Baird & Warner records

Baird & Warner records, 1851-1972, bulk 1950-1972

Descriptive Inventory for the Collection at the Chicago History Museum, Research Center.

Please address questions to:

Chicago History Museum, Research Center

1601 North Clark Street

Chicago, IL 60614-6038

http://www.chicagohistory.org/research

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Title: Baird & Warner records,1851-1972, bulk 1950-1972

Main entry: Baird & Warner (Chicago, Ill.)

Inclusive dates: 1851-1972, bulk 1950-1972

Size:

6 linear feet (8 boxes)

2 sound cassettes (0MM.192)

Access: Collection is open for research.

Provenance statement: Gift (M1979.0030).

Terms governing use: Copyright may be retained by the creators of items, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law, unless otherwise noted.

Please cite this collection as: Baird & Warner records (Chicago History Museum) plus a detailed description, date, and box/folder number of a specific item.

The descriptive inventory contains the following sections:

Summary description of the collection,

Description of some material related to the collection,

List of online catalog headings about the collection,

Arrangement of the collection,

Detailed description of archival series in the collection,

List of contents of the collection.

Summary description of the collection:

Title searches, correspondence, financial records, and reports pertaining to the management and operation of the Baird and Warner real estate firm of Chicago (Ill.) and various of its properties. Most of the properties were located in the Old Town, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Near North, Hyde Park, and South Shore neighborhoods, including apartment buildings managed by Baird & Warner or condominiums sold by the company. Includes a notebook from the Valuation Committee of the Chicago Traction and Subway Commission (1916), on which Wylls W. Baird served.

Description of some material related to this collection:

Photographs sent to P&P Collection.

Floor plans of various Chicago buildings sent to Architecture Collection.

Books and pamphlets sent to Library.

List of online catalog headings about the collection:

The following entries were placed in the online catalog.

Subjects:

Baird & Warner (Chicago, Ill.)--Archives.

Apartment houses--Illinois--Chicago.

Real estate business--Illinois--Chicago--19th century.

Real estate business--Illinois--Chicago--20th century.

Real estate development--Illinois--Chicago.

Chicago (Ill.)--Buildings, structures, etc.--19th century.

Chicago (Ill.)--Buildings, structures, etc.--20th century.

Chicago (Ill.)--Commerce.

Hyde Park (Chicago, Ill.)

Lakeview (Chicago, Ill.)

Lincoln Park (Chicago, Ill. : Community area)

Near North Side (Chicago, Ill.)

South Shore (Chicago, Ill.)

Form/genre:

Abstracts of title.

Audiocassettes.

Correspondence.

Financial records.

Reports.

Added entres:

United States--Illinois--Cook County--Chicago.

Arrangement of the collection:

Series 1. Examinations of title (box 1-2)

Series 2. Building records (box 2-4)

Series 3. Appraisals of lands and leasehold estates belonging to Peoples Gas, Light and Coke

Series 4. Floor plans of buildings owned and/or managed by Baird and Warner's Hyde Park Office

Series 5. Financial records of Baird and Warner Co.

Baird & Warner (new interfiled on April 9, 1980) (box 5a and 6a)

Detailed description of archival series in the collection:

Series 1. Examinations of title (box 1-2): Series 1 contains examinations of title issued by the Chicago Title and Trust Co. from 1831-1906 on properties connected with Baird and Warner, Inc.

Series 2. Building records (box 2-4): Series 2 consists of records, documents and miscellaneous materials regarding specific buildings and building projects which were either developed, owned or managed by Baird and Warner, Inc. These entries are organized alphabetically according to address, filed under street names first. Most files include a chronology of correspondence, financial records and miscellaneous materials related to the construction, acquisition or management of the particular property. The miscellany items include government forms, occupancy Reports, tenants lists, property briefs, building appraisals, invitations and instructions to bidders, plots of survey, advertisements and clippings. Some files are very sparse, containing only an appraisal, a few letters, or isolated records.

