William H. Baldwin Papers, 1886-1980


Summary Information
Title: William H. Baldwin Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1886-1980

Creator:
  • Baldwin, William H., 1891-1980
Call Number: U.S. Mss 24AF; Micro 809; Micro 874

Quantity: 0.4 c.f. (1 archives box) and 20 reels of microfilm (35mm)

Repository:
Archival Locations:
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:
Papers of a public relations specialist also well known for his many social welfare activities. Included are correspondence, financial records, reports, proposals, publications, minutes, writings and speeches, and notes. Approximately half of the collection consists of personal correspondence, the bulk of which relates to operation of the Springfield (Mass.) Republican, a family enterprise. Prominent correspondents include his cousins Roger N. Baldwin and Chester B. Bowles as well as William Benton, James Dombrowski, John Haynes Holmes, Earl Newsom, and H. T. Webster. Other personal papers includes copies of speeches, articles, and miscellaneous writings; a 1962 diary; material used for public relations lectures given at Harvard and New York University; and notes made as a student at the University of Wisconsin, 1912-1913. Relating to public relations work are correspondence, client files, publications, and financial records. The client files contain program proposals and publications prepared, distributed, or collected for various accounts. Many of the files relate to Baldwin's ongoing work regarding tariff legislation. Unfortunately other than the finished proposals, the development of most programs is only fragmentarily represented. Publications include Resolved, a newsletter published by Baldwin's firm for non-profit organizations, and lists of attitudes and opinion leaders abstracted from it. Baldwin's interest in social welfare is documented by files on the American Museum of Immigration, Fisk University, the National Urban League, the Urban League of Southwestern Fairfield County (Conn.), the Southern Education Foundation, and other groups. While the majority of these files consist only of correspondence (and that dates mainly from the mid 1950s through the 1970s), there are minutes, financial records, and publications for the AMI, the Southern Education Foundation, and the Urban League of Southwestern Fairfield County. Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., and Whitney M. Young, Jr., appear as frequent correspondents within the NUL files. Family papers consist of correspondence of Baldwin's father William H. Baldwin, Jr., and his mother Ruth Standish Baldwin and a Baldwin genealogy. William H. Baldwin, Jr.'s files contain a letter from John D. Rockefeller, Jr., a speech, and a review of a book by William B. DuBois; those of Ruth Standish Baldwin mainly contain exchanges with staff members of the Highlander Folk School, Monteagle, Tennessee.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-us0024af
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Biography/History

Public relations pioneer William H. Baldwin was born September 17, 1891, in Saginaw, Michigan, and grew up in a family where working for the public welfare was a tradition. His father, William H. Baldwin, Jr. (William H. Baldwin dropped the III after his father's death in 1905), was a close advisor of Booker T. Washington and a trustee of Tuskegee Institute. His mother Ruth Standish (Bowles) Baldwin was a trustee of Smith College and a founder of the National Urban League. Roger N. Baldwin and Chester B. Bowles were two of his cousins. The family tradition of public service was continued by William H. Baldwin who worked actively in behalf of the American Museum of Immigration (member of the board), the National Urban League (trustee and honorary trustee, 1915-1980, and president, 1942-1947), Fisk University (trustee and trustee emeritus, 1923-1980), the Southern Education Foundation (member of the board, 1950-1980), the Foreign Policy Association, and a host of other organizations.

William H. Baldwin's early education was in private schools in New York state and at Andover. With the intention of carrying on the family newspaper tradition, he attended Harvard University and completed his course of study in only three years. During the school year 1912-1913 he attended the University of Wisconsin, returning to graduate from Harvard in 1913. The following year was spent abroad, and in 1914 he went to work as ship news reporter for the New York Evening Post. After three years with the Post Baldwin enlisted in the navy and served as a press censor during World War I in Key West.

Upon the completion of his naval service, Baldwin apprenticed with Thomas F. Woodlock, a public relations specialist with the American International Corporation. In 1922 Baldwin accepted an offer from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, to devote full time to fundraising, thereby establishing the first million-dollar endowment at a Negro college in the South.

