Special Collections and University Archives
403 Parks Library | 701 Morrill Road
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2102
MS 546
John C. Baker (1909-1999)
Papers, 1921-1980, undated
Descriptive summary
| creator: | Baker, John C., 1909-1999 |
| title: | John C. Baker papers |
| dates: | 1921-1980, undated |
| extent: | 13.08 linear feet (5 records center cartons, 3 document boxes, 1 half-document box, 3 photo boxes) |
| collection number: | MS 546 |
| repository: | Iowa State University Library Special Collections and University Archives |
| language: | English |
Administrative information
| access: | Open for research |
| publication rights: | Consult Special Collections and University Archives |
| preferred citation: | John C. Baker Papers, MS 546, Iowa State University Library Special Collections and University Archives. |
Access points
| people, families, and corporate bodies: | Baker, John C., 1909-1999. |
| places: | |
| subjects: | Radio broadcasting. Radio in agriculture. |
| genres: | Directories |
Abstract
Farm broadcaster and author. John C. Baker (1909-1999) received his B.S. (1930) in agriculture from Purdue University. He began farm broadcasting at Purdue in 1930-1931 and continued in the field in Massachusetts, Chicago, and in the radio service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The collection contains farm radio directories, news clippings, correspondence, scripts of slide presentations, speeches, and materials assembled for his book, Farm Broadcasting: The First Sixty Years (1981), including drafts of the book. Correspondents include Dixon Harper, Richard B. Hull, Lawrence F. Haeg, Forest A. Harness, Don Lerch, and E. B. Reid. |
Biographical note
John C. Baker was born in 1909 in Brazil, Indiana. He received his B.S. (1930) in agriculture from Purdue University. He began farm broadcasting at the Purdue radio station WBAA from 1930-1931. He also worked stints in farm broadcasting in Massachusetts, Chicago, and in the radio service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he participated in the National Farm and Home Hour on NBC and The American Farmer on ABC. In the 1950s and 1960s he worked as an information officer in the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Census Bureau. He published Farm Broadcasting: The First Sixty Years with Iowa State University Press in 1981. He died in 1999 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. |
Collection description
The collection (1921-1980, undated) contains research files and drafts of Baker's book, Farm Broadcasting: The First Sixty Years (1981). Research files contain original materials collected by Baker during his research for the book, including farm radio directories, news clippings, correspondence, scripts of slide presentations, and speeches. Correspondents include Dixon Harper, Richard B. Hull, Lawrence F. Haeg, Forest A. Harness, Don Lerch, and E. B. Reid. |
Related materials
Related collections in the Special Collections and University Archives, Iowa State University Library include:
|
Organization
The collection is organized into three series: The collection contains two distinct types of files: research files and book drafts. Within the research files, there was a group of files that clearly followed the structure of the book by chapter. There were other research files that Baker used to write the book, but their organization was not so clearly tied to the chapter structure of the book. To clarify this organization, the research files have been grouped into two separate series. |
