Collection Guide
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Office of the President, Warren J. Baker
UA0011
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives, Robert E. Kennedy Library, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Title: Office of the President, Warren J. Baker
Creator:
Warren J. Baker
Creator:
Office of the President, Cal Poly
Identifier/Call Number: UA0011
Physical Description:
32 Linear Feet
48 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1979-2014
Abstract: Records created by the Office of the President during the 30-year term of President Dr. Warren J. Baker relating to university
operations, administration, promotion, international relations, and development, including campus life and commencement. Records
include correspondence, meeting minutes, photographs, speeches, publications, and audio/visual materials.
Language of Material:
English
.
Collection is open to researchers by appointment. For more information on visiting, access policies, and reproduction requests,
please visit our Reference Services page online at http://lib.calpoly.edu/search-and-find/collections-and-archives/reference-services/.
Digital copies are provided to researchers for the purpose of study, research, and personal use only, unless otherwise specified
in writing. Materials that are the property of Cal Poly Special Collections and Archives require written permission prior
to publication. No complete collection may be reproduced. For print and online publication, please visit our Reproduction
Services page online at http://lib.calpoly.edu/support/sca-policies/reproduction/. Special Collections and Archives reserves
the right to review all reproduction requests and to withhold permission if scanning would endanger the material, would violate
copyright law, or would violate institutional restrictions. Copyright: © 2016 Trustees of the California State University.
All rights reserved.
Office of the President, Warren J. Baker, Special Collections and Archives, California Polytechnic State University
Transferred from the Office of the President, multiple accessions
Biography/Administrative History
Dr. Warren J. Baker (1938-2022) served as President of Cal Poly from August 1979 through July 2010. Baker was a civil engineer
and a recognized leader in higher education. The California State University Board of Trustees named him president on May
22,1979. The youngest campus president in California State University history, he came to Cal Poly after seven years as a
professor and with experience in multiple leadership positions including three years as VP for Academic Affairs at the University
of Detroit. He served as Cal Poly president for 31 years.
Baker was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts on September 5, 1938. He attended the University of Notre Dame where he received
a BS in Civil Engineering in 1960 and an MS in Civil Engineering in 1962. He received his PhD in Civil Engineering at the
University of New Mexico in 1966 and later studied at Harvard Business School. He and his wife relocated to San Luis Obispo
from the University of Detroit in Michigan. Carly Baker supported the President's Office in various campus activities, including
establishing the foundation for the Performing Arts Center and development work with the Centennial Campaign. She received
an MA in Education at Cal Poly in 1985 and worked on several boards and commissions relating to social issues, including the
Children's Center task force, Children's Protective Services task force, the board of the Women's Shelter, and Juvenile Justice
and Delinquency Prevention commissions.
Baker was instrumental in developing strong financial, facility, and program growth; fostering relationships with private
and governmental funding sources; increasing the breadth of academic programs; and making a name for Cal Poly at the state
and national levels. Baker cultivated approximately $1 billion in new facilities and renovations over three decades including
a new Engineering Building (Bldg. 13) in 1985 and Agricultural Sciences Building (Bldg. 11) in 1988. Baker developed a relationship
with Al Smith, Cal Poly alum and founder of Orchard Supply Hardware, and shepherded the donation of the 3,200-acre Swanton
Pacific Ranch along with an endowment to support education at the ranch. Under his leadership, Cal Poly increased the breadth
of academic programs, adding 20 majors, 72 minors, and 15 master's degree programs.
Dr. Baker's work impacted all aspects of campus services and student life. He supported athletic funding and led the process
to gain membership in the Big West Conference. Using Title IX as a guide, he instituted sports scholarships for women and
closed the athletics-only men's residence halls. He faced challenges on campus as well. In 1990, due to attendee riots, Baker
suspended Poly Royal, an exposition held on campus since 1933. The event was suspended for several years and later redesigned
as Open House. After six successful Open House events, Baker reinstated Poly Royal for one year in 2001 as part of the university's
centennial celebrations.
