In 1947, Lewis G. Vander Velde, the founder and first director of the Michigan Historical Collections was appointed as chairman of the University of Michigan History Department. In order to ease Vander Velde's administrative responsibilities, Bald was made associate director of the Michigan Historical Collections. Bald became the second director of the Michigan Historical Collections in 1960 following the retirement of Vander Velde. Bald retired as director in 1966.
