To the profession of the law, to national, State and municipal service, Harvey Almy Baker, widely known member of the bar, has made noteworthy contributions. As a citizen of Providence, he stands with the leaders of those movements which have the civic advance of the city at heart, while his standing in the legal fraternity leaves nothing to be desired.
Born in Warwick, Rhode Island, April 24, 1881, Harvey Almy Baker is the son of Benjamin and Lucy Anna (Sisson) Baker. He is a graduate of Brown University, class of 1903, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Having early elected the law for his life work, he entered Harvard University, from whose law school he was graduated Bachelor of Laws in 1906.
Mr. Baker entered practice at once, following his admission to the Rhode’ Island bar, and with the exception of those periods that he has been in public office, he has been thus professionally engaged in the interests of a large and desirable clientele. His private practice has centered in Providence since 1906, when he established himself in his own office.
In connection with his profession, Mr. Baker assumed his first official position under the Federal Government when he accepted appointment by President Wilson to the post of United States district attorney for the district of Rhode Island. This office he filled with marked credit and distinction for the years 1914-20.
Returning to the private practice he had left to serve his Federal appointment, Mr. Baker has been continually devoting his acknowledged talents to the great number of individuals and business houses that seek his counsel. By common consent he is esteemed one of the best equipped members of the bar of his native State.
For two years, 1906-08, Mr. Baker was a member of the military staff of Governor Higgins, serving as aide-de-camp with the rank of colonel. In 1921 he was appointed by Mayor Gainer public director, representing the city of Providence in the management of the United Electric Railway Company, and has held that office until the present (1929) writing. He has been secretary of this company since 1921 and is vice-president and a director of the Hope Publishing Company, publishers of the “News-Tribune,” and also a director of Equitable Fire and Marine Insurance Company. Since 1913 he has been a member of the Board of Recreation of the city of Providence, and in these various positions he has been impelled by his civic spirit and has exercised his many gifts to appreciable results in collaboration with his colleagues.
In his politics, Mr. Baker is a Democrat, and, as has already been indicated, he is one of the leaders of his party, being accounted a regular and reliable member and worker therein, especially prominent in the city and state councils of his organization. He enjoys high standing in the Rhode Island Bar Association, is affiliated with Alpha Delta Phi and Phi Beta Kappa fraternities, and is deservedly popular in social circles, being a member of the Agawam Hunt Club and the Squantum Club, among others.
Harvey Almy Baker married, September 30,1908, Marion North Brown, of Providence. They have their hospitable home in that city, where Mr. Baker’s professional address is the Industrial Trust Building.
Source: Carroll, Charles. Rhode Island: Three Centuries of Democracy, vol 3 of 4. New York: Lewis historical Pub. Co., 1932.