DamesDiscovery is published semiannually for the benefit of members of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America.
Submissions deadline: February 1: Spring/Summer issue August 1: Fall/Winter issue
Dames Discovery accepts submissions from Corporate Societies. NSCDA assumes no responsibility for statements made or opinions expressed by contributing writers and artists. While every care is taken to ensure information is correct at time of going to press, it is subject to change, and NSCDA takes no responsibility for omissions or errors. NSCDA reserves the right to edit and place all content.
65th Biennial Council
IThe President's LeTT er KATHERINE
TAYLOR CAMMACK
am filled with enormous optimism for the future of the NSCDA. During our engaging National Board and Biennial Council meetings, we discussed modernizing and updating our national identity so that our organization can be more relatable to the public and to our members. We heard refreshing ideas, had great dialogue and installed exceptional new officers to lead us forward!
On Friday night, we presented the Clarinda Pendleton Lamar Awards for Excellence to five Corporate Societies for their mission delivery, and Janie Grantham received the Virginia Stuart Cobb Award for Generosity and Purpose for her long and deep commitment to the NSCDA. At the Saturday gala dinner, we celebrated 37 Roll of Honor recipients from 19 different states. Three Great American Treasures sites were awarded grants for distinguished work in preservation on Sunday.
By sharing stories of the early days of our country that would be lost without these preservation efforts, our Great American Treasures have shown that the value of historic preservation goes well beyond bricks and mortar. This people-centered preservation captures the interest of the public and provides invaluable documentation that describes the broader heritage of the nation. We have learned that history is not static. Even though the past remains the same, our present interpretation evolves with the discovery of new information. This is preservation as activism just as the founders of our National Society were lady-like early activists with the initiative and courage to save our early history before it was fashionable or cool. History is not just an end in itself but it is also an instrument to help us understand today.
We also celebrated the progress on our Founding Females initiative with over 190 female ancestors qualified for our ROA including the first black female ancestor from Stenton, Dinah. These brave and courageous women were Mayflower passengers, published authors, poets, medical practitioners, ministers, midwives, teachers, landowners, inventors, attorneys and rebels fighting oppression. Each made important contributions that furthered the founding of our country.
We approved our new mission statement which is the cornerstone of the 2024-28 Strategic Plan: Women opening doors to America’s history through preservation, education and service to inspire a shared love of country.
The statement leads with the fact that we are a women’s organization, opening figurative and literal doors to history and to historic places. We honor all who have served America and had a significant role in the founding of our nation as well as those individuals who want to become part of America’s ongoing story. With your commitment to our common purpose of preserving history, you remarkable women are just like the Dames throughout our history. If we all work to build up our members, to improve our members’ experiences and to steadfastly focus on our mission, we can have a profound effect on the culture of our organization. What an incredible 133 years it has been for the NSCDA. Because of you, we are building this generation’s legacy with all that you do for the NSCDA. We have accomplished so much, but we have so much more to do. Thanks to you, our future is bright.
It has been my honor and privilege to serve as your President.
With deep appreciation and gratitude,
NSCDA President 2020-2024, Honorary President
In M e M or I a M
NC–2081A LA–507
nancy cassIT y house Beck
(Mrs. WILLI aM h. Beck, Jr.)
October 11, 1932–September 8, 2024
National Historian 1994–2000
LA President 1991–1994 Roll of Honor 1994
Robert Jones (1718–1766) NC
MA–4319A IL–796
D I ane c urTI s November 7, 1931–September 14, 2024
National Vice President 1996–2000
IL Society President 1993–1996
Roll of Honor 1997
John Russell ( –1695) MA
DE–879A WY–128
M ary c hr I s TI ne " c hr I s T y " L ove
June 22, 1948–October 14, 2024
WY Society President 2006–2011
Roll of Honor 2020
Reese Wolfe 1733–1797 DE
VA–8957 WV–743
v I rg I n I a " g I nny " v aughan M a I rs
(M rs . D an I e L a TL ee M a I rs )
December 3, 1926–March 19, 2024
WV Society President 1982–1986
Roll of Honor 1991
Roger Delk ( – ca. 1635) VA
eDITor's Note
This is my final issue as Editor of Dames Discovery. It has been my pleasure to work with a talented team of writers and editors. With each issue, we tried to communicate the best of Dames. I hope you found the dialogue that emerged to be in touch with your best expectations.
We have a dynamic group of Dames contributing authors. Their insightful work reflects contemporary mores while remaining committed to stewardship rooted in history, and concurrently making history. It has been my privilege to learn from them.
Our copy editors, Peggy DeStefano, Jean Perkins, Lee Scott and Susan Walker, have been unstintingly generous with their time, patience and insights, jumping into action once the articles arrived. Their high standards and teamwork made the job of Editor that much easier and more rewarding. We were in this together and they saved me from myself many times!
I am grateful for the early guidance of Ellen Boomer as well as Mimi Hurst who led the transition from a newsletter to a magazine format. To Katherine Cammack, the National Board members and the unfailingly professional National HQ staff who have endured my requests—thank you all.
What an extraordinary organization we are! It has been wonderful to be a part of this uniquely American cultural expression. I give my very best wishes to our incoming Editor, Jennie Leavell. I will look forward to future magazines to satisfy my curiosity and savor the Dames discourse.
This issue focuses on Biennial, where we share the impressive milestones met across our mission initiatives, as well as our continuing engagement that underscores why we are Entrusted with History's Future. In everything we do, every Dame has a role to play as an agent of change and continuity. We remain profoundly connected to the past while moving forward together toward our shared future.
A bove : Hydrangeas, watercolor on paper by Claudia Eoline Stewart Lane, Illinois Society.
You can continue to access every magazine issue in PDF form, which affords greater accessibility options. Our electronic-only editions enable a sensible economy in light of increasing postage, paper and printing costs—with the added benefit of an environmentally beneficial footprint. — SWP
Katherine Taylor Cammack, then- National President, appointed Edith Laurencin as Acting Executive Director. Edith’s appointment announcement highlighted her familiarity with all things Dames as well as her strong leadership skills. Consistent with the vision for the NSCDA, her appointment conveyed a continued commitment to serving this federation of Corporate Societies.
Mary Heyward Mundy, newly installed National President, remarked that Edith Laurencin stepped up to serve as the NSCDA Acting Executive Director in addition to her ongoing duties as Director of Finance and Administration. She did so during the particularly hectic time surrounding the Dumbarton House Board and Biennial meetings. Her calm demeanor, confidence and professionalism eased the transition between the outgoing Executive Director and the incoming Interim Director and the changeover of Dames' leadership. Edith is an invaluable asset for the NSCDA team and we offer her our profound thanks.
Note from HEADQUARTERS
by EDITH LAURENCIN , Acting Executive Director
Fall was a busy time at National Headquarters with the Dumbarton House Board and Biennial meetings. For the staff and me, it was wonderful both to spend time with Dames and to be able to welcome them back to National Headquarters Dumbarton House. As we return to our daily office activities, we continue to be grateful for your generosity and dedication. We also look forward to guiding you on many more tours of the renovated period rooms and to enjoying more nights under the stars in the courtyard.
I also want to take this opportunity to recognize and to express my heartfelt thanks to all of the National Headquarters staff for the time and effort they put into making the meetings both successful and enjoyable for everyone. I am deeply appreciative of this exceptional team, of their hard work, of their positive attitude and of how they come together to support one another daily. Their professionalism and creativity are inspiring. I am fortunate to work alongside them and encourage you to visit, to reach out and to learn more about our talented staff and their ideas.
We look forward to seeing many of you at Dumbarton House in the spring when the grounds will be in full bloom and in October, 2025 at National Conference in Charleston, SC.
NSCDA members are invited to view a pre-recorded holiday tour of Dumbarton House with Director of Education and Mission Programs Meika Downey and Collections Manager Isabella Kiedrowski on December 12, 2024 at 7 pm ET on Zoom. Following the tour, join museum staff for a live virtual Q&A. The Dumbarton House holiday interpretation will display Federal period decorations, explore Christmas customs of the early republic, and consider how the residents of the home may have viewed the holiday season.
The NSCDA Education and Mission Programs team at HQ invites you to join us for Booked on History, our new virtual Dames book club. The first meeting is scheduled for March 12, 2025 at 6 pm ET on Zoom. The reading selection: Kristin Hannah’s The Women—a novel of courage and sacrifice that echoes the spirit of all who’ve served. Bookworms, unquenchable readers and the occasional reader—all are welcome!
ON THE COVER NSCDA SCARF Celebration
In 2026, Americans will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. This sestercentennial will be marked by ceremonies and festivities throughout the country.
As part of this celebration, the NSCDA has created a stunning piece of wearable art: the Celebration 250 commemorative scarf. Designed by internationally renowned fashion designer and fine artist Marisol Deluna, the Celebration 250 scarf highlights this 1776 historic milestone and tells the stories of the 50 states that comprise our union and are represented by symbols that border the scarf.
The intricate design of the scarf reflects an America of many parts that functions as a collective whole. Set off by amber waves of grain sheaves and rope tassels, unfurling flags are linked by a band of soft gray and are anchored by the four compass points, north, south, east and west. The band that unites the flags symbolizes the journeys Americans took across our great land.
