HTML-Encoded Finding Aid
|
Title: Edward L. Baker Collection Genre: Papers Dates: 1923-1982 (Predominantly, 1946-1976) Size: 3 linear feet ID#: 1625 OCLC: ©Walter P. Reuther Library of Labor & Urban Affairs HEFA.01b.updat |
Ø Subjects Ø Transfer |
The papers of Edward L. Baker were placed in the Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs in July of 1995 by his son, Edward M. Baker, and were opened for research in May of 2000.
Edward L. Baker was born in Georgetown, Indiana on February 1, 1906 and graduated from the University of Louisville in 1931. In 1932 he married Elios Giuliano. He continued his educational activities by attending the Detroit College of Law from 1932 to 1936 and rounded his academic experience taking engineering courses at Wayne University in Detroit from 1942 to 1945.
Mr. Baker’s business experience was varied and broad. He was an adjustor for the American Mutual Liability Insurance Company (1931-1935), investigator for the Wayne County Bureau of Investigation (1935-1942), supervisor in the industrial x-ray laboratories of the Fisher Body Corporation (1942-1945) and sales manager for Michigan X-ray Sales (1945-1948) before he took a job as an application engineer for Westinghouse Electric Corporation (1948-1953).
On October 1, 1953, Postmaster General Arthur E. Summerfield appointed him acting Postmaster of Detroit. He served until February 28, 1976, the second longest tenure as postmaster in Detroit history.
His other activities included co-organizing the Detroit Junior Board of Commerce in 1936 and service in the Coast Guard Temporary Reserve from 1942 to 1945. In addition, he served as representative in the Michigan state Legislature from 1947 to 1948. He did not seek re-election. He held the office of president of the Michigan Society for Mental Health for three terms from 1950 to 1952 and was an active member of the National Association of Postmasters in the United States (NAPUS), where he acted as president for one term in 1957/58. He also served as Deputy Chairman of Michigan Week.
He was named Federal Administrator of the Year in Detroit in 1955, received the Post Office Department’s Meritorious Service Award in 1960 and was named National Postmaster of the Year in 1964. He died in March, 1987 in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
The papers of Edward L. Baker reflect his work as Postmaster of Detroit for over 22 years and his involvement in the National Association of Postmasters (NAPUS), especially during his term as president of the organization. To a lesser degree, the material also covers his activities as a Michigan state Representative and member of several health organizations in Michigan.
Detroit Postal Service National Association of Postmasters
Michigan Republican Party of the United States (NAPUS)
Homer Ferguson
Patrick McNamara
Roy North
Charles E. Puskar
Kim Sigler
Arthur E. Summerfield
One manuscript box with approximately 50 photographs and five negatives related to Mr. Baker and one button have been placed in the Archives Audio Visual Collection.
3 storage boxes
Series I, Detroit Postal Service, 1932-1978, Box 1:
Material regarding Mr. Baker’s tenure as Detroit Postmaster. [Box1]
Series II, NAPUS Files, 1954-1978, Box 2:
Correspondence and files covering Mr. Baker’s presidency of NAPUS and as chairman of the Transportation Committee. [Box2]
Series III, Other Activities, 1923-1982, Box 2-3:
Files regarding Mr. Baker’s activities outside the postal service. [Box3]
Contents |
[Box1] [Box2] [Box3] |
Series I
Detroit Postal Service, 1932-1978
Correspondence, clippings, reports and other items concerning the Detroit Postal Service and Mr. Baker’s role in it from 1932 to 1978. Files are arranged alphabetically by subject or type of material.
1-4. Clippings, 1946-76
5-8. Correspondence, 1952-76
9. Correspondence Appointment, 1953
10. Dedications, 1959-60, n.d.
11-14.Detroit Post Office Building, 1959-61
15. Ethical Conduct, 1966-69, n.d.
16. Health Service, 1961
17-21.Mixed Material, 1953-76
22-24.Newsletters, 1932-78, n.d.
25. Press Releases, 1963-76, n.d.
26. Retirement Baker, 1975-76
27-28.Stamp Announcements, 1958-65
29-33.Summerfield, Arthur, 1953-72
34-41.Speeches, 1958-73, n.d.
42-46.Washington, D.C., 1953-74
Series II
National Association of Postmasters of the United States (NAPUS),
1930-78
Correspondence, clippings, reports and other items regarding Mr. Baker’s membership in NAPUS, especially during his term as president of the organization from 1957 to 1958. Files are arranged alphabetically by subject or type of material.
1. Committee Meetings, 1959-61
2-4. Committees Washington D.C., 1957-59
5-7. Conventions General, 1958-76
8-17. Correspondence, 1954-63
18-20.Insurance Program, 1958-59
21. Michigan Chapter, 1963-76
22-24.Mixed Material, 1953-75
25-26.National Convention Detroit, 1954-59
27-29.National Conventions General, 1930-1977
30. Newsletters, 1957-78
31-32.Puskar, Charles, Reelection, 1961
33. Speeches, 1956-58
34-35.Transportation Committee, 1958-64
36-37.Yearly Reports, 1960-63
Series III
Other Activities, 1923-1982
Correspondence, reports, and other materials describing Mr. Baker’s activities outside the postal service. Files are arranged alphabetically by subject or type of material.
38. American Lung Association, 1973-78
39. Coast Guard, 1940-46
40-42.Greater Michigan Foundation, 1963-78
43. Health Issues, 1958-77
44-47.Lodges, 1963-1982
1-4. Michigan Society for Mental Health, 1944-79
5. Orchard Lake, 1974-77
6. Other Activities, 1942-77
7. Private Correspondence, 1923-77, n.d.
8-13. Republican Party, 1940-69
14. Rotary Club, 1957-76
15. Salvation Army, 1974-82, n.d.
16. Short Stories, n.d.
17. Scrapbook
IndexIndex Anchor |
(Correspondence is indicated by an asterisk)
*American Federation of Labor, 3:8
*American Postal Workers Union, 1:8
*Benton, Grace N., 2:9, 2:14
Detroit Post Office Building, 1:11-14
Elections Michigan, 3:8
*Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1:5
*Ferguson, Homer, 1:9, 1:45, 3:12
Fire Protection Legislation, 3:10
*Ford, Gerald, 1:45
*Griffin, Robert P., 1:46
*Hart, Philip A., 1:45, 2:10
*Hertzog, C.D., 2:15
*Hilberry, C.B., 1:5
*Johnson, Jeanette S., 2:14, 2:26
*Johnston, Olin D., 2:8, 2:10
*McNamara, Patrick, 1:45, 2:10
Michigan Week 1965, 2:40-42
*Milliken, James T., 3:1
NAPUS National Convention Detroit 1955, 3:25-26
*National Alliance of Postal Employees, 2:2
*North, Roy, 2:15
Proposal 2, Mental Health, 3:2
*Puskar, Charles E., 2:8, 2:16, 2:35
Republican National Convention 1948, 3:13
Republican National Convention 1952, 3:13
*Sigler, Kim, 3:9, 3:13
*Snyder, John P., 2:13
*Summerfield, Arthur E., 1:9, 1:31-32, 2:10, 3:13
*Wehking, Hobart A., 2:10, 2:14, 2:35
*Williams, G. Mennen, 1:8
Finding Aid end