GREETINGS FROM CHARLESTON, SC CHARLESTON, SC
WOMEN CONNECTING YESTERDAY WITH TODAY
Plans are underway for a fabulous National Conference in Charleston, SC featuring historical venues and educational experiences with lowcountry flair and southern hospitality.
The National Conference is open to all Dames, so SAVE THE DATE!
President
Mary H. Mundy
Interim Executive Director
Stephen Mutty
Editor
Jennie K. Leavell
Copy Editors
Margaret “Peggy” DeStefano
Jean Perkins
Susan Walker
Graphic Design Consultation
Miki Wright
damesdiscovery@gmail.com
WEB
nscda.org
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Dames Discovery is published in spring and fall for the members of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America.
Submission deadline: Spring issue | February 1 Fall issue | August 1
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 printing, it is subject to change and NSDCA takes no responsibility for omissions or errors. NSCDA reserves the right to edit and place all content.
Editor’s Notes
President’s Message
Jennie K. LeavellMary Heyward Mundy
“We are not what we know, but what we are willing to learn.”
– Mary Catherine Bateson
This is my first message in Dames Discovery as the NSCDA President. I try not to pull rank, but in this case, I asked our wonderful editor, Jennie Leavell, to allow me to put off completing my message until I had the opportunity to see what else was going to be in the magazine. As I had hoped, I was inspired by how much there is to unpack in this issue. What really got me thinking was the reference to “Doing History” in the article compiled by Vice President Elsie Smith on page 7. I had never heard the term, and it sent me down a rabbit hole with Google and AI as I tried to wrap my head around what it means. After a lot of reading, I determined that “doing history” is not simply knowing history or collecting historical facts. Instead it is questioning, interpreting and trying to make meaning of the past in order to understand its importance and relevance to today.
In a May 14, 2021 blog post by Zachary Cote in Thinking Nation, he wrote, “Knowing history can puff up people as walking encyclopedias, quick to tout their knowledge superiority, but this does not produce the empathy and humility that results from being able to think historically. When we can ‘do history,’ we can wrestle with competing accounts and narratives, we can investigate past stories, and we can learn to understand those that are foreign to us (even if not foreign in space, historical actors are foreign in time). This is not only more fulfilling than knowledge acquisition (we aren’t giving students fish, we are teaching them to fish), it is a humbling endeavor.” As Dames, we say we are entrusted with history’s future; we are women connecting yesterday with today; and we are opening doors to America’s history. I hope that means that we are “doing history” as Mr. Cote describes it.
I just returned from a trip to Egypt with Dames and friends. Traveling with others who love to learn and care about history was wonderful. Our Egyptologist, Hani Kamona, was knowledgeable, brilliant and engaging. He made the stories of the ancient Egyptians come alive by helping us to understand their beliefs. One example was when he explained that Egyptians were receptive to Christianity in part because they already believed in a story of a virgin birth: In Egyptian Mythology, Isis gave birth to Horus through miraculous conception after the death of Osiris. They were predisposed to accept the immaculate conception of Christ. Hani really is a walking encyclopedia of Egyptian history and mythology, but he understands the importance of providing the
historical context, the how and the why, in addition to the facts. Hani “does history!”
Our group was also treated to several talks by historian Dr. Julian Brown. One evening when he was telling us about some of the discoveries made in the Valley of the Kings, Julian mentioned that those with the money always took the credit. Theirs are the names that continue to be associated with the finds. In many cases, they may not have even been on site when the entrance to a tomb or specific artifact was found. How many fascinating stories of the workers have been lost forever? Wouldn’t “doing history” mean recognizing that there is always more to the story?
Seeing the truly ancient Egyptian treasures and monuments made me question the significance of 249 years of American history. Then I thought about the magnitude of the stories and knowledge that has been lost. How is it possible that Egyptians could preserve a mummy for over 3000 years, and scientists are unable to replicate the process today? I realized how important it is to preserve ALL of the stories of America. I returned with a new appreciation for being a Dame and renewed determination to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence.
It is exciting to see what Dames are planning in recognition of America’s Semiquincentennial. There are lots of ideas in this issue. I hope that we can all take this milestone in our country’s history as an opportunity to pay homage to our ancestors and to learn more about how and why America became America. Let us also vow to follow the examples set by those “doing history” at the Ximenez-Fatio House, the Neill-Cochran House Museum, Stenton, the Clarke-Ford House and others that have tried to bring to light the stories of all those who were part of their past. Being aware of the competing accounts and narratives doesn’t diminish the accomplishments of our forefathers. It adds richness and interest to the past, and it makes us more reliable stewards of American history. If we truly want to share history in a meaningful way, we can’t just regurgitate the stories that we like, we need to “do history.” Only then can we be entrusted with history’s future.
I look forward to the collective impact of Dames “doing history” in recognition of America’s 250th!
Editor’s Notes
Editor’s Notes
Jennie Kinkead Leavell, Kentucky Society
Jennie K. Leavell
This is my first issue as Editor of Dames Discovery. I want to express my deep appreciation for the women who have made the transition between myself and the past editor, Sonya Wolsey-Paige, easy. NSCDA is a remarkable nation-wide organization of talented women who are into preserving history, honoring those who came before us, and instilling a love of country.
In this Spring-Summer issue, we help you and your society prepare for the upcoming semiquincentennial in 2026, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Societies from many states already have creative ideas and celebratory plans. In addition, we highlight a few colonial Quaker ministers who were women. We also feature a synopsis of the national Dames strategic plan and focus on a mid-20th century statement on the qualifications for membership in the society.
We cover people too: The grandfathers of William Hickling Prescott and Susan Amory Linzee Prescott fought each other in the Revolutionary War, but in two short generations the couple joined families and married. Then there is a story about the glamorous Kohlsaat sisters, belles and benefactors of Chicago and St. Paul. Past issues of Dames Discovery have featured the Ages of Dumbarton paintings by Peter Waddell for illustration but in this issue we focus on the artist and his paintings.
There is lots to read and see in this issue and it is my sincere hope that you enjoy the 2025 Spring–Summer issue of Dames Discovery as much as I enjoyed pulling it together! X
Editor’s Notes
Report from Headquarters
Jennie K. Leavell Interim Executive Director Steve Mutty
At Dumbarton House – your National Headquarters we have all been eagerly anticipating spring – the season of renewal! It would be accurate to say that things are “budding” here, both in the physical sense and the programmatic sense.
Our facility and grounds are, in a few words, stately, magnificent, solid, and in excellent shape to stand the test of time. We have staged four major projects over the winter and early spring that are essential to preserving Dumbarton House for generations to come and to assure the house continues to be a welcoming and nurturing workplace for Headquarters staff.
This winter, for reasons of visitor safety, we said farewell to a stalwart feature of our grounds – a century-old Tulip Poplar Tree that had been steadily declining in health. Also, for safety reasons, we conducted an electrical audit of the house to ascertain where we have service gaps. We engaged a roofing company to repair any places where water is coming in and shouldn’t be. Lastly, and most importantly, the HVAC system in the house is being overhauled, with the bulk of the system being replaced with all new equipment under a long warranty. The completion of the HVAC project will ensure that we have reliable and efficient heating and cooling in all parts of
the house. This is essential, not only to provide a comfortable climate for our wonderful staff, but also to protect the period rooms and our growing archives.
