Rollin H. Baker Papers
UA.17.111

Summary Information

Repository
Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections
Creator - Donor
Baker, Rollin H., (Rollin Harold), 1916-2007
Title
Rollin Harold Baker papers
ID
UA.17.111
Date [inclusive]
1936-1991
Extent
15.0 Cubic feet
Language
English

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: "Item title, Collection title, Collection Identifier, Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections, East Lansing, Michigan."

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Biographical Note

Rollin Harold Baker was born in Cordova, Rock Island County, Illinois on November 11, 1916. He obtained his B.A. from the University of Texas in 1937, his M.A. from Texas A&M University in 1938, and his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in 1948. On March 22, 1939, Baker married Mary Waddell of Brenham, Texas. They had three children: Elizabeth, Bruce, and Bryon.

Baker's professional career included positions as Wildlife Technician, National Park Service, Texas Big Bend (Summer 1937); Field Biologist Texas Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, College Station (1938-1939); Assistant Curator of Mammals Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas (1948-1955); and various appointments at the University of Kansas, including Assistant Instructor (1946-1948), Instructor (1948-1949), Assistant Professor (1949-1954), Assistant Professor of Zoology (1954-1955), and Acting Director of the Museum of Natural History (1950-1951). In 1955, Baker became Director of The Museum and Professor in both the Department of Zoology and the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University. He held this position until his retirement in 1982.

Baker's field studies led him to discover 34 new species and subspecies of animals, six of which were named after him. Baker's achievements also include 140 published articles on subjects dealing not only with animals, but also with his tenure as Director of the Museum at Michigan State University.

Rollin Baker's papers cover the full range of his personal and professional activities in Zoological research, teaching, U.S. Naval Reserve, and professional organizations.

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Scope and Contents note

The collection contains diaries, correspondence, manuscripts, course notes, photographs, autobiographical information, both personal and professional, of Rollin H. Baker, Museum Director and Professor in the Department of Zoology and the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University.

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Series Description

(1) DIARIES. 1936-1951. 1 cubic feet

Contained in this series are diaries which briefly describe Baker's club, scholastic, and personal activities. The diaries were kept up to date, but are not very detailed. Arranged chronologically.

(2) CORRESPONDENCE. 1937-1974, 1990-1991. 1 cubic feet

Within this series are letters written to and from Baker. In cases where there was much correspondence to an individual or institution, a separate folder was created. Arranged alphabetically.

(3) MANUSCRIPTS, NOTES. 1937-1978, Undated. 0.9 cubic feet

Observations and impressions of Baker's numerous field expeditions. Arranged alphabetically by subject.

(4) CLASSES TAKEN. 1933-1947. 1 cubic feet

Notes and tests from Baker's years as an undergraduate at the University of Texas and as a graduate student at Texas A & M and the University of Kansas. Arranged Chronologically.

(5) CLASSES TAUGHT. 1947-1978. 1.3 cubic feet

Notes and tests from the years Baker taught at the University of Kansas and Michigan State University. Arranged chronologically.

(6) STUDENTS. 1949-1981, Undated. 2 cubic feet

Student dissertations and theses submitted to Baker. Due to some oversized documents, the materials are arranged into two subseries. Arranged alphabetically.

(7) U.S. NAVY. 1934-1982. 1.2 cubic feet

Correspondence, course notes, promotions, and other personal information obtained during Baker's time in the Army. Also included is information on NAMRU reunions and some newspaper clippings. Arranged alphabetically by subject.

(8) RESEARCH. 1896-1978, Undated. 1 cubic feet.

Miscellaneous research notes. The materials cover a variety of subjects and is categorized by such. Arranged by subject.

(9) RESTRICTED. 1944-1981, Undated. 2 cubic feet

Grade books, student tests and U.S. Navy evaluations. Arranged alphabetically within subseries.

(10) MISCELLANEOUS. 1936-1985. 1 cubic feet

Speeches, newspaper clippings and some information from the Civil Service. Professional group reports are also included in this series. Arranged chronologically within subseries.

(11) ORGANIZATION FOR TROPICAL STUDIES. 1955-1981, Undated. 1 cubic feet

Meeting information and correspondence regarding Organization for Tropical Studies activities. Arranged chronologically.

(12) RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL GROUPS. 1958-1979. 1 cubic feet

Research proposals and professional group information. Primarily minutes from meetings. Arranged chronologically within subseries.