The correspondence in this series is generally of a routine business nature, including internal office memoranda and correspondence regarding business transactions, contracts, construction particulars, etc. The correspondence regarding 4200 Marine Drive (Box 2, Folder 8) includes a series of letters from October 1955 in which a debate occurs over landscaping vs. installation of a parking lot in this rental property. The correspondence on 444 N. Michigan Ave. (Box 3, folder 1) includes a July, 1967 letter to the Pullman Corporation in which John Baird urges Pullman to diversify and expand into the Real Estate field.

Other particularly interesting correspondence is included in the more extensive entry of 1406 N. Sedgwick St., Old Town Garden Apts. (Box 3, folders 4-10, Box 4, folders 1-2). This project was an attempt at interracial, low-income housing, financed under the National Housing Act.

The correspondence includes routine business letters and memos, correspondence to government agencies about federal funding and problems related to Community Renewal projects, and a series of letters from December 1968 in which John Baird describes and promotes the Old Town remodeling program to neighboring churches and community organizations (Box 3, folder 6). A variety of financial records pertaining to this project are included. (Box 3, folders 7-8). Legal documents such as certificates of title, installment notes, a chattel mortgage note and mortgage title guarantee policy are in Box 3, folder 9. Other legal documents include a legal agreement between Arthur Rubloff and Old Town Gardens Rehabilitation and Management Corporation, a memo from the attorneys of Baird and Warner regarding a lawsuit against the Town and Garden Operating Corporation over breach of a loan agreement, a court ruling in the case of Florence M. Barnes, et al. vs. Old Town Garden Inc., et al., and a management agreement between Town and Garden Operating Corporation and Baird and Warner (Box 3, Folder 10).

Miscellaneous material such as a project description, lists of tenants, rental applications and leases, clippings, etc. are in Box 4, Folder 1-2.

Series 3. Appraisals of lands and leasehold estates belonging to Peoples Gas, Light and Coke: Series 3 consists of appraisals of lands and leasehold estates belonging to People's Gas, Light and Coke Company, dated July 1, 1916 (Box 4, folder 3) and July 1, 1919 (Box 4, folder 4).

Series 4. Floor plans of buildings owned and/or managed by Baird and Warner's Hyde Park Office: Series 4 contains photographs of properties and floor plans and blueprints, ca. 75 items, 1933-1960.

Series 5. Financial records of Baird and Warner Co.: Series 5 contains 10 volumes of financial records. Volumes 1 and 2 are loan department account books which indicate comparative income/expense statements, brokers statements, mortgage and loan records. Vol. 1-1940-1945. Vol. 2-1946-1947, 1948, 1951-1957.

Volume 3 is an annual journal for the Baird and Warner firm, which includes entries in profits, losses, income, expenses, and surpluses on December 31, 1946-1965.

Volume 4 is an account book for 1926-1927. The book primarily consists of records for the main office with entries such as commissions, rents, sales, loans, payroll, office expenses, advertising, expense accounts, etc. The Michigan Erie office and Bannockburn Subdivision expenses are mentioned briefly.

Volume 5 is an account book for the 1920s-1930s. It generally deals with main office records (assets, liabilities, income/expense accounts, sales, interest records, legal and title services, operating expenses) but has an entry for the Skokie Ridge Building Association, a subsidiary of Baird and Warner. The Skokie Ridge Records include mortgage commission and cash payments.

Volume 6 is an account book for January 1, 1920-December 31, 1925. It includes an office directory dated March 24, 1922, payroll records and loan, insurance and rent records for the main office and five branch offices-Michigan Ave, Wilson Ave, Rogers Park, Evanston, and Michigan-Erie.

Volume 7 is an account book for January 26-December 31, 1932. It includes week by week expenses and salaries for the main office, and Hyde Park and Wilson Ave offices.

Volume 8 is a payroll account book for 1929-1936.

