![\"William](\"http:\/\/thetachapterbtp.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/02\/William-Alfred-Baldwin_1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nWilliam Baldwin \u2014
\nOWU 1882<\/p>\n
Early this year, I received an envelope containing a remarkable piece of Theta Chapter history \u2013 a beautiful Beta pin from 1882,
\npictures of (1) the owner wearing the pin in 1883, (2) the Theta Chapter in 1883 and (3) the pin owner\u2019s handwritten diary from
\nJanuary 1, 1884 while on campus in Delaware, Ohio. The material, which was from 1882 Theta Chapter history, had followed a
\npath from brother William Baldwin who passed away in 1932, to his son Eugene I. Baldwin, to brother Morris Hollenbaugh, to
\nbrother Thomas Farahay, to brother \u201cSkip\u201d Cheseldine and then to this writer. Following is background reflecting the \u201ctrail\u201d of this
\nmemorabilia and Theta Chapter historical lore.<\/p>\n
William A. Baldwin was born January 15, 1861 and became a student at OWU, pledging Beta Theta Pi in 1882. We conclude that he
\nmust 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.<\/p>\n
William joined the Masonic Lodge in 1885 and soon thereafter obtained the 3rd\u00a0degree in the Lodge. In 1901, the family moved to Los
\nAngeles, California. William passed away in 1932.<\/p>\n
In 1967, Eugene became acquainted with brother Morris Hollenbaugh (although 40 years later brother Hollenbaugh does not
\nrecall this event) and sent him the following:<\/p>\n
1\u0018. His father\u2019s Beta pin
\n2. Picture (\u0018887) of his father wearing the pin along with his mother and others\u00a0William Baldwin \u2014 OWU 1882
\n3\u0018. Picture of the Beta Theta Pi chapter in \u001888\u0018\u00a04. The handwritten diary of William Baldwin dated January \u0018, \u0018884 while living in Delaware, Ohio.<\/p>\n