Frederick Storrs Baker, Forestry: Berkeley
1890-1965
Professor of Silviculture, Emeritus
Frederick Storrs Baker was born at Bridgeport, Connecticut, on June 3, 1890, the son of Louis Harrington Baker and Evelyn Storrs Baker. The first of the Baker line came to Ipswich in Massachusetts Bay colony in 1637 from Norwich, England. Young Baker had an introduction to trees, flowers and the out-of-doors from his parents, both of whom were enthusiastic amateur botanists. When he graduated from high school in 1908 he went to Milford, Pennsylvania, for a summer course introductory to forestry conducted by the Yale University Forestry School. That fall he entered the forestry course at Colorado College, where he not only pursued the prescribed course of instruction, but also spent each summer in timber reconnaissance and other field work for the United States Forest Service in the Rocky Mountain area. After graduating with the degree of Forest Engineer from this institution in 1912, he spent the next fourteen years on work with the Forest Service on the Pike, Uinta, and Manti National Forests and in studying aspen and other tree species under the direction of Dr. Arthur W. Sampson, then at the Forest Experiment Station at Ephraim, Utah. Thus he became thoroughly acquainted with forestry problems in the Rocky Mountains. In 1918 he was called to Washington on war-time problems of wood fuel and the securing of black walnut for airplane construction. In this assignment he became familiar with forest conditions throughout the southeastern and middlewestern states, and authored a publication on American Black Walnut.
Returning to Utah he supervised silvicultural research for the entire Rocky Mountain District of the U.S. Forest Service and compiled data on results of seeding and planting and the distribution of tree species throughout this region. After serving as Assistant Regional Forester in charge of public relations for Region 4 of the U.S. Forest Service, he joined the forestry staff of the University of California in May 1926 with assignment of teaching and research work in silviculture, but handling a number of other courses as well. His call to the University of California resulted primarily from his former association with Dr. Arthur W. Sampson who had subsequently been made a member of the forestry staff at the University of California.
Thus Fred Baker began a long and rewarding career of thirty years with the University of California during which he endeared himself to generations of students who knew him familiarly and belovedly as “Bake.” His research added greatly to the knowledge of growth and reproduction of California tree species, their ecological relationships and their requirements for light and moisture. He wrote many articles for the Journal of Forestry and in 1934 his authoritative textbook, The Theory and Practice of Silviculture, was published. He was always unorthodox in his methods and his dry humor was effective in emphasizing his point of view, particularly when he carried on written arguments with his alter ego, “Derf Kaber.” However, his students learned the importance of careful observation as the basis for silvicultural knowledge. They also learned that the forest is a complicated community, that silviculture is an art though based on science, and that application of research to field conditions has lagged tremendously in recent years. His silvicultural advice to students was, “Use what sense you have, observe well, go ahead and guess your very best as to what to do. Science is not going to help you much or prove you wrong until you are very old indeed.” In 1950 an extensive revision of his textbook was published under the title Principles of Sylviculture and it is still used by many schools of forestry.
Baker became the second Dean of the School of Forestry in 1947 on the retirement of Walter Mulford, and demonstrated effective leadership in this capacity during a very important developmental period until his retirement on July 1, 1956, when he was made Dean Emeritus. During these eight years he served as an ex-officio member of the California State Board of Forestry, contributing so effectively to their deliberations and program, that in January 1965 the Board passed a lengthy resolution of appreciation from which the following is quoted:
“WHEREAS Fred Baker contributed much to the deliberations of this board and to the profession of forestry which is indebted to him for the writing of some 45 technical papers and two valuable textbooks of silviculture, and
“WHEREAS, the document printed at the behest of this Board in 1955 and titled California's Forest Regeneration Problems was largely accomplished through the technical knowledge and untiring efforts of Fred Baker acting as chairman of the honorary committee appointed by this Board to study the important problems of forest regeneration in California.