(13) BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS.

(14) OVERSIZED MATERIALS.

(15) PHOTOGRAPHS.

(16) DIGITAL MATERIALS.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections  August 1985

Conrad Hall
888 Wilson Road, Room 101
East Lansing , MI, 48824
517-355-2330
archives@msu.edu

Revision Description

 Added UA5264, HC306, HC482 December 2016

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research except where restrictions are noted.

Legal Status note

Copyright: Michigan State University. Property Rights: Michigan State University.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

  • Association of Systematics Collections.
  • Organization for Tropical Studies.
  • United States. Navy.

Genre(s)

  • Autobiographies
  • Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
  • Diaries
  • Fieldnotes
  • Letters (correspondence)
  • Manuscripts
  • Maps
  • Minutes (administrative records)
  • Notebooks
  • Photographs
  • Speeches

Subject(s)

  • Museum directors
  • National parks and reserves -- United States
  • Zoology
  • Zoology -- Research

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Collection Inventory

(1) Diaries 1936-1951 
Box Folder

 1936-1938 

 978 1-3

Photocopy 1938 

 978 4

 1939-1941 

 978 5-7

 1942-1944 

 978 8-10

 1945-1947 

 978 11-13

 1948-1951 

 978 14-17

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(2) Correspondence 1937-1974, 1990-1991 
Box Folder

A-B 

 979 1-2

Chandler, Asa C. 1940-1947 

 979 3

C 

 979 4

Davis, William B. 1938-1948 

 979 5

D-E 

 979 6-7

Fisheries and Wildlife Service, U.S. 1944-1947 

 979 9

F 

 979 8

Goodrum, Phil 1939-1942 

 979 10

G-I 

 979 11-14

Jellison, William L. 1940 

 979 15

J 

 979 16

Kiwanis Club, Lawrence, Kansas 1955 

 979 17

K 

 979 18

Lay, Daniel W. 1940-1948 

 979 19

Leopold, Aldo 1946-1947 

 979 20

L-M 

 979 21-23

Navy 1945-1947 

 979 24

N-O 

 979 25-26

Personal 1939-1942 

 979 27

P-S 

 979 28-31

Taylor, Walter P. 1940-1942 

 979 32

Texas, Aggie Muster 1970-1974 

 979 33

T, V 

 979 34-35

Waddell, Tom T. 1939-1946 

 979 36

Whitmore, Alexander 1944-1955 

 979 37

W, Y-Z 

 979 38-39

Envelopes 

 989 56

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(3) Manuscripts, Notes 1937-1978, Undated 
Box Folder

Student Technicians Report, Big Bend State Park. 1937 

 980 1

Masters Thesis: A Preliminary Investigation the Proposed Big Bend National Park, Brewster County, Texas 

 980 2

Student Technicians Report, A Preliminary Investigation Brewster County, Texas 1938 

 980 3

Insect Distribution in the Proposed Big Bend National Park, Brewster County, Texas 1939 

 980 4

Insects of the Big Bend Park, Brewster County, Texas 1940 

 980 5

Distribution of Woodcock in Eastern Texas 1941 

 980 6

A Survey of the Fur Resources of Angelina Texas Undated 

 980 7

Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Commission Quarterly Reports 1940-1942 

 980 8

Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Commission Special Report 1940-1942 

 980 9

Notes Undated 

 980 10

Bob White Wings: The Story They Tell Undated 

 980 11

Some Primary Observations of Food Habits of Bobwhites in Region #2 Undated 

 980 12

Mammals of Coastal Chinese Provinces Undated 

 980 13

Kansas Wildlife Problem 1946-1952 

 980 14

Annual Activity Report. Kansas Biological Survey. University of Kansas 1949-1951 

 980 15

Birds of Ulithi and Yap 1945 

 980 16

Birds of the Palan Islands 1945 

 980 17

A List of the Birds of Guam 1945 

 980 18

Birds of the Truk Islands 1945 

 980 19

Report on the Survey of Vertebrates and Their Ectoparasites at the Palav Islands 1945 

 980 20

Report on the Survey of Vertebrates and their Ectoparasites of Ulithi Atoll, Caroline Islands Undated 

