| Repository: | Western Reserve Historical Society |
| Creator: | Baker, Newton D. |
| Title: | Newton D. Baker Papers, Series III |
| Dates: | 1892-1961 |
| Dates: | 1918-1937 |
| Extent: | 1.01 linear feet (3 containers and 1 oversize folder) |
| Abstract: | Newton D. Baker was the Cleveland, Ohio, city solicitor (1903-1911) and Mayor (1912-1916), and United States Secretary of War (1916-1921). The collection consists of letters written by Baker to his daughters and other acquaintances as well as a copy of a speech given at Waterloo, Iowa, and various materials related to the Clarence H. Cramer biography of Baker. |
| MS Number | MS 4564 |
| Location: | closed stacks |
| Language: | The records are in English |
Newton Diehl Baker (1871-1937), was born on December 3, 1871, in Martinsburg, West Virginia, the second of four sons of Newton Diehl and Mary Ann (Dukehart) Baker. Baker entered Johns Hopkins University in 1888 and graduated from there in 1892. That same year, Baker went to Washington and Lee University where he obtained a law degree in 1894. From 1894 to 1896 Baker practiced law in Martinsburg. In 1896 he was summoned to Washington to serve as secretary to William L. Wilson, Postmaster-General in Cleveland's cabinet. When the Democrats left office the next year Baker went to Europe for a brief vacation. On his return voyage he met Martin A. Foran who invited him to practice law with his firm in Cleveland.
Baker accepted his offer and became a law clerk in Foran's firm until 1901 when he took the post as the assistant director of the city's law department. He became the city solicitor, a post he held until 1911. He was married to Elizabeth Leopold (ca. 1873-1951) in 1902. In 1911 he ran successfully for mayor and held that post until January I., 1916. After leaving office Baker had intended to practice law privately but his plans were altered on March 6, 1916, when President Wilson called him to Washington to be his Secretary of War. Baker served in this capacity until the end of Wilson's term. In 1921, Baker returned to practice law in Cleveland with his firm of Baker, Hostetler, Sidlo and Patterson. Baker died on December 25, 1937, and was survived by his wife and three children, Elizabeth B., Newton Diehl III, and Margaret B. Baker.
click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Newton D. Baker
The Newton D. Baker Papers, Series III, 1892-1961 (1918-1937), consist of letters written by Baker to his daughters and other acquaintances as well as a copy of a speech given at Waterloo, Iowa, and various materials related to the C. H. Cramer biography of Baker.
This collection is of value to researchers interested in Cleveland, Ohio, political figures, political figures of World War I, Baker's personal life, and family life of a political figure during the 1920s and 1930s. Also included are recollections regarding Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, McAdoo, the League of Nations, and responsibilities as Secretary of War.
None.
Related MaterialThe researcher should also consult MS 3491 Newton D. Baker Letters; MS 3845 Newton D. Baker Papers; and MS 3867 Newton D. Baker Papers, Series II.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4564 Newton D. Baker Papers, Series III, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Mrs. Fulton J. Wright, 1984.
Processed by Rhonda H. Kaminsky in 1991.