Baldwin established his own public relations firm in 1926, and was joined by Brewster S. Beach in 1937. Maurice Mermey became a partner in 1939, and the firm operated as Baldwin, Beach, and Mermey. From 1942 until 1960 when the firm was dissolved it operated as Baldwin and Mermey. Among Baldwin's clients for varying periods up to 30 years were Coca-Cola, Hershey Corporation, International Nickel, R. N. Macy and Company, the Crusade for Freedom, the National Association of Broadcasters, and Scoville Manufacturing. Baldwin was also counsel to ad hoc committees formed to mobilize public support for three successive extensions of the Trade Agreements Acts and adviser to the federal trustee throughout the reorganization of McKesson & Robbins. Baldwin was a charter member of the National Association of Publicity Directors and chairman of its successor, the National Association of Public Relations Counsel.

Baldwin married Cecilia H. Brewster in 1916. Mrs. Baldwin founded the real estate firm Baldwin and Company, which she operated for more than forty years. The Baldwins were the parents of three sons, William H., Jr., Brewster, and George Lee. William H. Baldwin died May 19, 1980 in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Scope and Content Note

The papers represent William H. Baldwin's varied personal and professional interests; unfortunately the documentation is incomplete in many aspects. For example, although Baldwin was a longtime supporter of both the National Urban League and Fisk University substantial material on both associations dates only from the mid-1950's. And while a number of public relations proposals are included, the ideas and concepts which led to their development are only fragmentarily represented. The collection is arranged as personal, professional, social welfare, and family papers and consists of correspondence, financial records, reports, public relations proposals, publications, minutes, writings, and notes.

The PERSONAL PAPERS primarily consist of a general correspondence file, 1906-1977, together with two diaries, 1913-1914 and 1942, drafts and printed copies of speeches, articles and writings that appeared under his name; many drafts of an unpublished book; materials used for public relations seminars conducted at Harvard and New York University; and notes on lectures and readings assigned in the classes of John R. Commons, E. A. Ross, Paul Reinsch and others while a student at the University of Wisconsin. The vast majority of the letters concern the management of the Springfield (Mass.) Republican, a Bowles-Baldwin family enterprise. Prominent correspondents include both of his cousins Roger N. Baldwin and Chester B. Bowles and William Benton, James Dombrowski, John Haynes Holmes, Earl Newsom, and H. T. Webster. Within the writings, the lecture materials and the unpublished public relations manuscript are of considerable interest, for both include many references to his career. The drafts of his unpublished book about his long career in public relations are of particular interest as they contain information regarding his public relations campigns which is not found elsewhere.

PROFESSIONAL PAPERS include financial records, which are most complete for the 1920's and 1930's; correspondence, alphabetically-arranged client files, publications, and miscellany. The client files variously contain proposals and printed matter prepared, distributed, or collected in behalf of clients. Other pamphlets which relate to international trade and the sugar tariff in particular are filed with the miscellany. These pamphlets could not be directly tied to specific clients or promotions. Publications include Resolved, which was issued briefly by Baldwin and Mermey for non-profit organizations, and Footnotes to Public Relations, a newsletter more directly oriented toward their work as public relations counselors. A catalog of attitudes and a list of opinion leaders, both of which were compiled as the result of publishing Resolved are also filed in this section. There is also a scrapbook of articles and promotions prepared by Baldwin, 1927-1930.

SOCIAL WELFARE PAPERS are arranged alphabetically by agency, with those files on the American Museum of Immigration, Fisk, the National Urban League, the Urban League of Southwestern Fairfield County and the Southern Education Foundation being the most extensive. These consist chiefly of correspondence, but for some groups there are also minutes, publications of various kinds, financial records, and for AMI, exhibit and building plans. Within the National Urban League files there are frequent exchanges with Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., and Whitney M. Young, Jr.

FAMILY PAPERS are primarily correspondence of Baldwin's father and mother; the William H. Baldwin, Jr., correspondence consists of letters to his father (WHB Sr.), a letter from John D, Rockefeller, Jr., a speech, and a review of a book by William B. DuBois; the Ruth Standish Baldwin correspondence chiefly consists of exchanges with staff members of the Highlander Folk School, Monteagle, Tennessee.

Most of the pamphlets and printed items separated from Baldwin's client files are located in the one box of materials which was not microfilmed.

Administrative/Restriction Information
Acquisition Information

Presented by William H. Baldwin, New Canaan, Connecticut, 1960-1978, and by William H. Baldwin, Jr., 1980. Accession Number: MCHC 60-18, 62-5, 63-57, 67-125, 72-27, 73-15, 75-70, and 78-6, 80-102.


