp collecting.
Location: I-BeachW-1977-3
Subject: Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
George Lawrence drafts six letters to Spencer Fullerton Baird, the Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, that include a list of avian specimens from Costa Rica and Panama to be sent to Baird, as well as other specimens requested by the author. Transcripts included.
Location: MC 2000.11, B1, F18
Subject: Science and Technology
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
Spencer Fullerton Baird, Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, writes two brief letters to George Lawrence in which he mentions sending out fish specimens as well as the possible arrival of a new collection from Costa Rica. Transcripts included.
Location: MC 2000.11, B1, F1
Subject: Science and Technology
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution Spencer Baird writes to George Lawrence regarding a description of a bird. As Lawrence's description "does not seem to differ much from [Thomas C.] Eyton," Baird recommends that Lawrence "send it to [Philip L.] Sclater for his opinion."
Location: I-SpahrB-1966-14
Subject: Science and Technology
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
Spencer Fullerton Baird, Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, writes six letters to George Lawrence on issues that include lists of specimens and other articles, inquiries on novel specimens, and travel updates. Transcripts included.
Location: MC 2000.11, B1, F2
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Science and Technology, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
George Lawrence writes Spencer Baird to confirm the receipt of a payment for guns and to discuss logistics for a future meeting. Transcript included.
Location: MC 2000.11, B1, F19
Subject: Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
Spencer Fullerton Baird, Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, writes three letters to George Lawrence regarding the exchange of collections (primarily those of bird specimens) as well as his travels around New England. Transcripts included.
Location: MC 2000.11, B1, F3
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Science and Technology, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
Spencer Fullerton Baird, Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, writes five letters to George Lawrence in which he discusses a collection of birds to be sent to the latter, Zeladon's studies in Central America and the West Indies, John Edward Gray's catalogue of species, and the...
Location: MC 2000.11, B1, F4
Subject: Science and Technology
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
Spencer Fullerton Baird, Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, writes four letters to George Lawrence in which he discusses the exchange of various specimens as well as funding for Sumichrast's explorations. Transcripts included.
Location: MC 2000.11, B1, F5
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Science and Technology
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution Spencer Fullerton Baird writes to George N. Lawrence regarding the Sumichrast Collection. "As the number of additional species is not so great as I was led to suppose," Baird warns Lawrence that he will likely be "disappointed in it." In...
Location: I-SpahrB-1966-13
Subject: Science and Technology
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
Spencer Fullerton Baird, Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, writes four letters to George Lawrence in which he discusses the exchange of various specimens, the sale of a collection of meteorites, and the arrangement of meetings. Transcripts included.
Location: MC 2000.11, B1, F6
Subject: Science and Technology
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