Newton D. Baker Papers, Series III 1892-1961 undated |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Correspondence, consisting of letters from Baker to his daughter, Betty, including comments on his Secretary of War responsibilities in the United States and France March 1918-August 1919 | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | Correspondence, September, consisting of letters from Baker to his daughter, Betty, and including information on Betty's schooling in Switzerland, his trips to New York City and London, several ocean voyages, and his response to a school official regarding the issue of Betty's church attendance as well as the concept of religious freedom September-November 1923 | |||||||||
| 1 | 3 | Correspondence, consisting of letters from Baker to his daughter, Betty, including comments on the activity of Congress and the upcoming presidential race, the impact of women on political affairs, McAdoo's desire to be president, the League of Nations, and his visits with President Wilson December 1923-February 1924 | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | Correspondence, consisting of letters from Baker to his daughter, Betty, including comments on the League of Nations, League of Women Voters, classical music, and education March-October 1924 | |||||||||
| 1 | 5 | Correspondence, November, consisting of letters from Baker to his daughter, Betty, including comments on Betty's education at Wellesley College, and a request for information regarding Mont Choisi (the school Betty attended in Switzerland) November 1924-January 1925 | |||||||||
| 1 | 6 | Correspondence, consisting of letters from Baker to his daughter, Betty, including remarks about a recollection of a meeting with Woodrow Wilson which he speculates may have had an influence on Wilson's decision to make him Secretary of War, discussions regarding the freedom given to his daughter to choose what to do about college, the American South, and general philosophical musings on life February-April 1925 | |||||||||
| 1 | 7 | Correspondence, consisting of letters from Baker to his daughter, Betty, including letters written to her on honeymoon at Lake Placid, and a letter to Baker from Antonio Galindo, a prisoner writing to him from New York City requesting assistance (the Galindo letter was sent to Betty with a card attached) May 1925-December 1926 | |||||||||
| 1 | 8 | Correspondence, consisting of letters from Baker to his daughter, Betty, and son-in-law, Jack, including mention of various Clevelanders, family matters, and day-to- day life in Cleveland January-March 1927 | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 9 | Correspondence, consisting of letters from Baker to his daughter, Betty, and a letter from Baker to Mrs. Lee A. Phillips including a discussion of the changes occurring in family life due to technological advances, government, and recollections of the past when he worked with President Wilson April-May 1927 | |||||||||
| 2 | 10 | Correspondence, consisting of letters from Baker to his daughter, Betty, and a letter to Mrs. Baker, including remarks on the anticipation of a grandchild, advice regarding smoking and drinking, and weddings attended June-September 1927 | |||||||||
| 2 | 11 | Correspondence, consisting of letters from Baker to his daughter, Peggy, including recollections on his visit with President Wilson and information on his work with the Wilson Foundation October-December 1930 | |||||||||
| 2 | 12 | Correspondence, consisting of letters from Baker to his daughter, Peggy, including accounts of his ocean voyage and his visit to Cairo, Egypt, his political future, businesses, and various Clevelanders January-December 1931 | |||||||||
| 2 | 13 | Correspondence, consisting of letters from Baker to his daughter, Peggy, including references made to a local election, his grandchildren, the Lindbergh baby kidnapping, comments regarding crime in an ordered society, anecdotes regarding the Boy Scout Silver Buffalo Award ceremony, and Peggy's marriage January 1932-June 1934 | |||||||||
| 2 | 14 | Correspondence, consisting of letters from Baker to his daughter, Peggy and son-in-law, Fulton, including some anecdotes regarding Mrs. Roosevelt July-December 1934 | |||||||||
| 2 | 15 | Correspondence, consisting of letters from Baker to his daughter, Peggy, from Baker to his wife, and letters written during his trip to Panama and Mexico January-March 1935 | |||||||||
| 2 | 16 | Correspondence, consisting of letters from Baker to his daughter, Peggy and son-in-law, Fulton, including comments on local and national events June-December 1935 | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 17 | Correspondence, consisting of letters from Baker to his daughter, Peggy, including a lengthy criticism of a Roosevelt speech, comments on political matters and business transactions, and comments about a voyage to the Caribbean January-May 1936 | |||||||||
| 3 | 18 | Correspondence, consisting of letters from Baker to his daughter, Peggy, including local news and comments on political events June-September 1936 | |||||||||
| 3 | 19 | Correspondence, consisting of letters from Baker to his daughter Peggy and son-in-law, Fulton including lengthy remarks made about President Roosevelt, current economic conditions, and the future of the Republican party October-December 1936 | |||||||||
| 3 | 20 | Correspondence, consisting of letters from Baker to his daughter, Peggy and son-in-law, Fulton, including brief comments on various issues and people such as Adolph Hitler January-July 1937 | |||||||||
| 3 | 21 | Correspondence, consisting of a letter to Newton D. Baker from A. J. Lee regarding Baker's daughter's marriage, letter from Ralph Hayes to Newton D. Baker, and a letter to one of the girls from her mother undated | |||||||||
| 3 | 22 | Miscellaneous, consisting of an address of Newton D. Baker, Secretary of War, given at Waterloo, Iowa, September 17, 1920, chart of the S. S. Pittsburgh with written comments by Baker, and an undated and unsigned Valentine card 1920 undated | |||||||||
| 3 | 23 | Memoranda, notes, correspondence, and reviews related to C.H. Cramer's biography of Newton D. Baker 1960-1961 undated | |||||||||
| Folder | |||||||||||
| 24 | Oversize Folder 1: Awards, diplomas, and certificates, presented to Newton D. Baker or members of his family 1892-1938 | ||||||||||