Since joining the staff as Interim Executive Director in November, I have been working with the staff to prepare to emerge from the so-called “winter doldrums” with a renewed sense of purpose and pride in our property and the mission areas it helps advance. We have already started to re-kindle community partnerships and raise our profile among the museum properties here in Georgetown. During periods when the office wings of the house were not heated, we created temporary collaborative workspaces on the second floor of the historic core. Being in those spaces gave us a chance to imagine what we can do to bring new spaces alive at the property, inside and out.
By the time you receive the next issue of Dames Discovery, I expect you will be reading exciting news about the search for a permanent executive and new programs and activities at the house – all serving to advance the mission of NSCDA.
It’s Time to Start Planning!
The U.S. Semiquincentennial Is Right Around The Corner
By Elsie Smith National Vice President for Mission Initiatives
Vermont
The U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission has put out a call for a decentralized, grassroots commemoration program to educate, engage and unite all people in the United States through a broad telling of our history. The America 250 mission and vision is “to commemorate and celebrate our 250th anniversary with inclusive programs that inspire Americans to renew and strengthen our daring experiment in democracy. The shared experiences of America 250 will have ignited our imaginations, elevated our diverse stories, inspired service in our communities, and demonstrated the lasting durability of the American project.”
NSCDA planning for the 250th at the National level is well underway with three exciting projects: 250 by 250 Founding Females Initiative, the new coffee table book Great American Treasures: Women Preserving History Since 1891 and the 250th commemorative scarf. Collectively these celebrate the NSCDA’s commitment to historic preservation, education and patriotic service at this important juncture in history.
What are you planning for America’s 250?
No doubt, NSCDA Corporate Societies and Museum Properties are heeding the celebratory call as well. After all, it is a unique opportunity to share our founding stories, highlighting for our communities the values on which our country is based, and revisiting the challenges and opportunities that make America exceptional.
The NSCDA Mission Committee wants to hear what you are planning! We are cataloging everyone’s 250th commemorative projects and activities to both inspire and share the collective impact NSCDA makes. Postings will appear in the e-Dispatch under the banner “250: Celebrating Together” and on our new website. Email Dora Rogers at doralrogers@gmail.com (note 250th in the subject line) to add your 250th activity to the list.
Need Ideas?
The AASLH (American Society for State and Local History) has also published Making History at 250: The Field Guide for the Semiquincentennial which lists key themes and associated activities for programs and events.
Society
Also, and not surprisingly, our members are joining their local 250 planning commissions, bringing NSCDA leadership and vision. They are partnering with other historic and civic groups to plan impactful and memorable events that remind us how history informs our present.
Spotlight on South Carolina
South Carolina has many colonial and Revolutionary War sites and a government that values them. The SC Semiquincentennial Commission has awarded many grants to celebrate the state’s role in the fight for American independence. Below are a few projects that South Carolina Dames have been involved with. All represent collaborations with other organizations as well as the 250 celebration.
The Powder Magazine Museum received a grant to research life in “occupied” Charleston until the 1780 British withdrawal. That research was performed by Nick Butler and has been completed. The Museum also staged a reenactment of Charleston’s 1773 Charleston Tea Party Protest.
In 2024, the Georgetown Dames participated in events commemorating Georgetown’s own Tea Party Protest, a Francis Marion Day celebrating the Revolutionary War hero (also known as the Swamp Fox) and a week-long Colonial Kids Camp. In addition to these events, the Georgetown 250 Committee recently sponsored a teacher workshop held at Hopsewee Plantation, birthplace of Thomas Lynch, Jr., followed by a reception and lectures at the Society of the Cincinnati-Winyah Indigo Society Hall in Georgetown. Lectures included talks on the Marquis de Lafayette, Southern Revolutionary War Heroines, and the “Saga of Andrew Wallace” (a Revolutionary War veteran and the “Rescuer of Lafayette”). Prior to the lecture, this group sponsored a teacher’s workshop to help educators develop strategies for teaching about the American Revolution. This was a collaboration between South Carolina 250, the Society of the Cincinnati, and the Georgetown County 250 Group.
Projects in the planning stages NSCDA-SC is making preparations for “Liberty Day at the State House.” Modeled after Oklahoma’s “Colonial Day at the Capitol,” South Carolina’s event will be for 4th graders and will celebrate SC’s role in the Revolution. A virtual component is also planned. This will be a major first event for 2026.
The Colonial Charleston Teacher Institute (CCTI) will be focusing on the Revolution in Charleston and has applied for a grant from the SC 250 Commission to increase their site visits and accommodate more teachers from around the state.
Here’s what some Societies Have in Mind for the 250th:
Compiled
by Jennie
K. Leavell Editor, Dames Discovery
Kentucky Society
Massachusetts
The NSCDA-MA is proud to be a partner of Revolution 250, a consortium of not-for-profit, for-profit, corporate partners, and individuals across Massachusetts who are exploring the history of the American Revolution and the ways that the stories still resonate today. Dame Carole Gunst is the Massachusetts Dames’ Representative for Revolution 250. She attends Revolution 250 meetings and shares information about Revolution 250 events in the monthly MA Dames newsletter. To learn more about Revolution 250, go to: www.revolution250.org.
Missouri
The Missouri Dames plan to expand the annual commemoration of the Battle of Fort San Carlos (May 26, 1780) to include special speakers and collaborations with DAR, SAR, local militia groups, and other local sites. NSCDA-MO has applied for a grant from Missouri Humanities to help pay for this event.
After renovations to the François Vallé house have been completed (later this year, it is hoped), the exhibit of the battle and a new exhibit will be installed. The new exhibit will be about Creole, the essence of being an American, and on the American experience of blending all cultures. This should be a positive thought-provoking exhibit. The renovation and new exhibit should be up and done by the time of the event in May 2026.
Pennsylvania
Stenton’s 2026 project is “Wrestling with Justice: Quakers and Northern Slavery.” In addition to public programming and community conversations on the subject, new exhibits and
tours will be unveiled at the end of 2026. Stenton’s updated interpretive plan will tell the complicated history of Philadelphia Quakers as both enslavers and abolitionists, as well as the many untold stories of enslaved, indentured, and free individuals who lived and labored at Stenton.
Vermont
Vermont Dames are using the 250th as a catalyst for program development. This winter they will have a Zoom presentation on Lafayette’s return trip to Vermont. The June annual meeting will feature an Ethan Allen reenactor. In July Vermont Dames will take a trip along the Crown Point Road, which was the first major road in Vermont. It connects Crown Point at the southern end of Lake Champlain with Fort Number 4 in New Hampshire. It was a key military route during the Revolutionary War and allowed troops and supplies to reach the front line. After the war the Crown Point Road became a major route by which central southern Vermont was settled. Vermont plans to expand its 250th programming by exploring other Vermont sites that played a critical role in the Revolution. A NSCDA-VT Society member is working with Bennington 250 to determine which projects the Dames will support.
