xxii The Molluscan Family Planorbidae 



Mr. Baker found deep satisfaction in following the careers of men 

 who attributed part of their early zeal for science to boyhood con- 

 tacts with him and to inspiration growing out of his enthusiasm and 

 kindly interest in their personal problems. One instance of an influ- 

 ence of which he was personally unaware stands out prominently. A 

 mother called at his office in Urbana to present him with a copy of a 

 scientific book written by her son. She explained that the son, who 

 had died while on archeological explorations in a foreign land, defi- 

 nitely attributed his aspiration in the field of science to the benevo- 

 lent and gracious attention of Air. Baker to the queries of an un- 

 known and apparently unpromising urchin frequenting the museum 

 of the Chicago Academy. 



Mr, Baker resigned from his position with the Chicago Academy 

 in 1915. In that same year, he embarked on a new phase of his career 

 in which his time was given over entirely to field study and research. 

 The newly established New York State College of Forestry, on the 

 campus of Syracus University, employed him as an investigator. For 

 two years he carried on a comprehensive evaluation of the relations 

 of bottom fauna to fish life in Oneida Lake. This program culmi- 

 nated in two volumes of distinctive contributions which were pub- 

 lished by the New York State College of Forestry. 



Ever since the founding of the University of Illinois, the Museum 

 of Natural History had been in charge of members of the faculty 

 whose foremost obligation had been that of teaching or administra- 

 tion. Under wise guidance of men such as S. A. Forbes and Frank 

 Smith, the Museum had prospered and was able to secure the serv- 

 ices of very unusual collectors and competent preparators w^ho 

 added materially to its development. Toward the end of President 

 James's administration, a renewed interest in archeology and in 

 natural resources together with rapid increase in University enroll- 

 ment led to consideration of the problem of securing a full-time 

 curator for the Museum of Natural History. The position was offered 

 to Mr. Baker w^ho, at the height of his professional career, entered 

 upon his duties in January, 1918. 



In 1936 Air. Baker reached the age established by the University 

 for retirement from active service but his good health and vigor 

 and the best interests of the University combined to bring about 

 postponement of his retirement for three additional years. In 1939, 

 in his seventy-second year, his colleagues helped him celebrate 

 entrance upon status as Curator Emeritus, which permitted him to 

 devote his entire time to completion of researches in progress. Let- 

 ters of congratulation and appreciation from colleagues and from 

 fellow scientists throughout the country were assembled, bound, 

 and presented to him at a dinner in his honor. The esteem with 

 which he was held as an individual and acknowdedgments of personal 

 debts of gratitude were as sincely expressed as was the evaluation 

 of his scientific work. 