Description of series
| Series 1 | Research files by book chapter | 1924-1980, undated |
| extent: | Approximately 2.69 linear feet | |
| description: | This series contains research files used by Baker in writing the book Farm Broadcasting: The First Sixty Years (1981). They are organized by chapter, which primarily covers the United States by state in alphabetical order. | |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
3 |
19 |
"Before the Beginning" (Chapter 1) |
1975 |
8 |
3 |
Beginnings of Farm Broadcasting (Chapter 2) |
undated |
3 |
20 |
"Some Beginnings in Farm Broadcasting" (Chapter 2) (5 b/w photographs) |
undated |
3 |
21 |
Biography - Pioneer Broadcaster: George Biggar (1 b/w photograph) |
undated |
3 |
22 |
Biography - Pioneer Broadcaster: Charles Stookey |
undated |
3 |
23 |
"USDA Mainstream" (Chapter 5) (1 b/w photograph) |
undated |
3 |
24 |
Alabama (Chapter 8): Alabama Extension Service's use of Broadcast Media and Individuals Involved (1 b/w photograph) |
1975-1976 |
8 |
4 |
Alabama (Chapter 8): Alabama Extension Service's use of Broadcast Media and Individuals Involved |
1976 |
3 |
25 |
Alaska: letter |
1975 |
3 |
26 |
Arizona (Chapter 9) |
1955-1977 |
3 |
27 |
Arkansas(Chapter 10) (3 b/w photographs) |
1974-1976 |
3 |
28-30 |
California (Chapter 11) (2 b/w photographs) |
1975-1977 |
3 |
31-32 |
Colorado (Chapter 12) (1 b/w photograph) |
1975-1976 |
3 |
33 |
Connecticut (Chapter 13) (1 b/w photograph) |
1974-1975 |
3 |
34-35 |
Florida (Chapter 14) (7 b/w photographs) |
1975-1976 |
3 |
36 |
Georgia(Chapter 15) |
1977 |
3 |
37 |
Hawaii (Chapter 16) (1 b/w photograph) |
1975 |
3 |
38 |
Idaho (Chapter 17) |
1977 |
3 |
39 |
Biographical Sketches: Leland Glazebrook, Kerry Lenz |
1976 |
3 |
40 |
Biographical Sketches: Larry Nelson, Louis G. Keshkunas |
1925, 1977 |
4 |
1-6 |
Illinois (Chapter 18) (1 b/w photograph) |
1974-1976, undated |
8 |
5 |
Illinois (Chapter 18): Historical Background on Radio in Chicago |
1976 |
4 |
7-12 |
Indiana (Chapter 19) (17 b/w, 1 color photographs) |
1951-1976 |
8 |
6 |
Indiana (Chapter 19) |
1942, 1975 |
4 |
13-19 |
Iowa (Chapter 20) (12 b/w, 2 color photographs) |
1924-1978 |
8 |
7 |
Iowa (Chapter 20) (1 b/w photograph) |
1974-1976 |
4 |
20-21 |
Kansas (Chapter 21) (3 b/w photographs) |
1974-1976 |
8 |
8-9 |
Kansas (Chapter 21) (1 b/w photograph) |
1974-1976 |
4 |
22-23 |
Kentucky (Chapter 22) (13 b/w photographs) |
1975-1976 |
4 |
24-25 |
Louisiana (Chapter 23) |
1930-1976 |
4 |
26 |
Maine (Chapter 24) |
1974 |
4 |
27 |
Maryland (Chapter 25) (3 b/w photographs, 1 b/w negative) |
1976 |
8 |
10 |
Maryland (Chapter 25) |
1974 |
4 |
28 |
Massachusetts (Chapter 26) |
1974-1976 |
4 |
29 |
Michigan (Chapter 27) (1 b/w photograph) |
1975 |
4 |
30-31 |
Minnesota (Chapter 28) (3 b/w photographs) |
1938-1977, undated |
8 |
11 |
Minnesota (Chapter 28) |
1951-1977 |
4 |
32 |
Mississippi (Chapter 29) |
1976 |
4 |
33-37 |
Missouri (Chapter 30) (9 b/w photographs) |
1927-1977 |
4 |
38-41 |
Nebraska (Chapter 32) |
1971-1977, undated |
4 |
42 |
Nevada (Chapter 33) |
1976 |
4 |
43 |
New Hampshire (Chapter 34) |
undated |
8 |
12 |
New Jersey (Chapter 35) |
1974-1976 |
8 |
13 |
New Mexico (Chapter 36) |
undated |
4 |
44-49 |
New York (Chapter 37) ( 5 b/w photographs) |
1942-1980, undated |
