James Estes Baker, Haverford College class of 1956, enjoyed a lengthy career as a member of the United States diplomatic corps, including a period of service for the United Nations. The collection offers insight into Baker's life and diplomatic career, with a large quantity of materials relating to the media scrutiny occasioned by his appointment as the first Black US diplomat to serve in South Africa during Apartheid. Collected materials include biographical information, personal correspondence, periodicals and official reports related to Baker's diplomatic work, photographs, and a scrapbook containing newspaper clippings pertaining to his South Africa appointment. A majority of the materials are dated from 1972 to 1973, at the beginning of his appointment to the Pretoria, South Africa embassy.
Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]