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This collection contains papers of the Baker family of Lansing, Michigan. Materials include correspondence, memoirs, scrapbooks, photographs, and published and unpublished biographies and family histories. Family members most prominently represented in the collection are Luther Byron Baker (1830-1896), his son Luther Henry Baker (1872-1944), his grandson Maurice Jacobs Baker (1903-1971) and his great grandson Luther Henry Bud Baker (1931-2008). Luther Byron Baker, familiarly known as Byron, served in the First District of Columbia Cavalry during the Civil War. In April 1865, he participated in the manhunt for Abraham Lincolns assassin, John Wilkes Booth. He was present at Garretts barn when Booth was shot and Booths accomplice, David Herold, surrendered. Afterward, he was present at the interment of Booths body. The collection contains letters and other materials documenting Byrons Civil War service, his pre-Civil War time at Oberlin College (1851-1853), his post-Civil War years in Lansing, Michigan and his 1889-1894 traveling lectures on the John Wilkes Booth manhunt. Later materials document the lives of Byrons descendants and other family members. Letters and scrapbooks document Luther Henry Bakers time as a student at Michigan Agricultural College, his career as a school principal, his courtship of his future wife and his time as East Lansing City Councilman (1912-1916) and Mayor (1925-1928). Maurice Jacobs Baker explains his political views and reflects on current events in two essays from the 1930s, while other materials pertain to his job as a trade publications editor. Materials of Luther Henry Bud Baker document his time as a grade school student, his time as a Michigan State College student, his United States Army service and his career publishing trade magazines (He inherited this business from his father.). Letters from spouses, siblings and cousins round out the collection, and family histories and biographies provide information on Baker ancestors and connected families.