The A. Craig Baird Debate Forum at the University of Iowa celebrates the centennial anniversary of Professor Baird’s arrival in Iowa in 1925. Baird was pivotal figure to formative years of the Iowa debate program and helped shape the development of the National Debate Tournament (NDT). As a pioneering figure in communication studies, Dr. Baird helped elevate rhetorical studies as an academic discipline through his prolific written word.  This anniversary honors Dr. Baird's 45 years of dedication and Dr. Baird's lasting impact on generations of students and the fields of communication and rhetoric. This page features photos, texts and archival documents of Dr.Baird through out his time at Iowa that are posted every week by the forums graduate assistant. 

A photo black and white portrait photo of an older white man with a white boarder on a black background. In the top right corroner in white text on a black background reads ""Whatever our professional bent, we belong among the citizens. We are all laymen in a political world that seems forever topsy-turvy. But our personal stake in it is great,"
A newpaper cliping on a black background with white text on the bottom quarter of the image reading "Los Angeles Times Syndicate columnist and Iowa alum Nick Thimmesch (BA journalism '50) lauded "first-rate professor" Dr. Baird's teaching and style of debate at Iowa."
A newpaper clipping vertical on a square image on a black background. Next to it in white text is "Evelyn Stokeberry (BA'30) reminices about being Dr.Baird's private secretary from 1927 to 1930 in the Des Moines Register."
On a black background with a yellow boarder there is a newspaper clipping on the top half of the image and bellow in white text is "Los Angeles Times Syndicate columnist and Iowa alum Nick Thimme lauded "first-rate professor" Dr.Baird's teaching and style of debate at Iowa"