RS 21-7-8 Raymond F. Baker

RS 21/7/8
Raymond F. Baker (1906-1999)
Papers, 1924-2004, n.d.

Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

Descriptive summary

creator:	Baker, Raymond F. (1906-1999)
title:	Papers
dates:	1924-2004, n.d.
extent:	11.34 linear feet (27 document boxes)
collection number:	RS 21/7/8
repository:	University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

Administrative information

access:	Open for research
publication rights:	Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation:	Baker, Raymond F. Papers, RS 21/7/8, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

Biographical note

Raymond F. Baker was born on February 21, 1906. He graduated from Iowa State College (University) with a B.S. (1935) in agronomy, but had started his career in 1926 after having met Pioneer Hi-Bred founder Henry A. Wallace at a corn day program at Iowa State. Fascinated by Wallace's work with corn hybrids, Baker temporarily left his studies at Iowa State and became Pioneer's second employee in 1928. He completed his Iowa State degree in 1935.

As Pioneer Hi-Bred's lead plant breeder for 43 years, Baker developed many of the company's first hybrid seed corns, including the first single-cross hybrid corn to be produced in volume. He is credited with establishing the scientific groundwork in the 1930s that helped Pioneer Hi-Bred become the world's largest seed corn company.

Baker served on the Pioneer board of directors from 1935 through 1985. He retired in 1971 as a corporate vice president and head of the corn research division, but continued to work in the company's plant breeding program.

In 1965, Baker was named a Fellow of both the American Society of Agronomy and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The American Society of Agronomy honored him as Outstanding Contributor to Science.

Baker was named National Chairman of the Iowa State University Achievement Fund in 1974, and was a lifetime member of the Iowa State University Memorial Union and a member of the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors. In 1991, Iowa State awarded Baker an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters -- the first honorary degree the university had awarded in more than 26 years.

Baker died in January 1999.

Collection Description

The collection contains biographical materials; typescripts of talks and papers; professional correspondence with individuals including Murray Brawner, William L. Brown, Don Finley, Mario Gutierrez, Walter Hawkins, Stan Jensen, William “Bill” Landgren, Fred Lehmann, J. Roy Quinby, Earl Thompson, Forest Troyer, Nelson Urban, Henry A. Wallace, James Wallace, and Robert Woods. Baker’s correspondence also includes organizations such as the American Seed Trade Association, Iowa Crop Improvement, Garst and Thomas, the National Council of Commercial Plant Breeders, the Seed Producers Advisory Service, Tagliabue Manufacturing Company, and the United States Department of Agriculture. In addition, his correspondence includes representatives of foreign countries such as Mexico and the Netherlands. Beyond the correspondence is Baker’s collection of subject files on topics including irrigation and stress tests.

Organization

The collection has been arranged into five series:

Series 1 Biographical materials
Series 2 Professional correspondence with individuals
Series 3 Professional correspondence with organizations
Series 4 Professional correspondence with foreign countries
Series 5 Subject file

Each series is organized alphabetically.

Description of series


Series 1	Biographical materials	1940-2004, n.d.
extent:	8 folders
description:	General biographical information, talks and papers. Also included are source materials and transcripts for the biographical video, “Raymond F. Baker: Pioneer,” produced by the Iowa State University Foundation.

Container list

Box	Folder	Title	Dates
1	1	Biographical Material, General	1965-2000, n.d.
1	2	Biographical Material, Talks and Papers	1940-1970
27	1-2	“Raymond F. Baker: Pioneer” source material – Baker Archive Paper Documents	2004
27	3-6	“Raymond F. Baker: Pioneer” source material – Introduction, Document Lists, and Transcripts	2004

Description of series


Series 2	Professional Correspondence with individuals	1927-1966, n.d.
extent:	12 document boxes (5.08 linear feet)
description:	Professional correspondence with individuals; arranged alphabetically

