The following is a selection of unpublished talks and writings by Dr. Willam O. Baker. The originals are in the collection of his papers at Princeton University as the William O. Baker Papers, Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library; and are reproduced here with permisison. The papers were scanned into computer form by Prof. A. Michael Noll (with the support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation).
| Date | Title |
Venue
|
Summary |
| April 2000 | On the Occasion of the Presentation of the Benjamin Franklin Medal | American Philosophical Society | Acceptance remarks, including reference to the foundation of the "information age." |
| February 12, 1998 | Response to the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame Designation | NJ Inventors Hall of Fame | Acceptance remarks, including reference to WOB's early work at Bell Labs in materials. |
| 1993 | Notes on Science Advising in the White House | Manuscript published in: William T. Golden (ed), Science and technology advice to the president..., AAAS Press, 1993. | Favors decentraliztion of advice. |
| May 13, 1993 | Association of Governing Boards | Trenton, NJ | Discussion of moral decay in the US and its effects on government. |
| October 1992 | The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Dinner in Honor of Ken Herr | University Club, New York City | Classic example of WOB honoring others, but also good background on the history of the Mellon Foundation. |
| April 1992 | Notes on Educational Reform | Unknown | Discusses problems of education and the need for knowledge of mathematics and science. |
| November 7, 1991 | Science and Learning for All Americans | American Philosophical Society | Reviews WOB's past efforts to focus attention on illiteracy in education. |
| April 15, 1991 | Issues Relating to the Rockefeller University | Rockefeller University Trustees | Discussion of broad issues of the media and the culture of science and technology. |
| September 12, 1990 | Comments for Trustees Dinner | Rockefeller University | Review of history of Rockefeller University and the role of its trustees. |
| 1990 | Future Higher Educational Issues: Trends in Science and Technology | Written as a background report to the Association of Governing Boards | An extremely exhaustive report on higher education in the united States, calling for an increased emphasis on science, technology, and mathematics, along with new ways of educating. |
| January 1988 | Excellence in Research | Centennial Lecture at Arizona State University | Describes factors that stimulate excellence in industrial research. |
| December 10, 1987 | National Materials Advancement Award | Washington, DC | Acceptance remarks, outlining many advances in materials science. |
| October 1987 | The Technological Revolution: America's Place | CSIS Leadership Forum | Discusses "science for the people," the importance of learning and education, and human resources for the information age. |
| May 6, 1987 | Science and the City and the City in Science | New York City Science and Technology Week | Describes the role of New York City in science over the years. |
| 1987 | Scientific and Technologic Impacts on Industrial Life Related to Democracy and Development | Unknown | Discusses effects of information age on industry and illiteracy. |
| 1986 | Oncoming Roles of Modern Science and Technology in Crisis Generation and Resolution | World Future Society, Washington, DC | Describes the influence of communications and information handling on crises, referencing work at Bell Labs. |
| October 25, 1985 | Advancing Materials Research and Development | National Academy of Science Materials Symposium | Review of material science in the second half of the 20th century. |
| May 3, 1984 | Comments | Security Affairs Support Association Meeting | Applauds the work by the intelligence community in defending the security of the United States. |
| February 22, 1984 | Reconsideration of the Public Purposes of Science and Technology | Unknown | Overview of history and application of science to public purposes, ranging from materials science to computing and automata. |
| February 10,1982 | SIPI Talk | Scientists' Institute for Public Information | Discusses the need to inform the public about science and technology. |
| May 21, 1981 | The People's Science (Vannevar Bush Award) | National Science Board Annual Dinner, Washington, DC | Acceptance remarks, outlining the linkages of science and technology with the public. |
| December 9, 1980 | Remarks | First Annual New Jersey Science and Technology Medal Dinner | Reviews the many developments in science and technology in New Jersey. |
| May 12, 1978 | Influence of Future Technology on Intelligence for U. S. National Security | Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Washington DC | Reviews the accomplishments of science and technology in national security. |
| December 3, 1976 | National Initiatives in Science and Technology: Role of Chemistry | Charles Lathrop Parson Award of the American Chemical Society, Washington, DC | Acceptance remarks, reviewing accomplishments and challenges for chemistry research and applauding pluralism in research. |
| June 12, 1976 | Reality and Illusion | Graduation Convocation at the Technological Institute at Northwestern University | Discusses how knowledge separates illusion from reality, and how communication and the organization of information is required. |
| March 8, 1976 | Opportunities and Constraints in Food and Nutrition | Rockefeller University 75th Anniversary Symposium: Panel on Science and Technology for World Problems | Reviews specific opportunities in such areas as biomedical sciences, food systems, medicine, and the physical sciences and engineering. |
| July 31, 1974 | Statement | Statement on behalf of AT&T before the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust and Monopoly hearings on S. 1167 Industrial Reorganization Act | A sweeping review of the accomplishments of Bell Labs and its role in the Bell System as a defense of vertical integration. |
| February 12, 1974 | Interaction Today and Tomorrow | Talk at St. Elizabeth’s College, NJ | A very broad and powerful call to support private liberal education, along with the need of the education of women and the feminine view. |
| January 11, 1974 | Remarks | Talk at a Bell Laboratories' Cabinet Meeting at the Plaza Hotel in New York City | Expresses a philosophy in managing R&D at Bell Labs, emphasizing the importance of individuals. Also discusses the future challenges facing the Bell System, AT&T, and Bell Labs. |
| October 18, 1973 | Scientific Societies and Public Purposes | 50th Anniversary of Akron Section of the American Chemical Society, Akron, OH | Reviews role of Akron in chemistry, citing rubber, Goodyear, and polymer science. |
| September 20, 1973 | Science and Technology for Mind and Matter | Acceptance remarks for the Industrial Research Award, Chicago IL | A broad review of science and technology from the Bronze Age to microelectronics, including the role of industrial research. |
| April 23, 1973 | Recent Federal Science Policies | American Physical Society meeting, Washington, DC | A review of White House science advice from its beginnings with President Eisenhower to its restructuring under President Nixon. |
| November 13, 1969 | Scientific Research and Humanistic Learning | Dedication of the Materials Building at Pennsylvania State University | Discourse on the effects of scientific research on the human spirit and mind. |
| October 11, 1968 | The Action Is With People And Knowledge Machines | Commemorative Lecture at Drew University, Madison, NJ. | A magnificent Utopian view of digital computers in society for the benefit f science and people, with considerable evidence from research at Bell labs. |
| May 31, 1966 | Testimony | Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC | Describes the essential role and accomplishments of R&D to the Bell System |
| April 16, 1962 | Interdisciplinarianism - In and Out of School | ARPA - University of Pennsylvania | Discussion of the issues of compartmentalism and disciplinarianism in the physical sciences. |
| September 4-5, 1957 | Role of Administration in Stimulating Basic Research | Unknown | Discusses a philosophy for managing basic research. |
| Unknown | Science and Industry: Pacing the Payoff | Possibly the Conference Board | Discusses R&D and the challenges of science compared to technology. |