“...the Secretary of this Board is hereby directed to transmit a copy of this resolution to the Dean of the School of Forestry of the University of California and the President of Colorado College, to mark in some small measure the respect in which the late Frederick Storrs Baker was held by this Board because of his exemplary personal life, his lasting professional accomplishments, and his unfailing congeniality as a friend and associate
“Adopted in regular session at Sacramento, California, January 7, 1965.”
An outstanding characteristic of Baker, the man, was his utter lack of show and pretense. This characteristic was especially apparent in the classroom. An additional factor which added to his effectiveness as a teacher was his love for innovation when devising problems and presenting the solutions to them.
Baker, the teacher, was decidedly at his best in the close association with students at the forestry summer camp at Meadow Valley in Plumas County. He was fascinated by the complex ecology of the old-growth Sierran forests and even after his official retirement, he devoted many weeks to careful studies of a natural reserve which the Forest Service established not far from Califorest Camp headquarters. The faculty has designated this 80-acre University property (acquired during his deanship) as the Frederick S. Baker Forest.
As Dean of the School of Forestry he was an effective and far-sighted administrator. With his leadership, the educational policies established earlier were confirmed and strengthened and his selection of six new faculty members maintained the faculty in a position of strength. He secured the first operating budget for the University Forest Products Laboratory; the fine Laboratory building was planned and constructed and the first Director of the Laboratory was appointed under his leadership.
Baker gave liberally of his time and talents in furthering the programs of the Society of American Foresters, both nationally and in California. He was a member of its council from 1942 to 1945 and served as chairman of the Society's Committee on Western Forest Types, authoring important sections of that Committee's report, “Forest Cover Types of Western North America” and contributing frequent articles in the Journal of Forestry.
To the deep regret of his many former students his final illness made it impossible for him to take part in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the U.C. Forestry School in December, 1964, and he died in Berkeley on January 1, 1965, at the age of 74.
Dean Emeritus Baker is survived by Kalla Hodge Baker whom he married in Ogden, Utah, in 1918, a son, Frederick Marvin Baker, two daughters--Barbara (Mrs. John) Horning of Seaside, Oregon, and Elizabeth (Mrs. Emmett N.) Brownell of Menlo Park, California, and seven grandchildren.
1890-1965
Professor of Silviculture, Emeritus
Frederick Storrs Baker was born at Bridgeport, Connecticut, on June 3, 1890, the son of Louis Harrington Baker and Evelyn Storrs Baker. The first of the Baker line came to Ipswich in Massachusetts Bay colony in 1637 from Norwich, England. Young Baker had an introduction to trees, flowers and the out-of-doors from his parents, both of whom were enthusiastic amateur botanists. When he graduated from high school in 1908 he went to Milford, Pennsylvania, for a summer course introductory to forestry conducted by the Yale University Forestry School. That fall he entered the forestry course at Colorado College, where he not only pursued the prescribed course of instruction, but also spent each summer in timber reconnaissance and other field work for the United States Forest Service in the Rocky Mountain area. After graduating with the degree of Forest Engineer from this institution in 1912, he spent the next fourteen years on work with the Forest Service on the Pike, Uinta, and Manti National Forests and in studying aspen and other tree species under the direction of Dr. Arthur W. Sampson, then at the Forest Experiment Station at Ephraim, Utah. Thus he became thoroughly acquainted with forestry problems in the Rocky Mountains. In 1918 he was called to Washington on war-time problems of wood fuel and the securing of black walnut for airplane construction. In this assignment he became familiar with forest conditions throughout the southeastern and middlewestern states, and authored a publication on American Black Walnut.
Returning to Utah he supervised silvicultural research for the entire Rocky Mountain District of the U.S. Forest Service and compiled data on results of seeding and planting and the distribution of tree species throughout this region. After serving as Assistant Regional Forester in charge of public relations for Region 4 of the U.S. Forest Service, he joined the forestry staff of the University of California in May 1926 with assignment of teaching and research work in silviculture, but handling a number of other courses as well. His call to the University of California resulted primarily from his former association with Dr. Arthur W. Sampson who had subsequently been made a member of the forestry staff at the University of California.
