Guide to the John E. Baker papers
1910-1925
Collection number: HMC-0065.
Creator: Baker, John E.
Title: John E. Baker papers.
Dates: 1910-1925.
Volume of collection: 0.25 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Materials in the collection are in English.
Collection summary: Papers of a businessman and homesteader in Alaska.
Biographical note:
John E. Baker was a lawyer who came to Alaska in 1897. In that year he became an employee of the Alaska Commercial Company (later the Northern Commercial Company) and served the company for many years in several towns throughout Alaska including Forty-Mile Station, Eagle, Fairbanks, Tanana, the Hotsprings Post, McGrath (where he built the station), and finally Takotna, where he homesteaded. In 1922, he tried unsuccessfully to get his name on the ballot as Takotna’s independent candidate for Territorial Legislature. Baker died in Seattle in 1925.
Collection description:
The collection consists of letters to John E. Baker from various relations, friends, and business associates; legal papers; certificates; clippings; and photographs of family members, friends, buildings, and other subjects.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged by type of material.
Digitized copies: Selected items have been digitized and can be viewed on Alaska’s Digital Archives. For information about obtaining copies please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Materials created by John E. Baker are in the public domain. Materials not created by Baker may be subject to copyright not held by the Archives.
Preferred citation: John E. Baker papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Works used in preparation of inventory: John E. Baker Obituary, “Takotna News Items” Anchorage Daily Times, March 12, 1925.
Custodial history: The collection was given to Olga Doheny in 1957 by Ben Twitchell.
Acquisition note: The collection was deposited at Archives and Special Collections by Olga Doheny in 1981, as part of the Doheny, Erickson, and Strandberg family papers. The papers were established as a separate collection in 1983.
Processing information: This collection was described prior to 1995. The guide to the collection was converted to current standard by Gwen Sieja in 2016.
Container list:
| Folder/Item | Description | Date |
| 1 | Correspondence | 1910-1925 |
| 1/1 | Jennie H. Ballin (Fairbanks, AK) to J. E. Baker. Post card with picture of George H. Thomas Memorial Library, Fairbanks, AK; wishes merry Christmas and says she hopes to see him before another year goes by | undated |
| 1/2 | Alyce Drive, c/o A. C. Company to J. E. Baker in Kuskokwim, AK September 15, 1910. Post card with photograph of people in auto | 1910 September 15 |
| 1/3 | Detroit Boat Company in Detroit, MI to J. E. Baker in Washburn, AK. Letter concerning their line of canoes | 1911 February 11 |
| 1/4 | Mrs. J. S. Churchill in Marcola, OR to J. E. Baker in Ophir, AK. Envelope only | 1913 June 21 |
| 1/5 | Mabe [Maebelle Hughes] (daughter) to J. E. Baker in Ophir, AK. Post card with photograph of Nye Beach, Newport, Oregon | 1914 August 8 |
| 1/6 | Local Enrolling Agent, Public Service Reserve in Fairbanks, AK to J. E. Baker in Ophir, AK. Letter concerning enrollment in the Public Service Reserve | 1919 January 22 |
| 1/7 | H. S. Reis, the Searchlight, Washington, DC to J. E. Baker in Ophir, AK. Letter acknowledging receipt of funds for membership in the National Voters’ League and subscription to The Searchlight | 1920 June 18 |
| 1/8 | Genevieve Koepp in Eugene, OR to J. E. Baker in Ophir, AK;. Letter from niece describing life at home. With envelope | July 1, 1920 |
