The Baldwin Family Papers span one hundred thirty-four years, from 1855-1989, and chronicle the life and times of Cyrus Grandison Baldwin, Cyrus Harcourt Baldwin, James Fairchild Baldwin, and Edward Henry Fairchild. The majority of materials can be considered secondary sources; news clippings, excerpts from historical publications, and other printed matter. Few documents were created by the family members themselves. The collection contains nineteen well-annotated photographs.

The lives of James Fairchild Baldwin and Cyrus Grandison Baldwin are recorded most extensively. Several examples of James Fairchild Baldwin’s writings are present, among them a pamphlet entitled "'State Medicine' Its Imminence and Advantages", 1932, and "Forty 'Firsts'", 1934, a personal recollection written for inclusion in a sketch of important central Ohio physicians. Many notes and collected remembrances (e.g. news articles, obituaries, photographs) relating to individual classmates have been pasted into his reunion book, Class of 1870 in 1898 Oberlin. Letters from James F. Baldwin to Ida Strickler during their courtship, 1888, to his father Cyrus Harcourt Baldwin, 1888, and to his daughter Alice, 1900-1934, represent the only correspondence found in the collection. Cyrus Grandison Baldwin’s biographical materials include sources relating to the dedication of the Pomona Water Power Plant as a California state historical landmark on May 7, 1955.

The Baldwin Family Papers have been organized in five series: I. Biographical Materials II. Correspondence III. Printed Matter IV. Writings V. Photographs

Series I. Biographical Materials, 1894-1989 (0.06 l.f.)

Separate folders have been created for Cyrus Grandison Baldwin, Cyrus Harcourt Baldwin, James Fairchild Baldwin, and James Harris Fairchild. The biographical series presents a thorough account of Cyrus Grandison Baldwin's involvement in the construction of California's first commercial hydro-electric power facility as well as of the dedication of the Pomona Water Power Plant as a California state historical landmark in 1955. His file contains many clippings, excerpts from various Pomona College publications and from the works The History of Pomona College by E. Wilson Lyons, 1977, and Granite and Sagebrush by Frank Bracket, 1944. Cyrus Harcourt Baldwin’s file consists of two photocopies of memorial tributes: one written for him, n.d., and the other for his daughter Mrs. Mary Baldwin Cook, 1896. Materials relating to the life of James Fairchild Baldwin include a page of genealogical data titled "Fairchild Descent from Mayflower Passengers", reproductions of newspaper articles, memorial tributes, and images of the interior and exterior of the family home in Columbus, Ohio, and information concerning Grant Hospital, which he founded in Columbus in 1900. This series also contains clippings relating to the life of Edward Henry Fairchild’s brother, James Harris Fairchild, who served as President of Oberlin College from 1866-1889.

Series II. Correspondence, 1888-1934 (0.01 l.f.)

The correspondence is comprised of three letters from James F. Baldwin to his second wife Ida Strickler, 1888, two letters concerning his engagement (one from his father, 1888, and another from Robert G. Hutchins, 1889) and four letters to his daughter Alice, 1900-1934.

Series III. Printed Matter, 1898-1987 (0.05 l.f.)

Separate files exist for Cyrus Grandison Baldwin and Edward Henry Fairchild. Cyrus Grandison Baldwin’s file contains a booklet entitled “The Colored Woman’s Industrial Union: C.H. Baldwin Memorial”, 1910, which describes this Dayton, Ohio organization established with the support of the heirs of Cyrus Harcourt Baldwin. This booklet concludes with a letter by Cyrus Grandison Baldwin that provides an authoritative statement on the work of the Baldwin Estate. Also present is a complete copy of the Pomona College Quarterly Magazine, October 1912, and an illustrated timeline printed in 1987 in celebration of the Pomona College centennial. Reference to Edward Henry Fairchild is made on page 6 of a brochure entitled "Berea College Berea, Kentucky: Mirror of the Mountains", 1942. More references and scattered margin notes can be found in a second pamphlet, "A Brief History of Berea College", 1963. James Fairchild Baldwin’s reunion book, Class of 1870 in 1898 Oberlin, has also been placed in this series, and is housed in a separate phase box.

Series IV. Writings, 1913-1934 (0.01 l.f.)

Contains copies of the following published pieces by James Fairchild Baldwin: "'State Medicine' Its Imminence and Advantages", 1932, "Forty 'Firsts'", 1934, and “Proportional Representation and Preferential Ballot Discussed in Brilliant Style”, which appeared in Greater Columbus on May 1, 1913.

Series V. Photographs, 1855-1930 (0.07 l.f.)

Contains all black and white prints. All images found in the files for Cyrus Harcourt Baldwin and James Fairchild Baldwin are portraits. A file has been created for images of other individuals, e.g. James Fairchild Baldwin's second wife Ida Strickler, 1888, and grandmother, Mrs. G. Fairchild, n.d., and group portraits, e.g. James F. Baldwin's extended family, n.d., and the Euchre Club to which he belonged, 1929. The file marked Baldwin Family Homes; church in Brownhelm, Ohio contains pictures of the house in Brownhelm, Ohio that belonged to James Fairchild Baldwin’s grandfather, Grandison Fairchild, and “the old church” in Brownhelm. The folder labeled Oberlin contains two photos: one of Tappan Hall and the College Chapel (ca. 1860), another of Ladies Hall (1865-1886). Many of the prints bear handwritten notations on the reverse. Additional images are affixed to the pages of James Fairchild Baldwin's reunion book.