DESIGNED BY
MARISOL
DELUNA 250
Cords and bands of gold encircle other key design elements. The scarf centers on the traditional rendering of the American eagle that holds olive branches and arrows and reflects the history of both peace and war that many nations experience. The stars above the eagle are traditional as well, but their placement represents the three NSCDA mission pillars. Fleurs-de-lis surround the center as heraldic representations of those who descend from the country’s founders.
Symbols representing the original 13 colonies, the foundation of our nation, are positioned under the NSCDA plaque and serve as the base of the design. We honor the founders of our country who risked their lives for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all—ideals for which we continue to strive. The sides and top of the scarf are framed by symbols from the remaining 37 states and the District of Columbia. The symbol for Pennsylvania, where the NSCDA was founded, is centered in the bottom row. The Dames’ symbol, the colonial lady, is included in several key spots around the border of the scarf.
42" silk scarf with hand-rolled edges; $250 each includes tax, shipping and a $100 donation to NSCDA; order online at www.nscda.org for late spring 2025 delivery
NSCDA President Mary Heyward Mundy announced the appointment of Stephen Mutty as Interim Executive Director.
She remarked:
The departure of Carol Cadou, the first NSCDA Executive Director, created an opportunity for us to reevaluate our headquarters operations and to ensure alignment with the new 2024-2028 Strategic Plan. In Steve Mutty, we are fortunate to have engaged someone who has extensive experience with operations and transition management, as well as strategic planning, organizational development and funding for nonprofit organizations. I look forward to working with Steve and I am confident he will provide the perspective and support we need.
The search team for the NSCDA Interim Executive Director consisted of Dames Ellen Boomer, Katherine Taylor Cammack, Avery Jenkins and Mary Heyward Mundy. They were advised by Dame Francie Root, Acting Executive Director Edith Laurencin and Consultant Delina Papit. Thank you to all who were tasked with the identification and vetting of candidates as well as conducting the interview process under pressing circumstances.
A WARM WELCOME TO NSCDA
Interim Execuive Director stephen Mutty
With nearly four decades of experience in nonprofit and business leadership in the greater Washington, DC area, Steve has served as CEO of nonprofits with local, regional, national and global reach. His nonprofit experience spans a wide range of impact areas including environmental stewardship, advocacy for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), advocacy and mentorship for at-risk youth, and serving people and communities through volunteerism.
Steve has served on the board of directors of several nonprofits and publicprivate partnerships. These include: the Best Buddies International VADC chapter, which he established and was board chair for eight years; three years on the Alexandria Waterfront Commission; 15 years on the board of the DC Building Industry Association Community Services Corporation, which oversaw volunteer community improvement projects in under-served neighborhoods in the District of Columbia; and the events and fundraising committees of several major national nonprofits for which he raised over $10 million as a volunteer fundraiser before transitioning to his current career as a nonprofit CEO.
In interim director roles, Steve’s recent engagements have included Community Forklift in Hyattsville, MD, interPLAY Orchestra in Bethesda, MD and the Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas, the state’s largest land conservation trust, in San Antonio, TX.
With degrees in Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts, Steve is an accomplished chef as well as food and wine enthusiast. He is a loving granddad, a passionate promoter of disability inclusion, a dog rescue advocate, an intrepid traveler, and a collector of nautical books and memorabilia.
As we open doors at HQ to welcome Steve, we couldn't help but be curious about his predilection for history. Here he answers our query: who is your favorite historical figure? I have two favorites from different sides of the Atlantic. From Virginia, the "colony" I call home, Thomas Jefferson—a renaissance man in the truest sense of the word with an amazing breadth of knowledge and life experience. And, from the British Empire, Sir Winston Churchill—a towering figure who led Great Britain through some of its darkest hours in modern history.
Dames Discovery LI ve
Uncovering the best parts of being a Dame
Scholarships, Grants and Awards
CONGRESSIONAL ESSAY CONTEST
Wednesday, February 19 at 4 pm ET
The NSCDA has supported the Congressional Essay Contest for nearly 50 years. With Dames support, well over 4,500 high school students have come to Washington, DC for an interactive civics-focused workshop and the opportunity to visit world-class museums and historic sites. Tune in to hear about this transformative program and to find out how the high school students in your own family can take part in this unique opportunity.
Wednesday, April 23 at 4 pm ET
Membership
DAMES SOCIALS
Dames Socials are gatherings that bring vacationing Dames together to enjoy the company of Dames from other Town Committees and Corporate Societies. Some socials include Dames' children and grandchildren. Find out about these opportunities to socialize with other Dames and how to plan your own gathering.
Wednesday, June 25 at 4 pm ET
Mission Outreach
ALL ABOUT VETS
Dames have always had a passion for recognizing and supporting our nation’s veterans. Through its work with the Library of Congress Veterans History Project, the NSCDA is now the second largest contributor of veteran interviews. Our partnership with America’s VetDogs has resulted in the sponsorship of over two dozen Puppies with a Purpose by Corporate Societies, Committees and individual Dames. Now we are bringing the two projects together to capture interviews of veterans with VetDogs. Don’t miss hearing inspirational stories and finding out how easy it is to be a part of this effort.
Dames Discovery LI ve welcomes you to bi-monthly sessions via Zoom which will expand upon our mission work and introduce you to ways to get involved with projects and social opportunities.
Wednesday, August 20 at 4 pm ET
Membership
THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A DAME
Did you become a Dame because your mother told you to? Do you want to become more involved, or do you just enjoy the social aspect? Join us for a panel discussion focused on different Dames’ experiences designed to highlight the benefits of being part of a national organization with the flexibility to participate on your own terms.
Wednesday, October 22 at 4 pm ET
Museum Alliance
GREAT AMERICAN TREASURES
The NSCDA Great American Treasures Museum Alliance (GAT) includes more than 60 sites affiliated with the NSCDA. From Jamestown to Hawai’i, and from the shores of Plymouth to Oregon’s frontiers, each site brings America's story to life through its remarkable homes, museums, and monuments. Join us for a discussion about GAT sites and how the Dames have supported preservation work in the past—and continue to do so for the future.
Wednesday, December 10 at 4 pm ET
Corporate Society Spotlight
OPENING DOORS TO AMERICA'S HISTORY
See how Societies are supporting our mission in different ways across the country. A never-ending source of inspiration are the extraordinary Dames and Corporate Societies who make us proud! Come see, get curious! Could your Society be featured?
con T r IBu TIng To our hIsTory
by AUGUST CZESCHIN, Great American Treasures Coordinator
The Great American Treasures book will be released in the summer of 2025 as part of the NSCDA's celebration of the nation's sestercentennial—or 250th birthday.
Great American Treasures celebrates American history through NSCDA historic homes and museums. Published by the NSCDA, the book offers a panorama of back-stories to the houses, history and people of an earlier time. Five exceptional female scholars explore America through the lens of colonial migration, the rise of a nation and the control over a continent. Their scholarly presentations pay homage to History’s Keepers and speak to renewed ways of discovering how America came to be America.
• Amy Hudson Henderson explores Anne Willing Bingham’s influence on female politics and consumerism in early Federal America. Henderson reveals how Bingham's beautiful and elegant ivory writing desk symbolized leadership and identity in post-Revolutionary America as it reflected both European aristocratic traditions and American women’s impact on the nation’s culture.
• Nicole Belolan offers a fresh look at the noctograph used by William Hickling Prescott and its impact on people with disabilities. As an independent scholar, Belolan underscores the innovative ways technology influenced disabled individuals' experiences and spotlights a crucial yet often overlooked facet of early American history.
• Alden O’Brien presents a captivating journey through textiles and memory. As Curator of Costumes and Textiles at the DAR Museum, O’Brien links historical fabrics and fashion to broader cultural narratives. She also explores how material culture reflects both personal and societal identity and shapes American history.
• Anastacia Scott’s chapter on the Hermann-Grima House in New Orleans examines culinary traditions influenced by enslaved Africans. Scott’s research highlights their role in developing Louisiana Creole cuisine and celebrates their contributions to the region’s food culture.
• Alison Bazylinski analyzes the role of the post office in westward expansion through the Mandel Cabin in Wyoming and shows how these institutions served as community hubs. Her work illustrates how post offices facilitated communication and economic growth in addition to connecting settlers and shaping local communities.
Together, these scholars provide a dynamic perspective on American history and reveal how material and cultural legacies have shaped the United States in meaningful ways.
65 T h B I enn I a L c ounc IL
October 16–20, 2024
In addition to gathering Dames from across the country, the NSCDA Biennial Council provides reasons to celebrate, to discover and to savor the benefits of friendships created through affiliation and shared interests. Held at the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City in Arlington, VA, Biennial did not disappoint as it combined educational sessions, an informative workshop and carefully considered presentations to inspire new ways of thinking, being, doing and leading—all intended to build a stronger NSCDA. Attendees had numerous occasions to network and deepen their appreciation of other Dames.
