Henry Baker Collection, 1926-1990 | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

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Collection Overview

Title: Henry Baker Collection, 1926-1990

ID: COLL/004

Primary Creator: Baker, Henry (1887-1985)

Extent: 1.0 Box. More info below.

Arrangement: Folder level description

Subjects: Christian Reformed Church - Missions, Christian Reformed Church - Sermons, Missions, Sermons, American

Forms of Material: Albums (Books)

Abstract

Details the latter part of Henry Baker’s ministerial career, when his work focused on home missions. Includes biographical data, sermons, essays, meditations, and reports. Particularly rich in detailing the evangelism and home mission efforts in the Christian Reformed Church in North America during the middle decades of the twentieth century.

Biographical Note

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Henry Baker (1887-1985) was a minister in the Christian Reformed Church in North America. He graduated from Calvin Seminary in 1910. He served congregations in Michigan, New Jersey, and Illinois before becoming the denomination’s first “missionary-at-large.” Instrumental in developing the denomination’s chaplaincy program during WWII, he also launched efforts to help resettle Dutch immigrants after the war. A strong advocate of missions, he helped establish radio ministry and the Back to God Hour. He retired from the active ministry in 1957, at the age of seventy-two, after a forty-seven-year career. He and Tillie Etta Westmaas (1888-1970) were married in 1910, and they had four children: Antoinette Florence (1911-1933), Marjorie Josephine (Haeck), Clazina (Klauzina), Pearl (Masselink), and Frederick Henry. In 1971, Baker married Angie VanderTill née Mersman (1899-1977).

Subject/Index Terms

Christian Reformed Church - Missions
Christian Reformed Church - Sermons
Missions
Sermons, American

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Biography, Sermons, and Scrapbooks, 1926-1990],
[All]

Series 1: Biography, Sermons, and Scrapbooks --- 1926-1990

Box 1

Folder 1: Biography by Clazina Baker Masselink and biographical material

Folder 2: Sermons, outlines --- 1926, 1927, 1936

Folder 3: Back to God Hour sermons --- 1959

Folder 4: Banner meditations --- 1950s

Folder 5: Banner essays --- 1960s

Folder 6: Scrapbook material: Press clippings and articles on mission work

Folder 7

Item 1: Christian Doctrine for Beginners --- 1960 and undated
Item 2: Home Mission Order, The Christian Reformed Church and What It Teaches --- undated

Folder 8: Daily Manna meditations --- 1940s

Folder 9: Radio sermons --- 1940s

Folder 10: Synodical sermons --- 1948, 1949, 1952

Folder 11

Item 1: Reports: On the Gereformeerde Kerken Synod --- 1952
Item 2: A New Seminary Building --- ca. 1956

Folder 12: Christian Doctrine for Beginners --- 1954