Elizabeth Margherita Bratt, born in North Platte, Nebraska, was the daughter of Nebraska pioneers Elizabeth Burke Bratt and John Bratt. Elizabeth graduated from high school in North Platte (1893), Peru Normal School (1895) and the Omaha Commercial and Business College (1896). In September 1896, she returned to Peru Normal School, where she served for two years as stenographer, teacher, and librarian. In 1898, she was official court reporter for H. M. Grimes, Judge of the 13th Judicial District Court at North Platte. One summer she taught at private school in her home in North Platte. She moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota, in 1899, where she was employed at the University of North Dakota. The Dakota Student (November 1899, p. 6) noted that “[t]he duties of the librarian and registrar have come to take so much time and attention, that it was thought best not to have them devolve upon certain of the professors but to have someone especially to fill these positions. Miss Elizabeth M. Bratt is now successfully filling these positions and is teaching Commercial law also.”

Bratt moved back to Nebraska in 1901, where she married William Arthur Baldwin on August 14, 1901, in North Platte. The Baldwins resided in Omaha, Nebraska, where William worked for the Glens Falls Insurance Company from 1899 until retiring in 1937. Elizabeth was active in numerous Omaha organizations: Omaha Women’s Club; Nebraska Federation of Women’s Clubs; Douglas County Chapter of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union; American Association of University Women; Trinity Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star; Hanscom Park Improvement Club; Inter-Club Council; Omaha Mothers of Alpha Phi; League of Women Voters; Douglas County Republicans Club. During World War I she taught Americanization classes to foreigners desiring to become naturalized citizens. She also taught courses on parliamentary law and international relations and in 1937 served on the Nebraska Committee on the Cause and Cure of War. Elizabeth outlived William and died on December 7, 1954, after a short illness.