The packed agenda began with an informal dinner for Corporate Society Presidents that was organized by Laura Clark (AL). The schedule included an Executive Committee meeting and lunch with incoming officers as well as Corporate Society Presidents and National Board meetings. Founder of Vietri, a lifestyle brand offering handcrafted Italian home and garden accessories, Susan Gravely (NC) spoke at the National Board dinner that was held at the Sulgrave Club. Young Dames gathered for cocktails at the home of Lucy Rhame (DC). The 65th Biennial Council kicked off with a Dumbarton House reception where the Virginia Stuart Cobb Award for Generosity and Purpose and the Lamar Awards for Excellence were presented to a number of surprised Dames.
Optional excursions included a tour of Old Town Alexandria, a visit to the Phillips Collection and a field trip to Mount Vernon. The Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Service featured speaker Marilla Cushman, Senior Advisor to the President of the Military Women’s Memorial. The President’s
reception was followed by the gala dinner with Maryland State Archivist Elaine Rice Bachmann as the keynote speaker. The event culminated in a patriotic sing-along.
The educational session featured the Veterans History Project where Andrew Huber, Liaison Specialist for the Library of Congress, emphasized the importance of preserving veterans’ stories through a mock Q&A demonstration with U.S. Army Sgt. Neil Duncan (Ret.) who was accompanied by his service dog Cowboy from America’s VetDogs. Workshops spanned a broad spectrum of interests including Communications; Digital Tools and Strategies; Mission Outreach; Lamar Awards; Scholarships, Grants and Awards; and Treasurers.
To close out the Biennial Council, marketing consultant Dee Papit offered an exciting update about the NSCDA branding refresh that is currently under consideration and debuted a new look for the NSCDA logo. While branding changes require careful consideration, Dee supplied a tempting array of suggestions that retain the fundamental essence of the NSCDA while adding dazzling font and iconographic choices. Newly elected President Mary Heyward Mundy spoke of meeting the challenges of an evolving world with grace while remaining true to the mission with which the NSCDA is tasked.
In addition to offering the opportunity to enjoy the old and new friendships that come with being a Dame, the Biennial weekend was also an occasion to celebrate newly inducted Honorary President Katherine Taylor Cammack for her service and dedication to the NSCDA.
L a M ar awards for exCeLLenCe
by ELSIE SMITH , National Vice President for Mission Initiatives
The Clarinda Pendleton Lamar Awards for Excellence recognize and honor state projects and programs in our three mission activity areas: historical activities, Museum Alliance and patriotic service.
Sixteen applications from 12 states were submitted for consideration this year. Creative, inspiring and mission-driven, these projects all demonstrate how to put the Dames purpose into practice. The 2024 winners were announced with fanfare at a cocktail reception Friday evening during our Biennial proceedings.
And the winners were:
HISTORICAL ACTIVITIES
Oklahoma Society
One of the great privileges and pleasures of serving as National President is the opportunity to travel around the country to visit the State Societies. During my term as National President (2012-2016) I was so impressed with what the states were doing, I wanted to help draw attention to the wonderful innovative, creative and inspiring programs that I encountered. At one of the Regional Conferences, a group of us were talking about the NSCDA Roll of Honor that had been established in 1941 to recognize members who have given exceptional service above and beyond the ordinary. But no recognition program had been established to honor the exceptional contributions of State Societies to the NSCDA mission areas. With immediate enthusiasm for such a program, I convened an appropriate task force that established the Clara Pendleton Lamar Awards. The first awards were given at the 2014 Biennial.
— Marcy Moody (FL) President 2012-2016, Honorary President
coloni Al dAy At the cApitol: struggle For Freedom
AWARDED JOINTLY BY HISTORICAL ACTIVITIES & PATRIOTIC SERVICE
Wyoming Society come celebr Ate the constitution
MUSEUM ALLIANCE
South Carolina Society
the powder mAgA zine museum ch Arleston's 1773 teA pArty protest
Florida Society
"i lived here As well," untold stories oF the Ximenez-FAtio house
PATRIOTIC SERVICE
Georgia Society tiny house veter Ans' gArden
Lamar Awards for Excellence
H istorical activities
Oklahoma Society
COLONIAL DAY AT THE CAPITOL: STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM
Colonial Day at the Capitol is a one-day inperson event for fifth graders at the State Capitol that is supplemented by a statewide virtual program. Each year, 500 fifth-graders come to the Capitol to observe open sessions led by reenactors in the Senate and House chambers. The Capitol rotunda is the setting for “Colonial Trades and Pastimes” that provides hands-on experiences such as tin-smithing, bookmaking and using wampum. Virtual
presentations are available to all schools throughout the state for the following month. These presentations have reached 5,000 students, teachers and parents. To date, over 10,000 students have participated in Colonial Day at the Capitol.
In 1987, an Oklahoma Dame started a Bill of Rights educational program in her home. As that program grew, it moved to the Capitol and a professional director was hired. Partnerships
with community groups, Colonial Williamsburg and Mount Vernon were begun and Oklahoma Society Dames were active supporters of the program. Since 2023, Oklahoma Dames have assumed the leadership for Colonial Day at the Capitol. Kudos to these Dames for their vision, enduring commitment and outstanding leadership for a project that really defines what our Society is all about.
Fifth grade students participating in hands-on projects at the Capitol Building Photos courtesy of the Oklahoma Society
Wyoming Society
A joint Historical Activities and Patriotic Service Award goes to a project that transcends the traditional boundaries of our mission areas and illustrates how projects can effectively impact multiple mission pillars.
Come Celebrate the Constitution asks hotbutton questions about our nation’s founding document to instigate more informed debate. Wyoming Dames collaborated with other local lineage groups (DAR and Daughters of 1812) and an American Government
and Social Studies teacher to build a public program around free speech. The one-and-ahalf-hour event was held in the local high school auditorium. It included a Constitution trivia competition, a judged mock Congressional debate by “We the People AP Class” students, and a Zoom presentation by free-speech campaigner Mary Beth Tinker. The program disseminated useful information about constitutional issues and demonstrated the genius of our founding fathers in creating this foundational document that is nearly 240 years old.
In addition to fostering deeper thinking about the Constitution, this project also demonstrates the benefits of collaboration for each of the participating groups: increasing reach, cost-sharing and good marketing.
Come Celebrate the Constitution educates our youth and our communities about governance, encourages informed debate and critical thinking on foundational principles, and brings people together to explore a very worthy topic.
Photo credit: Stephen Tucker, Bighorn Films; photo courtesy of Isabel Wallop (WY)
Lamar Awards for Excellence
Museu M a lliance
South Carolina Society
THE POWDER MAGAZINE MUSEUM
CHARLESTON'S 1773 TEA PARTY PROTEST
Museum Alliance Committee winners brought history to life through vivid and memorable theatrical productions. They made learning fun!
Charleston's 1773 Tea Party Protest was a theatrical performance at The Powder Magazine Museum commemorating this little-known historical event that marks the end of the colonial period and the beginning of the Revolutionary period in Charleston.
The South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission (SC250) considered the performance to be the kick-off event for the 250th anniversary celebrations around the state. Free/reduced admission and special tours were provided on the day of the event.
The December 2, 2023 Tea Party Protest performance drew more than 500 participants. It put The Powder Magazine Museum front and center as the local authority on Charleston’s colonial history.
While many attendees know of the Boston Tea Party, most are unaware of the tea party that took place in their own back yard. The production made this Great American Treasures site the talk of the town on local TV, in the newspapers and even national magazine articles.
Photos courtesy of the South Carolina Society
Lamar Awards for Excellence
Museu M a lliance
Florida Society
"I LIVED HERE AS WELL," UNTOLD
STORIES OF THE XIMENEZ-FATIO HOUSE
The Ximenez-Fatio House Museum “invisible hands” project shares the untold stories of the enslaved persons who served in the Ximenez-Fatio House during the 19th century. After researching their stories, the museum engaged a local celebrity, a folklorist, a musician and a director to write a dramatic script about the lives of these “invisible hands.” The result is a heartwarming production called I Lived Here as Well that
documents the lives of six male servants who lived in the house. A subsequent production called I Lived Here as Well: The Story Continues reveals the lives of the real people who helped the house owners operate successful businesses.
The performances are presented throughout Black History month with the house serving as the stage. Guests follow the actors throughout the house and are both part of the story and
quiet observers of very personal events in the lives of both the owners and their servants.
Through this project, the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum has brought to life the stories of urban slavery for the St. Augustine community and has built strong relationships with other historic sites to present jointly 450 years of Black History in Florida.
Photos courtesy of Ximenez-Fatio House Museum
Lamar Awards for Excellence
Patriotic s ervice
Georgia Society
TINY HOUSE VETERANS' GARDEN
Congratulations to the Georgia Society for their participation in the Tiny House Veterans’ Garden project that was sponsored and facilitated by the Savannah Town Committee. This Patriotic Service winner used civic beautification to improve veterans’ surroundings.
The Committee’s goal was to transform an unsightly acre, part of a Tiny House development for homeless veterans, into a garden with a pavilion and walking path. The Committee hoped that the
residents, all of whom are veterans, would be able to use the garden to visit, exercise and conduct small group meetings.
