The Ralph H. Baer papers include correspondence, game designs, drawings, notes, reference materials, photographs, product descriptions, schematics, electronic components, and manuals utilized by Ralph H. Baer throughout his lengthy career in the toy and game industry. The materials in this collection range from 1968 through 2010, with the bulk of the papers dated 1975-1998. Highlights within these papers include information on “TV Games” (Baer’s terminology at the inception of videogames), the electronic game “Simon,” and extensive documentation of Baer’s work on electronic toys and games as the proprietor of Ralph H. Baer Consultants. There are also digital video files and draft chapters of Baer’s autobiography. Additional scope and content information can be found within the contents list of this finding aid.

The Ralph H. Baer papers have been arranged into seven series, five of which have been further divided into subseries. The physical materials are housed in eleven archival document boxes and one audiovisual storage box; there are also a series of digital-only files located on The Strong’s network. The labeling of folders or objects in this collection was often taken directly from Baer’s original folder or object names, where applicable.