Background
Baker, James Gilbert was born on November 11, 1914 in Louisville. Son of Jesse Blanton and Hattie May (Stallard) Baker.
Baker, James Gilbert was born on November 11, 1914 in Louisville. Son of Jesse Blanton and Hattie May (Stallard) Baker.
Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, University Louisville, 1935. Doctor of Science (honorary), University Louisville, 1948. AM (Townsend Scholar), Harvard, 1936.
Doctor of Philosophy in Astronomy and Astrophysics, Harvard, 1942.
Lowell lecturer, 1940;
director, Optical Research Laboratory, Harvard, 1941-1946;
associate professor, Optical Research Laboratory, Harvard, 1946-1948;
research fellow, Harvard Observatory, 1942-1946;
research associate, Harvard Observatory, since 1949;
research associate, (Lick Observatory), 1949-1960. President Spica, Inc., 1955-1960. Consultant optical physics Air Force, 1946-1957;consultant Polaroid Corporation, since 1966, Perkin-Elmer Corporation, 1943-1955.
Chairman United States.nat. committee International Commission Optics, 1956-1959, international vice president, 1959-1962;science advisory board United States Air Force, 1952-1957.
Trustee The Perkin Fund, 1970. Fellow National Academy of Sciences. Member National Academy of Engineering, Society Fellows, American Philosophical Society, American Astronomical Society (councillor 1956-1959), American Optical Society (Adolph Lomb medal for contributions to optics 1942, president 1960, Frederic Ives medal 1965, Fraunhofer award 1991), American Academy Arts and Sciences (councillor 1957-1959), Optical Society of America (honorary)(president, 1960), Explorers Club, Gamma Alpha (president Harvard chapter 1939), Sigma Xi (secretary-treasurer Harvard chapter 1946-1948).
Married Elizabeth Katherine Breitenstein, January 1, 1938. Children: Kirby Alan, Dennis Graham, Neal Kenton, Brenda Sue.