The Savannah Town Committee gathered a community coalition of organizations for the project that ranged from garden clubs, philanthropic organizations, a military school, Chick-Fil-A, skilled workmen and elected officials. These partnerships not only helped the Georgia Dames realize their goal, but also heightened awareness and
visibility of the Dames’ mission in the community.
As stated by one of the Savannah Town Committee members:
“The strength in this project was in Dames leadership, initiative, commitment, community coalition building and sharing our mission honoring veterans.”
Another Dame added, “We all learned much more than dealing with rocks and dilemmas to create a garden.”
Photo credit: Bill Durrence; photos courtesy of the Georgia Society Savannah Town Committee
Roll of HONOR
by LISA LILES , National Roll of Honor Committee Chair
The NSCDA Roll of Honor is the highest honor given by a Corporate Society to a worthy Dame within its membership. The award originated with the celebration of the 1941 Golden Jubilee Anniversary of the founding of the NSCDA.
Each year a Corporate Society may nominate one or more members to receive the Roll of Honor based on her exemplary and sustained service to the NSCDA. This includes her national and/or state offices and other positions held in the organization. The recipients are then recognized at either the next National Conference or Biennial Council. Each name is also written in calligraphy in the Blue Leather Roll of Honor Book that is safely kept in the NSCDA Archives and is displayed only at Biennial or by special request. The requested donation that accompanies each nomination goes to The Golden Jubilee Fund II, benefiting the operations and mission work of the NSCDA.
In 2024, the NSCDA is proud to add the names of 37 Dames from 19 Corporate Societies to the Roll of Honor. They showcase a wide variety of talents, skills and devotion to the ideals of the NSCDA. Congratulations to these amazing dedicated Dames!
CALIFORNIA SOCIETY
Brenda Lunger Nardi
Connie Stone
DELAWARE SOCIETY
Sandra Low Beale
Allison Egbert Brokaw
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SOCIETY
Deborah Sams Sczudlo
FLORIDA SOCIETY
Helen Gill Arnold
Florence Ramsey Bliss LaGrange Trussell Gippe
GEORGIA SOCIETY
Linda Bowman Moncreif
LOUISIANA SOCIETY
Lesley Fromherz Hardin
Louise Sherrard Ripley
MICHIGAN SOCIETY
Sarah Stroud Ollison
Carol McKeeth Stephenson
Jean Donaldson Zerges
MINNESOTA SOCIETY
Katharine Stewart Winston
NORTH CAROLINA SOCIETY
Elizabeth Longley Donald
Berta Summerell Hamilton
Frances Wilson Smyth
NEW HAMPSHIRE SOCIETY
Elaine Ruth Carter Blaylock
Susan Paige Inslee Trace
NEW JERSEY SOCIETY
Grace Bailey DeMarco
Elizabeth Whitesides Holdsworth
OHIO SOCIETY
Elizabeth Kinney Bigelow
Moore
OREGON SOCIETY
Judith Hudson Matazzaro
Sara Holt Matazzaro
Jean McPherson Meihoff
PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY
Carol Flynn Rush
TENNESSEE SOCIETY
Cary Coors Brown
TEXAS SOCIETY
Leighton Dure Barclay
Katherine Marre King
Virginia Powell Lewis
Elizabeth Fonda Maxfield
Sarah Norman Nichols
VERMONT SOCIETY
Elsie Brewster McCabe
Smith
WEST VIRGINIA SOCIETY
Jill Susan Beymer Stevens
WYOMING SOCIETY
Elizabeth Mifflin Galey
Koltiska †
Isabel Thomasson Wallop † Deceased
All About the Dames
NSCDA Archives
For the Record
New in 2025, the Oral History Committee will begin to collect oral histories from Roll of Honor award recipients. These interviews and personal narratives will become part of the NSCDA Oral History Archives and available for current and future Dames to reference. We look forward to hearing and sharing the stories of these amazing dedicated Dames!
American Treasures
Museum Alliance Grants
by CATHERINE COOPER , Museum Alliance Committee Chair
The 2024 Museum Alliance Grants focused on collections conservation. This included, but was not limited to, object treatment, stabilization and rehousing. The Museum Alliance Committee is excited to announce that a total of $25,000 was awarded to three Great American Treasures (GAT): The Andrew Low House, Savannah, GA; Mount Clare Museum, Baltimore, MD; and Peachfield, Westampton, NJ.
\anDreW LoW house MuseuM savannah, ga
The Georgia Society Andrew Low House Museum $9,500 grant will conserve one of the most important items in its collection, a small portrait of Andrew Low’s first wife Sarah Cecil Hunter Low and her daughter Amy that was painted in 1849. This is one of very few images of the first Mrs. Andrew Low who died during a miscarriage before this painting was completed. The museum uses this portrait to talk about Sarah Cecil Hunter Low and her short but interesting life during
the early 19th century. Serving as an excellent tool to describe the hard realities of maternal healthcare practices during this era, it also provides a way to engage in a larger discussion about women’s roles and economic and social inequities of gender and race. The interpretation of the Andrew Low House, a neo-classical house designed by John Norris in 1848, provides a composite view of life in mid 19th-century Savannah that was shared with over 20,000 visitors in 2023.
NUMBERS
Since 2021, the NSCDA has donated $95,000 to 12 GAT sites.
Moun T cL are MuseuM
BaLTIMore, MD
The Maryland Society Mount Clare Museum $9,000 grant will enable the museum to hire a professional art conservator to conduct assessments of its collection of 20 paintings. It will provide the necessary funds for the conservation of the three paintings most in need of attention.
The initiative to survey and assess the collection of 18th-century paintings supports Mount Clare’s efforts to maintain and display its significant
artwork that showcases a more complete history of all the people who worked and lived at Mount Clare.
This project fulfills the Maryland Society 2018 strategic plan to build on our historic legacy in a way that resonates with the social values of 21st-century Americans. It also proves that history gives dimension to the present, direction to the future, and humility to the leaders of humankind.
PeachfIeLD
WesTaMPTon, nJ
The New Jersey Society Peachfield House Museum is one of a few remaining colonial farms in Burlington County. It is a fine example of colonial/colonial revival architecture dating to the 18th century and the site of some of the first settlers in New Jersey. Colonial Quaker home life from 1725 to the early 19th century comes alive in the Peachfield interior with nearly 200 visitors in 2023. The
collection focuses on colonial household items and includes dresses, headwear, samplers, quilts and the 1782 Bed Rug, one of Peachfield’s rarest and most valuable pieces. The $6,500 Peachfield grant will fund the conservation, stabilization and cleaning of this Bed Rug with the goal of returning it to display for the celebration of Peachfield’s Tricentennial (1725–2025) and America 250.
VIRGINIA STUART COBB Award for Generosity and Purpose
by SUSAN WALKER , National Development Committee
Jan I e g ran T ha M
2024 Award Recipient
When the NSCDA leadership was contemplating a major fundraising campaign in 2014, who volunteered to attend the Lilly School of Philanthropy to learn about campaigns and to bring ideas for the Dames?
Janie Grantham! When it was time to carry out a feasibility study to determine if the Dames were ready to carry out a major fundraising campaign, who shared her new knowledge and also recommended a consultant? Janie Grantham! When it was time to create the organizational structure for the NSCDA Comprehensive Campaign, who organized and led a nation-wide network of 43 Dames who served as Major Gifts volunteers and raised more than $3.7 million, over one-third of the campaign total? Janie Grantham!
Janie exemplifies all of the qualities found in the description for the Virginia Stuart Cobb Award for Generosity and Purpose:
• Generosity of spirit,
• Philanthropic leadership,
• Vision for the future of the Dames and
• Devotion to the Dames.
Janie has shared her talents and treasure with the Dames for decades, beginning with her service on the National Board in 1994. She is best known and affectionately remembered for her leadership as Chair of the Dumbarton House Board from 2004 to 2012 when the Dumbarton House Museum was first accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM). She has served on the following NSCDA
Committees: Executive, Development, Finance, Strategic Planning and Branding as well as Major Gifts Chair of the Campaign Steering Committee. She also served as President of the Maryland Society and currently is the First Vice President and Patriotic Service Chair of the Vermont Society.
She has also been a generous donor throughout the years. Not only did she devote her time and energy to the Comprehensive Campaign, she was also a Leadership donor. She is a member of the Legacy Circle, along with her husband Phil, who is the first and only gentleman to join the Legacy Circle.
Her community involvements have included providing hospital transportation for AIDS patients when she lived in Baltimore, supporting the Gilman School in Baltimore that her son attended, and serving on the Board of the Garden Club in Woodstock, VT.
The NSCDA is so very thankful for Janie’s energetic and creative enthusiasm for the Dames!
Katherine Taylor Cammack and Stuart Cobb presented the 2024 Virginia Stuart Cobb Award for Generosity and Purpose to Janie Grantham at the Welcome Reception at Dumbarton House
L-R: Phil and Janie Grantham with Stuart Cobb
The 2022–2024 National Membership Drive was announced at the 2022 Biennial by Membership Committee Co-chairs Holly Hunt and Molly Carey and National Registrar Lisa Liles.
