Subseries IVA. Papers, 1768-1999

This subseries contains papers of Baker family members including financial records, correspondence, military papers, genealogical material and arithmetic cyphering books. The bulk of the material relates to George F. Baker, Jr.'s widow Edith Kane Baker, her sons Grenville K. Baker and George F. Baker III (1915-1977) and George F. Baker, Sr.'s uncle, Fisher Ames Baker. There is a small amount of correspondence related to George F. Baker Sr's sisters and aunts. There are five volumes of financial records of Edith Kane Baker including four cash books kept from 1939 to 1977 and an account book kept from 1913 to 1948 documenting her expenses and investments. Included in this subseries is a cyphering book of Obed Fisher kept in 1768, a cyphering book of Hinsdale Fisher, 1800 and World War II military papers of Air Force Captain Grenville Kane Baker, 1945. Hinsdale Fisher was an uncle of George Ellis Baker.

The bulk of the correspondence includes letters written by Fisher Ames Baker between 1861 and 1864 while he was a soldier in Company F of the 18th Massachusetts Volunteers. His letters, written between 1862 and 1864 to his brother, sisters, and mother, detail camp life in the Union Army, news relating to troop movements and commanders and general news about the progression of the Civil War. Letters written by Fisher Ames before and after the War describe his teaching a writing class, participation in the "Dartmouth Grays", a company of classmates that later became commissioned officers in the Union Army, clerking at the New York law firm Benedict & Boardman and daily activities and news.

George Sr.'s sister Eva died in 1867 from consumption, and the news weighed heavily on him. He was introduced to Eva's good friend Florence Tucker Baker, of no relation, and mourning together they grew close. In 1869, Florence and George were married and welcomed their first child, a daughter named Evelyn (called "Eva"), in 1870. They had four more children, only two of which reached adulthood, daughter Florence, born in 1876 who they called "Queenie" and son George Fisher, Jr., born in 1878. The family correspondence includes letters written by Eva Baker St. George and her son Howard Avenel Bligh St. George to Eva's mother, Florence T. Baker, 1893-1905. The letters discuss entertaining guests, traveling to London and Dublin, and family news and events. Also included are letters sent by John R. Morron to his god-son, George F. Baker III, yearly on his birthday with a book. The letters describe why Morron sent the particular title and how it pertains to Baker's life that year.