ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202
COLLECTION: OGL #159
DATES: 1899-1939 (bulk 1899-1902)
SIZE: Two folders
ACQUISITION: The Elizabeth Bratt Baldwin Papers were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection in 1960 by Mrs. Grace Baldwin Pedley.
ACCESS: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.
Elizabeth Margherita Bratt, born in North Platte, Nebraska, was the daughter of Nebraska pioneers Elizabeth Burke Bratt and John Bratt. Elizabeth graduated from high school in North Platte (1893), Peru Normal School (1895) and the Omaha Commercial and Business College (1896). In September 1896, she returned to Peru Normal School, where she served for two years as stenographer, teacher, and librarian. In 1898, she was official court reporter for H. M. Grimes, Judge of the 13th Judicial District Court at North Platte. One summer she taught at private school in her home in North Platte. She moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota in 1899, where she was employed at the University of North Dakota. The Dakota Student (November 1899, p. 6) noted that “[t]he duties of the librarian and registrar have come to take so much time and attention, that it was thought best not to have them devolve upon certain of the professors but to have some one especially to fill these positions. Miss Elizabeth M. Bratt is now successfully filling these positions and is teaching Commercial law also.”
Elizabeth moved back to Nebraska in 1901, where she married William Arthur Baldwin on August 14, 1901 in North Platte. The Baldwins resided in Omaha, Nebraska, where William worked for the Glens Falls Insurance Company from 1899 until retiring in 1937. Elizabeth was active in numerous Omaha organizations: Omaha Women’s Club; Nebraska Federation of Women’s Clubs; Douglas County Chapter of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union; American Association of University Women; Trinity Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star; Hanscom Park Improvement Club; Inter-Club Council; Omaha Mothers of Alpha Phi; League of Women Voters; Douglas County Republicans Club. During World War I she taught Americanization classes to foreigners desiring to become naturalized citizens. She also taught courses on parliamentary law and international relations and in 1937 served on the Nebraska Committee on the Cause and Cure of War. Elizabeth outlived William and died on December 7, 1954 after a short illness.
The Elizabeth Bratt Baldwin Papers consist of correspondence (1899-1939), reports (1899-1900), invitations (1899,1901) and undated notes, a speech and a biographical sketch. Two reports concerning the University of North Dakota library contain holdings, circulation, and acquisitions statistics for the 1899-1900 and 1900-1901 fiscal years. Two printed invitations from UND concern a reception for the opening of a new dormitory and armory on December 9, 1899, and commencement exercises, June 8-13, 1901. The speech describes the UND library and Elizabeth's tenure as the UND librarian. Thirteen photographs have been separated and placed in the Orin G. Libby Photographic Collection.
Folder 1. Biographical Sketch
2. Miscellaneous UND items, 1899-1901
OGL#159-1:Mary Brennan Clapp and family, 1920
OGL#159-2:Ethel Squires, no date
OGL#159-3:Mary Brennan, no date
OGL#159-4:unidentified
OGL#159-5:Mary Brennan Clapp, 1908
OGL#159-6:Christmas photo from Mary Brennan Clapp family, no date
OGL#159-7:Danny and Michael Clapp, no date
OGL#159-8:Elizabeth Wilcox, no date
OGL#159-9:Christmas photo from Mary Brennan Clapp family, no date
OGL#159-10:Agnes, no date
OGL#159-11:Elizabeth Bratt Browning and Mrs. Long, May 1900
OGL#159-12:Ethel Wilcox Bonser, 1900
OGL#159-13:unidentified
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