| 1/9 | Alice Paul, National Chairman, National Women’s Party, Washington, DC to “Dear Suffragist”. Letter asking for support of women’s suffrage campaign in Tennessee. Enclosed: Sue S. White, Tennessee Chairman to Miss Paul. Letter regarding women’s suffrage situation in Tennessee, 1920 June 30 | 1920 July 3 |
| 1/10 | Mabe [Maebelle Hughes] to J. E. Baker in McGrath, AK;. Post card with photograph of Salmon River at Tauney’s Mountain Home | 1920 September 6 |
| 1/11 | Secretary, National Geographic Society in Washington, DC to J. E. Baker in McGrath, AK. Letter acknowledging receipt of funds for membership and subscription | 1921 April 13 |
| 1/12 | Basil Manly, Director, Peoples’ Legislative Service in Washington, DC to J. E. Baker in Ophir, AK. Letter inviting membership in Peoples’ Legislative Service Organization. | 1921 May 25 |
| 1/13 | Mabe [Maebelle Hughes] in Salem, OR to J. E. Baker in Takotna, AK. Christmas card with envelope | 1921 December 9 |
| 1/14 | Dan Sutherland, Delegate from Alaska, U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, DC to J. E. Baker in Takotna, AK. Letter regarding the construction of wagon roads by Alaskan Engineering Commission with attached letter to Albert B. Hall, Secretary of the Interior, on the same subject | 1922 May 25 |
| 1/15 | A. V. Thorn to J. E. Baker in Takotna, AK. Note attached to biographical sketch of J. E. Baker to be submitted for Baker’s candidacy for Territorial Legislature | 1922 June 15 |
| 1/16 | Robert W. Taylor, Clerk of the District Court in Fairbanks, AK to A. V. Thorn in McGrath, AK. Letter concerning a petition to place J. E. Baker on the ballot for the Territorial Legislature | 1922 August 29 |
| 1/17 | W. F. Green in McGrath, AK to R. W. Taylor, Clerk of the District Court in Fairbanks, AK. Telegram regarding independent candidate fees for John E. Baker | 1922 October 1 |
| 1/18 | Dan Sr. [Marsters] to Mrs. Mabel (Maebelle) Hughes in Salem, OR. Post card announcing the birth of a son, Dan Jr., including a clipping from the newspaper. Post card is a photograph of General Hospital, Eugene, OR | 1922 October 10 |
| 1/19 | Robert W. Taylor, Clerk of the District Court in Fairbanks, AK to J. E. Baker in McGrath, AK. Letter regarding Baker’s candidacy for Territorial Legislature | 1922 October 26 |
| 1/20 | R. W. Taylor in Fairbanks, AK to W. F. Green in McGrath, AK. Letter stating he did not receive J. E. Baker’s independent candidate fees | 1922 November 1 |
| 1/21 | W. F. Green in McGrath, AK to J. E. Baker. Letter transmitting refund for independent candidate fees and explaining situation | 1922 November 12 |
| 1/22 | Dan Sutherland, Delegate from Alaska, U. S. House of Representatives in Washington, DC to J. E. Baker in Takotna, AK;. Letter stating that he is sending seeds left over from Alaska’s allotment; discussing experimental stations in Alaska, and farming | 1923 March 13 |
| 1/23 | Mabe [Maebelle Hughes] in Oregon to J. E. Baker in McGrath, AK. Post card with photograph of Jump Off Joe, Summer, 1913, Newport, Oregon | 1923 July 6 |
| 1/24 | Nan (sister) in Frederic, Wisconsin to J. E. Baker in McGrath, AK. Christmas card with wishes for happy birthday | 1923 December 18 |
| 1/25 | Mrs. Leila B. Marsters in Eugene, OR and Mrs. Maebelle B. Hughes in Salem, OR to Takotna Igloo No. 14, Pioneers of Alaska. Letter thanking them for their friendship to their father, J. E. Baker, and explains about their relationship with Baker | 1925 February 16 |
| 1/26 | Mrs. Leila B. Marsters in Eugene, OR and Mrs. Maebelle B. Hughes in Salem, OR to G. Murdock in Seattle, WA. Thanks him for his friendship to their father, J. E. Baker, and encloses a letter of authority for disposition of his ashes (not included) | 1925 February 16 |