8 |
14 |
New York (Chapter 37) |
1976 |
4 |
50-52 |
North Carolina (Chapter 38) (6 b/w photographs) |
1946-1979 |
8 |
15 |
North Carolina (Chapter 38) (2 b/w photograph) |
1960-1976 |
4 |
53-54 |
North Dakota (Chapter 39) (4 b/w photographs) |
1975-1976 |
4 |
55-57 |
Ohio (Chapter 40) (4 b/w photographs) |
1944-1976 |
4 |
58 |
Oklahoma (Chapter 41) (3 b/w, 1 color photographs) |
1975 |
8 |
16 |
Oklahoma (Chapter 41) |
1942, 1976 |
4 |
59 |
Oregon: Chapter 42 of Farm Broadcasting: The First 60 Years |
1974 |
8 |
17 |
Oregon (Chapter 42) |
1950-1977 |
4 |
60-61 |
Pennsylvania (Chapter 43) |
1939-1976 |
8 |
18 |
Pennsylvania (Chapter 43) (1 b/w photograph) |
1974-1975 |
8 |
19 |
South Carolina (Chapter 45) (3 b/w photographs) |
1976 |
8 |
20-21 |
South Dakota (Chapter 46) (1 b/w photograph) |
1974-1975, undated |
4 |
62-64 |
Tennessee (Chapter 47) (7 b/w photographs) |
1974-1975 |
4 |
65-68 |
Texas (Chapter 48) (4 b/w photographs) |
1975-1976, undated |
8 |
22 |
Texas (Chapter 48) (2 b/w photographs) |
1946-1977 |
4 |
69 |
Utah (Chapter 49) |
1974 |
4 |
70 |
Vermont (Chapter 50) (2 b/w photographs) |
1975 |
4 |
71 |
Virginia (Chapter 51) (1 b/w photograph) |
1975 |
8 |
23 |
Virginia (Chapter 51) |
1975 |
4 |
72 |
Washington (Chapter 52) |
1974-1977 |
4 |
73-74 |
West Virginia (Chapter 53) |
circa 1940s-1975 |
8 |
24 |
West Virginia (Chapter 53) |
1952-1975 |
5 |
1-2 |
Wisconsin (Chapter 54) (20 b/w photographs) |
1968-1977 |
9 |
1 |
Wisconsin (Chapter 54) |
1977 |
5 |
3 |
Wyoming (Chapter 55) |
1976-1977 |
Description of series
| Series 2 | General research files | 1920-1981, undated |
| extent: | Approximately 9.42 linear feet | |
| description: | This series contains research files used by Baker in writing the book Farm Broadcasting: The First Sixty Years (1981). They are arranged alphabetically. | |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
1 |
15 |
Advertising |
1947-1961 |
5 |
6 |
"Agricultural Market Information: Collection, Dissemination and Use in Decision Making," by Eugene A. Kroupa |
1976 |
5 |
7 |
"Agricultural Market News Programming of United States Broadcast Media," by William H. Mattos |
1976 |
5 |
5 |
"Agri-Marketing" |
1980 |
2 |
8 |
Agricultural College Editors Yearbook |
1958-1959 |
5 |
34 |
Agriculture U.S.A.(television program) |
1976 |
1 |
21 |
American Association of Agricultural College Editors (ACE) Annual Conference, Radio Farm Directors Report |
1921-1977 |
2 |
22 |
American Farm Bureau Federation Broadcast Service |
1975 |
2 |
10 |
Annual Report of the New England Radio News Service (NERNS) |
1938-1944 |
9 |
2 |
Audience Studies - Station Surveys |
1946-1962 |
2 |
15 |
Book, "From Crystal to Color WFBM" |
1924-1964 |
2 |
16 |
Book, "The First Forty: The Story of WCCO Radio" |
1924-1964 |
1 |
14 |
Chats Annual Report |
1955 |
2 |
23 |
Chronology of American Agricultural History |
1975 |
2 |
20 |
Clear Channel Broadcasting Service (CCBS) |
1975 |
2 |
27 |
Correspondence, Farm Broadcaster Letter |
1979-1980 |
5 |
4 |
Correspondence, Notes, Copy of “The Twill” |
1974-1978 |
1 |
10 |
Correspondence: Dixon Harper |
1948-1956 |
5 |
31-33 |
Directories of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters |
1946-1981 |
3 |
5 |
Everett Mitchell (2 b/w photographs) |
1948-1976 |
3 |
6 |
The Farm Broadcasters: Their Activities and Their Impact Over a Half Century |
undated |
1 |
18 |
Farm-City Week, October 2-8, 1955 |
1955 |
2 |
18 |