Because family is at the heart of our organization, the Membership Drive was focused on family legacies, although all new members were counted. After all, tracing our lineages back to a qualifying ancestor is all about family. Legacy membership is what we inherit from our Dames ancestors and what we pass on to our Dames descendants. This is true no matter how or when we become a Dame. We are all legacies whether we are the first in our family to join the Dames or a fourth-generation Dame.
The Membership Drive goal was to bring the total National membership above 15,295. Two $5,000 prizes would be awarded, one to the Society that
socIeTIes WIT h greaTer T han 500 MeMBers:
1st place with 106 new members, the Georgia Society
2nd place with 92 new members, the North Carolina Society
3rd place with 87 new members, the Louisiana Society
Honorable mention with 82 new members, the South Carolina Society
Honorable mention with 80 new members, the Alabama Society
added the most new members and one to the Society that had the highest percentage of new members. These awards would be funded by the new member National dues but were conditional on reaching the membership goal. Despite a wonderful increase in new members, the final goal was not met. All new members, including Junior and Baby Dames, were counted between June 1, 2022 and September 30, 2024.
Thankfully the Finance and Executive committees gave their approval to the Membership Committee to use already budgeted but unused funds as prize money, providing for two $500 awards instead of none.
We applaud all the Societies who worked so hard to bring in new members. May we all continue in this ongoing effort!
socIeTIes WIT h feW er T han 500 MeMBers:
1st place with eight new members representing 19.05%, the Vermont Society
2nd place with 42 new members representing 16.60%, the Illinois Society
3rd place with 66 new members representing 15.90%, the California Society
Honorable mention with 21 new members representing 14.58 %, the Indiana Society
Honorable mention with 26 new members, representing 13.33%, the Ohio Society
NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
NUMBERS
Since June 1, 2022, the NSCDA has added 1,131 new members, who represent 7.62% of our membership.
D I s PaT ch fro M B I enn I a L
Photography by EMILY KNAPPER , NSCDA Communications and Website Manager
Retiring National Officers and Successors
Outgoing National Historian Sally Connelly gives her farewell remarks
Molly Carey, Lisa Liles, Virginia Keller, Caro Williams, Lisa White, Ellen Boomer and Katherine Taylor Cammack celebrate the winners of the Membership Drive
Francie Root is inducted as VP for Finance
Mary Heyward Mundy is inducted as National President by Katherine Taylor Cammack and Lynn Goldsmith
Lisa White completes her tenure as VP of Region Ill
Meg Beasley is inducted as National Historian
Bethe Hagopian completes her tenure as National Treasurer
Recognition and Awards at Dumbarton House
Members of the Georgia Society with the Lamar Award for their
Katherine Taylor Cammack and Marcy Moody open the Lamar Awards presentation
Jodie Allen, Angelyn Bridges Connie Baldwin, Katherine Armato and Agnes Asman with the Lamar Award recognizing the South Carolina Society for Charleston's 1773 Tea Party Protest program at the Powder Magazine Museum
Catherine Cooper presents the Lamar Award to Elizabeth Howard of the Florida Society
Katherine Taylor Cammack presents the Virginia Stuart Cobb Award for Generosity and Purpose to Janie Grantham
Elsie Smith presents the Lamar Award to Marilyn Case and Kathy Walker of the Oklahoma Society
Elsie Smith and Margaret Freeman present the Lamar Award to Isabel Wallop of the Wyoming Society
Tiny House Veteran's Garden Project
Biennial in Brief
Biennial revellers enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres under the tent at HQ
Veteran's History Project mock interview between Andrew Huber and U.S. Army Sgt. Neil Duncan (Ret.) with his America's VetDog, Cowboy
Veteran's History Project Educational Session with Andrew Huber, Liaison Specialist for the Library of Congress
Dames and their guests arrive for the opening reception
Roll of Honor book on view at Dumbarton House
Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Service
US Army Brass Quintet playing the National Anthem
Flag bearers Melinda Willingham, Winifred Hayes and Elizabeth King
Memorial address by Marilla Cushman, Senior Advisor to the President of the Military Women’s Memorial
Patriotic Service Committee with the ceremonial wreath at the Spanish-American War Memorial
NSCDA ceremonial wreath placed by Katherine Taylor Cammack and Margaret Freeman
Arrival of National President Katherine Taylor Cammack and Incoming National President Mary Heyward Mundy
NSCDA ATTINGHAM SCHOLARSHIP
Nature, Interpretation and Community Engagement
by RACHEL CORMA , 2023 Scholarship Award Recipient
The Attingham Summer School is an intensive, 18-day residential program that provides students unprecedented access to the collections and landscapes of English country houses.
In 2013, the NSCDA established the NSCDA Attingham Scholarship to support museum staff participation in the program, thereby also supporting Great American Treasures in their collections and interpretive work.
Scholarship recipient Rachel Corma (pictured above) offers her thoughts on the program through the Museum Alliance preservationist lens of nature, interpretation and community engagement:
I’ve worked at Stenton, a historic house museum in Philadelphia, since 2016. During my time here, my colleagues and I have been working on ways to activate our greenspace, update our interpretation to include diverse stories and perspectives and, above all, involve our local community in these processes. I was eager to see how English country house museums were moving forward and experimenting in these three areas and I was happy to find that many are also working on similar initiatives.
Nature — The National Trust sites’ use of chairs and picnic areas for families to enjoy the outdoors is such a simple and effective way to encourage visitors to use the green space. Many sites went further and provided opportunities for visitors to actively experience the landscape. For instance, the Harley Gallery encourages visitors to hike the Art Trail guided by an Explorer Kit that is sold in their gift shop.
Interpretation — As Director of Education, I was very interested to see how these sites engaged visitors of all ages. Bolsover Castle filled much of their space with furniture that they transformed in ways that allowed them to be more interactive. They placed interpretive text on the doors of a high chest and placed interactive exhibits within the furniture. I had never seen anything like that before and I thought it was an interesting way to use and present objects.
Community Engagement — Since 2018, Stenton has been working with our community to research and remember an enslaved woman named Dinah who lived and labored in the house in the 18th century. In the UK I saw some unique ways to introduce diversity into spaces that have historically been dominated by white homeowners. Multiple sites are choosing to tell more diverse stories and spark new conversations in these old spaces through the addition of modern art.
The Attingham Summer School introduced me to so many new ideas that directly translate to the work we are doing at Stenton. I look forward to implementing some of these strategies to better connect our visitors with history and nature. Most importantly, I am so thankful for the network of impressive colleagues with whom this course has connected me.
Ancestor's Almanac
250 by 250 Founding Female i nitiative National Special Committee Molly Carey and Lisa Liles, co-chairs
Giving a voice to the first “Colonial Dames,” is an essential aspect of the 250 by 250 Founding Female Initiative. Under this banner, several women have been added to the Register of Ancestors through their service as writers. Many of these women were overlooked because historians and literary critics believed early American women wrote very little. However, research over several decades has amply documented the literature produced by women during the colonial period.
MarT ha (WaDsWorT h) BreWsTer | 1 aPr 1710–af T.1757 cT Service: Published author and poet
An 18th-century American poet, Martha Brewster was the first American-born woman to publish under her own name. While previous colonial women poets, such as Anne Bradstreet and Jane Colman Turell, focused on religion and family life, Brewster’s poems varied widely in both theme and form.
an acrosTIc for M y onLy son (1757)
While Amorous, Gay, and Sanguine swells thy Veins,
An Off’ring of first Fruits, Jehovah Claims.
Due Odours of a sweet Perfume Present, Steep’d in the Blood of the new Covenant; What vulgar Notes Applaud, must be Suspected;
Obedience to the Standard ne’er Neglected; Retire within the Mind, and shut the Door,
To all disord’red Passions, Rude and Sow’r, Here summons, and exert each Manly Pow’r.
By Adequate, and Studious Observation,
Rise to the Poles, then dive to Navigation.
Early enrich thy Heart with moral Virtues,
Whereby to rectify inverted Nature:
Survey the Globe of Man, then turn thine Eyes
To search through Nature’s obscure Mysteries;
Envy may Hiss in Vain, at virt’ous Minds, Regent in her own Breast, she sits Enshrin’d.
Receive good Counsel of the Wise, nor let
Unhallow’d Lips Provoke, or Cause to Fret.
Be Wise and Virt’ous, Modest, Chaste and Grave, Increase in Learning, practice what you have, Enter the List ’gainst Sin, with Courage Brave.
Be not Exalted far above your Sphere;
Regard those Minds that truly Noble are:
Esteem a real Friend, if such there be;
With Kindness overcome an Enemy:
Set not your Heart on Pomp, and Worldly Pleasure,
Tis not a lasting, nor a solid Treasure.
