Shelby and Eleanor Baker papers
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Date
Creator
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Language of Materials
Abstract
Correspondence, certificates, photographs, diaries, and clippings relating to Shelby Baker and his daughter, Eleanor Baker. The Bakers hailed from South Livonia, New York. The papers include several documents pertaining to Shelby's service in the Civil War, as well as several letters to Eleanor from her husband, George Gletty.
Chronology
Arrangement
The folders are organized by material type, and then chronologically when possible.
Scope and Contents
The papers of Shelby and Eleanor Baker are comprised of correspondence, certificates, photographs, diaries, and newspaper clippings.
Folder 1 contains items related to Shelby's service in the Civil War. Included are his volunteer enlistment certificate, appointments to sergeant and lieutenant, muster-in roll, and discharge papers. The papers also contain documents created after his service, including a pension certificate issued after his death to his wife, Mariette, and a resolution passed by members of the 136th Regiment requesting the Secretary of the Regimental Association to convey "the assurance of our kind remembrance" to Shelby during his illness. Also included are two obituaries from unidentified newspapers, containing biographical information.
Folder 2 contains correspondence and notes. This folder primarily contains letters written by George Gletty to Eleanor during their courtship. The letters describe George's love for Eleanor, as well as his daily activities, most notably his attempts to build a house for them. There is also one unaddressed letter of recommendation for George A. Gletty and a letter written to Eleanor shortly after her marriage by her cousin, Mary A. Jones.
Folder 3 contains the travel diary Eleanor kept during her travels in 1909. Eleanor visited Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, before returning to New York State. Towards the end of the diary are some recipes for butterscotch and chocolate cake.
Folder 4 contains one photograph each of Shelby and Mariette Baker, as well as five photographs of Eleanor as a child and as an adult.
Subjects
Access Restrictions
Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.
Use Restrictions
Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.
Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.
Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions
Preferred Citation
This collection should be cited as The Shelby and Eleanor Baker Papers, MS 34, The New-York Historical Society.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donation, 1994.