Nina Baird Collection

Papers and photographs relating to Nina Baird's work with the Red Cross, at Cairo Citadel, and among the Bedouin at Amira consisting of a letter of sympathy from General Allenby to Sir Alexander Baird 11 Aug 1919; an obituary of Nina Baird by Miss H. Ridler dealing with Nina Baird's work with the Red Cross at Cairo Citadel and among the Bedouin at Amira, 1915-1919. 22 photographs, mainly consisting of photographs of carpets, as well as some photographs of Nina Baird.

Nina Isabel Baird (d.1919)

Nina Isabel Baird was the daughter of Sir Alexander Baird 1st Bt. (1849-1920) and his wife Annette Palk (d. 1884). Sir Alexander was sent to Upper Egypt to help with famine relief in the provinces of Girgeh, Kenneh and Esneh. Nina Baird studied art at the Royal Academy and worked with the Red Cross in Egypt. Nina Baird joined her father in Egypt in Sept 1915 where she organised the Red Cross Empire Nurses' Club in Cairo. Nina Baird then carried out war work in testing of bombs manufactured in Cairo. After the Frontier District Administrator had gathered starving Bedouin women from the Senussi Campaign at Amira these women were provided with wool to spin and make carpets. Nina Baird took over the organising of this industry amongst Bedouin women; developing a shop and a school. In Apr 1919 Nina Baird worked as a Political Officer for two months investigating the causes of unrest in Egypt. She died of typhoid fever on 10 Aug 1919.

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For further information on how to use the Middle East Centre Archive, please see our Archon entry at http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/a/A13531965

Received from L.A. Perowne in 1985

Nina Baird Collection Catalogue (pdf file)

Fonds level description created by Clare Brown 10 Jun 1998 and revised by Debbie Usher 8 Jul 2011. Biographical information based on information from Nina Baird's obituary.

No restrictions on copying or quotation other than statutory regulations and preservation concerns

In Middle East Centre Archive

For other collections relating to the carpet trade see also:

• GB165-0108 Walter Leonard Flinn Collection
• GB165-0488 Oriental Carpet Manufacturers Ltd