Processing Information

Processed by Janice O'Connell, 1964, and Carolyn J. Mattern, April 1980; prepared for microfilming by Thomas Pscheidt, May 1981.


Contents List
Series: Personal Papers
Micro 874
Correspondence
Reel   1
Frame   1-225
1906-1930
Reel   1
Frame   226-470
1931-1938
Reel   1
Frame   471-702
1939-October 1946
Reel   1
Frame   703-970
November 1946-February 1947
Reel   1
Frame   971-1034
March 1947
Reel   2
Frame   1-152
April-August 1947
Reel   2
Frame   153-337
September 1947-January 15, 1948
Reel   2
Frame   338-593
January 16-December 1948
Reel   2
Frame   594-782
1949
Reel   2
Frame   783-944
1950-1951
Reel   2
Frame   945-1136
January-March 1952
Reel   3
Frame   1-177
April-June 1952
Reel   3
Frame   178-332
July-December 1952
Reel   3
Frame   333-448
1953
Reel   3
Frame   449-616
1954-1955
Reel   3
Frame   617-763
1956-April 1958
Reel   3
Frame   764-900
May 1958-February 1959
Reel   3
Frame   901-1027
March-September 1959
Reel   3
Frame   1028-1122
October-December 1959
Reel   4
Frame   1-82
January 1960
Reel   4
Frame   83-233
February-May 1960
Reel   4
Frame   234-371
June-July 1960
Reel   4
Frame   372-515
August-October 1960
Reel   4
Frame   516-672
November-December 1960
Reel   4
Frame   673-811
January-February 1961
Reel   4
Frame   812-916
March-May 1961
Reel   4
Frame   917-1089
June-August 1961
Reel   5
Frame   1-52
September 1961
Reel   5
Frame   53-251
October-December 1961
Reel   5
Frame   252-302
1961, n.d.
Reel   5
Frame   303-454
January-March 1962
Reel   5
Frame   455-650
April-July 1962
Reel   5
Frame   651-867
August-December 1962
Reel   5
Frame   868-1056
1963
Reel   6
Frame   1-155
1964
Reel   6
Frame   156-283
1965-June 1966
Reel   6
Frame   284-539
July 1966-1969
Reel   6
Frame   540-864
1970-1974
Reel   6
Frame   865-1075
1975-1979, n.d.
Reel   7
Frame   1-625
Diaries, 1913-1914; 1962
Writings and Speeches
Reel   7
Frame   626-794
General, 1927-1947
Reel   7
Frame   795-1017
General, 1948-1960's
Reel   7
Frame   1018-1106
“For Whites Only,” n.d.
Reel   8
Frame   1-108
Public Relations Manuscript, 1963
Book Manuscript
Reel   8
Frame   109-157
Early Draft, n.d.
Reel   8
Frame   158-173
Portions, August 1963
Reel   8
Frame   174-253
Full Draft, 1963
Reel   8
Frame   254-365
Full Draft, 1967
Reel   8
Frame   366-408
Portions, c. 1966-1967
Reel   8
Frame   409-559
Full Draft, 1967
Reel   8
Frame   560-619
Portions, February 1971
Reel   8
Frame   620-877
Portions, c. April-May 1971
Reel   8
Frame   682-877
Full Draft, 1972
Reel   8
Frame   878-1047
Full Draft, c. 1973-1974
Reel   8
Frame   1048-1058
Prefaces, April; October 1974
Reel   9
Frame   1-174
April 1975
Reel   9
Frame   175-348
Harvard Lecture Notes, 1947-1948
Reel   9
Frame   349-456
New York University Lecture Notes, 1950-1951
Reel   9
Frame   457-694
Forrest Thesis and Miscellaneous Biographical Material, 1962-1968; Obituaries, , 1980
Micro 809
Reel   1
Frame   1-875
University of Wisconsin Class Notes, 1912-1913
Series: Professional Papers
Financial Records
Ledger
Reel   1
Frame   876-940
1926-1929
Reel   1
Frame   941-991
1926-1930
Reel   1
Frame   992-1046
1929-1930
Reel   1
Frame   1047-1130
, 1930-1937 (Cash Book)
Reel   1
Frame   1131-1210
, 1930-1937 (Journal)
Reel   1
Frame   1211-1238
1931-1932
Reel   1
Frame   1239
Loose Sheets, 1927-1960