Employ your Thoughts on Good, delight in Reading, Receive the Lord, and Live, and Die Believing.
eLI zaBeT h (sanDWIT h) DrInker | 16 feB 1735–25 nov 1807 Pa Service: Diarist
Elizabeth Drinker kept a diary from 1758 until her death in 1807, documenting her daily life as a Quaker resident of Philadelphia. First published in 1889, this 2,100-page work illuminates many aspects of this society, including family and gender roles, political issues and innovations in medical practice as well as the Society of Friends.
an acrosTIc for M y onLy DaughTer (1757)
A TRIBUTE TO Katherine Taylor Cammack
by ELLEN BOOMER , District of Columbia Society
Katherine Taylor Cammack became the NSCDA National President four years ago during the Dames’ first-ever virtual Biennial at the height of Covid. Despite that challenging start, she’s maintained her characteristic grace and tireless dedication to the NSCDA mission as well as to its members and staff.
NSCDA Executive Assistant Giovanna Baina shared this about Katherine:
She is a leader who sets the right direction, listens with an open mind and remembers the value of a team member. Her leadership is opening doors for untold stories that now have a voice. Katherine’s positive impact will continue for many years.
A native of Wilmington, NC, Katherine joined the Dames in 1995 as a way to connect with her paternal grandmother who had served as President of the North Carolina Society. In addition to National President, Katherine's prolific involvement with the NSCDA includes National Assistant Treasurer, National Treasurer and Museum Alliance Committee Chair. It was during her tenure as Museum Alliance Committee Chair that the Great American Treasures initiative was launched.
Former National President Marcy Moody shared the following tribute:
Katherine has combined her joyful and warm personality with her exceptional financial management and leadership talents to benefit the Dames for over 20 years. She has been a ray of sunshine, grace, strength, energy and vision serving in many national offices, most recently as our esteemed National President. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to work closely with her when I was a National Officer, too. I was routinely inspired and impressed with her ability to accomplish many great and varied tasks, helping to secure the future of our organization and demonstrating her unwavering commitment to our mission. Thank you, Katherine!
Throughout her tenure as National President, Katherine maintained a full-time job as an insurance agent and still managed to lead the NSCDA during a challenging period. Her leadership covered a global pandemic, visionary governance changes, staffing changes, a new website launch, the Founding Females initiative and a new Strategic Plan. She approached each challenge as an opportunity for growth and made every decision based on what was best for the future of the NSCDA and its members.
President Mary Heyward Mundy remembered that in the November 2020 issue of eDispatch, Katherine wrote, “We are determined and optimistic about the future of the NSCDA. A pandemic did not slow us down 100 years ago, and this pandemic is not going to stop us from carrying out our mission as Dames!” Katherine was true to her word and she has led us with grace and selflessness. She is a natural leader with a gift for making others feel appreciated. Not only did she chart the course for us to navigate through a pandemic, but she is also leaving us in a stronger position for the future. I treasure her support and friendship and will strive to emulate her in any way possible.
Her friend and fellow North Carolina Dame, Margaret Freeman, shared the following reflection: Katherine always adds momentum. When she asked if I would serve as her National Patriotic Service Chair, it was an instantaneous "yes" because working with Katherine means being part of a larger, more meaningful story. Katherine has a clear vision and a wonderful sense of humor. If you have the chance to work with Katherine, it's a golden opportunity. If you can call her a friend, it’s a golden feeling.
As Katherine adjusts to life without the diamondadorned President’s badge, one hopes she will reflect on the priceless gifts she has given the Dames: her time, her generous spirit, her good humor and her steadfast leadership.
Here’s to a joyful retirement!
�� America’s 250th ��
What are you planning?
The 2026 sestercentennial is rapidly approaching and many NSCDA Corporate Societies and Great American Treasures sites are already making plans to celebrate this important milestone in American history. After all, history and its milestones are at the heart of the Dames’ mission!
The Mission Outreach Committee would like to hear from you. To inspire as well as to share the collective impact of the NSCDA, the committee is keeping a log of 250th projects and activities that will be featured in eDispatch under the banner 250: Celebrating Together.
Contact Dora Rogers to add your 250th project or activity to the list. ✉ Dora Rogers | doralrogers@gmail.com
a
Volunteers Needed a
Congressional Essay Contest
Help the Dames cultivate talented future leaders. The Congressional Essay Contest (CEC) Committee is expanding its outreach to advise and to assist with this important program. The committee is looking for volunteers to both help the NSCDA promote greater Corporate Society engagement and to read essays submitted directly to the NSCDA. Each year in June, essay winners are awarded a four-day trip to Washington, DC.
Contact Mary Bradshaw to sign up or to learn more about the CEC. ✉ Mary Bradshaw | mary_bradshaw@comcast.net
Dames Socials
Did you attend a Dames Social this summer? If you did, you know how much fun it is to get together with Dames from other places. If you didn’t, there are plans to host socials in additional locations throughout the year. In fact, there are plans for Winter Socials: think Palm Desert, CA, Sun Valley, ID or Vero Beach, FL. Wouldn’t it be fun to add a Dames Social to your ski vacation or to your warm weather winter destination?
There is no single formula for a Dames Social gathering. Any Dame can attend a Social or even plan one where she vacations. Examples of gatherings include morning coffees, luncheons, cocktail receptions or any other way that brings Dames together. Members from different states enjoy getting together in areas where they vacation, as do the year-round residents. No matter the season, consider attending or organizing a Dames Social!
You can enjoy photos from the 2024 Socials here. Please check the NSCDA website and the Members Only Facebook page for updates to the 2025 Dames Socials schedule. Perhaps one is being planned in your area.
To expand the contact list for different areas, please notify your state Registrar and ask her to add your vacation home address to iDames. This will make it easier for us to “find” you while on vacation.
If you are interested in planning a gathering or would like to find out more about a scheduled gathering, resources are available. Visit the NSCDA website and/or Members Only Facebook page for posted announcements or contact Holly Hunt or Susan Walker at nscdamembership@gmail.com.
Upcoming
The Don't Miss List!
ALL are welcome. Invitations will again be sent by email so you will have several chances to RSVP if you are still arranging your Dames Socials calendar. C alifornia Palm Desert
Summer 2024
Holly Hunt
Susan Walker
Dames Socials Consultants
InvIte you to vIew the onlIne
photo gallery of events from thIs past summer
Charlottesville, VA
Tannersville, NY
Pine Knoll Shores, NC
Highlands/Cashiers, NC
Montreat, NC
Chicago, IL
Monteagle Mountain, TN
Sun Valley, ID
Cheers to all who made this a summer of fabulous gatherings, with a special shoutout to the hostesses and photographers for their part in the success of the Dames Socials. To everyone who attended, thank you for joining us!
Thank You
charLoTTesv ILLe, va | May 28, 2024
• Garden party organized by Holly Hunt, Sunny Carr, Cammie Waite, Jane Yancey and the Virginia Society Blue Ridge Town Committee
• Photos courtesy of Mary C. H. Johnson and Holly Hunt
Tannersv ILLe, ny | JuLy 12, 2024
• Luncheon hosted by Holly Hunt
• Photos courtesy of Holly Hunt
PIne knoLL shores, nc | JuLy 10, 2024
• Special thanks to Paula Stewart who served as the Dames Social contact for this gathering and to the Beaufort Group for its hospitality.
• Photos courtesy of Joy Allen and Mary Duane Hale
hIghLanDs/cashIers, nc | JuLy 16, 2024
• Luncheon organized by Anna Duff, Catherine Cooper and Pat Morrison
• Photos courtesy of Anna Duff and Catherine Lanier Cooper
MonT reaT, nc | JuLy 18, 2024
• Coffee organized by Judy Woodward Gregory and Susan Woodward Walker
• Photos by Sarah Wren Robinson
chIcago, IL | JuLy 18, 2024
• Luncheon organized by the Illinois Society
• Photos by Susan Hanes-Leonard
MonTeagLe MounTaIn, T n | JuLy 24, 2024
• Coffee organized by Tippy Anderson, Betty Barton Blythe, Meg Beasley and Lane Price
• Photos by Tippy Anderson and Lisa Hammett
Sun Valley, ID | August 5, 2024
SCAN QR CODE
• Luncheon organized by Fay Kirby
M e M ory k ee P ers
A Dame's Next Step: Historical Fiction
by MARGARET (PEGGY) DESTEFANO , Colorado Society
“What is the worth of a human life unless it is woven into the life of our ancestors by the records of history.” — Cicero
Isee dead people! I hear them and feel them! Writing a book about your ancestors brings them to life and that is exactly why you write the book. You don’t want them to be forgotten and you also want your own descendants to know from whence they came.
When you join a genealogy group, you become intimately aware of the people in your family who preceded you. You learn when they were born, when they married and when they died. You learn about official documents that trace their lives such as wills and land sales, even entanglements with the law. It’s all recorded!
You take the next step with historical fiction. You explore the lives they lived, the era in which they lived and what motivated them. With the help of a muse you get to know them. This muse could be your own ancestors, cheering you on, because they are so glad that you are giving them another life! Since you know your own family’s traits, these conversations come naturally because you know who they are. You are also your ancestors.
My memberships include The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America, the Daughters of the American
Revolution, the Daughters of 1812 and the First Families of Hamilton County, Ohio. My sisters and I chose different ancestors for these memberships and I must give all credit to my sister Mary Sikora for encouraging this understanding of history and family. She spent a lifetime researching our family history and visited countless libraries, graveyards and historical sites. Her husband John joined her in this pursuit and he honestly enjoyed the exercise.