Volume 9 includes expense accounts and payrolls from January 1933-1936.

Volume 10 is an account book for January 1, 1938-December 31, 1938. It includes a payroll summary for the main office and branch offices including a Westtown office and Waukegan office. Also, sales records from Winnetka, Highland Park, and Oak Park locations are included.

Baird & Warner (new processed on April 9, 1980) (box 5a and 6a)

This collection also includes a notebook of miscellaneous material on the Valuation Committee of the Chicago Traction and Subway Commission (1916) on which Wylls W. Baird served with William A. Bond and Mark Levy. It includes tract summaries, records of conversations and transactions, remarks on sales and ground leases, valuation tables and correspondence.

List of contents of the collection:

Series 1. Examinations of title (box 1-2)

Box 1

Folders:

1 E. 1/4 of Lot 4 in block 17. Original Town of Chicago (1831-1872)

2 W. 6 2/3 ft. of Lot 3 in block 17 in Original Town of Chicago (1837-1872)

3 E. 1/4 of Lot 4 & W. 6 2/3 ft. of Lot 3 all in block 17 Original Town of Chicago (1872-1916)

4 Lot 2 in sub of Lots 2 & 3 in block 23 in the Kimbark's Addition to Hyde Park (1856-1906)

5 Lot 5 in block 3 in Resubdivision of blocks 4 & 5 in Gibbs, Ladd & George's Addition to Evanston (1868-1911)

6 Lot 8 in block 3 in resub. of blocks 4 and 5 in Gibbs, Ladd and George's Addition to Evanston (1868-1911)

7 Lot 6 in block 3 in resub of blocks 4 & 5 in Gibbs, Ladd & George's Addition to Evanston (1868-1913)

Box 2

Folders:

1 S. 38 acres W 1/2 of SE 1/4 of Sect. 11, T.38, N.R. 14, E. of 3rd Principal Meridian (1852) Lot 2 in the sub of L's 2 and 3 in block 23 in Kimbark's Addition to Hyde Park (1852-1906)

Series 2. Building records (box 2-4)

Box 2 (continued)

Folders:

2 15-31 E. Elm/14 E. Cedar

3 20 E. Jackson Blvd. correspondence, (Sept 1940- May 1955)

4 20 E. Jackson Blvd. financial records, Misc.

5 1150 N. Lake Shore Drive

6 1540 N. Lake Shore Drive

7 3430-40 N. Lake Shore Drive

8 4200 N. Marine Drive correspondence, (1954-1964)

9 4200 N. Marine Drive financial records

10 4200 N. Marine Drive miscellaneous

Box 3

Folders:

1 444 N. Michigan Ave

2 720 N. Michigan Ave/ Stevens Hotel

3 952 N. Michigan and Oak St.

4 1406 N. Sedgwick St./Old Town Garden Apts. correspondence, July 1960-Dec 1963

5 1406 N. Sedgwick St./Old Town Garden Apts. correspondence, March 1964-Nov 1967

6 1406 N. Sedgwick St./Old Town Garden Apts. correspondence, March 1968-Nov 1972

7 1406 N. Sedgwick St./Old Town Garden Apts. financial records

8 1406 N. Sedgwick St./Old Town Garden Apts. financial records

9 1406 N. Sedgwick St./Old Town Garden Apts. legal documents (certificates of title)

10 1406 N. Sedgwick St./Old Town Garden Apts. legal documents

Box 4

Folders:

1 1406 N. Sedgwick St./Old Town Garden Apts. Miscellaneous

2 1406 N. Sedgwick St./Old Town Garden Apts. Miscellaneous

3 3628-48 N. Sheridan Road

4 3638-50 N. Sheridan Road/Lockler Apts.

5 126-32 N. State St.

