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James Gilbert Baker Edit Profile

Optics scientist

James Gilbert Baker, American Optics scientist.

Background

Baker, James Gilbert was born on November 11, 1914 in Louisville. Son of Jesse Blanton and Hattie May (Stallard) Baker.

Education

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.

Career

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.

Achievements

  • James Gilbert Baker has been listed as a notable Optics scientist by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

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).

Connections

Married Elizabeth Katherine Breitenstein, January 1, 1938. Children: Kirby Alan, Dennis Graham, Neal Kenton, Brenda Sue.

Father:
Jesse Blanton Baker

Mother:
Hattie May (Stallard) Baker

Spouse:
Elizabeth Katherine Breitenstein

child:
Brenda Sue Baker

child:
Neal Kenton Baker

child:
Kirby Alan Baker

child:
Dennis Graham Baker