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John D. Davies Collection on Hobey Baker

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Held at: Princeton University Library: University Archives [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: University Archives. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Davies, John (John Dunn), 1918-1994

Hobart Amory Hare Baker was born on January 15, 1892 in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, the second son, into a proper Philadelphian family. His father, A. Thornton Baker was a manufacturer of plush upholstery, his mother, Mary Augusta Pemberton, a belle of Philadelphia society. He attended St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire where he excelled in athletics, and was an industrious student as well. In 1910 he entered Princeton University and continued his athletic career, playing baseball, football and hockey. After graduation in 1914, Baker worked at the J. P. Morgan Bank of New York City and played amateur hockey with the St. Nick's team in New York City in 1915-1917. With American entry into World War I, he enlisted, embarked for Europe in August 1917 and by April 1918 served with the Lafayette Escadrille (103rd Aero Squadron). On December 21, 1918 Baker was killed when the Spad he was flying crashed.

Consists of research material collected by Davies (Princeton Class of 1941) for his book The Legend of Hobey Baker (1966). Included are correspondence, research notes, manuscript drafts, photographs, and printed material--all pertaining to Baker's career as an ice hockey and football athlete at St. Paul's Preparatory School and Princeton University, and as a member of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I.

John Davies donated his research material including his notes and original materials to the University Archives in 1967. The provenance of original photographic material and a scrapbook is unknown.

No appraisal information is available.

Publisher
University Archives
Finding Aid Date
1997
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. For quotations that are fair use as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission to cite or publish is required. The Trustees of Princeton University hold copyright to all materials generated by Princeton University employees in the course of their work. If copyright is held by Princeton University, researchers will not need to obtain permission, complete any forms, or receive a letter to move forward with non-commercial use of materials from the Mudd Library. For materials where the copyright is not held by the University, researchers are responsible for determining who may hold the copyright and obtaining approval from them. If you have a question about who owns the copyright for an item, you may request clarification by contacting us through the Ask Us! form.

Collection Inventory

Arrangement

No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.

Scope and Contents

Series 1: the Henry W. H. Baker Files, contains correspondence, including typescripts of Hobey A. H. Baker correspondence and notes collected by Baker in 1959. Baker was a nephew of Hobart A. H. Baker and was interested in the legacy of his uncle.

Physical Description

1 box

Correspondence, Baker, Hobart A.H., copies, 1917-1918 (2 folders), 1917-1918. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Correspondence, 1956-1964, undated (2 folders), 1956-1964. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Notes, undated. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Manuscript, undated. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Manuscript Drafts, undated. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Arrangement

No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.

Scope and Contents

Series 2: Correspondence (1959-1969), is arranged chronologically. Much of this correspondence documents Davies' attempts to collect information about Baker from his classmates, teachers and acquaintances. Correspondence relating to the publication of The Legend of Hobey Baker is also found in this series.

Physical Description

2 boxes

General, 1957-1964 (7 folders), 1957-1964. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

General, 1965-1969, undated (3 folders), 1965-1969. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Fragments, undated. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Interviews, undated. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Arrangement

No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.

Scope and Contents

Series 3: Manuscript Notes (1965-1966) contain rough and final drafts of the manuscript The Legend of Hobey Baker as well as notes, note cards, and information distilled from Davis' research.

Physical Description

1 box

The Legend of Hobey Baker 1965 (2 folders), 1965. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Rough Draft, undated. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Final Draft, undated (2 folders), undated. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Published Copy of The Legend of Hobey Baker, undated (2 folders), undated. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Arrangement

No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.

Scope and Contents

Series 4: Notes (1963-1966) contain preliminary information Davis accumulated during his research on the life of Hobey A. H. Baker.

Physical Description

2 boxes

Note Cards, 1963-1966. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Notes, 1963-1966 (2 folders), 1963-1966. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Arrangement

No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.

Scope and Contents

Series 5: Printed Material (1910-1918) contains articles from various newspapers and news magazines on Hobey Baker's career as an athlete, a member of the American Expeditionary Force during World War I and an address by President John Grier Hibben of Princeton University at Baker's memorial service in 1918.

Physical Description

1 box

News clippings, 1912-1997. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Articles, 1910-1918. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Address, Memorial Service, 1918. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Arrangement

No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.

Scope and Contents

Series 6: Photographs (1910-1918) include scenes from Baker's family life as well as his athletic and military careers. Photographs used in the publication The Legend of Hobey Baker are represented, as well as the original photographs reproduced in the publication.

Physical Description

1 box

Social Scenes (1), 1910-1918. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Materials Viewable Online
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Social Scenes (2), 1910-1918. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Materials Viewable Online
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St. Paul's School (1), 1908-1910. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Materials Viewable Online
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St. Paul's School (2), 1910-1918. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Materials Viewable Online
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Princeton Football (1), 1910-1914. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Materials Viewable Online
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Princeton Football (2), 1910-1914.
Materials Viewable Online
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Princeton Hockey, Baseball, 1910-1914. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Materials Viewable Online
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Princeton Freshman Baseball Team, 1911. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Materials Viewable Online
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Princeton Committees, 1913-1914. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Materials Viewable Online
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Cartoons, 1910-1918. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Materials Viewable Online
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Europe (1), 1917-1918. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Materials Viewable Online
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Europe (2), 1917-1918. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Materials Viewable Online
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Paintings of Baker, undated. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Materials Viewable Online
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Newsclippings, undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Materials Viewable Online
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Portraits, 1914. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Materials Viewable Online
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Copy Negatives, undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Unlabeled , undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Materials Viewable Online
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Arrangement

No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.

Scope and Contents

Series 7: Scrapbook (1910-1914) documents the athletic career of Baker during his college career at Princeton University.

Physical Description

1 box

Scrapbook, 1910-1914. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Print, Suggest