Opal Badge, unsigned and undated, late 1800’s – very early 1900’s

It seems fitting to make this spectacular opal key, the superstar of my badge collection, the first entry in this section.

During Kappa’s first decades, the size and jeweling of the badge followed personal preference. During the 1880’s, the width through the center of the badge increased and jewels began to appear more often. The 1890’s brought smaller keys, some only three-fourths of an inch long, worn slightly on the bias. However, in 1896, after discussion in The Key and at Convention, the length of our badge was standardized at one inch.

Due to the fact that following the 1924 Convention, pearls were the only authorized jewels (until diamonds and sapphires were allowed following the Convention of 1930), and because the length of 1 inch became standard in 1896, I believe this key to have been made between 1896 and 1924. It is approximately 1 inch in length and is adorned with the most spectacular opals. The enameled Greek letters have been hand engraved. There is no engraving of a name or date on the reverse of the key.

I would love to know more about the sister to whom this precious treasure belonged!

I think the back of this key was likely “scrubbed”, which is such a shame, as it removed the information I would need to find out the previous owner. 

Resource:
https://wiki.kkg.org/images/6/6c/HistoricallySpeaking_May2016.pdf

The Badge of Merle Beeman, 1916

This absolutely stunning matte gold badge with small diamond and attached Masonic guard was a gift from my husband that thrilled me beyond belief.

Clara Merle Beeman was initiated as a charter member of the Gamma Alpha chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma at Kansas State University on September 23, 1916.

Clara Merle Beeman was born on May 11, 1894 in Chicago, Illinois to William J. Beeman and Clara Cordilia Parks Beeman. Her mother passed away when Merle was only six years old, and then her father died when she was ten. She was then raised by relatives, listed in census reports as being a niece in the household of D.O. and Emma Coe. Merle graduated from Topeka High School in 1913 and Kansas State University in 1917. She married William Herbert Robinson on February 18, 1920. Clara Merle Beeman Robinson passed away on March 31, 1989 in Topeka, Kansas, at the age of 94.

The Badge of Isabel Carey Warne, 1929

Isabel Warne was initiated into the Beta Psi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma at the University of Toronto on January 28, 1929.

Isabel was born on September 7, 1908 in Carelton, Ontario, Canada. She attended the University of Toronto, where she was likely a journalism major. A graduating year fellowship (the Isabel Warne Fellowship) is awarded at University College each year to encourage and support seniors in pursuing graduate studies. She never married and had no children. Isabel passed away on October 4, 2000 at the age of 92.

Photo of Isabel Warne from the 1931 University of Toronto yearbook.

Mother-Daughter Badges, 1893 and 1924

These beautiful badges touched my heart, and I knew I needed to acquire them and keep them safe and together, forever.

The top badge, plain gold with the attached Beta Theta Pi fraternity pin guard, belonged to Florence Raymond Nowland Davidson, who was initiated into the Beta Delta chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma at the University of Michigan (GO BLUE!) on December 18, 1893.

The pearl badge belonged to Florence’s daughter, Helen Dean Davidson, who was initiated into the Beta Omega chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma at the University of Oregon in 1924.

Mother Florence Raymond Nowland was born on November 1, 1874 in Indianapolis, Indiana. She married Orlando White Davidson on April 23, 1903. As her badge was engraved with her married name of Davidson rather than her maiden name of Nowland, I assume that she was either engaged to Orlando Davidson at the time that she was initiated, or the badge was engraved after their marriage. The guard is indeed Orlando’s fraternity pin, as he was a Beta Theta Pi at Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin. She was initiated into Kappa Kappa Gamma at the University of Michigan in 1893 at the age of 19. When she married Orlando in 1903, she was 29. They were married until his death in 1937. Florence passed away on October 21, 1964 at the age of 89.

Daughter Helen Dean Davidson was born on June 11, 1905 in Portland, Oregon. She was initiated into Kappa Kappa Gamma at the University of Oregon in 1924. She married J. Harley Hughes in 1933, and they were married until his death in 1968. Helen passed away on April 28, 1980 at the age of 74.

