author
Rollin H. (Rollin Harold) Baker
1916–2007
Known for his pioneering work on Mexican mammals, this American zoologist spent decades building knowledge about rodents, bats, and biogeography. He was also remembered as a generous mentor whose long career shaped mammalogy at major museums and universities.
5 Audiobooks
Two New Moles (Genus Scalopus) from Mexico and Texas
by Rollin H. (Rollin Harold) Baker
Geographic Variation in the Pocket Gopher, Cratogeomys castanops, in Coahuila, México
by Robert J. Russell, Rollin H. (Rollin Harold) Baker
Mammals taken Along the Alaska Highway
by Rollin H. (Rollin Harold) Baker
The Avifauna of Micronesia, Its Origin, Evolution, and Distribution
by Rollin H. (Rollin Harold) Baker
Mammals from Tamaulipas, Mexico
by Rollin H. (Rollin Harold) Baker
About the author
Born in Cordova, Illinois, on November 11, 1916, and raised largely in Texas, Rollin H. Baker became an American mammalogist whose research focused on the biogeography and natural history of mammals, especially in Mexico. Sources from the Smithsonian and memorial accounts describe him as a leading specialist in small mammals, particularly rodents and bats.
His career included service in the U.S. Navy during World War II, work with the University of Kansas after earning his Ph.D. in zoology in 1948, and a major role at Michigan State University, where he served as museum director and professor. Archival and commemorative sources also note the breadth of his field work and publications, which helped make him an internationally recognized figure in mammalogy.
Baker died on November 12, 2007, one day after his 91st birthday. Colleagues remembered him not only for his scientific contributions, but also for encouraging younger researchers and helping grow the study of mammals as a modern field.