Container list

Box	Folder	Title	Dates
1	3	A-Al Abells, Harry D. Adams, Clyde Airy, John Akins, Bobink Allan, Wendell L.	1941-1966 1942 1942 1941 1942 1963,1966
1	4	Ambrose, Bill	1963,1966
1	5	Am-An Amish, Malon Anderson, Dean	1942
1	6	Anderson, Edgar	1942, 1944-1945
1	7	Anderson, Richard	1944
1	8	An Anderson, E. W. Andre, Floyd Andresen, Virgil	1942-1966 1964 1963 1942
1	9	Angel, F. K.	1942, 1966
1	10	B-Ba Babb, R. B Bair, Roy A. Baird, Ray Baker, Ernest, Baker, Gladys Baker, H. K. Baker, J.C. Baker, Joyce	1934-1942 1935 1942 1935-1936 1935 1935-1936, 1940-1941 1935, 1941 1936 1934
1	11	Baker, Larry	1966
1	12	Baker, Samuel	1936, 1964-1965
1	13	Ba Balkma, M. A. Barber. Earl Barmard. J. D. Barre. H. J. Barron Bartz Bauch, Paul	1934-1942 1935 1942 1934 1942 1936 1935 1942
1	14	Be-Bl Beach, J. M. Beachy, A. J. Beck, J. B. Becker, G. E. Beggs, Hollis, Bekel, Merle B.Belden, Leo V. Benies, Max Berry, L. J. Birlingmair, M. G. Black, Clyde Black, Julius Blackburn, J. R. Bliss, Fred G. Bliss, J. A.	1935-1945 1935-1936 1935-1936 1941 1935 1937 1936 1942 1942 1942 1935-1936 1935, 1942, 1945 1945 1935 1935-1936 1935
1	15	Borgeson, Carl	1936-1937
1	16	Bo-Br Borman, John Borodin, Dmitry N. Bowman, A. R. Boynton, G. Boswell, V. P. Brandt, A. E. Brandt, Clarence Brannaer, L. M. and Joe Brannan, Messrs L. and J.	1935-1941 1941 1935 1942 1935-1936 1936 April 5, (ny) 1964 1935 1935-1936
1	17	Brawner, Murray	1935-1936
1	18	Brawner, Murray	1941-1942
1	19	Brawner, Murray	1959, 1963
1	20	Brawner, Murray and Woods, Bob	1936-1939
1	21	Brawner, Murray - Mexico	1940
1	22	Br Brayton, F. L. Brechtel, Carl Brenton, Earl Breshears, J. D. Bressman, E. N. Briggs, G. W. Brindley, Tom Brink, R. A. Broadie, Carroll E. Brown, A. L. Brown, Charles Brown, H. J. Brown, W. H. Brown, Wayne	1934-1966 1934 1941-1942 1935 1935 1942 1935-1936 1966 1941 1942 1935 1941 1935-1936 1935 1935
1	23	Brown, William L. (Trinidad)	1952-1953
1	24	Brown, William L.	1956, 1965-1966
1	25	Br Bruggemann, Mary Bruns, O. W. Brunson, A. M. Bruce Bryan, A. A.	1935-1942 1935-1936, 1942 1936 1935,1938 1935
1	26	Bu-Bz Bundy, C. E. Burbank, N. C. Burgess, W. L. Burke, H. W. Burkhart, Robert Burlinson, W. L. Burt, John C. Burton, Glen W. Butler, Reuben Buxton, E. A.	1935-1964 1935 1942 1942 1941 1936 1935 1945 1964 1942 1936
2	1	Ca Camel, Donald Campbell, Dan Candwell, J. W. Carlson, E. S. Casebeer, W. Brooks Cassady Simon	1935-1941 1941 1935 1941 1936 1941 1941
2	2	Cavanah, Jack	1965-1966
2	3	Cheronis, N. D.	1961
2	4	Cv-Co Claycomb, John B. Clemons, Paul Coffin, H. N. Coleman, D. A.	1934-1936 1936 1935 1935 1934
2	5	Collin, Clyde	1942
2	6	Collins Collins, Earl (photographs) Collins, Edgar V.	1936, 1938 1948 1936
2	7	Collins, Floyd	1941-1942, 1965
2	8	Collins, Perry M.	1935
2	9	Co Converse, Blair Cooper, Norman Corey, John L.	1935-1942 1936 1935-1936 1942
2	10	Coverdale, R. J.	1935-1936
2	11	Cr-Cu Crim, Ralph F. Curtright, Carl	1934-1942 1934-1936 1942
2	12	Da-De Dabinette, G. A. Danciger, Jack Dann, Alva Davis, James DeWolf, James E. Decker, K. C. De La Varga, Alfredo Denney, Raymond	1935-1942 1934-1935 1942 1934 1942 1935 1942 1942 1935
2	13	Dick, Merle Dicke, F. F Dickinson, Glenn Dickinson, L. J. Dingman, Ted Dippold, Homer, Divine, M. L.	1941 1963 1935 1935 1935 1942 1936
2	14	Dockendorff, M. M.	1934-1936, 1941
2	15	Donaldson, H. J.	1934-1936
2	16	Doner, W. E.	1935
2	17	Dool, L. E.	1935-1936
2	18	Do-Dr Dorchester, C. S. Douwstra, S. H. Downey, Richard Doxtator, C. W. Drake, Carl J. Drayton, Elizabeth C. Drennan, Donald	1935-1942 1935 1941 1942 1935 1942 1942 1941
2	19	Duncan, D. W.	1935, 1958
2	20	Duncan, G. H.	1935-1936
2	21	Durant, A. L.	1934-1936
2	22	Duvick, Donald	1962-1963
2	23	Dyas, Ed	1936, 1941
2	24	Ea-Ec Easter, Frank Ebling, Walter H. Eckhardt, Robert C.	1935-1942 1942 1935 1941-1942
2	25	Eckerle, William M.	1936, 1941-1942, n.d.
2	26	Edwards Edwards Edwards, Irwin F. Edwards, Walter Edwards, Harold	1935-1941 1935 1936 1941 1941
2	27	Eg-Ei Eggerth, Charles Ehlers, Theodore Eide, Louis	1934-1935 1935 1934-1935 1935
2	28	Eisti, Walter	1934-1936
2	29	Elijah, Earl	1934-1936
2	30	El-Ey Elwood, P. H. Emerson, R. A. Emerson, Woodrow Engstrand, Warren England, Casper Erickson, W. H. Ernst, Arnold Eyestone, Al	1934-1942 1934 1941 1941 1941 1941 1941 1941-1942 1942
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