Thus Fred Baker began a long and rewarding career of thirty years with the University of California during which he endeared himself to generations of students who knew him familiarly and belovedly as “Bake.” His research added greatly to the knowledge of growth and reproduction of California tree species, their ecological relationships and their requirements for light and moisture. He wrote many articles for the Journal of Forestry and in 1934 his authoritative textbook, The Theory and Practice of Silviculture, was published. He was always unorthodox in his methods and his dry humor was effective in emphasizing his point of view, particularly when he carried on written arguments with his alter ego, “Derf Kaber.” However, his students learned the importance of careful observation as the basis for silvicultural knowledge. They also learned that the forest is a complicated community, that silviculture is an art though based on science, and that application of research to field conditions has lagged tremendously in recent years. His silvicultural advice to students was, “Use what sense you have, observe well, go ahead and guess your very best as to what to do. Science is not going to help you much or prove you wrong until you are very old indeed.” In 1950 an extensive revision of his textbook was published under the title Principles of Sylviculture and it is still used by many schools of forestry.
Baker became the second Dean of the School of Forestry in 1947 on the retirement of Walter Mulford, and demonstrated effective leadership in this capacity during a very important developmental period until his retirement on July 1, 1956, when he was made Dean Emeritus. During these eight years he served as an ex-officio member of the California State Board of Forestry, contributing so effectively to their deliberations and program, that in January 1965 the Board passed a lengthy resolution of appreciation from which the following is quoted:
“WHEREAS Fred Baker contributed much to the deliberations of this board and to the profession of forestry which is indebted to him for the writing of some 45 technical papers and two valuable textbooks of silviculture, and
“WHEREAS, the document printed at the behest of this Board in 1955 and titled California's Forest Regeneration Problems was largely accomplished through the technical knowledge and untiring efforts of Fred Baker acting as chairman of the honorary committee appointed by this Board to study the important problems of forest regeneration in California.
“...the Secretary of this Board is hereby directed to transmit a copy of this resolution to the Dean of the School of Forestry of the University of California and the President of Colorado College, to mark in some small measure the respect in which the late Frederick Storrs Baker was held by this Board because of his exemplary personal life, his lasting professional accomplishments, and his unfailing congeniality as a friend and associate
“Adopted in regular session at Sacramento, California, January 7, 1965.”
An outstanding characteristic of Baker, the man, was his utter lack of show and pretense. This characteristic was especially apparent in the classroom. An additional factor which added to his effectiveness as a teacher was his love for innovation when devising problems and presenting the solutions to them.
Baker, the teacher, was decidedly at his best in the close association with students at the forestry summer camp at Meadow Valley in Plumas County. He was fascinated by the complex ecology of the old-growth Sierran forests and even after his official retirement, he devoted many weeks to careful studies of a natural reserve which the Forest Service established not far from Califorest Camp headquarters. The faculty has designated this 80-acre University property (acquired during his deanship) as the Frederick S. Baker Forest.
As Dean of the School of Forestry he was an effective and far-sighted administrator. With his leadership, the educational policies established earlier were confirmed and strengthened and his selection of six new faculty members maintained the faculty in a position of strength. He secured the first operating budget for the University Forest Products Laboratory; the fine Laboratory building was planned and constructed and the first Director of the Laboratory was appointed under his leadership.
Baker gave liberally of his time and talents in furthering the programs of the Society of American Foresters, both nationally and in California. He was a member of its council from 1942 to 1945 and served as chairman of the Society's Committee on Western Forest Types, authoring important sections of that Committee's report, “Forest Cover Types of Western North America” and contributing frequent articles in the Journal of Forestry.
To the deep regret of his many former students his final illness made it impossible for him to take part in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the U.C. Forestry School in December, 1964, and he died in Berkeley on January 1, 1965, at the age of 74.
Dean Emeritus Baker is survived by Kalla Hodge Baker whom he married in Ogden, Utah, in 1918, a son, Frederick Marvin Baker, two daughters--Barbara (Mrs. John) Horning of Seaside, Oregon, and Elizabeth (Mrs. Emmett N.) Brownell of Menlo Park, California, and seven grandchildren.
