In 1938, Baum wrote "Two Hundred Years" (published by the "Sellersville Herald", Sellersville Pennsylvania), a book documenting the history of the Pennsylvania Germans in the Sellersville area. Like his contemporaries N.C. Wyeth and Norman Rockwell, whose works graced the covers of The Saturday Evening Post for years, Baum also became involved in illustration. His first cover appeared in Curtis Publishing Company's "Country Gentleman" magazine in January 1931. In 1948, Baum provided illustrations and an introductory essay for the "Selected Short Stories of Thomas Hardy" (published by Rodale Press, Allentown Pennsylvania).