Herschel Clay Baker (8 November 1914, Cleburne, Texas – 2 February 1990, Belmont, Massachusetts)[1] was an American professor of English literature, specializing in the intellectual history[2] of Christian humanism[3] and its erosion.

He taught at the University of Texas for seven years, before joining the Harvard faculty in 1946.

While teaching at Harvard he served several terms as the chair of the English Department.

[2]Baker's 1947 book The Dignity of Man is a series of chronological studies tracing the development of Christian humanism until the Reformation.

[3] His 1952 book on the decay of Christian humanism relies on earlier work by Hardin Craig and Basil Willey.