Frederick Storrs Baker, Forestry: Berkeley
1890-1965
Professor of Silviculture, Emeritus
Frederick Storrs Baker was born at Bridgeport, Connecticut, on June 3, 1890, the son of Louis Harrington Baker and Evelyn Storrs Baker. The first of the Baker line came to Ipswich in Massachusetts Bay colony in 1637 from Norwich, England. Young Baker had an introduction to trees, flowers and the out-of-doors from his parents, both of whom were enthusiastic amateur botanists. When he graduated from high school in 1908 he went to Milford, Pennsylvania, for a summer course introductory to forestry conducted by the Yale University Forestry School. That fall he entered the forestry course at Colorado College, where he not only pursued the prescribed course of instruction, but also spent each summer in timber reconnaissance and other field work for the United States Forest Service in the Rocky Mountain area. After graduating with the degree of Forest Engineer from this institution in 1912, he spent the next fourteen years on work with the Forest Service on the Pike, Uinta, and Manti National Forests and in studying aspen and other tree species under the direction of Dr. Arthur W. Sampson, then at the Forest Experiment Station at Ephraim, Utah. Thus he became thoroughly acquainted with forestry problems in the Rocky Mountains. In 1918 he was called to Washington on war-time problems of wood fuel and the securing of black walnut for airplane construction. In this assignment he became familiar with forest conditions throughout the southeastern and middlewestern states, and authored a publication on American Black Walnut.
Returning to Utah he supervised silvicultural research for the entire Rocky Mountain District of the U.S. Forest Service and compiled data on results of seeding and planting and the distribution of tree species throughout this region. After serving as Assistant Regional Forester in charge of public relations for Region 4 of the U.S. Forest Service, he joined the forestry staff of the University of California in May 1926 with assignment of teaching and research work in silviculture, but handling a number of other courses as well. His call to the University of California resulted primarily from his former association with Dr. Arthur W. Sampson who had subsequently been made a member of the forestry staff at the University of California.
Thus Fred Baker began a long and rewarding career of thirty years with the University of California during which he endeared himself to generations of students who knew him familiarly and belovedly as “Bake.” His research added greatly to the knowledge of growth and reproduction of California tree species, their ecological relationships and their requirements for light and moisture. He wrote many articles for the Journal of Forestry and in 1934 his authoritative textbook, The Theory and Practice of Silviculture, was published. He was always unorthodox in his methods and his dry humor was effective in emphasizing his point of view, particularly when he carried on written arguments with his alter ego, “Derf Kaber.” However, his students learned the importance of careful observation as the basis for silvicultural knowledge. They also learned that the forest is a complicated community, that silviculture is an art though based on science, and that application of research to field conditions has lagged tremendously in recent years. His silvicultural advice to students was, “Use what sense you have, observe well, go ahead and guess your very best as to what to do. Science is not going to help you much or prove you wrong until you are very old indeed.” In 1950 an extensive revision of his textbook was published under the title Principles of Sylviculture and it is still used by many schools of forestry.
Baker became the second Dean of the School of Forestry in 1947 on the retirement of Walter Mulford, and demonstrated effective leadership in this capacity during a very important developmental period until his retirement on July 1, 1956, when he was made Dean Emeritus. During these eight years he served as an ex-officio member of the California State Board of Forestry, contributing so effectively to their deliberations and program, that in January 1965 the Board passed a lengthy resolution of appreciation from which the following is quoted:
“WHEREAS Fred Baker contributed much to the deliberations of this board and to the profession of forestry which is indebted to him for the writing of some 45 technical papers and two valuable textbooks of silviculture, and
“WHEREAS, the document printed at the behest of this Board in 1955 and titled California's Forest Regeneration Problems was largely accomplished through the technical knowledge and untiring efforts of Fred Baker acting as chairman of the honorary committee appointed by this Board to study the important problems of forest regeneration in California.
