During the past several months, a number of letters and information have come to our attention regarding our beloved Beta pin. It occurred to us that the pin represents a lot to each of us and to all of our Beta brothers, and it might prove interesting to do some research on its origins and development over the past 150+ years.
Consequently, we have embarked on a journey of research and collection, which we hope you will enjoy as much as we have this past year. Further, it is our hope that our recommendations regarding the future home for many brothers’ Beta pins and jewelry, some with considerable historical value, will be supported by many of you who have wondered from time to time about “what will I ever do with my Beta pin and other Beta jewelry?”.
I. Beta Badge History
In an article regarding the controversy over “who” is the real founding father of the fraternity, the following is excerpted from page 27 of the 2006 Issue of the Beta Theta Pi Magazine. A reading of the article can be obtained by going to: thetachapterbtp.org, then
go to “links”, then to “Publications”, and the 2006 Issue.
This account, by the youngest daughter of Samuel Taylor Marshall, Miami 1840, of a meeting between Marshall and John Reilly Knox, Miami 1839, later in life, offers a startling possibility. Perhaps Knox has been given credit for founding the Fraternity that is rightly due to Marshall. Should members of Beta Theta Pi refer to “Pater Marshall and his associates” instead of “Pater Knox”?
Marshall’s claim appears to be very well supported. As an undergraduate, he personally designed and had made in Cincinnati the first badges of the society, with the back of his own badge reading, “S.T. Marshall, Founder”. Many years later, as an elderly lawyer in Iowa, he was in sole possession of the original constitution, signed “S.T. Marshall, Original Founder”. Knox even gives him credit for suggesting the idea of a new fraternity in a letter written four years after the founding [A letter from Knox to E.B. Stevens, Miami 1843, dated April 14, 1843]. Most poignantly, the apparent admission of Knox that Marshall’s account was correct implies that Knox’s memory had misled him to believe he was the sole founder over the years.
At closer examination, the supporting sources do not paint such a clear picture of who was first. In the early 1890s, Marshall did stumble upon the original constitution within his musty law papers. However, this first version – potentially containing the signatures
of all the founders – can no longer be found. All that remains is a later copy that includes his bold claim to priority. Similarly, the Marshall badge on display in the Administrative Office museum is not the original. After losing his original badge for the second time, Marshall had another one made by a different jeweler. This explains why the newer version differs slightly from the badge of founder Michael Clarkson Ryan, Miami 1839, also on display. As a result, there is no way to know if the “founder” inscription, that would indicate he regarded himself the primary founder while in school, actually existed on Marshall’s badge of 1839.
Marshall’s replica badge (top left of article) was made later in his life and differs slightly from the Original Ryan badge (next to Marshall badge). Notice the quarter moon in the Marshall badge, as opposed to the direction of the moon in the Ryan badge.
II. Evolution of the Badge, by Eric Eickhoff ’00
A. Marshall Badge — Original Badge of Beta Theta Pi (designed by Founder Samuel Taylor Marshall) – 1839.
B. Paddock Badge — Designed by Alexander Paddock, Miami 1841. Incorporated the Black Enamel, the Diamond and Laurel Wreath on front (took away the Crescent) and added clasped hands on the reverse of the badge.
C. Ransom Badge — Designed by Major W.C. Ransom, Michigan 1848. The badge took its final form when the four straight sides were curved inward, creating the 8 concaved sides we recognize today as our badge. From time to time the curvature has changed and there was no standard jeweler to create all of the badges.
D. The Convention of 1879 instituted that all badges should be purchased through one jeweler and that there would be a commission to the Fraternity. In 1880 the commission scheme was dropped and the practice continued of using various jewelers to create badges.
E. The Convention of 1899 sought uniformity and adopted a badge made under G.M. Chandler.
F. Chandler Badge — In 1909 Chandler submitted a full set of documents, require-ments, and standards to the Convention. The
Convention adopted the badge and it is now referred to as the Chandler Badge of 1909 – the standard badge of Beta Theta Pi.
III. A Few of the Badges On Display At Oxford Beta Hq Museum
IV. William Baldwin 882, Theta Chapter Brother & His Pin & Story —The story of brother William Baldwin 1883, his Beta pin, picture and handwritten diary dated 1-1-1884, are fully described on pages 5 and 8.
