- William A. Baker
William Avery Baker (born in
New Britain, Connecticut on 21 October 1911 - died 9 September 1981) was a distinguished naval architect of replica historic ships and a maritime historian, who was curator of theFrancis Russell Hart Nautical Museum atMassachusetts Institute of Technology 1963-1981.Early Life and Education
The son of William Elisha Baker and his wife Margaret MacDonald Sanderson, William A. Baker was educated at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology , where he earned anS.B. degree in 1934 in the Department ofNaval Architecture andMarine Engineering with a thesis on "Development ofCatamaran Hulls" supervised by George Davis. On 2 May 1936, he married Ruth Stuart.Professional career
In 1934, Baker joined the shipbuilding division of the
Bethlehem Steel Corporation and became a registeredprofessional engineer in the states ofCalifornia andMassachusetts . Baker served with them until 1964, when he became curator of theFrancis Russell Hart Nautical Museum . He was the compiler of plans and specifications for a number of historicShip replica s, including "Gjoa " in 1948, "Mayflower II " in 1957, "Adventure " in 1970, and "Maryland Dove in 1978.He served as a member of the editorial advisory board of the
American Neptune , 1952-1981;Mystic Seaport , 1973-1981. He was a Fellow and trustee of thePilgrim Society ,Plimoth Plantation , and a member of theSociety of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers , of which he was co-founder of the New England section in 1943 and served as secretary-treasurer, 1943-44, and chairman in 1957-58. He also served as secretary-treasurer of the Northern California section in 1949 and became an honorary member of the society in 1980. Among other organizations, he was a long-time member of theHakluyt Society , theSociety for Nautical Research and theBoston Marine Society . He was a founder and the first president of theNorth American Society for Oceanic History .Published Works
* "The new Mayflower, her design and construction, by her designer." Illustrations by R.S. & W.A. Baker. Barre, Mass., Barre Gazette, 1958.
* "Colonial vessels; some seventeenth-century sailing craft." Illustrated by the author. Barre, Mass., Barre Pub. Co., 1962.
* "The engine powered vessel: from paddle-wheeler to nuclear ship." New York, N.Y. : Grosset & Dunlap, 1965.
* "Sloops & shallops" Barre, Mass., Barre Pub. Co. 1966; Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1988.
* "The
clipper ship ." [Exhibition] Hayden Gallery, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, November 14 through December 2, 1966. [Cambridge, Mass.] : The Hayden Gallery, 1966.* "A history of the
Boston Marine Society , 1742-1967." Boston : Boston Marine Society, 1968.* "A history of the first 75 years." Cambridge, M.I.T. Dept. of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, 1969.
* "C. J. A. Wilson’s Ships." With notes and comments by William A. Baker. Introd. by Richard B. Holman. Barre, Mass., Barre Publishers, 1971.
* "New England and the sea", by
Robert G. Albion , William A. Baker, andBenjamin W. Labaree .Marion V. Brewington , picture editor. Middletown, Conn., Published for the Marine Historical Association, Mystic Seaport, by Wesleyan University Press [1972] .* "
Maine shipbuilding: a bibliographical guide." Portland:Maine Historical Society , 1974.* "The
Mayflower and other colonial vessels." Annapolis, Md.:Naval Institute Press, 1983.ource
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Who's Who
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