Portrait of Spencer Fullerton Baird
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ID: 46853 or MAH-46853
Creator: Bell, William
Form/Genre: Photographic print
Date: January 10, 1867
Citation: Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 2, Folder: 6
Portrait of Spencer Fullerton Baird (1823-1887), second Secretary (1878-1887) of the Smithsonian Institution. Baird, an ornithologist, arrived in Washington in 1850 to become Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, a post he held for 28 years. Upon the death of Joseph Henry, the first Secretary of the Smithsonian (1847-1878), he became Secretary. This image shows Baird from above the waist, turned slightly looking off to his right. The vigorous Pennsylvanian was to launch and assist dozens of expeditions to the American West. In addition to advice, training and instructions for making scientific observations and collections in the various disciplines of natural history, the Smithsonian provided the explorers with all manner of supplies, such as shipping containers, alcohol, arsenic (a preservative), and scientific instruments.
Baird, Spencer Fullerton 1823-1887
Historic Images of the Smithsonian
Similar images, taken by Bell on the same day, are SA-61, 2004-60939 and 46853/oval.
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 2, Folder: 6
Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu
January 10, 1867
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46853 or MAH-46853
Color: Black and white; Size: 8w x 10h; Type of Image: Portrait; Medium: Photographic print