6 Stony Island Ave. (67th St.-69th St)

7 808-32 S. Wabash

8 205 W. Wacker Drive

(Misc. papers in box 4, Biographical)

Series 3. Appraisals of lands and leasehold estates belonging to Peoples Gas, Light and Coke Co. (box 4)

v.1 July 1, 1916

v.2 July 1, 1919

Series 4. Floor plans of buildings owned and/or managed by Baird and Warner's Hyde Park Office (box 5)

Photographs of properties

Floor plans and blueprints, ca. 75 items, 1933-1960.

Series 5. Financial records of Baird and Warner Co.

Volumes:

1 Income/expense statements, Loan Dept., 1940-1945

2 Income/expense statements, Loan Dept., 1946-1947, 1948, 1951-1957

3 Financial journal, 1946-1965

4 Financial records, 1926-1927

5 Financial records, 1920s-1930s

6 Financial records, 1920-1925

7 Financial records, 1926-1932

8 Financial records, 1929-1936

9 Financial records, Jan 1, 1933-Dec 31, 1936

10 Financial records, 1938

Baird & Warner (new interfiled on April 9, 1980)

The highlighted material is in Boxes 5A and 6A in storage.

relates to Box 2

folders:

1 Examinations of Title 1852-1906

2 510-34 W. Addison

3 5929 S. Archer

4 6107 Archer Ave

5 450-56 Belmont Ave

6 725-45 W. Buckingham

7 6241-47 1/2 Cottage Grove Ave

8 6850 Cottage Grove Ave

9 87th and Cottage Grove- Chatham Shopping City

10 3631-351/2 W. Dickens

11 15-31 E. Elm / 14 E. Cedar

12 1422-32 Farwell Ave

13 1619-29 Farwell Ave

14 20 E. Jackson Blvd. Correspondence (1940-1955)

15 20 E. Jackson Blvd. Financial Records and Misc.

16 20 E. Jackson Blvd. 1150 Lake Shore Drive

17 20 E. Jackson Blvd. 1540 Lake Shore Drive

18 20 E. Jackson Blvd. 1540 Lake Shore Drive

19 20 E. Jackson Blvd. 3430-40 Lake Shore Drive

relates to Box 3

folders:

1 4031-35 Madison Street Specialty Stores

2 4048 1/2-58 Madison Street Specialty Stores

3 4200 N. Marine Drive Correspondence (1954-1964)

4 4200 N. Marine Drive Financial Records

5 4200 N. Marine Drive Miscellaneous

6 4200 N. Marine Drive 444 N. Michigan Ave

7 4200 N. Marine Drive 720 N. Michigan-Stevens Hotel

8 4200 N. Marine Drive 952 N. Michigan/Oak Street

9 1406 N. Sedgwick-Old Town Garden Apts. Correspondence (July 1960-Dec 1963)

1406 N. Sedgwick-Old Town Garden Apts. Correspondence (Mar 1964-Nov 1967)

relates to Box 4

folders:

1 1406 N. Sedgwick - Old Town Garden Apts. Correspondence (March 1968-Nov 1972)

2-3 1406 N. Sedgwick - Old Town Garden Apts. Financial Records

4-5 1406 N. Sedgwick - Old Town Garden Apts. Legal Documents

6-7 1406 N. Sedgwick - Old Town Garden Apts. Miscellaneous

8 3628-48 Sheridan Road

9 3638-50 Sheridan Road

10 126-32 N. State Street

11 Sixty-First (61st) and Cottage Grove

relates to Box 5

folders:

1 Stony Island Ave. (67th-69th St.)

2 808-32 S. Wabash

3 205 W. Wacker Drive

4 Wells, Clark and Lincoln block/property

5 Misc. Property Appraisals

Central Business District Analysis-Building Assessments

Not in folders:

Appraisals of Lands and Leasehold Estates belonging to People's Gas, Light and Coke Co.

Vol. 1. July 1, 1916

Vol. 2. July 1, 1919

former Box 6

Bibliographical information including oral history, interview with Baird-June 8, 9, 1978

former Box 7

Miscellaneous Materials