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Ida Strawn Baker collection

 Collection
Identifier: L006

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of poetry, sketchbooks, a diary, and datebooks from Ida Strawn Baker in Indiana, California, and Europe, ranging from 1912 to 1940. The diaries include information about Baker’s daily life, business affairs, and various trips to Europe, California, and World War I army camps.

Dates

  • 1912-1940

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Biographical Note

Ida Strawn Baker was an Indianapolis artist and businessperson. She was born Ida May Strawn on September 25, 1876 in Gellett Grove, Iowa to Samuel Hartman (1841-1901) and Mary Anne (Evans) Strawn (1855-1923). Strawn married Walter Davis Baker (1873-1929), a public school teacher, on June 11, 1908 in Marion County, Indiana. The couple started an art and craft supply manufacturing business by 1920 and after Walter's death in 1929, Ida Strawn Baker became president of Waldcraft Laboratories Inc. (1930s-1942). The Waldcraft Center served as a non-profit group that offered assistance to artists, and professional help in crafts and frescos. Baker died on November 17, 1962 at Hotel Monte Carlo in Mexico City, Mexico and was interred in American Cemetery in Mexico City.

Sources:

Items in the collection.

Ancestry.com. "Ida S. Baker." 1910 United States Federal Census. Accessed November 30, 2023. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Ida S. Baker." 1920 United States Federal Census. Accessed November 30, 2023. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Ida S. Baker." 1930 United States Federal Census. Accessed November 30, 2023. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Ida S. Baker." 1940 United States Federal Census. Accessed November 30, 2023. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Ida May Strawn." Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941Accessed November 30, 2023. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Ida May Strawn." Iowa, U.S., Births (series) 1880-1904, 1921-1944 and Delayed Births (series), 1856-1940. Accessed November 30, 2023. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Ida Strawn Baker." U.S., Reports of Deaths of American Citizens Abroad, 1835-1974. Accessed November 30, 2023. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Extent

0.5 Cubic Feet (1 manuscript box, 1 half manuscript box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

This collection is arranged by format.

Custodial History

This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Ida S. Strawn during 1942 June.

Accruals

No further additions are expected.

Processing Information

Collection processing completed during 2010/05 by Brent Abercrombie. EAD finding aid revised 2021/07/30 by Lauren Patton; 2023/11/30 by Brittany Kropf.

Subjects

Related Names

Creator

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Ida Strawn Baker collection
Status
Completed
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository

http://www.in.gov/library/manuscripts.htm
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