Virginia
The Virginia Society is planning to record oral histories of non-enlisted and enlisted women and men and their participation/remembrances of military conflicts. “We are all very excited about this opportunity to hear first-hand stories from individuals from all walks of life and their contributions to this great country, “ says Edie Light, Chairman, NSCDA-VA, VA250 Committee. X
The Celebration 250 Scarf
In 2026, Americans will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. As part of this celebration, the NSCDA has created a stunning piece of wearable art: the Celebration 250 commemorative scarf. Spearheaded for the Dames by Molly Carey and designed by internationally-renowned fashion designer and fine artist Marisol Deluna, the Celebration 250 scarf highlights this 1776 historic milestone. Each of the 50 states that comprise our union are represented by symbols that border the scarf. The 42” silk scarf with hand-rolled edges is available for pre-order for $250 each. The price includes tax, shipping and a $100 donation to NSCDA; order online at www.nscda.org for late Spring 2025 delivery.
Themes for America 250*
Compiled by Elsie Smith National Vice President for Mission Initiatives
Vermont
Society
UNFINISHED REVOLUTIONS
In the United States, the fight for liberty, equality, and justice has a long and complex history. Through formal politics, grassroots organizing, boycotts, protests, litigation, war, and a wide range of other mass and individual actions, people have continually challenged America to live up to its highest ideals—often drawing on ideas expressed in our founding documents. Before, during, and after the Revolution, people have fought for their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and worked tirelessly to secure the blessings of liberty for themselves and their posterity. This history is not a consistent march of progress, but a complex story full of both advancements and setbacks. These stories reveal the ways the Revolution began.
WE THE PEOPLE
Since the nation’s founding, definitions of “the people,” the boundaries of national belonging, and the very nature of citizenship have changed. For much of our history, the United States has excluded people—women, free and enslaved African Americans, indigenous people, immigrants, people with disabilities, the poor, and many others—from full participation and representation in the nation’s political, economic, and cultural life. Yet over time the United States has also incorporated people of different backgrounds into our society, as diverse populations have staked their claim to belonging and pressed for a more pluralistic, more equitable nation. The expansion of citizenship and belonging has neither been pre-determined nor guaranteed, and changes in our population remain a subject of debate and conflict today.
AMERICAN EXPERIMENT
The leaders of the founding era did not have all the answers. Though their innovations of representative democracy and rights-based constitutionalism were transformative, they knew the nation was a revolutionary experiment. They expected future generations to improve upon the republic they created. The 250th anniversary offers an opportunity to reconsider the origins of our government, democratic institutions, and broader civic life, and a chance to reflect on the ways we have changed them over time. Encouraging discussion about our democracy and civic institutions can help strengthen understanding, inspire action, and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment.
DOING HISTORY
To renew public engagement with history, we — scholars, curators, educators, historians, archivists, preservationists, and more — must invite our publics to participate in the process of doing history. The 250th anniversary challenges our field to explain how we interpret evidence and craft narratives about the past, engaging in open conversations about what history is, the many ways it is done, and why it matters. By more transparently communicating our methods for learning about the past, we can help audiences better understand how new questions, evidence, and perspectives inform our histories, how they can better do history in their own lives, and how these histories can speak to present-day challenges. Sharing how we do history will also require us to explain silences and exclusions in our archives and collections, and to communicate how oral history, community knowledge, and the perspectives of other disciplines also inform our understanding of the past. Inviting audiences to engage with the historical method can help them see more clearly the value of inclusive narratives and become more comfortable with the ambiguous, contested, and always-evolving nature of history.
*Excerpted from Making History at 250: The Field Guide for the Semiquincentennial by American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) X X
Female Quaker Ministers make the NSCDA ROA!
Female Quaker Ministers Make the NSCDA ROA!
By: Molly Carey, Barbara Lagasse, Lisa Liles
Female Quaker Ministers make the NSCDA ROA!
By
Molly Carey,
By: Molly Carey, Barbara Lagasse, Lisa Liles
Lisa Liles, Barbara Lagasse Virginia, Indiana and Virginia Societies
Wait, What? Did I read that correctly?
There were over 1,000 female Quaker ministers preaching in the American colonies before 5 July 1776!
Yes, that is what author Rebecca Larson presents in her deeply researched book Daughters of Light: Quaker Women Preaching and Prophesying in the Colonies and Abroad, 1700-1775. During this time period the Quaker faith was the third largest religious body in the English colonies and the only one in which women were allowed to take leadership rolls. The majority of these women preached in the northern and middle colonies with a few traveling into the south. Many also preached extensively abroad. They preached in both public and private spaces to Quakers, those practicing other faiths, free and enslaved men and women, as well as Native Americans.
These Quaker women have been all but forgotten in the annals of time, but are now brought back into our understanding of American history in Larson’s book. “She broadens our conception of women’s activities before the American Revolution” (1) which is also the aim of our NSCDA Founding Females Initiative.
As of January 1, 2025, we have 22 approved Female Quaker Ministers on our Register of Ancestors (ROA) from eight different colonial societies. What follows are two profiles of Female Quaker Ministers.
Elizabeth (Levis) Shipley (#148) (1690-1777)
Elizabeth was born in Springfield, Chester County (later Delaware County), Pennsylvania, the daughter of Elizabeth Clator (2) and prominent, wealthy Pennsylvania Quaker Samuel Levis who was a justice of the peace, member of the Provincial Council and an assemblyman.
As a young woman Elizabeth became a devotee of the Society of Friends and preached extensively in and around Pennsylvania, New England, Long Island and in Barbados. One minister Joshua Brown proclaimed Elizabeth’s preaching as “My mind was much reached, and greatly humbled through the power of truth attending her ministry.” (3) That meeting was held when Elizabeth was 16. She became a minister in 1717 at age 27. In 1728, she married William Shipley with whom she had three children. In 1733, Elizabeth journeyed to England, Scotland
and Ireland preaching at Friends meetings throughout. Everywhere she preached she commented on the success of their faith in the American colonies.
On a religious journey from Pennsylvania to Maryland, Elizabeth saw the exact location, from a spiritual vision, where she should relocate to “give the blessings of God” to the locals. William immediately purchased a lot at this location, and the family moved in 1735 and became the founders of Wilmington, Delaware establishing foreign trade and industries which led to growth and a town charter in 1739.
Elizabeth was appointed coexecutor of her father’s will which was highly unusual for married women under the law of feme covert. In 1777, on her death bed and after serving as a Friends Minister for 63 years, Elizabeth prophesied that America would become independent from Britan. She is remembered as one of the greatest ministers of her profession in America.(2)
(1) Larson, Rebecca, Daughters of light: Quaker Women Preaching and Prophesying in the Colonies and Abroad, 1700-1775. (New York: Knopf, 1999), inside jacket cover.
(2) Woolman, John, 1720-1772; Gummere, Amelia M. (Amelia Mott), 1859-1937, The Journal and Essays of John Woolman. (New York: Macmillan Co., 1922), 539.
(3) Larson, ibid., p. 184.
Elizabeth (Belson) Scott Hollowell Small (#142) (1666-1717)
Elizabeth Belson was the daughter of Edmund and Elizabeth Belson of Nansemond County, Virginia. The family was of Quaker origin, and the Belson home was ultimately the location of some preparatory meetings which undoubtedly shaped Elizabeth’s later occupation of Minister, Society of Friends, from 1706 to 1717.