| 2 | Legal Papers | 1910 |
| 2/1 | Handwritten agreement for boarding and care of dogs, signed by Lee W. Atwater and J. E. Baker | 1910 May 26 |
| 2/2 | Power of Attorney – J. E. Baker for A. H. Fischer (Fairbanks, AK) | 1910 August 30 |
| 2/3 | Power of Attorney – J. E. Baker for C. F. Rhind (Fairbanks, AK) | 1910 August 30 |
| 2/4 | Power of Attorney – J. E. Baker for M. M. Smith, E. C. Clausen, A. R. Utberg, A. Landaas – to stake, locate, and record lode claims, placer mining ground, town lots, water rights, etc. | 1910 September 15 |
| 3 | Certificate of Membership – National Geographic Society | 1920 September 30 |
| 4 | Financial Papers | 1912-1924 |
| 4/1 | Check #632, Office Clerk District Court, 4th Division, Fairbanks, Alaska, in the amount of $1 payable to J. E. Baker | 1912 March 27 |
| 4/2 | Receipt for fees for petition for election | 1922 April 22 |
| 4/3 | Check for one dollar and letter of explanation from Spiegel, Mayo Stern Company in Chicago, IL to Mrs. E. Baker in Takotna, AK | 1923 April 22 |
| 4/4 | J. H. McLean General Merchandise (Takotna, AK) receipts for merchandise – groceries, clothing, and personal items | 1924 February 28-June 22 |
| 5 | Article on a different “John Baker’s” death in boating accident | undated |
| 6 | Photographs | undated, 1914-1921 |
| 6/1 | Two men in front of mountain with embossed seal of Pioneers of Alaska., Takotna Igloo No. 14 | undated |
| 6/2 | River with embossed seal of Pioneers of Alaska, Takotna Igloo No. 14 | undated |
| 6/3 | J. E. Baker Homestead, Takotna, AK (4 copies) | undated |
| 6/4 | Portrait of Maebelle Baker Hughes (with tan folder) | undated |
| 6/5 | Maebelle and son, John, with friends on asylum grounds | 1921 July |
| 6/6 | Maebelle, John, and friend in river | undated |
| 6/7 | Frank [Hughes] at Niagara | undated |
| 6/8 | John Hughes, 2 years and 4 months | circa 1916 April |
| 6/9 | Frank and Maebelle – outing on the Mohawk | undated |
| 6/10 | John E. Jr. on his bike | undated |
| 6/11 | John E. Jr. fishing | undated |
| 6/12 | Maebelle, John, and friend in stream | undated |
| 6/13 | John E. Jr. and friend on asylum grounds | 1921 July |
| 6/14 | John Hughes, 9 months old | circa 1914 September |
| 6/15 | Maebelle and John | undated |
| 6/16 | Maebelle and John | undated |
| 6/17 | Portrait of Maebelle (in brown folder) | undated |
| 6/18 | Portrait of Annie (sister) in chair | undated |
| 6/19 | Annie and three women in front of fallen tree | undated |
| 6/20 | Annie and “Char Boy” in front of cook house | undated |
| 6/21 | Annie, Will, Lola, the dishwasher, and the Char Boy by the wood pile behind the cook house | undated |
| 6/22 | Annie and the cook house crew | undated |
| 6/23 | Annie’s niece, Lola, and friend | undated |
| 6/24 | Annie’s niece, Lola, and friends | undated |
| 6/25 | Lola and friends with horse and dog | undated |
| 6/26 | Camp where Annie works | undated |
| 6/27 | Derailed train | undated |
| 6/28 | Belle (niece) and Lottie | undated |
| 6/29 | Belle and Lottie | undated |
| 6/30 | Belle’s house in Marcola | undated |
| 6/31 | Portrait of 4 generations: Mother; Sister, Nan; Niece, Mary Kinsey; Niece’s daughters, Alice and Elinor Kinsey | undated |
| 6/32 | Cleo and Ellsworth (addressed to Grandma Baker) – two very young children | undated |
| 6/33 | Niece, Edith Miller | undated |
| 6/34 | Sister, Dora, with two other women and baby | undated |
| 6/35 | “Jessie’s daughter and husband” in horse-drawn carriage | undated |
| 6/36 | Young boy and woman on a bridge | undated |
| 6/37 | Four women and two men in auto (Alyce in front seat) | undated |
| 6/38 | House in winter | undated |
| 6/39 | House in fall | undated |