284 
OBITUARY NOTICES. 
We have given above an outline of what may be termed 
the official side of Mr. Baker’s life and labors, but this in¬ 
cludes only a portion of his activities. 
During his service with the Geological Survey he took a 
course of law at the Columbian University and received the 
degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1896. He was associated with 
the Archaeological, Geographic, Geological, Historical, and 
Philosophical societies of Washington, and in the G eographic, 
Philosophical, and Historical societies he was engaged in 
the work of these organizations. He was one of the original 
incorporators of the National Geographic Society, in 1888, 
and served continuously on the governing board until his 
death. Early in his residence in Washington he became a 
member of the Philosophical Society and served for years on 
its committee of publication and other committees with 
cheerful zeal. He was elected President of the Society for 
1897. 
For a number of years he undertook the editorial duties 
of the Directory of the Scientific Societies of Washington, 
afterward the Directory of the Academy, constituted by their 
affiliation, and of which he was a member. 
During the walks which he enjoyed as his chief relaxation 
he became interested in the stones which had been erected 
to mark the boundary of the District of Columbia more 
than a century ago, and sought out the location and re¬ 
corded the condition of those remaining and the fate of 
those which negligence or ignorance had caused to disap¬ 
pear, preparing an interesting historical account of these 
monuments. 
In addition to these activities, his good judgment and 
business ability were recognized by his being elected a di¬ 
rector of the Equitable Building Association, a position which 
he held for a number of years. He was also a director of 
the Sanitary Improvement Company, organized for the con¬ 
struction of sanitary dwellings to be rented to men of small 
means at a reasonable rental. 
