C. Edwin Baker Papers
Collection
Collection Number: A&M 4565
Collection focuses on the academic and scholarly career of C. Edwin Baker, who was the Nicholas F. Gallicchio Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania at the time of his death. The collected materials are composed of original correspondence and course documentation as well as photocopied materials, many with extensive notations, used by Baker in the course of his research and scholarly activities. Formats include correspondence, clippings, talks, publications and related material, course material, and more. Baker was internationally known for his work in the fields of free speech, constitutional law, jurisprudence, and media policy, which are shown throughout the contents of the collection. Baker's various positions as visiting faculty at New York University, the University of Chicago, Cornell University, the University of Texas and Harvard are reflected as well. Baker is the namesake of the C. Edwin Baker Lecture for Liberty, Equality, and Democracy hosted by the West Virginia University College of Law with the support of Baker’s family, which also has related materials included. The lecture series, having been held in 2012, 2014, and 2015, primarily focused on free speech and the work of Baker. Baker wrote and published four books during his career, which all have research materials and draft manuscripts within the collection. The collection is divided into fourteen series.
Special access restriction applies. Box 4, folder 28 contains one item restricted for 75 years from date of creation. Box 24, folders 1, 4-19 are restricted for 75 years from date of creation because of the presence of social security numbers, grades, etc. Users may complete the Agreement for the Use of Restricted Materials to request access to these materials prior to the expiration of the restriction. See the appropriate record for the item or folder in question for more detailed information and specific date of creation.
Born-digital material must be reformatted for research access. Researchers must contact the West Virginia & Regional History Center reference department at https://westvirginia.libanswers.com/wvrhc.
Part of this collection is stored offsite. Please make an appointment prior to visiting.
Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.
Charles Edwin Baker (1947 May 28-2009 December 2009) was born in Nashville, Tennessee, the son of Falcon O. Baker, Jr. and Ernestine Magagna Baker. He and his sister, Nancy Lynn Baker, grew up in Madisonville, Kentucky and Iowa City, Iowa. Baker attended Madisonville High School in Madisonville, Kentucky (1961-1965). He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Stanford University (1965-1969), graduating Phi Beta Kappa, and his J.D. from Yale Law School (1969-1972). While employed in his first academic position as Assistant Professor at the University of Toledo (1972-1975) he was also a Fellow in Law and Humanities at Harvard University (1974-1975).
In 1974, the Yale Law Journal published Baker’s article, “Utility and Rights: Two Justifications for State Action Increasing Equality,” the first of many in a prolific scholarly publishing career that included over seventy articles, four books, and ten book chapters, as well as many op-ed pieces, talks, presentations, and lectures, spanning the course of his lifetime. His most recent publications were published posthumously and include articles in the Virginia Law Review
41.17 Linear Feet (32 document cases, 5 in. each; 22 record cartons, 15 in. each; 1 flat storage box, 4 in.)
English
German
French
Spanish; Castilian
Papers and other materials of C. Edwin Baker (1947–2009) of Madisonville, Kentucky, an internationally prominent and prolific legal scholar, author of over 75 publications, and holder of the Nicholas Gallicchio Professor of Law and Communication at the University of Pennsylvania at the time of his passing. Baker authored four books: Human Liberty and Freedom of Speech (1989), Advertising and a Democratic Press (1994), Media, Markets, and Democracy (2002), and Media Concentration and Democracy: Why Ownership Matters (2007). Baker’s area of scholarship focused on the subjects of Free Speech, the First Amendment, and Media Policy. Baker held a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and a law degree from Yale University. His academic career included positions at the University of Oregon, University of Toledo, University of Pennsylvania, and the American Civil Liberties Union, where he was staff attorney. Baker held three fellowships at Harvard. He was also appointed to the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. Baker held visiting faculty status at New York University, the University of Chicago, Cornell University, the University of Texas, and Harvard. Correspondence, course materials, book and article drafts, and subject files document the academic career and scholarship of C. Edwin Baker.
The collection is arranged into fourteen series, with sub-series denoting specific subjects or time periods. The collection is largely arranged chronologically with some series arranged by subject. At every opportunity files were kept in original order, labeled as originally, with contents in original order.
West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / Fax: 304-293-3981 / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/
Gifted in two deposits to the West Virginia University College of Law by Baker's sister, Nancy Baker, 2011. Transferred from the West Virginia University College of Law Library to the WVRHC in three parts on 2021 April 15, 2023 February 20, and 2023 June 05, respectively.
Folders relabeled by Dee Elliott, Feb-March 2024 Collection reprocessed by Dee Elliott, 2023-2024 Collection separated from Law Library Inventory by Dee Elliott, 2023. Collection received by the WVRHC in three parts, 2021-2023. Collection processed by Stewart Plein, July 2011 Finding Aid drafted by: Stewart Plein, July 2011 Addendum received, August, 2011. Addendum added by Stewart Plein, October 2011 Finding Aid completed by Stewart Plein, October 2011
Part of the West Virginia and Regional History Center Repository