“...the Secretary of this Board is hereby directed to transmit a copy of this resolution to the Dean of the School of Forestry of the University of California and the President of Colorado College, to mark in some small measure the respect in which the late Frederick Storrs Baker was held by this Board because of his exemplary personal life, his lasting professional accomplishments, and his unfailing congeniality as a friend and associate
“Adopted in regular session at Sacramento, California, January 7, 1965.”
An outstanding characteristic of Baker, the man, was his utter lack of show and pretense. This characteristic was especially apparent in the classroom. An additional factor which added to his effectiveness as a teacher was his love for innovation when devising problems and presenting the solutions to them.
Baker, the teacher, was decidedly at his best in the close association with students at the forestry summer camp at Meadow Valley in Plumas County. He was fascinated by the complex ecology of the old-growth Sierran forests and even after his official retirement, he devoted many weeks to careful studies of a natural reserve which the Forest Service established not far from Califorest Camp headquarters. The faculty has designated this 80-acre University property (acquired during his deanship) as the Frederick S. Baker Forest.
As Dean of the School of Forestry he was an effective and far-sighted administrator. With his leadership, the educational policies established earlier were confirmed and strengthened and his selection of six new faculty members maintained the faculty in a position of strength. He secured the first operating budget for the University Forest Products Laboratory; the fine Laboratory building was planned and constructed and the first Director of the Laboratory was appointed under his leadership.
Baker gave liberally of his time and talents in furthering the programs of the Society of American Foresters, both nationally and in California. He was a member of its council from 1942 to 1945 and served as chairman of the Society's Committee on Western Forest Types, authoring important sections of that Committee's report, “Forest Cover Types of Western North America” and contributing frequent articles in the Journal of Forestry.
To the deep regret of his many former students his final illness made it impossible for him to take part in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the U.C. Forestry School in December, 1964, and he died in Berkeley on January 1, 1965, at the age of 74.
Dean Emeritus Baker is survived by Kalla Hodge Baker whom he married in Ogden, Utah, in 1918, a son, Frederick Marvin Baker, two daughters--Barbara (Mrs. John) Horning of Seaside, Oregon, and Elizabeth (Mrs. Emmett N.) Brownell of Menlo Park, California, and seven grandchildren.
1890-1965
Professor of Silviculture, Emeritus
Frederick Storrs Baker was born at Bridgeport, Connecticut, on June 3, 1890, the son of Louis Harrington Baker and Evelyn Storrs Baker. The first of the Baker line came to Ipswich in Massachusetts Bay colony in 1637 from Norwich, England. Young Baker had an introduction to trees, flowers and the out-of-doors from his parents, both of whom were enthusiastic amateur botanists. When he graduated from high school in 1908 he went to Milford, Pennsylvania, for a summer course introductory to forestry conducted by the Yale University Forestry School. That fall he entered the forestry course at Colorado College, where he not only pursued the prescribed course of instruction, but also spent each summer in timber reconnaissance and other field work for the United States Forest Service in the Rocky Mountain area. After graduating with the degree of Forest Engineer from this institution in 1912, he spent the next fourteen years on work with the Forest Service on the Pike, Uinta, and Manti National Forests and in studying aspen and other tree species under the direction of Dr. Arthur W. Sampson, then at the Forest Experiment Station at Ephraim, Utah. Thus he became thoroughly acquainted with forestry problems in the Rocky Mountains. In 1918 he was called to Washington on war-time problems of wood fuel and the securing of black walnut for airplane construction. In this assignment he became familiar with forest conditions throughout the southeastern and middlewestern states, and authored a publication on American Black Walnut.
Returning to Utah he supervised silvicultural research for the entire Rocky Mountain District of the U.S. Forest Service and compiled data on results of seeding and planting and the distribution of tree species throughout this region. After serving as Assistant Regional Forester in charge of public relations for Region 4 of the U.S. Forest Service, he joined the forestry staff of the University of California in May 1926 with assignment of teaching and research work in silviculture, but handling a number of other courses as well. His call to the University of California resulted primarily from his former association with Dr. Arthur W. Sampson who had subsequently been made a member of the forestry staff at the University of California.