Micro 874
Correspondence
Reel   9
Frame   695-817
1943-1950
Reel   9
Frame   818-976
1952-September 1958
Reel   9
Frame   977-1120
October 1958-1959
Reel   10
Frame   1-149
1960
Reel   10
Frame   150-452
1961-1966
Reel   10
Frame   453-517
1967-1969
Client Files
Reel   10
Frame   518-529
Allis-Chalmers, 1944
Reel   10
Frame   530-585
American Bottlers of Carbonated Beverages, 1929-1953
Reel   10
Frame   586-594
American Chambers of Commerce of Cuba, 1941-1948
Reel   10
Frame   595-645
Automobile Manufacturers' Association Sales Managers Committee, 1946
Reel   10
Frame   646-656
Belgium and Belgian Congo, n.d.
Reel   10
Frame   657-697
Bennington College, n.d.
Reel   10
Frame   698-838
Bituminous Coal Institute, Bi-centennial, 1944-1945
Reel   10
Frame   839-854
Briggs Clarifier Company, ca. 1945
Reel   10
Frame   855-1049
British-American Chamber of Commerce, 1959-1962
Reel   10
Frame   1050-1061
Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, 1953-1954
Reel   10
Frame   1062-1161
Citizens Committee for Reciprocal World Trade, 1943-1949
Reel   11
Frame   1-53
Citizens Committee for Reciprocal World Trade Pamphlets
Reel   11
Frame   54-184
Coca-Cola, News Manual, ca. 1940
Reel   11
Frame   185-193
Committee for International Economic Policy, 1944
Reel   11
Frame   194-214
Cotton Textile Institute, 1941
Crusade for Freedom, 1950
Reel   11
Frame   215-281
Proposals
Reel   11
Frame   282-353
Press Releases
Reel   11
Frame   354-535
Other Printed Matter
Reel   11
Frame   536-573
Cuban Tourism, 1941
Economics of Mobilization Conference, 1951
Reel   11
Frame   574-802
Press Transcript
Reel   11
Frame   803-995
Report
Reel   11
Frame   996-1001
“European Common Market and its Melting Pot,” 1960(?)
Reel   11
Frame   1002-1013
Hawaiian Tourism, 1946
Reel   11
Frame   1014-1098
Hershey Corporation, 1922-1942
Reel   12
Frame   1-140
International Nickel, Scripts, 1953-1960
Reel   12
Frame   141-202
McKesson and Robbins, n.d.
Reel   12
Frame   203-229
Negro in American Industry Exposition, 1948
Reel   12
Frame   230-238
New York Cancer Committee, 1929-1939
Reel   12
Frame   239-244
North American Trade Bureau, 1959(?)
Reel   12
Frame   245-257
Oscar Bach Originales, 1948
Reel   12
Frame   258-283
Phelps-Stokes, 1925
Reel   12
Frame   284-316
Philippines, n.d.
Reel   12
Frame   317-462
Scovill, 1950(?), 1954
Reel   12
Frame   463-471
Socony-Vacuum, 1944
Reel   12
Frame   472-495
Sterling Products, 1945
Reel   12
Frame   496-527
Swiss Watchmakers Federation, 1954
Reel   12
Frame   528-544
Trade Agreement Act Extension Memoranda, 1958
Reel   12
Frame   545-572
U.S. Council, International Chamber of Commerce, 1952
Reel   12
Frame   573-586
“War Bonds for Babies,” 1944
Reel   12
Frame   587-1017
World Trade Federation, Poll, 1946
Reel   12
Frame   1018-1030
Your Happy Birthday (Radio program), 1941
Publications
Reel   13
Frame   1-160
Footnotes to Public Relations, 1945-1949
Reel   13
Frame   161-266
Resolved, 1947-1949
Reel   13
Frame   267-355
Resolved Supplements, 1947-1948
Reel   13
Frame   356-670
Resolved “Catalog of Attitudes,” 1947-1949
Reel   13
Frame   671-746
Resolved List of Opinion Leaders, ca. 1947-1949
Reel   13
Frame   747-854
Miscellany, 1950-1960
Reel   13
Frame   855-897
Sugar Pamphlets, n.d.
Reel   13
Frame   898-1086
Tariff Pamphlets, n.d.