Elizabeth married first, John Scott, in Nansemond County, 19 October 1682. Their children were William and Elizabeth. Secondly, Elizabeth married Henry Hollowell, Elizabeth River, on 20 Apr 1693. Elizabeth married lastly, Benjamin Small on 1 Feb 1699–1700. Their children were Mary, Hannah, and Amy.
The memorial of Elizabeth Small recorded in the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting Minutes stated, “…she became qualified for & endowed with an excellent & acceptable gift in the ministry, so as suitably to dispense doctrine, edification & consolation to the churches.....” Elizabeth was a minister for 11 years and a representative to the first recorded meeting of the Virginia Yearly Meeting. (1)
(1) Philadelphia Monthly Meeting Minutes, 1666-1789 pp, 92-93.
Celebrating our 200th female qualifying ancestor!
As of 1 January 2025 there are now 200 females on the NSCDA Register of Ancestors!
The 2024-2028 Strategic Plan
By Beth Robinson Strategic Planning Chair Vice President for Advancement Massachusetts Society
The 2024-2028 Strategic Plan is not just a map for the future of the NSCDA; it’s a living, operational guide that reflects our shared vision and collective spirit. Through collaboration with many Dames from across the country, we have gained a richer understanding of the perspectives of our Corporate Societies and individual members. This plan was shaped by Dames’ voices and Dames’ insights. It is a four-year plan with four strategic priorities: Membership, Mission, Internal Excellence and Communication.
I hope that every Dame can see the benefits of this vision for NSCDA’s future. As we begin our first full year of implementation, much of our focus is on instilling a national identity. Though the majority of Dames are primarily connected at the local or state level, by combining our efforts and embracing a collective national identity, we can amplify our potential and the breadth of our impact.
The lifeline of any organization is membership. Bringing in friends and family as members makes attending events and programs more appealing. Maintaining our membership numbers allows us to preserve our properties, offer more programs and allot more support to like – minded organizations and educational scholarships.
Our shared mission work is what ties us together and sets us apart as leaders in historic preservation, history education and patriotic service. We have much to be proud of, and we must strive to join forces in order to increase our impact and demonstrate our achievements.
Financial sustainability is critical to our future strength, as is a process for self assessment and review. The NSCDA stands on the shoulders of generations of Dames who have dedicated their time, knowledge, and energy to building this organization. We honor their legacy through our own purposeful stewardship, ensuring that the resources entrusted to us continue to grow in a sustainable way.
Effective communication is important both internally and externally as we work to instill member pride and strive to be known to the public for all that we do. As we proceed with this plan, we will remain flexible, responsive, and committed to tracking its core tenets in a clear and transparent way.
We are truly grateful for all that we have achieved together so far. With your participation, we can bring this vision for NSCDA to life. In 2025, let’s resolve to move forward with excitement, purpose and commitment by sharing our stories, sharing our treasures, and sharing our accomplishments. In the words of our new Mission Statement, we are “Women opening doors to America’s history through preservation, education, and service to inspire a shared love of country.”
Step into the Ring
By Marianna MacIntyre National Mission Outreach Chair
South Carolina Society
What’s in a name? What’s in a ring? They both…connect us!
If you hear “Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus,” immediately you think of a three ring circus with nonstop fun and entertainment! Or if you hear a car company ad for “Audi” with four interlocking rings, instantly you think, tradition. How about “The Olympics?” You visualize five interlaced rings and suddenly, five continents of the world come together! All three are great taglines that inspire fun, tradition, and connection.
If it sometimes feels like you’re juggling a three ring circus and with lots of fun, entertaining traditions to keep alive, and volunteerism pulling at you…you are. Hopefully you’ll agree though, that it is worth it and that it is great to have Colonial Dames afford us the opportunity to give back, as our ancestors did for us, individually yet interlaced.
NSCDA’s five National Projects are connected in Mission Outreach. As we continue our traditional work, to enhance Service to Military, to Preserve Histories and to Educate, this multi-project Committee will spearhead missions for all Colonial Dames.
To help us remember Mission Outreach Projects, here’s an acronym, “VOLAN,” for the five interwoven projects:
Veterans History Project – Preserving Veterans Histories
Oral Histories of Dames – Entrusted with Dames Histories
Lecture Series, “Food for Thought” – Educating Dames
America’s VetDogs – Helping Veterans with “mixabilities” secure a service dog
Naturalization Programs – Welcoming new American Citizens
Through Mission Outreach and our VOLAN projects, this Dames Committee wants to help you and your Society be all it can be! We hope you will be inspired to connect with us, yes, step into a Mission Outreach “Project Ring” – join a project that suits you and together, be a part of the next generation of DOERS!
Connect here and step in the ring with your Vice Chairs: Veterans History Project: Marilyn Case mscase@cox.net
Oral Histories of Dames: Meg Beasley megdb2@gmail.com
Lecture Series (“Food for Thought”): Courtenay Wood crwoodhnj@aol.com
America’s VetDogs: Terri Watters tph213@comcast.net
Naturalization Programs: Amélie Cagle awcagle@gmail.com
Like interlocking rings we, NSCDA members, are interwoven through our traditions, connections, fun, and love of country. Our history’s story tells us this and that’s why our collective work inspires us and others! It’s what our ancestors did and it’s what we do. Join us!
Sleuthing Through the Tennessee Society Archives
By Meg D. Beasley National Historian Tennessee Society
Good evening, Lyn, I am happy to report … we met with some success!
received from the question she raised in 1947 may have led to her ideas about “Qualifications of a Colonial Dame” – mdb]
It began with a short email. We didn’t know this correspondence would result in unearthing a good story about mid-Twentieth Century Dames. Communication between corporate societies is not uncommon; one of the joys of the NSCDA is how it connects interesting women across the country.
Lyn Hunt, president of the NSCDA-Georgia, wrote on August 6, 2024
Dear Meg,
I am looking for information on Mrs. Sam Orr. I know her as the Dame who wrote the letter. I understand she was president of the Tennessee Society. Wondering if you can shed any light on her story or point me in the right directions.
Thanks, Lyn
I replied to Lyn the next day with a question:
Hi Lyn – may I ask what you mean by “the letter” in reference to Mrs. Orr? She is a descendant of John Overton and was the TN Society’s president from 1944-48. She did write “What Should Be the Qualifications for a Dame” – is that related to “the letter”? Thanks, Meg
and Lyn explained later that day: There is a letter that is titled “Mrs. Orr’s letter”. The Georgia Society reads it every January at our town committee meetings where new members are proposed. I will send it to you.
With confirmation of the text of Lyn’s inquiry, I turned to Susan Walker, my fellow NSCDA-TN Society member, and our sleuthing began. Travellers Rest, built by Judge John Overton in 1799 and now the NSCDA-TN museum property and headquarters in Nashville, houses our society’s archives. Susan and I met there, and I reported to Lyn on August 29:
Mrs. Orr’s Letter
“What should be the qualifications for membership in the Colonial Dames?
“A woman should be gracious, intelligent, and wholesome in heart and mind. She should be proud that her forebears contributed to the founding and greatness of her country, and she should feel the responsibility of keeping it great. She should have reverence for what was good in the past and consider that she has an obligation to inculcate a sense of true patriotism and love of country in those who come after her. She should be willing to serve the organization in whatever capacity she could; she should shun publicity and so conduct herself in every phase of life that she would easily be recognized as a true Colonial Dame.”
“Any people who are indifferent to the noble achievements of their remote ancestors are not likely to achieve anything worthy to be remembered by their descendants.” —Lord Macauly
Mary Hamilton Thompson, aka Mrs. Samuel Orr, NSCDA-TN president from 1944-1948 had been involved with the NSCDA for at least 3 decades prior to the late 1940s. She was, for example, Tennessee’s member raising funds from her corporate society in the early 1930s for the purchase of Belle Vue = Dumbarton House. And she was also a direct descendent [sic] of Judge John Overton, her great-grandfather. Mary spent much time at Travellers Rest, her grandparents’ home (after the Judge and his wife’s deaths) while growing up, before marrying Samuel Orr.
As NSCDA-TN president Mrs. Orr called a meeting of her Board in May 1947 and asked the ladies to express their opinions of “What does the Colonial Dames Society mean to you?” The secretary stated in the minutes of the meeting that “The answers invariably revealed a deep feeling of respect and devotion to this organization, which is recognized as representative of the best in the present, reverencing and preserving the past and laboring to bequeath the coming generations an ever-brightening future.” [I can imagine the responses Mary Orr
In the minutes of the annual meeting of the Colonial Dames in Tennessee, May 21, 1954, “Mrs. Craig read the statement of “Qualifications of a Colonial Dame,” written by Mrs. Sam Orr and sent to all Tennessee Dames, National Officers and State Presidents, and stated that many, many replies have been received and requests from many State Presidents for permission to use the “Qualifications” during the ceremony of their Annual Meetings…..”
The 1954 Tennessee Society Historian’s Report sent to NSCDA Headquarters includes in its 5th paragraph something of the same information about the “Qualifications” piece.
You now have, Lyn, your date of the work done and how it was initially distributed and the positive reaction Mrs. Orr’s description generated!
Thank you for this opportunity, Lyn – Susan and I had a blast!
Cheers, Meg
Besides providing context for a statement composed 70 years ago, another important message herein is that Archives matter. They house diverse materials of varying value, depending upon the particular search and the questions wanting answers. Organizing those materials, creating an inventory and finding aids for them is invaluable. It will help future Dames in their searches and help bring “life” back to names and figures from our past X
The Power of Crossing Swords
By Katherine Bergholtz Chair, NSCDA Media and Publications Committee Massachusetts Society
As we approach the 250th anniversary of America’s hard-fought independence from Britain, the stories of those who shaped our nation’s birth take on renewed significance. The Battle of Bunker Hill, fought in 1775, was one of the first major clashes of the American Revolution, pitting colonists yearning for independence against the might of the British Empaire. On that fateful day, American Colonel William Prescott led his men with courage while British Captain John Linzee commanded a ship bombarding the colonial forces. Decades later, the descendants of these two adversaries—William Hickling Prescott, grandson of the American hero, and Susan Amory Linzee, granddaughter of the British officer—found unity through love. Their marriage stands as a poignant reminder that even in the aftermath of profound division, love and hope can bridge the deepest divides, forging connections where once there was conflict.
The NSCDA MA house museum and headquarters William Hickling Prescott House in Boston wanted to share this colo-
nial love story because it emphasizes the power of cooperation which is the basis of the foundation of our country. Apparently, the shells Captain Linzee lobbed at Bunker Hill were not enough to keep the young Susan Amory and William Hickling Prescott from eventually joining hands on Prescott’s 24th birthday May 4, 1820. At their wedding, Susan’s uncle presented a replica of Captain Linzee’s sword that was lost at sea to Prescott to show unity between the families. The two swords of Colonel Prescott and Captain Linzee are crossed and mounted on a plaque that is on display at the Massachusetts Historical Society. A copy hangs in the Prescott House. Neither grandfather attended the wedding as they died prior to 1800. However, they most likely proudly toasted from above and asked for the couple to be blessed as they entered their journey together against all odds. William Hickling Prescott House is truly a Great American Treasure with a great American story to tell.
nscdama.org/william-hickling-prescott-house
By Charbra Adams
As the home of George Washington’s ancestors in Northamptonshire, England, Sulgrave Manor commemorates the Special Relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom. Sulgrave Manor Trust has taken the lead in coordinating the UK heritage response to the America 250 initiative known in the United Kingdom as “America 250 UK.”
Working collaboratively with four other significant AngloAmerican heritage sites, it will create heritage resources – a website, a virtual trail, and an “America 250 UK” interactive map – to mark and celebrate the 250th anniversary of American Independence. These resources will promote the shared values of both democracies and will strengthen bilateral ties while building public support for the alliance. They are designed to be a lasting memorial of the monumental celebra-
tion of American independence that will lay a foundation for future generations as resources for Anglo - American history.
Their work will blend historical education with contemporary perspectives all centered around the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Reaching all age groups, the project is designed to strengthen shared histories, beliefs, and values. It will foster collaborative opportunities between heritage sites and demonstrate the lasting durability of the special relationship, which is at the heart of all that Sulgrave Manor does.
As Dames, we can take great pride in Sulgrave Manor leading the way on this initiative, proof that the special relationship is alive and well and as strong today as it was in 1914.
The 5 heritage sites working collaboratively are:
Charbra Adams Jestin and Alison Ray,
Jestin, NSCDA Senior Representative to the Sulgrave Manor Trust Connecticut Society and Alison Ray, CEO Sulgrave Manor Trust.
William Hickling Prescott and Susan Amory Linzee Prescott
Two Kohlsaat Sisters
The Belles of Chicago
By Sally Connelly Former National Historian Ohio and South Carolina Societies
In 1925 two sisters quietly joined the NSCDA, and their story is both glamorous and an example of how our society has always been about family connections, generosity, friendship and stewardship. None of this research would have been possible without the NSCDA i-Roster, which for many years has been a special project of Honorary National President Marcy Moody. It is a unique historical database of our early members. I have used this database to research and write stories on early members and to verify membership. I am happy to share the story of the stunning “Kohlsaat Sisters” of Chicago and St. Paul, Minnesota and their inspiring legacies.
Pauline Blake Kohlsaat (1882-1956), the glamorous wife of Potter Palmer II (1875-1943), President of the Art Institute of Chicago, and her younger sister Katherine Kohlsaat Shepard (1879-1991) of St. Paul, Minnesota, were both born and raised in Chicago. They were the daughters of a Chicago newspaper editor and a leader in Illinois Republican politics.
Palmer Family of Chicago
i-Roster NSCDA Record
Pauline Blake Kohlsaat Palmer (1882 - 1956)
Ancestor: Wyman, Lt. John (MA) -1684
In 1908 after a seven-year courtship, Pauline married Potter Palmer II, the son of one of the leading families in Chicago, director of the First National Bank of Chicago and President of the Art Institute of Chicago. In researching the Palmer family connection to the NSCDA, I found that Pauline’s mother-inlaw, the famous “undisputed leader of Chicago’s Gilded Age Society,” Bertha Honoré Palmer (1849-1918) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertha_Palmer was a personal friend of the NSCDA founder, Mrs Elizabeth Gillespie who advised Mrs. Palmer on the contents for the “Colonial Room” she curated at Chicago’s famous 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition.
Pauline’s father was Herman Henry Kohlsaat, who had traded in his large commercial bakery to take ownership of several Chicago newspapers. I find it interesting that Ida B. Wells (1862-1931) of Chicago, crusader for the rights of African-Americans, named one of her sons after Herman Kohlsaat. The connection between Wells and Kohlsaat is unknown, but Herman Kohlsaat’s parents had been abolitionists and their home was reportedly on the underground railroad. In addition, he may have been a friend because both Ida and her husband were journalists.
In 1908, Herman Kohlsaat’s daughter Pauline married the most eligible bachelor in Chicago in a private ceremony at her parents’ home in Lincoln Park. After his mother’s death in 1918, Potter and Pauline lived in “the Castle” for ten years.
When Pauline joined the Illinois Society, she was living at the mansion.
The young couple also became great philanthropists and benefactors to the Chicago Art Institute and many cultural organizations. When he died in 1943, he left Pauline an estimated $4.5 million.
In 1938, the feted Pauline was presented to the Court of St. James wearing one of her lovely dresses, one of many couture garments she later donated to the Chicago History Museum.
Pauline was also considered a suffragist and advocated for women and children.
The Pauline K. Palmer Award is given to outstanding members of the community who advocate for and are active volunteers on behalf of children. The award was named in honor of Pauline K. Palmer, first president of what is now known as the Woman’s Board of the Children’s Home & Aid Society.
Pauline was a good friend of her fellow Dame, Mrs. Albert Arnold Sprague (Nancy Ann Atwood) (1837-1916) [Sprague
Hall - Yale] whose husband was another benefactor and trustee of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Recently a collection of Pauline’s letters, The Letters of Pauline Palmer: A Great Lady of Chicago’s First Family, was published.
from their St. Paul home. When Katherine Shepard died in 1991, at age 101, Constance Shepard Otis inherited the property. Constance had been “best friends since kindergarten” with Olivia Irvine Dodge (1919-2009), and both were members of the NSCDA.
Constance Shepard Otis
i-Roster NSCDA Record
Constance Shepard Otis (1919 2013)
Ancestor: William Brewster
Obituary
Star Tribune: Newspaper of the Twin Cities (Minneapolis, MN) Sunday, February 3, 2013
Connie grew up in St. Paul, the daughter of Roger B. and Katherine K. Shepard. As a young girl, she attended Summit School in St. Paul, and continued her education at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York.
Shepard Family of Saint Paul
i-Roster NSCDA Record
Katherine Kohlsaat Shepard (1880 - 1991) Ancestor: Wyman, Lt. John (MA) -1684
Like her sister, Katherine Kohlsaat Shepard (1889-1991) was born in Chicago. She married Roger Bulkley Shepard, Sr of Saint Paul, Minnesota, later the director of the Federal Reserve Bank in Minneapolis. Katherine was called the “Chicago Belle” when she married Roger in 1910, a year after she had made her social debut. It was like Pauline’s wedding two years earlier, a private family affair. The papers mentioned that the couple received a note from Colonel Theodore Roosevelt on the marriage of the “daughter of one of his oldest friends.” After the wedding, the couple lived in Minnesota.
In January 1942, shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Connie married Henry Gaylord Dillingham of Honolulu, Hawaii. In July 1945, as a commander of a squadron of B-29 bombers over Japan, his plane was lost to anti-aircraft fire.
Connie returned to St. Paul to live with her parents. She became interested in local politics and was a Minnesota delegate to the 1956 Republican National Convention which nominated Dwight D. Eisenhower for a second term. Later she became closely involved in the 1960 gubernatorial campaign of Elmer L. Andersen, and from January 1961 to December 1962 Connie served as the Minnesota State Chairwoman of the Republican Party. She maintained a lifelong involvement in programs designed to increase the role of women in politics.
In 2013, the Thomas Irvine Dodge Nature Center became the recipient of the Shepards’ homestead in “Cottage Grove,” Minnesota, which had been in the family for nine decades.
Katherine’s daughter Constance Shepard Otis (1919-2013) was a Minnesota Dame responsible for the donation of the family retreat. Roger and Katherine Shepard had purchased the “Cottage Grove” property in 1919 as a summer getaway
In 1972, Connie married Minnesota State Supreme Court Justice James C. Otis. They enjoyed a very happy life together until his death in 1993. Throughout her life she provided generous support and served on the boards of a wide range of social service, arts, and educational organizations. She will be remembered for her generosity, kindness and grace.
https://obituaries.startribune.com/obituary/constance-shepard-otis-1090477871 X
Announcing the Dumbarton House Fund for the Future Challenge Grant
By Susan W. Walker
Dumbarton House Board Development Committee Chair
Tennessee Society
NSCDA President Mary Mundy is delighted to announce a matching Challenge grant for the Dumbarton House Fund for the Future. Edward (Ted) Eagles, brother of the late Anne (Nancy) Eagles—a cherished Maryland Dame—has created a $150,000 matching challenge from her estate to honor Nancy’s memory and her love for the NSCDA.
This challenge in memory of Nancy Eagles could not have come at a better time. Recent, unplanned expenses—including tree removal, HVAC system replacement and repair, and roof repair—have required us to tap into the Fund for the Future. These repairs are essential to ensuring that Dumbarton House continues to be a safe and welcoming space for members, visitors, and staff alike. This challenge gift presents an extraordinary opportunity to re-
plenish and grow the fund, doubling the impact of every contribution. All gifts to Dumbarton House Fund for the Future in FY 25, which ends August 31, 2025, qualify for this match, so imagine the impact your gifts can have!
The Dumbarton House Fund for the Future was established in 2001 to ensure that our historic treasure is preserved and maintained for future generations. This quasi endowment fund serves as a “savings account” for Dumbarton House, our National Headquarters and the only property owned by the NSCDA.
We owe thanks to the foresight of the Ladies of the Dumbarton House Board for recommending the establishment of this fund. And we thank you, our members, for your continuing love for and support of Dumbarton House! X
Peter Waddell’s Four Paintings in the Ages of Dumbarton Project
By Meg D. Beasley National Historian Tennessee Society
By now, I hope you have read in earlier issues of Dames Discovery about the Ages of Dumbarton art project commissioned by the Dumbarton House Board in 2020 and completed in spring 2024. On our new NSCDA website you can visit each of these publications again. And you can see Peter Waddell’s art when you visit Dumbarton House, our national headquarters. His 2017 View from the Best Chamber Window allows us a slice of the views 19th-century residents had from the Best Chamber in Bellevue, as the property was then known.
The four paintings that comprise the Ages of Dumbarton project depict different types of occasions during several families’ residencies. In The Dinner Party one witnesses the elegant occasion hosted by the Middleton family in 1818. The Wedding Day captures in bird’s-eye view the 1841 celebration of enslaved Grace Duckett’s daughter Julia at the Ark Church near Bellevue. The sweeping view of Bellevue’s back bays with the city beyond in1865 includes Lulie Rittinhouse, its mistress in At Home on the Heights. Acquired in 1928 to serve as its national headquarters, the NSCDA renamed the property Dumbarton House. Called Into Service depicts the necessary shifting of holdings when the NSCDA opened Dumbarton House for use by the Red Cross early in World War II.
We Dames recognize Dumbarton House as the home of Joseph and Maria Nourse at the beginning of the 19th century, but the property’s history did not end after the Nourse family moved away. Later occupants added their own furnishings, undertook diverse endeavors, and their histories highlighted different aspects relevant to the nation’s capital city. Throughout this property’s existence for 225 years, women have influenced and shaped its history. The four paintings of the Ages of Dumbarton project tangibly represent our organization’s view of itself as “History’s Keepers.”
The artistry of Peter Waddell has been widely acclaimed and rightly so. His paintings for our NSCDA headquarters are proof of his incredible talent and enthusiasm for history, its many details and the people living it. Each of these four paintings is to be framed in similar fashion, suitable for exhibiting together. They can also be on view separately in the museum rooms and will be well used in the education wing of Dumbarton House. The stories captured through this artwork lead this viewer to believe there are likely other personalities and events that could be shared of achievements in times past and coming up to the present.
Covers and Articles in Dames Discovery with information about Ages of Dumbarton
Spring 2022 article on p. 21 about Ages of Dumbarton project of 4 paintings.
Fall/Winter 2022, cover, #2, Called into Service with description on contents page and article on p. 26 on The Dinner Party.
Fall 2021 cover, #1, At Home on the Heights and description of project on back cover.
Fall/Winter 2024, article p. 36-37 with images of #4, Wedding Day and on p 38-39 smaller images of first 3 commissions with description.
Fall/Winter 2023, article p. 29-31 with images of #3, The Dinner Party X
Unveiling the Dinah Memorial
On April 20, 2024, the town of Stenton, Pennsylvania unveiled the Dinah Memorial, a permanent monument honoring the life and legacy of Dinah, who was enslaved by the Logans, gained her freedom and reunited her family, and saved Stenton from burning by the British in 1777.
The Dinah Memorial is the culmination of a multi-year project supported by the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, which
involved extensive community engagement and listening sessions over two years. In partnership with neighbors and community organizations, Stenton created a design process which commissioned artist Karyn Olivier to create the memorial. Hundreds of visitors and community partners joined NSCDA-PA Board members and Stenton staff on April 20 to celebrate Philadelphia’s only memorial to a Black woman and an enslaved individual who won her freedom.
Dames Discovery Live!
Dames Discovery Live! are virtual sessions open to any Dame which are designed to instill a sense of pride for being a Dame by providing information about programs and projects being conducted by Dames and opportunities available to Dames.
April 23 | 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. See pages 28-33.
June 25 | All about Vets
Dames have always had a passion for recognizing and supporting our nation’s veterans. Through the NSCDA’s work with the Library of Congress and their Veterans History Project, Dames are now the second largest contributors of veterans’ interviews to the project! Our partnership with America’s VetDogs has resulted in the sponsorship of Puppies with a Purpose by Corporate Societies and individual Dames. Now we are bringing the two projects together to capture interviews of veterans with VetDogs. On January 21st, the Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine State societies kicked off a three state American Vet Dogs Campaign with a three state Zoom call. Speakers were Teresa Watters the NSCDA American VetDog National Chair. Don’t
miss hearing inspirational stories and finding out how easy it is to be a part of this effort.
August 20 | There is 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.
On January 21st, the Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine State societies kicked off a three state American Vet Dogs Campaign with a three state Zoom call. Speakers were Teresa Watters the NSCDA American Vet Dog National Chair. A Guest Speaker, Max Rohn, and his dog Luce pictured below.
October 22 | Great American Treasures
Collectively, the Societies of the NSCDA own or support more historic properties in the U.S. than any entity except the federal government. Join us for a discussion about the GAT sites and how Dames continue to lead preservation efforts.
December 10 | Dames Opening Doors to America’s History
Respectfully submitted:
Margaret Schutrumpf, President NSCDA, Maine
See how Societies are supporting our mission in different ways across the country. Could your Society’s work be highlighted? X
A Guest Speaker at the kickoff for the American VetDogs Campaign, Max Rohn is with his dog Luce.
and Awards Scholarships, Grants
By Evelyn Griswold National Chair for Scholarships, Grants and Awards Virginia Society
Dames all across the country have helped provide opportunities for a graowing number of young people. We and they appreciate your support.
A young woman who participated in the Congressional Essay Contest had this to say about her experience: “I am the child of immigrant, agricultural workers. I am the first person in my family to visit Washington, D.C. I broke into tears as I approached the Capitol entrance.”
A young man from Oregon, who was also a Legacy scholar, summed up his appreciation by saying, “I’m stepping away from this program not only with a better understanding of the American political system but also an understanding of my own views and the way I want to participate in [civil discourse] in the future.”
These are just two of the growing number of grateful high schoolers who, after submitting a winning essay to the Congressional Essay Contest, had the opportunity to participate in a four day seminar in Washington, D.C.
The 50+ high school students who come to our nation’s capital each year not only better understand and appreciate our form of government, but also gain a deeper sense of self by working with students from all walks of life while they work to craft and approve a bill at the end of their Model Congress.
Brooke Nez, current AIMS scholar, is working towards a BS Nursing degree
But the Congressional Essay Contest is just one of the ways the Scholarships, Grants and Awards Committee is furthering education and stimulating a spirit of patriotism, service and knowledge of American heritage.
Through one of our oldest programs, you are also supporting 14 college students who are receiving American Indian Medical Scholarships (AIMS), which help them achieve their dreams of working in the medical profession. These schol-
A recent Museum Grant Fund recipient, the Hoover Minthorn House in Oregon, boyhood home of President Herbert Hoover, is the only presidential house in the Pacific Northwest and the only Great American Treasures presidential site.
arships not only transform their lives but also help some of our nation’s most under–resourced communities. In fact, this past fall three of our AIMS scholars graduated and began working to improve health care in their Native American communities.
Dames are also making an impact in communities across the country through the Corporate Societies that participate in our American Heritage Awards. T hrough their community work, programs and projects, t he recipients of these awards promote knowledge of patriotism and American heritage. A few past winners are Mission Gardens in AZ, the Quilts of Valor in IA, the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center in TN, and the Combat Soldiers Recovery Fund in MD.
Our committee also awards $25,000 in grants to three worthy Great American Treasures properties each year to preserve our historic buildings, collections and landscapes, and enhance public programming. In 2025 the Museum Grant Fund will support projects highlighting a site’s “Untold Stories.”
These programs show how Dames can make a huge impact on people and their communities. The members of the Scholarships, Grants and Awards Committee will continue to work to strengthen our efforts to make a difference. X
A Portrait of the Dames in 1904
By Isabella Kiedrowski Archives & Collections Manager
NSCDA Headquarters Dumbarton House
During the September Dumbarton House Board Meeting, the NSCDA Archive was fortunate to receive a copy of the March 1904 Woman’s Home Companion featuring an article on the Colonial Dames of America, the third in a series on patriotic women’s societies in America.