Thus Fred Baker began a long and rewarding career of thirty years with the University of California during which he endeared himself to generations of students who knew him familiarly and belovedly as “Bake.” His research added greatly to the knowledge of growth and reproduction of California tree species, their ecological relationships and their requirements for light and moisture. He wrote many articles for the Journal of Forestry and in 1934 his authoritative textbook, The Theory and Practice of Silviculture, was published. He was always unorthodox in his methods and his dry humor was effective in emphasizing his point of view, particularly when he carried on written arguments with his alter ego, “Derf Kaber.” However, his students learned the importance of careful observation as the basis for silvicultural knowledge. They also learned that the forest is a complicated community, that silviculture is an art though based on science, and that application of research to field conditions has lagged tremendously in recent years. His silvicultural advice to students was, “Use what sense you have, observe well, go ahead and guess your very best as to what to do. Science is not going to help you much or prove you wrong until you are very old indeed.” In 1950 an extensive revision of his textbook was published under the title Principles of Sylviculture and it is still used by many schools of forestry.
Baker became the second Dean of the School of Forestry in 1947 on the retirement of Walter Mulford, and demonstrated effective leadership in this capacity during a very important developmental period until his retirement on July 1, 1956, when he was made Dean Emeritus. During these eight years he served as an ex-officio member of the California State Board of Forestry, contributing so effectively to their deliberations and program, that in January 1965 the Board passed a lengthy resolution of appreciation from which the following is quoted:
“WHEREAS Fred Baker contributed much to the deliberations of this board and to the profession of forestry which is indebted to him for the writing of some 45 technical papers and two valuable textbooks of silviculture, and
“WHEREAS, the document printed at the behest of this Board in 1955 and titled California's Forest Regeneration Problems was largely accomplished through the technical knowledge and untiring efforts of Fred Baker acting as chairman of the honorary committee appointed by this Board to study the important problems of forest regeneration in California.
“...the Secretary of this Board is hereby directed to transmit a copy of this resolution to the Dean of the School of Forestry of the University of California and the President of Colorado College, to mark in some small measure the respect in which the late Frederick Storrs Baker was held by this Board because of his exemplary personal life, his lasting professional accomplishments, and his unfailing congeniality as a friend and associate
“Adopted in regular session at Sacramento, California, January 7, 1965.”
An outstanding characteristic of Baker, the man, was his utter lack of show and pretense. This characteristic was especially apparent in the classroom. An additional factor which added to his effectiveness as a teacher was his love for innovation when devising problems and presenting the solutions to them.
Baker, the teacher, was decidedly at his best in the close association with students at the forestry summer camp at Meadow Valley in Plumas County. He was fascinated by the complex ecology of the old-growth Sierran forests and even after his official retirement, he devoted many weeks to careful studies of a natural reserve which the Forest Service established not far from Califorest Camp headquarters. The faculty has designated this 80-acre University property (acquired during his deanship) as the Frederick S. Baker Forest.
As Dean of the School of Forestry he was an effective and far-sighted administrator. With his leadership, the educational policies established earlier were confirmed and strengthened and his selection of six new faculty members maintained the faculty in a position of strength. He secured the first operating budget for the University Forest Products Laboratory; the fine Laboratory building was planned and constructed and the first Director of the Laboratory was appointed under his leadership.
Baker gave liberally of his time and talents in furthering the programs of the Society of American Foresters, both nationally and in California. He was a member of its council from 1942 to 1945 and served as chairman of the Society's Committee on Western Forest Types, authoring important sections of that Committee's report, “Forest Cover Types of Western North America” and contributing frequent articles in the Journal of Forestry.
To the deep regret of his many former students his final illness made it impossible for him to take part in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the U.C. Forestry School in December, 1964, and he died in Berkeley on January 1, 1965, at the age of 74.
Dean Emeritus Baker is survived by Kalla Hodge Baker whom he married in Ogden, Utah, in 1918, a son, Frederick Marvin Baker, two daughters--Barbara (Mrs. John) Horning of Seaside, Oregon, and Elizabeth (Mrs. Emmett N.) Brownell of Menlo Park, California, and seven grandchildren.
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