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Collection Overview
Title: Ray Palmer Baker papers, 1919-1981
Primary Creator: Baker, Ray Palmer (1883-1979)
Extent: 1.0 Linear Feet
Arrangement: Arranged in two Series: Series I, Professional Papers and Series II, Personal Papers.
Languages: English
Collection processed by: Jenifer J. Kuba
Abstract
The collection contains some correspondence, extensive newspaper clippings, bound volumes and journal articles and speeches.
Scope and Contents of the Materials
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 19th and early 20th 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.
Biographical Note
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.
Administrative Information
Repository:
Institute Archives and Special Collections
Preferred Citation:
Ray Palmer Baker papers, MC 19. Institute Archives and Special Collections, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY.
Processing Information:
Collection was re-processed and finding aid was updated July, 2011 by Jenifer Kuba. Series and Subseries were added.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series I: Professional Papers],
[Series II: Personal Papers],
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All]
- Series II: Personal Papers
- Box 1
- Folder 13: Almanacks and newspaper, 1796, 1819-1833
- Folder 14: Biographical information, 1924-1979
- Folder 15: Miscellaneous correspondence, 1925-1980
- Folder 16: Newspaper Clippings, 1928-1978
- Folder 17: Scrapbook, 1924
Browse by Series:
[
Series I: Professional Papers],
[Series II: Personal Papers],
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