Martha Baker papers, 1960-2002, bulk 1970s-1990s

Creator:

Abstract:

Martha Baker ( -2017) was an American political organizer based in New York City during the late twentieth century. In addition to campaigning for local leaders like Bella Abzug and David Dinkins, Baker served as the Executive Director of the New York City Commission on the Status of Women during the mid-1990s. Throughout her career, she advocated for reproductive rights, paid family leave, and women's rights in the workplace, among other causes. The collection includes clippings, correspondence, booklets, posters, brochures, political pins, notes, speeches, invitations, photographs, campaign materials, and videocassettes (VHS).

Extent:

13 Linear Feet (30 document boxes (Boxes 1-30), 2 flat boxes (Boxes 31-32))

Language:

English

Scope and content:

The collection contains the papers of Martha Baker and, in the main, relates to her career in politics and activism in late-twentieth-century New York City, as represented by Series I-IV. The final series is related to Baker's personal life and includes financial documents, health journals, clippings, correspondence, and awards she received.

The bulk of the collection pertains to Baker's role as Executive Director of the New York City Commission on the Status of Women, as represented by Series III, and her organizing efforts, as represented by Series I and IV. Series II focuses on Bella Abzug, a colleague of Baker's. The collection overall includes clippings, correspondence, booklets, posters, brochures, political pins, advertisements, research materials, notes, speeches, invitations, photographs, campaign materials, and videocassettes (VHS).

Biographical / historical:

Martha Baker ( -2017) was a political organizer based in New York City during the late twentieth century. After receiving her B.S. in Political Science and Government from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, she took her knowledge to New York City, where she served as the Deputy Director of the state's Workers' Compensation Board in the 1980s. On the side, she campaigned for local leaders, attended marches, and organized with Women's Strike for Peace, a group protesting against nuclear testing. Throughout her career, Baker advocated for reproductive rights, paid family leave, and women's rights in the workplace, among other causes.

In these activist circles, Baker came to know Bella Abzug and supported the Congresswoman's mayoral, Senatorial, and subsequent Congressional campaigns. In the 1990s, Baker served as Executive Director under Abzug on the New York City Commission on the Status of Women, a group tasked by Mayor David Dinkins with delivering reports on women's rights issues across all five boroughs. The group published several reports about sexual harassment on college campuses, in the workplace, and in municipal government between the late 1980s and early 1990s. In addition to leading these reports, Baker served on and oversaw various task forces.

In 1995, Baker became the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the Nontraditional Employment for Women, an organization supporting women in the construction industry. In the 2000s, Baker worked for the New York Paid Family Leave Coalition and sat on several boards, including the North Star Fund, Eleanor's Legacy, A Better Balance, and the Queens Borough Public Library. She received numerous awards over the course of her career, such as the Susan B. Anthony Award from the New York City Chapter of the National Organization of Women and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York Women's Foundation.

Baker lived in Fresh Meadows, Queens, with her husband, Jerry, with whom she had two children. She died on September 15, 2017.

Catalog record:

View in CLIO

Local call number:

MS#1886

Processing information:

This collection was processed by Sophia Scanlan (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, 2030). Finding aid written by Sophia Scanlan in August 2025.

The collection was reboxed, refoldered, and mostly relabeled. When folders had titles, those titles were maintained, and contents were kept together. Before processing, materials were organized thematically at the series level, and this collection maintains that structure. Additional order was imposed to organize items thematically at the subseries level as well. Duplicate documents and political pins were weeded out.

Acquisition information:

Source of acquisition--Gift of Martha Baker. Date of acquisition--12/12/2004.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in five series and several subseries. Each series is arranged thematically rather than strictly chronologically.

Accruals:

No additions are expected.

Related material:

Martha Baker collection on the New York City Commission on the Status of Women and other materials, circa 1992-1998, New York City Municipal Archives. This unprocessed collection relates to Series III of the Martha Baker Papers, which focuses on the New York City Commission on the Status of Women.

Bella Abzug Papers, 1937-1996, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University. The Bella Abzug Papers relate to Series II of the Martha Baker Papers, which focuses on Abzug as well. The Bella Abzug Papers might also relate to Series III of the Martha Baker Papers, given Abzug's leadership in the New York City Commission on the Status of Women.

David Dinkins Papers, 1941-2017, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University. The David Dinkins Papers relate to Subseries IV.5 in the Martha Baker Papers, which also focuses on Dinkins.

Women's Environment and Development Organization Records, 1980-2006, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University. The Martha Baker Papers contain several documents related to the Women's Environment and Development Organization Records in Subseries II.6.

Preferred citation:

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Martha Baker Papers; Box and Folder (if known); Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection has no restrictions.

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least five business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

Terms of access:

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Location of this collection:: Rare Book & Manuscript Library

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Collection