Evening star., 1923-01-26
MRS. ABBY c. BAKER
DIES IN HOSPITAL
Widely Known Writer and
Promoter of Education of
Women in Orient.

Mrs. Abby Gum Baker, wife Of Will
liam II. Baker. died at Garfield Hos
pital yesterday afternoon following
an illness from peritonitis. extend
ing over a period of nearly six weeks.
Mrs. Baker was widely known as
a writer: a potential force in denomi-
national, interdenominational and
missionary endeavor; leader in the
movement looking to the education of
women Of the orient, and a recognized
authority on antique and historical
china and White House history. Her
arrangement and classification OF the
executive mansion china and plate
stands as a monument to her COM
prehensive knowledge of these his
torical relics.
AS an author she had written many
special articles for The Star and for
other papers and was a frequent con-
tributor to a number Of the leading
magazines. Among her most notable
publications is a history of the mu-
nicipal. government of the city of
New York. which is used In the New
York schools as a text book and work
of reference. She had nearly ready
a volume embodying historical fea-
lures of the White House.
Was Native OF Iowa.
Abby Gum Baker was born in
Pella, Iowa, the daughter of Rev.
Elihu and Amy Anna (BarretO Gum.
Her father was one Of the pioneer
home missionaries of the Baptist
was spent in Lawrence and Atchison.
Kan. and she was educated at Month
cello Seminary. Godfrey, Illinois. and
the Kansas State University, at Law
renee.
December 81. 1881. she married
Kan. In 1895 they settled in Wash :
ington, where Mr.. Baker entered gov
ernment service. For time his work
took them into the field and at one
period they spent considerable time
Soon after coming to the Capital Mrs
Baker became interested In literary
work. and her articles have appeared
In many papers and magazines through
out the country, in addition to her spe-
cial stories from time to time in The
Star.
Makes Plea for White House Relics.
Through one of her articles during the
Roosevelt regime, in which she called
attention to the necessity Of preserving
in permanent form the priceless White
presidential administrations. her knowl-
edge Of the subject was brought to the
attention Of President Roosevelt. who
summoned her for a conference which
ended in authorizing her to begin a
representative collection Of the presi-
Of executing this commission Mrs.
Baker visited descendants Of all the
former presidents. and the present col
lection, arranged in social cases at the
taking effort and her. thoroughgoing
familiarity with this subject.
She had written extensively about
this collection, and considerable por-
ton Of the book upon which she was
at work when stricken by her last ILL.,
recounting her personal experiences in
perfecting the collection. AS an au-
thority on White House history she had
been widely consulted. not only by oc-
cupants of the executive mansion, but
by historians and collectors throughout
the country.
Leader on Other Lines.
In addition to her literary work
Mrs Baker was identified as a leader
in many movements Of consequences.
During the world war she was one
of two Washington women who were
entitled to wear the Y. NJ c. A. in
sigma In recognition of services in
the camps and hospitals. She was
dCIlVSly interested Work OF the
American Association Of University
Women, the College Women's Club,
the Daughters of the American Reyo-
luton and the Columbia Historical
Society, and had frequently spoken
before these organizations.
Within short time after Mrs.
Baker came to Washington to live she
became a member OF Calvary Baptist
Church. She had been president OF
the Women's Baptist Missionary So
ciety and at the time of her death
was a member Of the national board
She was largely instrumental in
forming the now nationally known
Burial class, composed Of q member
ship of some thousand young women
chiefly among government clerks.
Aids Work for Chinese.
Early in her alliance with Calvary
Church she became interested in the
efforts put forth in connection with
the Sunday school for the Chinese,
q branch of the school of which Mr.
Baker was for. many years super.
intendent. AS a lecturer she
travelled extensively, particularly in
Observation-Disclosures work. and a few
behalf Of the interchurch movement
carried her twice across the continent
Mrs. Baker leaves, besides her hus-
band, q sister, Mrs. G.. s. Warn OF
Hilton, N. Y; brother. R. E. White
Of wyoming; three nieces, Mrs. Lloyd
8. Tenny and Mrs. o. L. Veerhoff,
both of Washington. and Mrs. Ken
meth Calhoun of Fort Scott. Kansas
and two Eephews, Rev. Charles G.
Gum of Winnsboro, s. c., and Will
liam Rice Gum of Kansas City, Mo.
The funeral will be held from Cal
vary Baptist Church tomorrow. Janu-
ary 81. at pm.