Bishop Robert Baker papers

Collection

Identifier: A-03-1051

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains personal and professional papers of Robert Baker, twelfth bishop of Charleston. The personal papers include biographical material as well as documents regarding his ordination and installation as bishop of Charleston. The series also includes material relating to his time as pastor of Christ the King Catholic Church in Jacksonville, Florida, while in the Diocese of St. Augustine. His published works and homilies are also included. Bishop Baker’s professional papers includes administrative records of the Diocese of Charleston such as records pertaining to the business and operations of the diocese as well as financial records. The collections largely consist of correspondence mostly with priests, parishes, schools, board and committee members, other dioceses, and Catholic and lay organizations. Photographs, newspaper articles, and publications are also included in the collection.

Dates

created: 1899, 1963-2008, undated
Other: Majority of material found in 1999-2007
Other: Date acquired: 05/01/2009

Creator

Baker, Robert J., 1944- (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Access is restricted; consult repository for details.

Conditions Governing Use

The Diocese of Charleston makes no representation that it is the owner of any copyright or other literary property in the materials contained in its archives. In providing access to or permitting the reproduction of any such materials, the Diocese of Charleston does not assume any responsibility for determining the nature of any rights, ownership or interest therein; nor for obtaining the appropriate permissions to publish or use; nor for determining the nature of any liabilities (for defamation and invasion of privacy) that may arise from any publication or use. This rests entirely with the researcher.

Biographical or Historical Information

Bishop Robert J. Baker was born in 1944, in Willard, Ohio, to Rosemary and Gerald Baker. In 1966, he graduated from the Pontifical College Josephinium in Ohio with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. In 1970, he earned a Master of Divinity from the school’s theology program. He was ordained into the priesthood in 1970 at the St. Wendelin Parish in Fostoria, Ohio, by the Bishop of St. Augustine, Paul Tanner. His first assignment was assistant pastor of St. Paul Parish in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, in the Diocese of St. Augustine. During his time as pastor, Baker also served as a religion instructor at Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, the director of the school’s religious department, and the director of pre-cana at the Diocese of St. Augustine. From 1972-1975, Baker studied theology at Gregorian University in Rome, Italy. In 1974, he earned a Licentiate of Sacred Theology degree. He returned home to complete his dissertation and received a Doctor of Sacred Theology degree, in 1977. From 1976-1985, Baker served as administrator of St. Augustine Church and Catholic Student Center at the University of Florida, vice-president and president of the Diocese of St. Augustine presbyteral council, chairman of the Campus Ministry Cooperative at the University of Florida, sacramental theology instructor and faculty member at St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida, and pastor of the Basilica of St. Augustine. In 1997, Baker was appointed pastor of Christ the King Parish in Jacksonville. Robert Baker was installed as the twelfth bishop of Charleston in 1999. After eight years of service in South Carolina, Bishop Baker was appointed to the Diocese of Birmingham, Alabama, in 2007.