V. Milligan ’84 – Thorpe ‘85 – Theta Chapter Brothers & Their Pins At the Beta Museum in Oxford, you will find among the many beautiful pins on display, two from Theta chapter. One pin was owned by M. L. Milligan, class of 1884. What little we know about brother Milligan is that he was in the “Classical” school curriculum, a member of the College Double Quartet in which he sang First Bass, on the Executive Committee of the OWU Baseball Association and 1st baseman for the team. He was also the center fielder for the BTP team.
The other Theta Chapter pin was worn by brother G. P. Thorpe, class of 1885. Brother Thorpe was listed as a member of the Legal Firm of Irvin & Thorpe, on the OWU baseball team and was both catcher and Captain. He was also catcher and Captain of the BTP team. Back at that time, baseball at OWU had not been any kind of success due to the need for suitable and convenient grounds, but mostly due to the stringent rules of the faculty, which did not permit an exchange of visits with other college clubs. In addition, OWU did not budget any support for the sport.
VI. Ned Speasmaker – Theta Brother 950 & Pins See story on page 9 which was contributed by brother Raymond “Skip” Cheseldine ’50.
VII.John Bolek ’88, Theta Brother and Former District XX Chief Pin John Bolek, ’88 Theta Chapter brother and a former District Chief, was so impressed with the Thorpe pin that he commissioned one to be made for himself.
VIII. Lorenzo Dow McCabe Pin — Paul Kisseberth & Annie Grinton Kisseberth ’54 See article on page 4.
X. Tom Tatham ’56 & Pin Collection Over the past few months, with nothing else to do with my time (or $$$) I began to collect Beta pins from eBay. So far, there are a dozen in the collection along with a beautiful gold Beta ring. Most recent pins cost around $60, although the larger older pins can bring $200-$400. There seems to be a rather active number of bidders and market for the pins. It is my intent to place these pins and other Beta jewelry into the ownership of Theta House Corporation and to recommend to the trustees that,“… if not otherwise needed by an active chapter…”, the collection is to be placed on loan to the Beta archives in Oxford for
appropriate display.
There seems to be a rather active number of bidders and market for the pins. It is my intent to place these pins and other Beta jewelry into the ownership of Theta House Corporation and to recommend to the trustees that,“…if not otherwise needed by an active chapter…”, the collection is to be placed on loan to the Beta archives in Oxford for appropriate display.
X. Theta Chapter President’s Pin and Watson Pin For many years, the Theta Chapter President was honored to wear a large Beta pin signifying the prestige of the office he held. This pin was worn by each of 2 presidents selected from each class, 1 per semester. This practice continued until at least the early 60s at which time the chapter changed to 1 president for each year. In addition, the Watson Award recipient, awarded for outstanding service and student achievement, was worn each year by 1 member of the chapter. Unfortunately, these pins, both large, beautiful diamond featured centerstones, have been lost for many years. Anyone having any information as to the last known wearers of those badges or whereabouts of the pins please notify the editor at tomtatham@aol.com or 937-298-7682. A listing of known wearers of these badges and / or holders of the office of president in the chapter is shown on page 18. Further help in “filling in the missing blanks” of chapter presidents would also be appreciated.
XI. Future Theta Chapter House Corporation Collection As noted in the TJT collection item, we (Eric & Tom) are going to place our Beta pins and jewelry in the ownership of Theta Chapter House Corporation and recommend to the Corporation the loan of all such received jewelry to the Beta Museum archivist in Oxford for proper display at the museum. In the event the chapter is ever reactivated and any of the pins would be needed for chapter use, the loaned items would be returned to the House Corp for their
care and use. While not everyone would feel the need to follow this same course, there may be many alumni who have no “heirs” for further disposition of their Beta pins and this might be in favor with their desires. If any alumni feel this to be appropriate, please contact either Eric Eickhoff at cadmus1641@msn.com or 216-346-3420 or Tom Tatham at tomtatham@aol.com or 937-298-7682.
XII. Ordering Beta Jewelry The sole official source for Beta Jewelry is by phone
800-422-4348
or order on line at
www.HJGreek.com
Official Pins are only available by order through
Beta Theta Pi Administrative Office
800-800-2382.
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