Guide to the Papers of the Reed Family, 1824-1931
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Papers of the Reed Family
- Creator
- Reed Family
- Collection Number
- MSS#135
- Extent
- .25 cubic feet (1 box)
- Date
- 1824-1931
- Abstract
- Robert Rentoul Reed (1807-1864) was a physician and politician who lived in Washington (Washington County), Pennsylvania. Reed was born on March 12, 1807 in Washington to Alexander Reed and Janette McFarquhar, early settlers of Washington County. The papers consist of incoming correspondence, a family Bible record, deeds, leases, and land agreements.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Sponsor
- This finding aid has been encoded as a part of the Historic Pittsburgh project a joint effort of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Funding for this portion of the project has been donated by the Hillman Foundation.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
Biographical Sketch of the Reed Family
Robert Rentoul Reed (1807-1864) was a physician and politician who lived in Washington (Washington County), Pennsylvania. Reed was born on March 12, 1807 in Washington to Alexander Reed and Janette McFarquhar, early settlers of Washington County. After graduating from Washington College in 1824, Reed studied medicine with Dr. Francis LeMoyne and graduated in 1829 from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School in Philadelphia. While his training was in medicine, Reed also sought a political career and held elected offices at the state and national level. As a member of the Whig party, Reed represented Washington and Beaver Counties in the 31st United States Congress (1849-1851). Later, he served in the Pennsylvania legislature from 1863 until 1864. Reed served as vice-president and agent for the Pennsylvania Colonization Society, a prominent anti-slavery organization, and as an elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Washington (Pa.). Robert R. Reed married Ellen Baird (also known as Ellinor, 1810-1892) on February 2, 1830. Born November 1, 1810 at Washington, Pennsylvania, Ellen Baird was the daughter of Thomas Harlan Baird and Nancy McCullough. The Reeds had twelve children: Ann Eliza, Alexander, Thomas, Janet, George, Eleanor, Isabel, Robert, Colin, William, Joseph, and Charles. George Washington Reed (1839-1916), their third son, was married to Matilda Bowman McKennan. Their youngest child, Robert Rentoul Reed (1862-1930) was married first to Mary Louise Davidson, and then following her death, to Grace Taylor. Robert R. Reed died December 24, 1864 at Washington, Pennsylvania, where Ellen Baird Reed died on June 25, 1892.
Robert Reed had a close relationship with his father-in-law, Thomas H. Baird (1787-1866). Born in Washington, Baird was trained as a lawyer and was admitted to the bar in July 1808. In 1818, he was selected president judge of Washington, Fayette, Greene, and Somerset counties, a position he held until 1838. Baird was a Mason and a member of the Whig party. He was also involved in various commercial enterprises, including the Washington Steam-Mill and Manufacturing Company, the Chartiers Valley Railroad, the Monongahela Navigation Company, and the Bank of Washington. Thomas H. Baird died on November 22, 1866 at Allegheny, Pennsylvania.
Scope and Content Notes
The papers consist of incoming correspondence, a family Bible record, deeds, leases, and land agreements. The correspondence consists primarily of letters sent by Thomas H. Baird to his daughter, Ellen (Ellinor) Baird Reed, and her husband, Robert Rentoul Reed. The correspondence is chiefly concerned with family and domestic matters, but documents strongly middle class and political life during the second quarter of the 19th Century in Washington County. The letters written to Robert Rentoul Reed offer discussions of court cases and Baird's business affairs. Baird comments upon the activities of Henry Clay, Zachary Taylor, and the Whig Party. These letters also document Baird's views on religion and medicine as well as his abolitionist view of slavery and his steadfast allegiance to the Masons. Included is one letter written by Baird to Robert Reed (April 29, 1843) describing the criticism he received for giving a light sentence to a fellow Mason convicted of bigamy.
In contrast, the letters written to Ellen Baird Reed are not as concerned with business and public affairs, although these topics are addressed from time to time. Instead, Baird spends a great deal of time expressing his concern for the welfare of the women and children in his family. This concern demonstrates certain expectations of middle-class women in regards to their education and employment. Of interest are letters written during the period leading up to and including the early years of the Civil War. In an 1850 letter, Baird mentions an "omnibus bill" (presumably the Compromise of 1850) as a possible solution to the conflict over slavery. Letters written in 1861 reflect the war's impact on family and community. There is also an 1845 letter from Ellen Baird Reed's sister, Eliza Baird, which gives a first-hand description of the great fire at Pittsburgh. There are also a few letters to Ellen Baird Reed from her mother, Nancy Baird, and her sisters, Catharine Mary and Harriet.
The miscellaneous correspondence includes single letters from Baird to the Reed children, Alexander and Ann Eliza, as well as a letter to Mary Baird, sister of Ellen Reed. The 1853 letter to Alexander Reed contains references to a railroad workers' riot, the Pittsburgh & Connellsville railroad survey, and the Maine law (Temperance Movement). There is one 1917 letter written by Robert Rentoul Reed to John F. Rovensky of the National Bank of Commerce in New York, regarding the restoration of a log cabin. The original title to this property is not in the collection.
Other material found in these papers primarily documents the Reed's real estate and business concerns. The deeds, leases, and land agreements primarily concern property owned in Allegheny and Washington Counties by Robert R. Reed and his wife, Mary Davidson Reed. There are three documents concerning property owned by Neville C. Davidson, brother of Mary Davidson Reed. An oil lease (1894) and a grant (1908) allowing for the installation of pipeline and telegraph/phone line indicate advances in the petroleum and communications industries.
Arrangement
The Reed Family papers are housed in one archival box and are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These materials were received in one accession in 1974.
Acc# 1974.36 Gift of F. duPont Cornelius, (Papers).
Preferred Citation
Papers of the Reed Family, 1824-1931, MSS# 135, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Donald L. Haggerty in 1988. Papers rearranged and inventory rewritten by Jocelyn L. Liang in July 26, 1994.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Doug MacGregor on July 5, 2001.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or publish, please contact the curator of the Archives.
Subjects
- Reed Family
- Baird, Thomas Harlan (1787-1866)
- Clay, Henry (1777-1852)
- Reed, Robert R. (1807-1864)
- Reed, Ellen Baird (1810-1892)
- Taylor, Zachary (1784-1850)
- Robinson Township (Pa.) -- Commerce
- Washington (Pa.) -- Politics and Government
- Washington (Pa.) -- Religion
- Washington (Pa.) -- Social Life and Customs
- Abolitionists -- Pennsylvania -- Washington
- Bigamy -- Pennsylvania -- Washington
- Compromise of 1850
- Elections -- United States
- Fires -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh -- 1845
- Freemasonry -- Pennsylvania -- Washington
- Judges -- Pennsylvania
- Log Cabins -- Pennsylvania
- Medicine -- Pennsylvania -- Washington
- Petroleum Industry and Trade -- Pennsylvania -- Allegheny County
- Political Parties -- United States
- Railroads -- Pennsylvania -- Washington
- Slavery -- United States
- Telegraph -- Pennsylvania -- Allegheny County
- Trials (Bigamy) -- Pennsylvania -- Washington
- Whig Party
- Women -- Pennsylvania -- Washington