Correspondence

This series is divided into four subseries: Subseries 3.1: Personal Correspondence, 1916-1943; Subseries 3.2: Charitable Donations, 1916 -938; Subseries 3.3: Family Correspondence, 1888-1963; and Subseries 3.4: Clubs and Associations: 1916-1943. Business correspondence can be found with the Bakelite Company series and contains Baekeland's correspondence beginning with letters between him and his wife while they lived in Belgium, and ending with the years before he died. Baekeland kept carbon copies of his out going correspondence when he began his business, and much of his in coming correspondence has handwritten notes on it indicating his replies, which were probably transcribed by his secretary. Subseries 3.1: Personal Correspondence, 1916 -1943, contains correspondence to and from Baekeland mostly from friends and professional associates. The majority of the correspondence is from the early 1920s through the late 1930s with few items from pre 1920. The letters are predominantly in English as Baekeland made and maintained most of his adult contacts after moving to the United States. Subseries 3.2: Charitable Donations, 1916-1938, Aside from the various clubs and associations that Baekeland supported through his membership, he also contributed money to many charities and other organizations. His donations were not limited to those found in the container listing. Subseries 3.3: Family Correspondence, 1888-1963, contains correspondence between Baekeland and his wife Celine before they were married, and while he was in the United States and she remained in Belgium until 1892. Until 1905 most of the letters are in French, but once they were settled in the United States they communicated in English. The correspondence between Baekeland and his children Nina and George seems to be from 1905 when he travelled abroad. Celine (nickname Bon Bon) Baekeland's personal correspondence related to theosophy and with her family members is also well represented. Otherwise most of the family correspondence is from after Baekeland's death. There is correspondence from Celine and Leo Baekeland's families in Belgium, some in French, some in Flemish, and correspondence related to some of the family's properties, such as "The Anchorage" in Florida, and the "Crags" in New York. There is also some related correspondence issued by Gertrude Bidwell Gould, Baekeland's personal secretary after his death. Subseries 3.4: Clubs and Associations, 1916-1943, Leo Baekeland was a member or honorary member of many clubs, associations, societies, and had numerous group affiliations. This majority of the material is from the mid 1920s through the late 1930s. This series reveals many of his interests, as well as organizations to which he was offered membership but declined.