He faced criticism of his administration, as have other presidents, but was largely successful. During his tenure as president,
U.S. News & World Report ranked Cal Poly as the best public university in the west for the first time in 1993 and for 17 consecutive
years afterwards. The Baker Forum, which focuses on the social and economic roles and responsibilities of polytechnic universities,
was established by the Cal Poly President's Council of Advisors to recognize 20 years of service by President Baker and his
wife Carly.
Off campus, Baker was involved in a number of professional associations and projects reflecting his interest and commitment
to promoting education in science and technology. Baker served as a member of the US National Science Board; appointed by
President Reagan, he served two terms from 1985 to 1994. He was a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, a Fellow
in the Engineering Society of Detroit, former board member of the California Council for Science and Technology, and former
member of the US Business-Higher Education Forum. He joined the Board of Directors of WestPort Fuel Systems in 2002 and also
served on the Board of the US-Mexico Foundation for Science. On Dec. 7, 2009 Baker announced his intention to retire and served
as President through July 2010.
In 2013 he was honored with the naming of the Warren J. Baker Center for Science and Mathematics and with the President's
Medal of Excellence, bestowed by President Armstrong, for "transformational service to Cal Poly and the State of California."
President Baker passed away October 7, 2022.
Sources:
Lazier, Matt. "31 Years in Support of Learn by Doing: A Conversation with Warren Baker".
Cal Poly Magazine, 2010, pp. 15-22.
Middlecamp, David. "Warren J. Baker named Cal Poly President". Web blog. Photos from the Vault. The Tribune, 15 September
2009. Accessed 8 December 2016. http://sloblogs.thetribunenews.com/slovault/2009/09/warren-j-baker-named-cal-poly-president/
"Mustang Daily: Baker's Legacy". Cal Poly Student Newspaper, 2010, pp. 1 - 11
http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/studentnewspaper/6971
Scope and Content of Collection
The Office of the President is the highest administrative office for the campus, reporting to the California State University
(CSU) Chancellor and Board of Trustees. The Office of the President records document the overall policies, practices, and
procedures of the daily operation of campus, as well as interaction with other CSU campuses and with CSU administration. The
collection documents Baker's tenure as president.
The records consist of ~21LF of records collected and created by Warren J. Baker in his role as President of Cal Poly San
Luis Obispo from 1979–2010, including university operations, administration, promotion, international relations, and development,
campus life, and commencement. Records include correspondence related to student activities, campus administration, NSB proceedings,
curriculum, and campus planning; meeting minutes; campus and community speeches; photographs; and audio/visual materials including
speeches, campus events, and lectures.
Approximately 11 linear feet of tea sets received by Baker on behalf of the university during his visits abroad working with
International Programs and the development of programs abroad, as well as his role on the US National Science Board.
Series 1: EARTH. Planning documents, meeting minutes, and reports related to the development of EARTH University, Escuela
de Agricultura de la Región Tropical Húmeda, Costa Rica. Materials are primarily in English with some Spanish content.
Series II Speeches and Campus Communications. Contains printed copies of speeches delivered on campus and at off-campus institutions
and events. The files within the series are arranged as received.
Series III Administrative Files. Series contains records created by the Office of the President relating to campus operations,
campus events, and campus administration.
Series IV BIFAD and NSB. Board for International Food and Agricultural Development (BIFAD) and National Science Board (NSB)
records. President Warren J. Baker was involved as a member and leader in both BIFAD and NSB.
Series V Gifts and Memorabilia. Gifts and memorabilia received by the president on behalf of the Office of the President and
on behalf of the University during his tenure. Includes objects from the President's House on campus.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Universidad EARTH
Escuela de Agricultura de la Región Tropical Húmeda
Board for International Food and Agricultural Development (BIFAD)
National Science Board (NSB)
UCSB Economic Forecast Project
California Polytechnic State University