December 3, 1871 – December 25, 1937
Personal Data
Born December 3, 1871
Martinsburg, West Virginia, U.S.
Died December 25, 1937 (aged 66)
Shaker Heights, Ohio, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Parents: Newton Diehl Baker I and Mary Dukehart
Spouse: Elizabeth Leopold Baker
Alma mater: Johns Hopkins University
Washington and Lee University
Profession Politician, Lawyer
Education
Attended village schools in Martinsburg, WV, through the second year of high school and finished his preparatory training at Episcopal High School near Alexandria, VA.
1888-1892--B.A., Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
1892-1894--L.L.B.,Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA.
1895--Admitted to the bar.
Employment
|
1895-1896 |
Practiced law in Martinsburg, WV |
|
1896-1897 |
Private secretary to Postmaster General William L. Wilson, Washington, D.C. |
|
1897-1899 |
Member of law firm of Flick, Westenhaver, and Baker, Martinsburg, WV |
|
1899-1901 |
Practiced in the law firm of Foran, McTighe & Baker, Cleveland, OH |
|
1901 |
Legal advisor to the Cleveland city Board of Equalization, Cleveland, OH |
|
1901-1902 |
Assistant Director of Law, City of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH |
|
1903 |
Law Director, City of Cleveland (title changed to City Solicitor and became elected rather than appointed) |
|
1903-1912 |
City Solicitor, Cleveland, OH |
|
1912-1916 |
Mayor of Cleveland, OH |
|
1916-1921 |
U.S. Secretary of War, Washington, D.C. |
|
1921-1937 |
Private law practice in the firm of Baker, Hostetter, Sidlo & Patterson, Cleveland, OH |
Awards and Honors
Outstanding lawyer of the year by Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, 1920
American Hebrew, 1930
Medal from the National Institute of Social Sciences for his service to humanity, 1933
Membership-Professional Organizations
Adult Education Association of the USA, Cleveland President, 1928-1929
American Association for Adult Education, President, 1930-1931
American Judicature Society, President, 1930-1937
Board of Trustees of Cleveland College, President
Board of Trustees of John Hopkins University
Board of Trustees of Washington and Lee University
Board of Trustees of Western Reserve University, President, 1916
Carnegie Corporation of New York, Trustee
Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, President, 1922-1923
National Advisory Council on Radio in Education
National Commission on Law Enforcement and Observance, member, 1929
National Conference of Jews and Christians, Protestant co-chairman, 1928-1937
Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague, member appointed in 1928 by President Coolidge and reappointed by President Roosevelt, 1935
Woodrow Wilson Foundation, President, 1928-1931
Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity
Publications
|
1918 |
Frontiers of freedom |
|
1923 |
Progress and the constitution |
|
1929 |
As a bystander sees it: Some aspects of adult education
|
|
1935 |
War in the modern world |
|
1936 |
Why we went to war |
|
Lifetime |
Newton Diehl Baker did not publish any books; however, all of the above are speeches that were printed into articles |
Professional Interest Areas
Value of education for purposes of social change
vision of creating an institution for ex-soldiers and working adults to continue or further their education
Army (soldier) education
International relationships
Political Science
Major Contributions to Adult Education
Founding members in the American Association of Adult Education (AAAE)
Instrumental in founding Cleveland College
Committed to providing education to soldiers returning to civilian life
A strong advocate for adult education
Additional Resources
Articles
Photo Gallery
The official portrait of Baker by Edmund Hodgson Smart, 1921
Video/Audio
Presentations
Books
Interesting Facts
Newton Diehl Baker was rejected for military service in the Spanish-American War because of poor eyesight.
Major quote: “Education is fueled by the enthusiasm of the adult mind in search of intellectual growth, and this process continues through life.”
References
Beaver, Daniel R. (1966). Newton D. Baker and the American war effort: 1917-1919. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.
Cramer, C. H. (1961). Newton D. Baker: A biography. New York, NY: World Publishing.
Hiemstra, R. (2002). Newton Diehl Baker Personal Vita. Retrieved July 2, 2008 from http://www-distance.syr.edu/ndb.html
National Cyclopedia of American Biography. (1930). New York, NY: James White.
NNDB. (n.d.). Newton D. Baker. Retrieved July 2, 2008 from http://www.nndb.com/people/535/000113196/
Rohfeld, R. W. (1986). Newton D. Baker and the adult education movement. Ohio History, 95, 119-132.
Sobel, R. (1977). Biographical directory of the United States executive branch: 1774-1977. Westport. CT: Greenwood Press.