The Farm Index |
1975 |
2 |
24 |
Federal Communication Commission Information Bulletin |
1974 |
2 |
9 |
The First 45 Years: History of Cooperative Extension in Washington State |
1961 |
3 |
17 |
Frank E. Mullen: Farm Broadcaster |
1977-1980 |
3 |
16 |
George Biggar and Sears, Roebuck Agricultural Foundation, Station WLS (1 color photograph) |
1924-1970 |
2 |
7 |
Handbook of Agricultural Charts |
1975 |
6 |
17 |
Historical Scrapbook |
undated |
7 |
2 |
Information About Farm Broadcasting |
1976 |
1 |
8 |
Iowa Dairy Industry Commission Ad Copy |
1947 |
1 |
17 |
The Iowa State College Bulletin; National Association of T.V. and Radio Farm Directors Revised Constitution |
1948-1949 |
2 |
21 |
John C. Baker Book Correspondence |
1974-1975 |
3 |
2 |
National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB) |
1979 |
2 |
26 |
NAFB Convention - Kansas City |
1977 |
2 |
28 |
NAFB Convention - Kansas City |
1980 |
3 |
1 |
NAFB Convention - Kansas City |
1975-1978 |
3 |
3 |
NAFB - Discards |
1943-1955 |
3 |
4 |
NAFB - Foundation - Notes |
1977 |
7 |
4 |
NAFB - Sales |
1975-1978 |
1 |
7 |
National Association of Radio Farm Directors (NARFD) Conventions and Committee Programs |
1949-1960 |
1 |
16 |
National Association of TV and Radio Farm Directors Committee Report and Financial Statement |
1956 |
1 |
20 |
National Association of TV and Radio Farm Directors Miscellanea |
1948-1956 |
1 |
19 |
National Association of TV and Radio Farm Directors Yearbook Committee |
1950-1951 |
3 |
14 |
National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA), Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA) |
1970-1978 |
8 |
2 |
National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA), Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA) |
1970-1978 |
7 |
6 |
Networks National Farm Report - Agri-News Service Cassette Tape |
1975 |
6 |
1-9 |
New England Agricultural and Market News Radio Program |
1929-1937 |
6 |
13-15 |
New England Radio News Service - N.E. Agriculture on the Air |
1939-1941 |
6 |
10 |
New England Radio News Service (NERNS) Bulletin |
1937 |
7 |
5 |
NERNS Bulletin |
1946, 1948 |
1 |
1 |
NERNS Annual Reports |
1938-1942 |
1 |
4 |
NERNS Annual Reports |
1948-1949 |
1 |
5-6 |
NERNS Miscellanea |
1933-1942 |
1 |
2 |
NERNS Reports |
1943-1948 |
1 |
3 |
NERNS Reports and Contest |
1947-1948 |
6 |
11-12 |
NERNS Short Waves |
1937-1938 |
5 |
8 |
Notes on Various Broadcasters Throughout the States: A-W |
undated |
2 |
25 |
Notes, Correspondence, History of National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB) |
1974-1977 |
7 |
1 |
Notes - Questionnaire |
1974 |
10-12 |
|
Photographs (192 b/w photographs, 1 b/w negative) |
1920-1960s circa |
3 |
7 |
Pioneer Broadcasting |
1946, 1979 |
1 |
11 |
Radio Farm Directors (RFD) and Chats |
1948-1950 |
1 |
12-13 |
Radio Farm Directors (RFD) and Chats, some missing issues |
1951-1965 |
2 |
17 |
The Remembered Years by J. M. Morris |
1972 |
2 |
11 |
Report of the Annual Meeting of the NERNS |
1942 |
2 |
12 |
Round the Clock with Prairie Farmer - WLS v. 3 |
1945 |
2 |
13 |
Round Up: The Prairie Farmer - WLS |
1955 |
6 |
16 |
Scrapbook |
undated |
1 |
9 |
Singing Commercials |
1965 |
7 |
3 |
Sponsor Mag, Broadcasting |
1947-1967 |
3 |
8 |
Sponsors - Agri-Marketing |
1975-1980 |
3 |
12 |
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) |
1951-1952, undated |
3 |
10 |
