Title: Edward A. Birge Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1884-1954 (bulk 1905-1948)

Creator:

• Birge, E. A. (Edward Asahel), 1851-1950

Call Number: Wis Mss QB; PH 1282; WHi(B46)

Quantity: 4.8 c.f. (21 archives boxes and 3 card file boxes), 355 photographs (1 archives box), and 95 negatives

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Papers, mainly 1905-1948, of Edward A. Birge, professor of zoology, president of the University of Wisconsin, and a pioneer in the field of limnology.

Note:

There is a restriction on access to some of this material; see the Administrative/Restriction Information portion of this finding aid for details.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-wis000qb

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Edward A. Birge joined the University of Wisconsin faculty in 1875 and served as director of the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey and as dean of the College of Letters and Sciences, 1890-1918; as acting president of the university, 1900-1903; and as president, 1918-1925. The major portion of the collection consists of personal correspondence and reports written after 1905 and primarily relating to his lake studies and to his tenure as a national officer of Phi Beta Kappa honorary society. Letters dating from his years as president and acting president of the university are limited, but there are scattered items throughout concerning University administration and campus life. Some letters from President Charles Kendall Adams date from his medical leave of absence, 1901-1902. Over half the correspondence dates from Birge's retirement and concerns the establishment, with Chancey Juday, of the limnology research facility at Trout Lake. Other letters concern the Madison Free Library, the Madison Literary Club, and other civic affairs. During 1921 and 1922 Birge engaged in an extended journalistic debate with William Jennings Bryan about evolution and religion. Many letters from the public that Birge received in response to this controversy are included. Birge also exchanged letters with political figures, college administrators, and scientists throughout the nation. Among them were Robert M. La Follette Sr., John C. Spooner, and Charles R. Van Hise.

Also included in the collection are autobiographical reminiscences and biographical correspondence and notes about Birge compiled by historian George C. Sellery, 1950-1954; genealogical information; and draft and printed copies of speeches and speech outlines on cards. Detailed expenditure records document the financial support for research at Trout Lake by the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries and the University's special funds, 1918-1941.

The photographs are from an album mainly relating to limnology research at Trout Lake and elsewhere in Wisconsin, circa 1929-circa 1939. Included are images made by Birge and university photographer Melvin Diemer of field work, laboratory buildings, research equipment, camps, and colleagues such as Chancey Juday. Prints for all negatives in negative series WHi(B46) are available at call number PH 1282. Additional prints there have corresponding negatives in the Melvin Diemer collection.

Access Restrictions

Access to negatives requires permission of the Visual Materials Curator and three days notice. All negatives are printed.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Mr. Birge, 1936, 1938; by Anna G. Birge, Madison, Wisconsin, 1950 and January 1954; and by George C. Sellery, 1956. Includes former File 1900 February 15, which was previously cataloged separately.

