Baldwin, Edward Willis, Jr. (1910-2003) Papers, 1931-2001
Held by The Filson Historical Society
Creator: Baldwin, Edward Willis, Jr., 1910-2003
Title: Papers, 1931-2001
Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Collections Department.
Size of Collection: 1 cu. ft.
Location Number: Mss. A B181
Biographical Note
Edward Willis Baldwin Jr. was born in DeKalb, Illinois in 1910 to Edward and Alice Willis. In 1932, he graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and was commissioned 2nd Lt. AUS, Engineer Reserve. From 1932 to December 1940, he was assigned to various Engineer Reserve regiments in Chicago, Illinois, St. Paul, Minnesota, and Louisville, Kentucky, while also working as a structural engineer for the U.S. Department at Large.
On December 9, 1940, Baldwin was ordered to active duty, and from January 1941-January 1942, served as the Area Engineer in charge of construction of the military air base at Bowman Field in Louisville. From January to April 1942, he served as the Assistant Area Engineer at Camp Atterbury in Columbus, Indiana, before becoming the Area Engineer in charge of construction of George Field in Lawrenceville, Illinois. During this time Baldwin was promoted to the rank of Captain.
In 1943, he was assigned to the 158th Engineer Combat Battalion – 3rd U.S. Army, camp Maxey, Texas. The 158th Engineer Combat Battalion was ordered to the European Theater and arrived in France in June 1944. Baldwin participated in the Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe Campaigns before returning to the United States in September 1945. Baldwin was promoted to the rank of Major while overseas, and for his service earned the Silver Star Medal, American Defense Medal, and European Theater Medal with five Campaign Stars.
From 1946-1952, he was assigned to various reserve battalions and during this time was also employed as the chief structural engineer for the architect W.S. Arrasmith in Cleveland, Ohio before becoming the chief structural engineer at the Arrasmith & Tyler architecture firm in Louisville. In January 1952, he was transferred to the Honorary Reserve. From 1960-1968, he worked as the senior structural engineer at C & I Girdler Inc. In 1968, he became a structural engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, from which he retired in 1987.
Baldwin married Shirley Ann Mayes in 1940. The two later divorced and Baldwin married Rose Marie Glowacki (1925-2003) in 1949, and together they had four children. Edward Willis Baldwin Jr. died in 2003.
Scope and Content Note
This collection primarily consists of correspondence, guides, and notes related to Edward Willis Baldwin, Jr.’s career as a structural engineer. Material within the collection relates to his service in the military during World War II, during which time he constructed military air bases in Louisville, Ky. and Lawrenceville, Ill., and served in the European theater with the 158th Engineer Combat Battalion. The collection also contains material related to Baldwin’s work in the private sector. Baldwin’s professional relationship with architect William Strudwick Arrasmith is documented, including correspondence between Baldwin and Frank E. Wrenick, the author of a biography on Arrasmith.
Related Collections:
Edward Willis Baldwin museum collection [2021.28]
Nolan & Nolan, Inc. “Additional Drawings” [Mss. AR N787]
Folder List
Box 1
Folder 1: University of Illinois diploma, 1932
Folder 2: Correspondence re: Bowman Field, George Field, and other material, 1941-1942
Folder 3: Christmas Card from the Arrasmith family, 1943
Folder 4: Baldwin at Camp Maxey, Texas 158th Engr. Combat Battalion photograph, 1943
Folder 5: Copies of Maps related to Battle of the Bulge and 158th Engineer Combat Battalion, 1944
Folder 6: Material related to the 963rd Engineering Construction Battalion., 1944-1971
Folder 7: Military Personnel File, 1944-1970
Folder 8: United States Army commission certificates, 1931-1945
Folder 9: Officer Notebook, “flag ticket” franc notes, and other miscellanea, c. 1945
Folder 10: Engineer field notebook, “Engineering the Victory” booklet, Pocket Guide to France, 1944
Folder 11: Concrete, Paving, and Anchoring booklets, 1940-1965
Folder 12: Magazines and clippings re: World War II in Europe, 1947-1998
Folder 13: Correspondence with Stratton Hammon re: World War II Service, 1991-1998
Folder 14: “Architects of Louisville During the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, and World War II,” by Stratton Hammon, undated
Folder 15: World War II Memorial Society certificates, newsletter, correspondence, and other material, 1997-2001
Folder 16: Training material related to the 2783 Engineering Brigade (TNG), 1949
Folder 17: Letterhead, lists of personnel and projects, and other material related to Arrasmith & Tyler Architects & Engineers, 1947-1958
Folder 18: Jobs for Stratton O. Hammon, Neal O. Hammon Architects notebook, 1951-1958
Folder 18a: Oversize commission to Army Reserves certificate, 1952
Folder 19: Funeral program and copy of article related to the death of Fred H. Elswick, 1958
Folder 20: Copy of Alan and Alice Baldwin birth information, 1959
Folder 21: Correspondence, brochures, and other material related to Baldwin, Hummel & George Consulting Engineers, 1959-1967
Folder 22: License to practice as a professional engineer in the Province of Ontario, 1965
Folder 23: Federal Building Louisville, Kentucky dedication program, 1969
Folder 24: Material related to career with Army Corps of Engineers, 1969-1970
Folder 25: Photographs related to Army Corps of Engineers, c. 1977-1987
Folder 26: Oversize US Army Corp of Engineers retirement certificate, Falls City Engineer newsletter, 1987
Folder 27: Correspondence from W.B. Moore, 1973
Folder 28: Corps of Engineers certificates of retirement, appreciation, and commendation, 1974-1987
Folder 29: Forms, programs, and correspondence related to retirement from Corps of Engineers, 1987
Folder 30: Baldwin’s speech at retirement luncheon, 1987
Folder 31: Correspondence with the Society of American Military Engineers, 1993
Folder 32: Speech given by E.W. Baldwin before the Building Preservation Group Conference re: association with W.S. Arrasmith, 1992
Folder 33: Correspondence re: Building Preservation Group Speech and W.S. Arrasmith, 1992-2001
Folder 34: “The Frank Wrenick File,” correspondence with Wrenick re: W.S. Arrasmith, 1987-1999
Folder 35: Correspondence with Frank Wrenick, 1997-1998
Folder 36: Biographical material for Who’s Who in the South and Southwest, 1995
Folder 37: Clippings, programs related to the death of Elizabeth “Betty” Arrasmith, 1999-2000
Folder 38: Birthday card, 2000