Badge and Recognition Key of Anna B. Nall, 1916

Anna Bertha Nall was initiated into the Lambda Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma at the University of Akron in 1916.

Below are some lovely photos of Anna that I was able to find on Ancestry. Anna was born on October 1, 1897 in Akron, Ohio. She married Robert Julius Rowse on October 25, 1919 in Summit, Ohio. They had three children during their marriage. Anna passed away on November 21, 1945 at the young age of 48 in Detroit, Michigan.

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The Badge of Faith Louise Dougan, 1942 

This beautiful antique badge popped up on an online site with a very reasonable “Buy It Now” price, and so I jumped on it, and I am so glad that I did! This badge is a treasure from a family with quite a Kappa legacy, and I am thrilled to be the custodian of this key. 

Faith Louise Dougan was born on July 12, 1923 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Faith pledged in 1941 and was initiated into the Chi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma at the University of Minnesota on January 31, 1942. 

As always, I begin my quest to find the face behind the badge by starting at Ancestry. In looking up Faith Louise, I was able to be connected with members of her family who were generous enough to share photos and some personal information about this Kappa sister: 

“Faith Dougan was a unique individual. She was highly artistic. She would draw and make sculptures and candleworks. She supported herself with her art. She did the artwork/advertising drawings for Marshall Fields in Chicago, mostly pages of ladies wearing elegant dresses and gowns. She would also work street fairs drawing pictures of people and maybe selling the artwork she created. She married Roy Thumm in about 1963. They had no children. Faith died at the age of 84 in 2008.“

A Family Legacy! Mother… 

Faith’s mother, Faith Marie Wheaton Dougan, was also a Kappa Kappa Gamma. Oh, what I would give to be able to find her badge! Faith Marie Wheaton was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1886. She was initiated into the Chi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma at the University of Minnesota on October 8, 1904. She married Henry K. Dougan on September 8, 1914. She passed away on May 18, 1975 at the age of 89. 

And Sister…

Faith’s sister, Margaret Dougan Wersebe Garfield, was also a Kappa Kappa Gamma! Margaret Dougan was born on December 25, 1917 and was initiated into the Chi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma at the University of Minnesota in approximately 1935 or 1936. She does not appear in the list of pledges in 1935, but she is listed as an active Kappa in 1936 and was a senior in 1939. 

Also in 1939, Margaret married Edward Ireland Wersebe of Connecticut, whom she met while working summers at Glacier National Park. They moved to Seattle, where he was employed by Boeing, and they had a daughter, Judith. Edward died tragically on February 18, 1943 during a test flight of the B-29 aircraft. This disaster was known as the Frye Plant accident, which took the lives of the entire crew. Edward was only 28. Margaret married Herbert Edward Garfield in 1944, and they went on to have a son and lived happily until Herbert’s death in 1980. 

Margaret remained active in Kappa Kappa Gamma alumnae activities until her death. Margaret passed away on January 20, 2002 at the age of 84. (Information from a post on rootsweb.com)

I earnestly hope that I can someday run across and purchase the badges of both mother Faith Marie and sister Margaret so that all three badges can be reunited. 

Sapphire Badge, 1953

This badge was an eBay rescue obtained by The Golden Key Alumnae Association, which I then “adopted” for my collection, as I didn’t have an example of an all-sapphire key. Strangely, this beautiful badge has only the chapter and date on it. This badge is from lambda chapter, which is at the University of Akron. (This is the second key in my collection from lambda chapter!) The badge is engraved 9/53. There are no initials or any name engraved on it, which makes it a little less fun, since I can’t research the previous owner. But it’s a lovely vintage sapphire key!

Modern Badge, 2007

I don’t collect modern badges as a general rule, but this one popped up on eBay at a very low Buy it Now price, so I decided to grab it in order to include an example of a modern badge in my collection.

This badge is from Delta Chapter, which is at Indiana University. I don’t know if this badge was lost by the Kappa to whom it belonged or if it was purposefully sold (I really hope not!). I have discovered the name of this sister, but I have been unable to reach her as of yet. If I am able to reach her, and I discover that her badge was lost or stolen, I would love to return it to her.