Milo Ray Baughman, Jr. born in Goodland, Kansas, was a modern furniture designer. His American designs were forward-thinking and distinctive, yet unpretentious and affordable. Contemporary furniture designers and dealers continue to copy, reinvent, and revive his work in the new and secondary decorative arts markets. Baughman designed for a number of furniture companies starting in the mid-1940s until his death, including Mode Furniture, Glenn of California, The Inco Company, Pacific Iron, Murray Furniture of Winchendon, Arch Gordon, George Kovacs, Directional, and Drexel, among others. He is most famous, however, for his longtime association with Thayer Coggin Inc., of High Point, NC, which began in 1953 and lasted until his death in 2003. He also lectured broadly on the state of modern design, extolling the positive benefits of good design on the lives of human beings, and helping to define and shape the discussion for years to come.
Upon completing his studies, he was hired to work at the Frank Brothers furniture store as an interior and custom furniture designer. The store had the distinction of being the first west coast all-modern specialty store, and proved to be a good launch pad for his career. While there, he met Georgia Christensen, who founded and published Furniture Forum, an important early publication on modern design complete with photos, dimensions, pricing, as well as designer photos and biographies. He left Frank Brothers in 1947 to establish "Milo Baughman Design Inc.," and quickly did commissions for Glenn of California and Pacific Iron, helping to place these companies at the forefront of a new California modernist design movement. The "California Modern" collection created for Glenn of California in 1950 used walnut, birch and aluminum, and put forth a distinctive Los Angeles style. Next, the large furniture manufacturer Drexel invited him to their North Carolina headquarters to create three collections. Following this, Murray Furniture of Winchendon Massachusetts introduced "The Milo Baughman Collection" in 1953. During this time, Milo found time to run his own custom design shop with Olga Lee in Los Angeles from 1951–1953. Lee contributed hand printed fabrics, wallpaper, lamps and accessories to go alongside Baughman's furniture designs; both offered their services as interior consultants. The Baughman-Lee showroom was located at 744 1/2 North La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles. In 1953, his 50-year association with Thayer Coggin Inc. began. "In a way, Thayer and Milo got their start together," according to Dot Coggin, Thayer’s wife and spokeswoman for the 59-year-old furniture business success story. "Milo came here when the company was in its organisational stage. Thayer was looking for a designer and their relationship began with a handshake agreement." By the 1960s and 1970s, his new collection was eagerly awaited at the High Point Market every year. Some of his most famous and iconic designs come from this period, including the "951-103" chair, c. 1962, "820–400" chaise, "989–103" Lounge Chair, and "955-304" Sofa. He was highly regarded among his peers, and his quick wit and clear reflection were always in demand as he spoke about modern design.