 980 21

Rodents of Colorado County, Texas 1940 

 980 22

Squirrels of Colorado County, Texas 1940 

 980 23

Fur Bearers of Colorado County, Texas 1940 

 980 24

Prairie Chicken Manuscript 1954 

 980 25

Plight of Big Game in Northeastern Mexico 1956 

 980 26

Wildlife in Northern Mexico, Its Future Depends on Conservation Education Undated 

 980 27

The Future of Wildlife in Northern Mexico Undated 

 980 28

Climatic Factors Affecting Kansas Bobwhites 1954 

 980 29

Remarks on the Former Distribution of Animals in Eastern Texas 1956 

 980 30

On the Habits of the Pocket Gopher Undated 

 980 31

Sigmodan Fulviventer 1978 

 980 32

A New Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) from Northeastern Mexico Undated 

 980 33

Mammals Recorded for the First Time from Hidalgo. (English, Spanish) 1953 

 980 34

A New Long Eared Myotis (Myotis erotis) from Northeastern Mexico 1955 

 980 35

Deciduous Teeth in the Hognose Bat Undated 

 980 36

An Early Record for the Hoary Bat in Western Kansas 1953 

 980 37

Remarks on Some Mammals of Eastern Texas Undated 

 980 38

Daytime Roast of the Yellow Bat in Veracruz 1955 

 980 39

Notes on the Home Range and Ecology of the Attwater Wood Rat 1938 

 980 40

Notes on the Mammals of Galveston and Mustang Islands, Texas 1938 

 980 41

May Food Habits of Armadillos in Eastern Texas 1942 

 980 42

A Method of Utilizing Big Game Bag Record as aid in Determining Sex Ratios and Population Densities 1941 

 980 43

A List of Robber Flies from Coahuila, Mexico 1941 

 980 44

East Texas Squirrels 1942 

 980 45

A List of Insects from Coahuila, Mexico 1942 

 980 46

The Occurrence of Mustela Frenata Arthuri in Texas 1941 

 980 47

A Bird Tragedy 1941 

 980 48

Armadillo Eats Young Rabbit 1941 

 980 49

Notes on the Den Site of a Raccoon Family Undated 

 980 50

The Bullfrog. A Texas Wildlife Resource Undated 

 980 51

Better Quail Shooting in East Texas Undated 

 980 52

Effect of Burning and Grazing on Rodent Populations Undated 

 980 53

Texas Fur Animals and Their Future 1942 

 980 54

Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Commission, Colorado County 1938 

 980 55

Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Commission, Colorado County 1939 

 980 56

Notes 1939 

 980 57

Texas Birds 1940-1942 

 980 58

Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Commission, East Texas 1940 

 980 59

Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Commission. Former Distribution of Texas Animals 1940 

 980 60

The Future of Wildlife in Northern Mexico 1956 

 980 61

The Derivation of Recent Kansas Mammals 1959 

 980 62

New Records of Mammals in the State of Zacatecas, Mexico 1977 

 980 63

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(4) Classes Taken 1933-1947 

University of Texas. 
Box Folder

Zoology, Botany, Physics, English Chemistry 1964-1970 

 980 64-70

Zoology, Miscellaneous 1933-1936 

 981 1-5

Texas A & M 
Box Folder

Entomology, Ornithology, Wildlife Conservation 1934-1938 

 981 6-11

University of Kansas 
Box Folder

Admissions procedures 1938 

 981 12

Zoology, Morphology, Mammalogy, Paristology, and Entomology 1946-1947 

 981 13-29

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(5) Classes Taught 1947-1978, Undated 

University of Kansas 
Box Folder

Biology and Zoology 1947-1954 

 981 30-33

Programme of the Final Public Examination for Degree, Doctor of Philosophy 1948 

 981 34

Zoology 1948-1955 

 982 1-19

Michigan State University 
Box Folder

Zoology 1972-1978 

 982 20-42

Zoology 1939-1978, Undated 

 983 1-14

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(6) Students 1949-1981, Undated 
Box Folder

Abraraya-Anderson 

 983 15-17

Armstrong. (restricted) 1964 

 983 18

Arnsman-B 

 983 19-32

C 

 983 33-44

D-F 

 983 45-60

B-F 

 984 1-12

G-Hansen 

 984 13-25

Harris-Hoppe 

 984 26-40

J-K 

 984 41-59

L-M 

 984 60-75

N-Peake 

 984 76-86

Peterson-Short 

 985 1-13

Shump-T 

 985 14-32

V-Z 

 985 33-46

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(7) U.S. Navy 1934-1982 
Box Folder

