William Charles Bauer (December 26, 1873-October 14, 1962) graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1896. His interests included inventing, engineering, chemistry, physics, architecture, telegraphy, and photography. He taught Physics and Chemistry at Baker University between 1897 and 1908. When Bauer first arrived at Baker, the Physics and Chemistry department was in poor condition. Bauer managed to build up this department significantly during his time as a teacher with a combination of his own efforts and local help. Bauer has sometimes been called “the father of modern conveniences at Baker and in Baldwin City.” In addition to his work as an educator, Bauer used his engineering experience to install electric lighting and central heating at Baker University long before the surrounding communities had such technology. Afterward, Bauer received requests from Baldwin City and other nearby towns to contribute his talents for electricity, heating, and water infrastructure. In 2009, Baker University received funding from the Kansas Humanities Council to film a documentary about this story. Two buildings on Baker University’s campus are attributed to Bauer: Case Library and Taylor Hall. In both instances, Bauer was enlisted by the University to design and construct the building because the initial architect’s design was rejected. In Case Library Bauer installed glass flooring which was a new innovation in library design at the time. In Taylor Hall, Bauer had to design and construct unique wooden trusses to support the gymnasium roof without the use of pillars. After his work at Baker University, Bauer taught at the University of Denver (1908-1909) and the Northwestern University School of Engineering (1909-1939). In 1939, after his wife Alice Jeanette Strahley Bauer passed away, he retired and moved to Coral Gables, Florida under the care of his daughter, Mary Virginia Bauer. He remained here until his death in 1962. In the 1890’s, Bauer built a special camera of his own design which allowed him to capture better photographs of buildings without making them appear to tilt. Some papers related to his photography work are a part of this collection.

Note written by Zac DeGreeff