Wis Mss QB	Biographical materials
Box   1 Folder   1	Biographical information
Box   1 Folder   2	Autobiographical notes
Box   1 Folder   3	Birge ancestry notes
	Sellery biographical research
Box   1 Folder   4-5	Notes
Box   11 Folder   3	Research correspondence, 1950-1954
Box   1 Folder   6	Birge Jubilee tributes, 1925
	Correspondence
	General correspondence
Box   1 Folder   7	Letterbook pages to H.W. Williams, 1884-1885
Box   1 Folder   8	Letters from President Charles Kendall Adams while on leave, 1901-1902
Box   2 Folder   1-4	1885-1906
Box   3 Folder   1-4	1907-1911
Box   4 Folder   1-4	1912-1918
Box   5 Folder   1-3	1919-1920
Box   6 Folder   1-4	1921-1926
Box   7 Folder   1-5	1927-1930 May
Box   8 Folder   1-4	1930 June-1933
Box   9 Folder   1-4	1934-1937
Box   10 Folder   1-4	1938-1941
Box   11 Folder   1	1942-1943
Box   11 Folder   2	1944-1948
	Phi Beta Kappa correspondence
Box   12 Folder   1-4	1907-1919 June
Box   13 Folder   1-3	1919 July-1921
Box   14 Folder   1-5	1922-1929
Box   15 Folder   1-2	1932-1943
Box   15 Folder   3-5	Bryan controversy correspondence and clippings, 1922
	Articles and addresses
	Draft and printed manuscripts
Box   16 Folder   1-12	1888-1907
Box   17 Folder   1-20	1908-1920 July
Box   18 Folder   1-3	1920 October-1925 June
Box   19 Folder   1-4	1927-1940 September
Box   20 Folder   1	1940-1944, undated
Box   21 Folder   1	“Study of Light Absorption by Lakes” / by Edward A. Birge and Harry R. James, 1934
	Notecards for speeches
Box   23	1910-1924
Box   24	1925-1943, undated
	Miscellany
Box   21 Folder   2	Van Hise memorial plans
Box   21 Folder   3	Notes on religion and science
Box   21 Folder   4	U.S. Bureau of Fisheries account expenditures, 1918-1940
Box   22	Birge Special Fund expenditures, 1927-1941
	Photographs
PH 1282	Prints
WHi(B46)	Negatives Note: Prints available for negatives.
Item   1	Cabin in woods
Item   2	Biology building
Item   3	Cabins in woods
Item   4	Cabins in woods on lakeshore
Item   5	Cabin in woods
Item   6	Dr. Birge entering Chemistry Building
Item   7	Cabins in woods
Item   8	Chemistry building
Item   9	Chancey Juday, with his children, demonstrating color determination technique
Item   10	Chancey Juday demonstrating color determination technique
Item   11	Chemistry building, 1930
Item   12-14	Interior of cabin laboratory?
Item   15	Professor E.A. Birge's laboratory at Trout Lake, Wisconsin, 1925
Item   16	View of woods
Item   17	Chancey Juday
Item   18	Dr. Birge and “the bus” on the Manitowish River
Item   19	Lake Constance
Item   20-21	Crystal Lake, ice ridge and lagoon, 1930
Item   22	Crystal Lake, east end
Item   23	Dr. Birge at the edge of the Crystal Lake lagoon, 1930 Note: The ice ridge transects the photo at mid-ground.
Item   24-26	Lake Mary, 1930
Item   27	Lake
Item   28	Shoreline of lake
Item   29	North Trout Lake
Item   30	Arbor Vitae (lake)
Item   31	Trostel (lake), 1930
Item   32	Forestry bog
Item   33-34	Chancey Juday and Wright on the forestry bog
Item   35-36	Forestry bog
Item   37	Fallen tree cut by beaver
Item   38	Dr. Birge at beaver house at west end of Crystal Lake
Item   39	Killarny Point
Item   40	On road near Big Lake, 1930 August
Item   41	Dr. Birge on road near Big Lake, 1930 August
Item   42	Wreck of “Henry,” 1930 August
Item   43	On road near Big Lake, 1930 August
Item   44-50	Wreck of “Henry,” 1930 August
Item   51-52	Trout Lake, Wisconsin, 1925 Note: Showing evidence of “ice push,” or the piling up of lake shore sand as a result of the expansion of the lake ice cover during the winter.
Item   53	Green Lake, Wisconsin, 1912 Note: Weather data recording station.
Item   54-55	Green Lake, Wisconsin, 1912
Item   56	Green Lake, Wisconsin Note: Weather data recording station.
Item   57	Green Lake, Wisconsin, 1912 Note: Weather data recording station, showing anemometer installation.
Item   58-59	Green Lake, Wisconsin?, probably 1912
Item   60	Green Lake, Wisconsin, 1912 Note: Weather data recording station, showing anemometer installation.
Item   61	Green Lake, Wisconsin, 1912 Note: Dr. Birge making an observation from the anemometer stand of the weather data recording station.
Item   62-63	Green Lake, Wisconsin?, probably 1912
Item   64	Green Lake, Wisconsin, 1912 Note: Barograph? installation at weather station.
Item   65	Trout Lake (vicinity), Wisconsin, probably 1937 Note: “Very accidental” intersection. Photo by P.L. Carpenter?
Item   66	Trout Lake (vicinity), Wisconsin, probably 1937 Note: Roadside photo by P.L. Carpenter?
Item   67	Close-up of foliage in woods
Item   68	Trout Lake, Wisconsin, circa 1939
Item   69-70	Trout Lake, Wisconsin?, 1935 Note: Bacteriology laboratory.
Item   71-72	Dr. Birge, probably at Trout Lake, Wisconsin, circa 1930
Item   73	Hugo Baum and “the bus”?
Item   74	Boathouse at Green Lake, Wisconsin, 1935
Item   75	Chancey Juday
Item   76	Dr. Birge
Item   77	Professor E.A. Birge, probably at Green Lake, Wisconsin?, 1935
Item   78-79	Dr. Birge at the boathouse on Green Lake, Wisconsin, 1935
Item   80	Professor E.A. Birge's laboratory at Trout Lake, Wisconsin, 1925
Item   81	Wright (left) and Taylor
Item   82	And garage
Item   83-84	Wright
Item   85	Chancey Juday standing at the garage and laboratory door
Item   86	Wright, Taylor, Birge (left to right)
Item   87	Taylor, Juday, Wright (left to right)
Item   88	Members of Professor E.A. Birge's party?, probably at Trout Lake, Wisconsin, 1931
Item   89	Dr. Birge, with “the bus” and equipment, probably at Trout Lake, Wisconsin, 1931
Item   90	Lake surrounded by pine trees; man in small boat
Item   91	Lake surrounded by pine trees
Item   92	Man with fishing pole standing on lake shore (out of focus)
Item   93	Trout Lake, Wisconsin, 1935 Note: G.P. Cooper negative received from Mrs. Juday through Dean Sellery, 1956?
Item   94	Professor E.A. Birge and “the bus,” probably in the vicinity of Trout Lake, Wisconsin, circa 1930
Item   95	Trout Lake, Wisconsin, 1935 Note: Hugo Baum? left, and possibly the G.P. Coopers of the Institute for Fisheries Research, University Museums, Ann Arbor, Michigan.