Formal Training 1943-1974 

 985 47-53

Correspondence Course 1947-1981 
Box Folder

 1947-1951 

 985 54-56

 1951-1957 

 986 1-7

 1958-1964 

 986 8-14

 1965-1969 

 986 15-21

 1970-1975 

 986 22-29
Box Folder

Grade Sheets 1951-1981 

 986 30

Letters of Recommendation, Orders to Duty, Ready Reserve Agreement, and Medals 1942-1974 

 986 31-35

Promotions, Fitness Records, and Emergency Data 1943-1975 

 986 36-39

NAMRU #2 Reunion 1963-1982 

 986 40-45

Clippings 1934-1982 

 986 46-50

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(8) Research 1938-1978, Undated 
Box Folder

Bobwhite Quail 1937-1960 

 987 1-2

Furbearer Studies 1941-1942 

 987 3-4

Proposed Turkey Restoration Project Undated 

 987 5

Bobwhite Quail 1938-1942 

 987 6

Furbearer Studies 1940-1941 

 987 7

Texas Birds 1938-1970 

 987 8-9

China Coast Survey 1942 

 987 10

South Pacific Notes 1939, Undated 

 987 11-12

External Parasites 1940-1941 

 987 13

Marianas Islands Survey 1946-1948 

 987 14

South Pacific 1945-1946, Undated 

 987 15-16

Distribution of Mammals in Southeast, USA 1947 

 987 17

Thesis 1946-1948 

 987 18-22

British Colombia - Alaska: Alcorn 1947 

 987 23

Rodent Ecology 1947-1956 

 987 24

Animal Cycles 1949-1963 

 987 25

Mexico 1949-1954 

 987 26

Prairie Chickens 1953-1955 

 987 27

Kansas Biological Survey 1948-1950 

 987 28

Fall River Reservoir 1950 

 987 29

Prospectus. The Mammals of Coahuila, Mexico and Their Relationship to Tropical and Temperate Fauna 1949 

 987 30

Prairie Chickens. Monographs 1965-1977 

 987 31

Birds of Formosa 1954 

 987 32

Psittacosis 1955-1964 

 987 33

Comparative Serology 1956 

 987 34

Turkey 1955-1959 

 987 35

Aleutian Islands Survey 1959-1962 

 987 36

Beaver Island Deer Survey Field Notes 1963 

 987 37

Birds of Michigan 1896-1978 

 987 38-40

Great Lakes Islands 1966 

 987 41

Deer Yard Study 1966 

 987 42

Sulfur Content of Hair 1968-1969 

 987 43

Cow-Deer Study 1974 

 987 44

Plant and Animal Succession Undated 

 987 45

Agricultural Marketing in Tanzania 1970 

 987 46

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(9) Restricted 1944-1981, Undated 

University of Kansas 
Box Folder

Grade Books 1948-1955 

 988 1

Michigan State University 
Box Folder

Grade Books 1955-1977 

 988 2-7

U.S. Navy 
Box Folder

Evaluations 1944-1969 

 988 8-9

Students 1951-1981 
Box Folder

A-B 

 988 10-25

C-D 

 988 26-43

E-F 

 988 44-53

G-H 

 988 54-69

J-Kirkland 

 988 70-82

Kopenski-M 

 989 1-13

N-P 

 989 14-26

R-S 

 989 27-43

T-Z 

 989 44-55

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(10) Miscellaneous 1936-1985, Undated 
Box Folder

Newspaper Clippings 1936-1940 

 990 1-4

Civil Service 1937-1949 

 990 5-6

Speeches 1938-1948 

 990 7-11

Property Records 1948-1981, Undated 

 990 12-18

Research 1948-1981 

 990 19-22

Professional Groups 1949-1979 

 990 23-37

Contract Between the United States of America and Michigan State University. Undated 

 990 38

Pacific War Memorial 1948 

 990 39

Fybate Lecture Notes, University of California, "Man and His Environment", "History of the Man-made Environment in America" 1971 

 990 40

Recipe for Armadillo Sausage, Teachers Tour Guide of the Museum Undated 

 990 41

Directory of Communicators in Agriculture 1968-1969 

 990 42

Analysis of comments to report "The Utilization of Non-Domesticated Mammals in Bio-Medical Research" 1964 

