Brief Description:

The Ray Palmer Baker papers (MC 19) are from the period 1919 to 1980 following his 1915 arrival on the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute faculty. The majority of the collection documents Baker’s interest in and literary contributions to improving education and his particular concern with the value of writing skills for engineers. The collection contains some correspondence, extensive newspaper clippings, bound volumes and journal articles.

The correspondence is primarily concerned with the publication of Baker’s books and articles. Most of the correspondence is with notable engineers of the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries such as Charles Steinmetz and Isham Randolph. The newspaper clippings span from 1922-1980 and are primarily about Ray Palmer Baker with the majority of the accumulated clippings included in a scrapbook.

Created by: Baker, Ray Palmer (1883-1979)

Volume: 1.0 Linear Feet

Arrangement: Arranged in two Series: Series I, Professional Papers and Series II, Personal Papers.

Biographical Note for Baker, Ray Palmer (1883-1979) : Ray Palmer Baker’s career falls into three categories: education, public service and scholarship. Baker arrived at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1915 as Professor of English. An active member of the Faculty for 39 years, Palmer was head of the Department of Arts, Science and Business Administration, Assistant Director, then Dean of Students and in 1949 was elected Vice-President of R.P.I. Baker introduced the humanities and social studies to R.P.I. while also establishing the natural sciences-physics, chemistry, and biology as independent disciplines and organized curricula in economics and other related subjects. Throughout Baker’s tenure as Faculty member he maintained an interest in research and scholarship. As author of numerous books and articles Baker contributed to the Dictionary of American Biography as well as several encyclopedias.

Languages of Materials

PreferredCitation: Ray Palmer Baker papers, MC 19. Institute Archives and Special Collections, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY.