Our History
Our Chapter was named in honor of Abraham Baldwin who was born in 1754. He graduated from Yale College at age 18 and was admitted to the bar in 1784. Three months later, he was elected to the State Legislature and became the father of our University System, University of Georgia. He was also a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and helped to draft the U. S. Constitution, which he signed.

Abraham Baldwin was elected to the U. S. Congress in 1788. After that, he was re-elected to the House of Representatives every two years. Then in 1798, he was elected to the U. S. Senate, where he served as a senator, until 1807 when he died.

Ruth Brock Kramer was the organizing chapter regent, and the chapter received its charter on April 1, 1953.

"BALDWIN, Abraham, (half-brother of Henry Baldwin of Pennsylvania), a Delegate, a Representative, and a Senator from Georgia; born in North Guilford, Conn., November 22, 1754; moved with his father to New Haven, Conn., in 1769; attended private schools; graduated from Yale College in 1772; subsequently studied theology at the college and was licensed to preach in 1775; served as a tutor in that institution 1775-1779, when he resigned to enter the Army; chaplain in the Second Connecticut Brigade, Revolutionary Army, from 1777 until 1783, when the troops disbanded; studied law during his service in the Army; admitted to the bar in 1783 and practiced at Fairfield; moved to Augusta, Ga., in 1784 and continued the practice of law; member of the State house of representatives 1785; originator of the plan for, and author of, the charter of the University of Georgia and served as president 1786-1801; member of the Continental Congress 1785, 1787, and 1788; member of the United States Constitutional Convention 1787; elected to the First and to the four succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1789-March 3, 1799); elected to the United States Senate in 1799; reelected in 1805 and served from March 4, 1799, until his death on March 4, 1807; served as President pro tempore of the Senate during the Seventh Congress; died in Washington, D.C.; interment in Rock Creek Cemetery."

Bibliography

Dictionary of American Biography; Furlong, Patrick J. "Abraham Baldwin: A Georgia Yankee as Old-Congress Man." Georgia Historical Quarterly 56 (Spring 1972): 51-71; Coulter, E. Merton. Abraham Baldwin: Patriot, Educator, and Founding Father. Arlington, VA: Vandamere Press, 1987.

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