Early this year, I received an envelope containing a remarkable piece of Theta Chapter history – a beautiful Beta pin from 1882,
pictures of (1) the owner wearing the pin in 1883, (2) the Theta Chapter in 1883 and (3) the pin owner’s handwritten diary from
January 1, 1884 while on campus in Delaware, Ohio. The material, which was from 1882 Theta Chapter history, had followed a
path from brother William Baldwin who passed away in 1932, to his son Eugene I. Baldwin, to brother Morris Hollenbaugh, to
brother Thomas Farahay, to brother “Skip” Cheseldine and then to this writer. Following is background reflecting the “trail” of this
memorabilia and Theta Chapter historical lore.
William A. Baldwin was born January 15, 1861 and became a student at OWU, pledging Beta Theta Pi in 1882. We conclude that he
must have been in the class of 1886, and soon thereafter married Minnie Porter. One of their children was Eugene I. Baldwin, and it is from him that we begin the trail of the memorabilia.
William joined the Masonic Lodge in 1885 and soon thereafter obtained the 3rd degree in the Lodge. In 1901, the family moved to Los
Angeles, California. William passed away in 1932.
In 1967, Eugene became acquainted with brother Morris Hollenbaugh (although 40 years later brother Hollenbaugh does not
recall this event) and sent him the following:
1. His father’s Beta pin
2. Picture (887) of his father wearing the pin along with his mother and others William Baldwin — OWU 1882
3. Picture of the Beta Theta Pi chapter in 88 4. The handwritten diary of William Baldwin dated January , 884 while living in Delaware, Ohio.
William Baldwin —
OWU 1882
1882 Baldwin Pin
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