My book Becoming American begins with our long ago grandmother Alice Lake who was unjustly hanged as a witch outside of Boston in 1658. I traced all of the generations from her so that I could concentrate on our Knowles lineage. After her disastrous Puritan experience, it is no wonder that members of her family found their way to the Quakers. Becoming American has several themes, beginning with the independence and strength of our women and followed by the course of religious development in America.
My sister Mary traced 28 generations, starting in about 1100, all the way to our own sweet mother Myrl Elizabeth Prather who was born in 1915 and died in 1981. Her research gave me 881 years to work with and simplified my path. I decided to
start in the early 1600s when the Knowles and Prathers arrived as colonists on the shores of America. The book traces the Knowles family.
There was a lot more to learn but the investigation was so stimulating. I learned many things about the Knowles family that I hadn’t previously known and aren’t captured alone by a genealogy report. To flesh out the story, we had so many great books to rely on, such as Albion’s Seed by David Hackett Fischer; The Bicentennial Almanac, Editor-in-Chief Calvin D. Linton, PhD.; and United States History by John J. Newman and John M. Schmalbach to name a few.
My original goal was to write this book before I got much older as I was afraid I would die before I could accomplish telling this story. I started the book in May, 2023 and finished the first draft in November, 2023. Immersed in the story I was telling, I honestly wasn’t sure what year it was. Once the first draft was completed, I knew that I needed help to ensure that the book was readable. To whom should I turn? My husband Jon, a
former high school English teacher with a passion for history, was the perfect person to help me. Other proofreaders assisted as well.
Once this book is completed, Jon and I will turn our attention to the next book. In our 80th year of life we have plans for many more. I recommend that anyone with an interest in writing a book, do it! Not only does it bring you back to life, but the writing process also gets the cobwebs out of your brain!
We still have time if you look at some others who became involved in creative projects later in life. Grandma Moses, the well-known artist, comes to mind. She lived to 101. A book I just read is West with Giraffes by Linda Rutledge. This historical fiction is based on a true story told by an imaginary man, 105-year-old Woodrow Wilson Nichols. Like Grapes of Wrath, the story takes place during and after the Dust Bowl and the Depression. Like me, the man was anxious to get his story out before he died. I’m so glad Linda Rutledge made it possible.
Myrl Elizabeth Prather (mother of Dames Peggy DeStefano (CO), Sally Gronauer (OH), Mary Sikora (OH) and Sarah Wessel (MO))
T he W e DDI ng D ay Ages of Dumbarton House
by SARAH BAHLEDA , Research Assistant
The Wedding Day is the final painting in the Ages of Dumbarton House series. These paintings by Peter Waddell bring to life Dumbarton House and its history by telling the stories of the people that lived there.
When we talk about the families that lived at Dumbarton House, we think of the Nourses, the Carrolls, the Whitalls and the Rittenhouses. However
another family lived in the home, alongside the Whitalls and the Rittenhouses—the Ducketts. Grace Duckett was the enslaved servant for Lydia Whitall. Her daughter and son, Julia and Henry, were also enslaved and lived at Bellevue, as Dumbarton House was called then.
We first learn of Grace, Julia and Henry in 1829 when they were used by Samuel Whitall as collateral to
secure a loan from his brother-in-law Caleb Newbold. Twenty-three years later, Grace was manumitted in Lydia Whitall’s will. Not only was Grace freed, but she was also provided with an annuity of $30 for the rest of her life. Grace is also the only former resident of the home who is buried on the property. Her final resting place is in the Female Union Band Society cemetery, located on land purchased from the Whitall family.
Bellevue and its neighborhood are seen in a bird’s eye view in the painting. This painting technique gained popularity during the 1800s when balloon flights made overhead vistas possible. Bellevue is in its original location where Q Street is today. The
property was eight acres with gardens and a bank barn to the east of the house and a pasture with cows and horses to the front. The Methodist Burying Ground can be seen beyond the bank barn along with Rock Creek. Across the road is the Ark Church, a congregation that formed in 1816 when enslaved and free blacks split off from the Montgomery Street Methodist church and a community started to form near the church.
On this day, May 19, 1841, the marriage of Julia Duckett and Lewis Cartwright, a free laborer in Georgetown, is being celebrated at the Ark Church. At the time of the wedding, Julia was still enslaved. Her manumission came in July 1841.
ABOVE: Bellevue
RIGHT: Ark Church
Details of Waddell's The Wedding Day (Dumbarton House 1841)
③ The Dinner Party (Dumbarton House 1818)
① At Home on the Heights (Dumbarton House 1865)
② Called Into Service (Dumbarton House 1942)
The Wedding Day is the culmination of the four-painting project commissioned by the Ladies of Dumbarton House Board. ① The initial painting, At Home on the Heights that inspired the project, features Sarah Louise “Loulie” Rittenhouse looking towards the rear façade of Bellevue. ② The next painting, Called Into Service, shows the moving day in 1942 when the historic furnishings were moved from the first-floor rooms, so those spaces could be used by the Red Cross to support their efforts during World War II. ③ The third painting, The Dinner Party, shows a lavish dinner party of Federal government movers and shakers hosted by the Middleton family on April 4, 1818.
D a M es D ay aT s u L grave M anor
by CHARBRA JESTIN , NSCDA Senior Representative to the Sulgrave Manor Trust
Every two years Sulgrave Manor expresses its gratitude for the longstanding NSCDA support by hosting a day to honor this close relationship. This year, the Dames Day theme was the centenary of establishment of the NSCDA Endowment. Thirty-one Dames from 19 Societies, along with their guests, were present in Banbury, England to mark a very special Dames Day (pictured above). The day began with a church service in the 13th-century village church St. James the Less. The service included a homily on friendship between nations—particularly that between the UK and the US.
On hand to celebrate were mother-daughter and grandmother-granddaughter Dames. Photographed below, from left: Emily Hammond with her grandmother Betsy Holdsworth (NJ); Mary Dunbar (MS) and her daughter Mary Montague Dunbar; Mary Fowler (TN) and her mother Jane Boylin (WV); Karlie with her mother Stanton Sattler (WA) and her sister Mariah; Anne Stuart Folkes (TX) and her mother Anne Boyce Folkes (TX); Marta Dunetz (DC) and her daughter Allison Hanna (DC)
The sundial garden at Sulgrave Manor. The sundial, a gift from Kentucky Dame Mrs. Gilmer S. Adams, was formally unveiled by Mrs. Joseph R. Lamar when she visited Sulgrave Manor in 1925.
Presentation of flags to Carole Souter, CBE, chair of the Sulgrave Manor Trust and to Charbra Adams Jestin, NSCDA Senior Representative to the Sulgrave Manor Trust
A tour of the property with Sulgrave Manor guide Thea. Pictured above (L-R)—front row: Allison Hanna, Elizabeth Evans, Jane Boylin, Mary Fowler, Jane Buchek; back row: Emily Hammond, Lisa White, Carol Ponder, Stuart Folkes, Patrick Ahern
LEFT (L-R): Taking in the treasures at Sulgrave Manor, Deanne Violich and Mary Montague Dunbar; RIGHT (top) Tudor kitchen work; RIGHT (bottom): Memorial cake for afternoon tea
h ouses an D h o M es
The Glessners of Illinois and New Hampshire
by WENDY MORRIS, Illinois Society and NOREN UNGARETTI , Illinois Society and Vice Chair for Region II, National Museum Alliance Committee
Once home to a prominent Chicago Dame and her husband, Glessner House has become an exemplar of the Illinois Society's preservation efforts. Designed by architect Henry Hobson Richardson in 1887, the house influenced a galaxy of iconic Chicago architects such as Louis Sullivan, Mies van der Rohe and Frank Lloyd Wright. Glessner House is both a testament to architectural innovation and a symbol of Chicago’s rich cultural history.
The Glessners themselves were equally influential. John Jacob Glessner and his wife, Frances Macbeth Glessner, were cultural pioneers who contributed significantly to the establishment and growth of institutions such as the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the University of Chicago, all of which are cornerstones of the city’s cultural landscape today.
Frances Glessner was an active Colonial Dame who joined both the Illinois and Pennsylvania Societies in 1921. Her family later established ties to New Hampshire as well. Although her daughter-in-law, Alice (Hamlin) Glessner, also became a Dame, her daughter Frances Glessner Lee is perhaps the most famous Glessner. Frances Glessner Lee was a pioneer in the field of legal medicine and is widely regarded as the "mother of forensic science." She is best known for creating the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death, a series of intricately detailed dioramas that were used to train investigators in the art of crime scene investigation. Today, these dioramas are still used as teaching tools in forensic science and criminology.
This recently enhanced partnership with Glessner House represents an exciting new preservation venture for the Illinois Society. It also expands a longstanding relationship with one of Chicago’s architectural and cultural treasures and reflects the Illinois Society’s ongoing commitment to preserving historic sites, fostering learning and ensuring that future generations have the opportunity to experience Chicago’s vibrant past.
More information on Glessner House can be found at www. glessnerhouse.org.
