Baker, Henry (1887-1985) | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

Name: Baker, Henry (1887-1985)

Historical 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).

Records or Manuscript Collections Created by Baker, Henry