Reel   14
Frame   1-161
Tariff Pamphlets, continued
Reel   14
Frame   162-232
Scrapbook, 1927-1930
Series: Social Welfare Papers
American Museum of Immigration
Reel   14
Frame   233-545
Scrapbook, 1955
Correspondence
Reel   14
Frame   546-705
1951-June 1955
Reel   14
Frame   706-857
July-December 1955
Reel   14
Frame   858-966
1956-June 1957
Reel   14
Frame   967-1046
July-December 1958
Reel   15
Frame   1-182
1959-1961
Reel   15
Frame   183-305
1962-1963
Reel   15
Frame   306-440
1964-1966
Reel   15
Frame   441-567
1967-1971
Reel   15
Frame   568-686
1972-1975
Reel   15
Frame   687-768
1976-1980
Reel   15
Frame   769-983
Minutes, 1955-1978
Reel   15
Frame   984-1077
Exhibit Plans, n.d.
Reel   16
Frame   1-122
Building Plans, n.d.
Reel   16
Frame   123-294
Publications, n.d.
Reel   16
Frame   295-407
Press Releases, 1954-1972
Financial Records
Reel   16
Frame   408-516
1954-1957, 1960, 1978
Reel   16
Frame   517-604
Annual Accounting Reports, 1955-1978
Reel   16
Frame   605-687
Clippings, 1956-1976
Reel   16
Frame   688-957
Fisk University, Correspondence, 1957-1980
Foreign Policy Association, Correspondence
Reel   16
Frame   958-1042
1963-1966
Reel   17
Frame   1-101
1966-1972
National Urban League
Correspondence
Reel   17
Frame   102-118
1934-1935, 1944
Reel   17
Frame   119-189
1955-1962
Reel   17
Frame   190-310
1963-1964
Reel   17
Frame   311-437
1965-1966
Reel   17
Frame   438-572
1967-1969
Reel   17
Frame   573-682
1970-1972
Reel   17
Frame   683-849
1973-1979
Reel   17
Frame   850-899
Public Relations Committee Minutes, 1964-1969
Urban League of Southwestern Fairfield County
Reel   17
Frame   900-911
Bylaws, 1977
Reel   17
Frame   912-996
Administrative Papers, 1969-1975
Reel   17
Frame   997-1042
Annual Reports, 1969-1975
Board of Directors Minutes
Reel   17
Frame   1043-1087
1969
Reel   18
Frame   1-91
1970
Reel   18
Frame   92-196
1971-1972
Reel   18
Frame   197-300
1972-1977
Reel   18
Frame   301-331
Correspondence, 1969-1976
Reel   18
Frame   332-401
Committees, 1969-1977
Reel   18
Frame   402-440
Financial Records, 1970-1976
Reel   18
Frame   441-472
Membership, Board of Directors, and Officers Lists, 1969-1970
Memoranda
Reel   18
Frame   473-587
1970-1972
Reel   18
Frame   588-651
1972-1976
Reel   18
Frame   652-707
Notices, 1969-1975
Reel   18
Frame   708-732
Newspaper Clippings, 1969-1974
Reel   18
Frame   733-739
Press Releases, 1971-1974
Reel   18
Frame   740-766
Programs, 1970
Reel   18
Frame   767-809
Statements of Position, 1970-1972
Public Affairs Committee, Correspondence
Reel   18
Frame   810-929
1964-1970
Reel   18
Frame   930-1094
1971-1972
Southern Education Foundation
Correspondence
Reel   19
Frame   1-142
1960-1968
Reel   19
Frame   143-287
1969-June 1970
Reel   19
Frame   288-356
July 1970-1977
Reel   19
Frame   357-530
Minutes and Bylaws, 1964-1977
Budgets
Reel   19
Frame   531-583
1965-1969
Reel   19
Frame   584-695
1970-1971
Reel   19
Frame   696-746
United Defense Fund, 1955
Reel   19
Frame   747-812
Youth Consultation Services, 1960
Series: Family Papers
Reel   19
Frame   813-944
Baldwin, William, Jr., 1886-1904
Reel   19
Frame   945-1228
Baldwin, Ruth Standish, 1922-1934
Reel   19
Frame   1229-1262
Baldwin Genealogy, 1953
U.S. Mss 24AF
Box   1
Pamphlets and Printed Materials Separated from Client Files