USDA Bureau of Markets - Radio Market News Service - Xerox Copy of Measures for Progress: A History of the National Bureau of Standards |
1921-1922, 1966 |
8 |
1 |
USDA Market News (1 b/w photograph) |
|
3 |
13 |
USDA National Farms and Home Hour (1 b/w photograph) |
1938-1975 |
3 |
9 |
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) TV and Radio - Newspaper Clipping |
1950-1977 |
3 |
15 |
Wire News Services, Bernie Brenner, Farm Editor of United Press International (2 b/w photographs) |
1975-1976 |
6 |
18 |
WLS: The Prairie Farmer Station and Newspaper Clippings |
1925-1975, undated |
2 |
14 |
WMAQ - TV (NBC - 5 Chicago) 20th Anniversary Book |
1949-1968 |
3 |
18 |
WMT Listeners' Comments |
undated |
12 |
|
The WMT Radio Story - 40th Anniversary: 1922-1962 booklet |
1922-1962 |
3 |
11 |
The WMT Radio Story: 40th Anniversary |
1922-1966 |
2 |
19 |
World Trade Week, May 16-22 |
1976 |
Description of series
| Series 3 | Book drafts | 1977, undated |
| extent: | Approximately 0.97 linear feet | |
| description: | This series contains drafts and semi-final drafts of chapters of Baker's book, Farm Broadcasting: The First Sixty Years (1981). | |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
5 |
9 |
Chapter Title: About the Author, John C. Baker. About this Book |
1977 |
5 |
10 |
Chapter Title: Before the Beginning |
undated |
5 |
11 |
Chapter Title: Some Beginnings in Farm Broadcasting |
undated |
5 |
12 |
Chapter Title: USDA Weather |
undated |
5 |
13 |
Chapter Title: USDA Market News |
undated |
5 |
14 |
Chapter Title: USDA Mainstream |
undated |
5 |
15 |
Chapter Title: New England Radio News Service |
undated |
5 |
16 |
Chapter Title: Networks – 57 Varieties |
undated |
5 |
17 |
Chapter Title: Farm Broadcasting, State-by-State (Alabama-Arizona-Arkansas-California) |
undated |
5 |
18 |
Chapter Title: Farm Broadcasting, State-by-State (Colorado-Connecticut-Florida-Georgia) |
undated |
5 |
19 |
Chapter Title: Farm Broadcasting, State-by-State (Hawaii-Idaho-Illinois-Indiana) |
undated |
5 |
20 |
Chapter Title: Farm Broadcasting, State-by-State (Iowa-Kansas-Kentucky-Louisiana) |
undated |
5 |
21 |
Chapter Title: Farm Broadcasting, State-by-State (Maryland-Massachusetts-Maine-Michigan) |
undated |
5 |
22 |
Chapter Title: Farm Broadcasting, State-by-State (Minnesota-Mississippi-Missouri-Nebraska) |
undated |
5 |
23 |
Chapter Title: Farm Broadcasting, State-by-State (Nevada-New Hampshire-New Jersey-New Mexico-New York) |
undated |
5 |
24 |
Chapter Title: Farm Broadcasting, State-by-State (North Carolina-North Dakota-Ohio-Oklahoma) |
undated |
5 |
25 |
Chapter Title: Farm Broadcasting, State-by-State (Oregon-Pennsylvania-South Carolina-South Dakota) |
undated |
5 |
26 |
Chapter Title: Farm Broadcasting, State-by-State (Tennessee-Texas-Utah-Vermont) |
undated |
5 |
27 |
Chapter Title: Farm Broadcasting, State-by-State (Virginia-Washington-West Virginia-Wisconsin-Wyoming) |
undated |
5 |
28 |
Chapter Title: National Association of Farm Broadcasters |
undated |
5 |
29 |
Chapter Title: Sponsors |
undated |
5 |
30 |
Chapter Title: Preparing To Be a Farm Broadcaster |
undated |
1 |
22 |
Semi-final draft, chapters 1-10 |
undated |
2 |
1 |
Semi-final draft, chapters 11-25 |
undated |
2 |
2 |
Semi-final draft, chapters 26-41 |
undated |
2 |
3 |
Semi-final draft, chapters 42-48 |
undated |
2 |
4 |
Semi-final draft, figure legends |
undated |
2 |
5 |
Semi-final draft, appendix |
undated |
2 |
6 |
Semi-final draft, index |
undated |