 990 43

National Science Foundation 

 990 44

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(11) Organization for Tropical Studies 1955-1981, Undated 
Box Folder

 1957-1968 

 991 1-8

 1969-1971 

 991 9-15

 1972-1978 

 991 16-21

 1979-1981, Undated 

 991 22-25

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(12) Research and Professional Groups 1958-1979 
Box Folder

Research Project Proposals 1958-1974 

 992 1-4a

Michigan Archaeological Society 1962-1978 

 992 5-8

Association of MSU Curators of Systematic Biological Collections 1979 

 992 9

Michigan Museums Association 1971-1977 

 992 10

Midwest Museums Conference Annual Meetings 1956-1975 

 992 11

American Association of Museums 1964-1974 

 992 12-15

Association of Science Museum Directors 1963-1979 

 992 16-17

Association of Systematics Collections. 1971-1981 
Box Folder

 1971-1975 

 992 18-26

 1976-1980 

 992 27-33
Box Folder

Newsletters 1973-1981 

 992 34-35

National Science Foundation. Science Program Proposal Guidelines Undated 

 992 36

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(13) Biographical Materials 
Box Folder

Autobiography. "A Naturalist's Way." Manuscript (1987) 

 991 26-29

Autobiography, Chapter 11- revised 

 991 30

Biographical information 1990 

 991 31

Logbook for Mary and Rollin Baker 1999 

 991 52

Mary and Rollin Baker in War Time, 1939 - 1946 

 991 53

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(14) Oversized Materials 
Drawer

Blueprints of homes, maps, broadside from Notre Dame, newspapers, oversized materials (Maps include East Texas Squirrels, and Distribution of Mammals in Southeastern USA) 

 13

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(15) Photographs 
Box Folder

Bird Specimens from Guam 1945 

 991 32

Frog, Turtle and Lizard Specimens undated 

 991 33

Guam 1945 

 991 34

Maps. Palau Islands undated 

 991 35

Navy Photographs 
Box Folder

Navy. Bougainville Island 1944 

 991 36

Navy. Gaum 1944 

 991 37

Navy. Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides 1944 

 991 38

Navy. Japan. Bonin Islands and Nakagusuku Bay 1944-1945 

 991 39

Navy. Japan. Iwo Jima 1945 

 991 40

Navy. Jewish High Holy Day Service 1944 

 991 41

Navy. Marine Corps. Saipan 1944, undated 

 991 42

Navy. Maps. Gilbert Islands - Tarawa, Guam, Marianes Islands, Marshall Islands, Marcus Island, Palau Islands, Philippine Islands, Truk Islands 1945 

 991 43

Navy. Marshall Islands 1943-1945, undated 

 991 44

Navy. Palau Islands 1944-1945 

 991 45

Navy. Truk Islands 1944-1945 

 991 46
Box Folder

Animals (Owls and turtle) (negatives) 

 991 47

Birds and Animals 

 991 48

Forests and fields 1940 

 991 49

Micronesian island scene, map of pacific islands, tree and field 

 991 50

Quail Habitat, Texas 1939 

 991 51

Big Bend National Park, Chisas Mountains, Brewster County Texas CCC camp, 1937 

 989 57

Iran hillsides 1967 

 989 58

Kansas Ornithological Society first annual meeting May 1949 

 989 59

People 

 989 60

People. Rollin and Mary Baker 

 989 61

People. Rizer and Hildegard Everett 

 989 62

Plants and Animals 

 989 63

Sand Dunes (Berrien County, Michigan and unidentified) 1919, undated 

 989 64

7th Air Force Seven League 7th 

 989 65

St. Elena Canyon and Chisas Mountains, Big Bend National Park 

 989 66

Steve Calliett's Field Station El Pervenir, Colombia 1979 

 989 67

Thomasville, Georgia Pine woodlands and other habitat for quail 

 989 68

U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU 2), Guam 1945 

 989 69

U.S. Naval Medicine Research Unit No. 2 (NAMRU 2) Reunions 1964, 1976, 1981 

 989 70

USS Belknap 

 989 71

Zoology 486 Field work and Field Trip 1975-1976 

 989 72

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Box Carton

Glass negatives (2) - group of animals 

 989 1

(16) Digital Materials 
Box Disk

CD - "A Naturalist's Way" and Resume 

 Digital Accession 4 CD

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