These 1934 photographs, above and below, show Dames (including Alice Glessner) dressed in colonialstyle attire at a Moffatt-Ladd House event in New Hampshire. The pictures are a charming reminder of how the Dames’ dedication to preserving history has always been tied to a sense of occasion—and perhaps a bit of fun! (Photos courtesy Glessner House)
Dear Dames,
MISSION
Women opening doors to America’s history through preservation, education and service to inspire a shared love of country.
VALUES
We are legacy-inspired, dedicated and visionary.
CONTACT
To learn more, please contact NSCDA Development Assistant Sarah Paul at 202-337-2288 (ext. 2247) or by email at SarahPaul @nscda.org.
November 2024
As we welcome our new National officers and usher in the 2025 fiscal year, we reach out to you, our faithful members, to ask for your support of the vital work of the NSCDA.
With a new name, the NSCDA National Headquarters Dumbarton House Annual Appeal continues the legacy of the Friends of Dumbarton House Annual Appeal and more clearly reflects the scope and impact of your generosity. Your gifts to this appeal are essential in sustaining our mission of historic preservation, patriotic service and educational programs. Your contributions directly support programs like our Great American Treasures, the American Indian Medical Scholarship and the Congressional Essay Contest. Additionally, your generosity keeps open the doors of our beloved Dumbarton House, the NSCDA's only nationally owned property, and allows us to share our history with the public. Your gifts to the Annual Appeal provide the funding for our "checking account" that covers the ongoing operations to keep these important programs thriving.
Gifts to the Dumbarton House Fund for the Future provide the funds for our "savings account." With over $2.9 million reserved for the preservation and enhancement of Dumbarton House, this fund is designed to cover major projects—both expected and unexpected—to ensure that our historic headquarters remains at the center of our mission for future generations.
While dues are a major part of our funding, they alone are not enough to sustain our work. We simply cannot exist without contributions from members like you. We invite you to contribute to the Annual Appeal and to the Fund for the Future. Your generosity supports our mission now as well as for generations to come. We are deeply grateful for your continued support!
With best wishes from all of us,
Mary H. Mundy, NSCDA National President
Edith H. Stickney, NSCDA Vice President NHQ Dumbarton House
Kathryn M. Zabriskie, Chair, NSCDA Philanthropy Committee
Susan W. Walker, Chair, Dumbarton House Development Committee
g I v I ng an D P ur P ose
INITIATIVES SUPPORTED BY THE ANNUAL APPEAL
Your annual support provides the critical means for our Society operations and helps with mission initiatives such as: Great American Treasures, the American Indian Medical Scholarship (AIMS) and the Congressional Essay Contest.
DONOR RECOGNITION
Donors will be recognized for their gifts to the NSCDA in the annual donor report at these levels:
$10,000 and more
$5,000–$9,999
$2,500–$4,999
$1,000–$2,499
$500–$999
$200–$499
NSCDA NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
Dumbarton house Annual Appeal
Gifts support annual operating expenses of the NSCDA and Dumbarton House along with ongoing preservation and education initiatives.
Dumbarton house Fund for the Future
Donors ensure the preservation of Dumbarton House, a 224-year-old building with gardens and historic collections and the only nationally owned NSCDA property, for the benefit of generations to come.
GIVING
You can make a one-time or recurring donation.
Matching Gift: Double your giving. NSCDA is eligible to receive corporate matching gifts, which can increase your giving level.
MAXIMIZE YOUR TAX DEDUCTION
Gifts of appreciated stock and qualified charitable distributions (QCD) from IRAs can provide significant tax advantages while supporting the NSDCA mission.
FISCAL YEAR
The NSCDA fiscal year runs from September 1 through August 31.
EASY GIVING METHODS
Mail remittance to NSCDA at 2715 Q Street NW, Washington, DC 20007.
Call NSCDA at 202-337-2288 (ext 2247).
Scan the QR code or visit www.nscda.org to donate online.
CONTACT
Should you have any questions or require assistance, please contact NSCDA Development Assistant Sarah Paul at 202-337-2288 (ext. 2247) or by email at SarahPaul@nscda.org.
Annual Appeal
DuMBarTon house funD for T he fuT ure
Protecting
Our National Treasure
In 2001 the Ladies of the Dumbarton House Board, with the backing of the NSCDA Finance Committee and the NSCDA National Board, established the Dumbarton House Fund for the Future (DHFF). This quasi-endowment fund serves as a “savings account” for Dumbarton House, our National Headquarters and the only property owned by the NSCDA. This fund ensures that our historic treasure is preserved and maintained for future generations.
The Fund for the Future was created with a clear mission:
• To preserve and maintain Dumbarton House and its grounds,
• To fund capital improvements that support its educational mission,
• To care for the collection at Dumbarton House, ensuring its ongoing conservation, and
• To support educational programs that bring history to life.
With an original goal of $1 million before any funds could be used, the goal was increased to $2 million during the recent Comprehensive Campaign.
The Fund for the Future has already served as a vital resource:
• In FY 21, $100,000 in funding addressed challenges from the pandemic.
• In FY 22, $150,000 supported restoration and repair, etc.
• In FY 23 and 24, a total of $200,000 provided for period room restorations and major maintenance, etc.
• In FY 23, an additional $100,000 funded technology updates, etc.
• In FY 24, an additional $100,000 provided for the repair of the failed HVAC system.
As of the end of FY 24, the balance in the DHFF was $2,967,068.
When you contribute to this fund, you are “Ensuring History’s Future” by providing for the long-term preservation and operation of Dumbarton House. Your gifts to the Fund for the Future are crucial for the future of the Dames and our National Headquarters. Your generosity is deeply appreciated.
Annual Appeal
LaDIes of DuMBarTon
Each Corporate Society is represented by one member as a Lady of Dumbarton, who is the lead ambassador for Dumbarton House, the NSCDA National Headquarters and accredited historic house museum. Thank you to these Dames for their support of the National Headquarters, especially their volunteer efforts in welcoming and engaging Dames with an interest in Dumbarton House. Join with your fellow Dames and the Ladies of the Dumbarton House Board to support their essential role in ensuring the health and vitality of the NSCDA and its National Headquarters and Dumbarton House. Every contribution is important and your participation makes a difference.
Alabama
Lucy Jackson
Arizona
Joan Howell
Arkansas
Gladys Whitney
California
Sarah Heatwole
Colorado
Stanzi Lucy
Connecticut
Mary Bainbridge
Delaware
Allison Brokaw
District of Columbia
Marta Dunetz
Florida
Helen Arnold
Georgia
Bobsie Swift
Hawai’i
Priscilla Growney
Illinois
Jean Perkins
Indiana
Mary Bennett
Iowa
Jane Hinson
Kentucky
Janie Pappas
Louisiana
Libby Siskron
Maine
Margaret Schutrumpf
Maryland
Benjie Manley
Massachusetts
Jennifer Drayton
Minnesota
Barbara Burwell
Mississippi
Winston Jenkins
Missouri
Peri Pepmuller
Nebraska
Priscilla Grew
New Hampshire
Paige Trace
New Jersey
Mary Prendergast
New York
Christine Jones
North Carolina
Mary Flagg Haugh
Ohio
Sally Connelly
Oklahoma
Sarah Yoakam
Oregon
Marjorie Nichols
Pennsylvania
Dora Rogers
South Carolina
Elsie Logan
Tennessee
Flowerree McDonough
Texas
Carla Haynes-Clowe
Vermont
Patty Michl
Virginia
Sara Becker
West Virginia
Kit Wellford
Wyoming
Kendie Hartman
W o M en c onnec TI ng y es T er Day WIT h T o Day
by MARY HEYWARD MUNDY , National President
How can an organization rooted in history continue to thrive in the future? We call ourselves Dames. While this may be an archaic moniker, it is an apt one for women who are history’s keepers since Dames were teachers during the colonial period in American history. Although the term is inherently feminine, we don’t talk a lot about being a women’s organization. We pay homage to our ancestors, yet we are only beginning to recognize the contributions of women who were critical to the birth and success of our nation. As part of the NSCDA’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence, we are working to add industrious and heroic females to our list of qualified ancestors and provide information about them to our members and the public. Every Dame is a Dame because another woman asked her to be one. It is a privilege and an obligation to recognize the women who came before us.
I am particularly thankful for the ladies who started the NSCDA in 1891. They could not vote or own property, yet they came together to build an organization with the vision of preserving the history of our nation. Societal and cultural changes can make us uncomfortable, especially when we feel forced to adapt. However, in the words of Jawaharial Nehru, father of Indira Ghandi, “What is history, indeed, but a record of change?” Our founders had no need to explain their name, and it likely never entered their minds to claim a female ancestor. Since their time, our country has changed in ways that make it easier for us, as women, to carry out our mission. Being willing to adjust is the only way we will remain viable.
Our challenge is to strike a balance between appreciating history and remaining flexible in the way we do business. As President Lyndon B. Johnson explained, “We can draw lessons from history, but we cannot live in it.” I am confident that, as Dames, we can meet the challenges of an evolving world with grace while remaining true to the mission with which we are tasked.
Onward!
“Whenever women gather, failure is impossible.” – SuSan b. anthony