The article is a veritable goldmine of information on the beginnings of the NSCDA, and a snapshot of the organization in 1904. A full page is dedicated to “Well Known Public Works of the Colonial Dames,” which at the time included Van Cortlandt Mansion and the Powder-Magazine at Charleston—both of which are still in the care of Dames today, and help form Great American Treasures. Special mention is also given to the NSCDA’s first memorial: “Probably most important is the shaft erected in the national cemetery at Arlington, and as specifies the inscription written by Richard Watson Gilder, ‘To the soldiers and sailors of the United States who gave up their lives for their country in the war
with Spain this monument is dedicated in sorrow, gratitude, and pride.’ Though a departure from strictly Colonial work, it ranks as the first united undertaking of the national society, and is, besides, the first time the government has permitted a body of women to erect a monument on this ‘eternal camping-ground.’”
Over the last 120 years, the NSCDA has changed—it counts nearly 15,000 members, rather than the 5,000 mentioned in the 1904 article, for one—but the Dames have remained committed to their original mission of preservation. Great American Treasures, the beginnings of which can be glimpsed in this article, now boasts over seventy-five sites. And the observation made by the author over a century ago continues to hold true:
“To become a Colonial Dame [...] is probably the supreme ambition of the woman with worth-digging-up ancestors.”
Virtual Book Club
Meik a Downey, Director of Educ ation and Mission Programs
Meika Downey Director of Education and Mission Programs
NSCDA Headquarters Dumbarton House
On March 12, 2025, the Education and Mission Programs (EMP) department at NSCDA Headquarters is excited to debut a new program just for members: Booked on History Virtual Book Club! This triannual program will engage diverse historical fiction and nonfiction centering female leads. Members will have several months to read the selected book (using a provided reading guide if desired), and then will gather virtually with EMP staff for an evening conversation on Zoom. Following a facilitated dialogue about the book, members will hear from a guest expert who will expand the group’s historical context about each reading.
The first Booked on History selection is The Women by Kristin Hannah (2024), which explores the lesser-known experiences of U.S. military nurses during the Vietnam War and their contested identity as veterans after coming home to America. Stay tuned for the announcements of guest speakers for Booked on History sessions. Our intention for this new program series is not only to create another space for members to gather and socialize, but also to consider contemporary historical fiction and nonfiction, deepening our knowledge and empathy for the American past. To sign up, click here. If you wish to submit a book for consideration for a future Booked on History program, please contact meikadowney@nscda.org
Legacy Circle
You can be a member!
The Legacy Circle recognizes donors whose gifts will provide for the Dames of the future. These donors support the NSCDA by making a planned gift through their wills, trusts or beneficiary designations. Such generosity helps to ensure the long-term sustainability of the NSCDA and its commitment to American history education, historic preservation and patriotic service.
Edith
By Kate Zabriskie National Philanthropy Chair Maryland Society
Stickney Legacy Circle Challenge
The NSCDA thanks Edith Stickney for inspiring Dames with her Legacy Circle challenge. Her matching funds donation, coupled with new planned giving, provides significant support and delivers a powerful endorsement of the Dames future.
Welcome to our newest members of the Legacy Circle
2023
Candy Ainsworth
Katy Amling
Helen Arnold
Kristine Bartley
Stuart Cobb
Catherine Cooper
Janie Grantham
Philip Heeth Grantham
Mary Flagg Haugh
Sarah Heatwole
Mary Hickok
Christine Jones
Mary Heyward Mundy
Susan Park †
Isabel Wallop
How to Join Legacy Circle
Either add the NSCDA to your estate plan or let National Headquarters know that the NSCDA is already in your estate plans.
You will receive a beautiful recognition pin to thank you and demonstrate to other Dames your commitment to the future of this organization.
2024
Meg Beasley
Connie Baldwin
Barbara Callahan
Malinda Coleman
Lynn Goldsmith
Dorinda Hawkins
Carla Haynes-Clowe
Melissa Kirtley Eason
Kendie Hartman
Carrie Hawley
Holly Hunt
Lyn Hunt
Virginia Keller
Ashley Lawrence
Stanzi Lucy
Alice Markham †
LuAn McGinnis
Brenda Nardi
Rachel O'Dwyer
Jean Perkins
Jessica Schmidt
Sally Smith
Frances Smyth
Lisa Street
Bobsie Swift
Wendy Tackett
Caro Williams
Kathleen Wu
Legacy Circle Profile
Caro Williams
President, Colorado Society
Former NSCDA Vice President for Region I
I joined the NSCDA when I was 31 after moving from Roanoke, VA to Denver, CO. As a fourth generation Dame, I know I will be a Dame for the rest of my life. Making a gift in my will to the Legacy Circle helps ensure that the NSCDA is still thriving so my daughter, Elizabeth, can be a Dame for the rest of her life as well. Very few non-profit organizations can keep members for 50+ years. We are all connected by “our shared love of country” and I would add “our shared love of each other.” The Dames experience cannot be replicated by any other lineage or mission-driven non-profit organization. Once you are a member, you are the NSCDA.
I contribute to my alma maters with a gift in my will because I
am thankful for the education, experiences and camaraderie they gave me at a young age. In turn, I support the NSCDA because I am thankful for how the Dames have helped me grow through training and purpose into the woman I am today.
My wish is that the NSCDA is continuous and lasting. What we need are Dames who want to give back to this marvelous non-profit which elevates our ancestors, trains its members for mission work and helps shape Dames into high - functioning non-profit mavens. The Dames can move mountains if they want to, and a Legacy gift given now for the future could ensure that this organization will serve as a collective home for thousands of Dames to come. That is Legacy.
and Elizabeth
We are grateful for the generosity and foresight of donors who have supported the NSCDA through their estate and planned gifts: Mary Benning, Louise Buonassisi, Nena Dahling, Julia Grehan, Alice Markham, Jane Newman, Susan Park, Vida Ruppe and Miriam Sellgren.
The Williams family — Caro and Graham Williams with Berkeley
† Deceased
Dames Socials Grateful Acknowledgment
Cheers to all who made 2024 a summer of fabulous gatherings! A special shout-out to the following for their part in the success of Dames Socials:
Holly Hunt & Susan Walker Dames socials consultants
charlottesville, 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
The only entrée needed was a Dames connection! These occasions gave members a perfect excuse to socialize and embrace Dames' ties with multiple generations of Dames from the same family attending together. With warm introductions all around, the mix of family and friends added to the enjoyment.
There is no single formula for a Dames Socials 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 means that brings Dames together. Members from different states enjoy getting together in areas where they vacation, as do year-round residents. No matter the season, consider attending or organizing a Dames Social that works well for you!
NSCDA.org will contain timely updates, so check the calendar every so often.
If you have a second home, please ask your State Registrar to add this address to iDames so that the National database can be used to sort and locate invitees for Dames Socials throughout the country.
If you are interested in hosting a social or have questions about socials, please contact Holly Hunt or Susan Walker at nscdamembership@gmail.com.X
tannersville, 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
montreat, 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, tn | 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
Luncheon organized by Fay Kirby
Evelyn Turner (NC Dame), Catherine Lanier Cooper (GA Dame), Catherine Cooper (GA Dame) and Julia McIntosh (GA Dame)
L-R: Elsie Drake with mother Dottie Blitch L-R: Wendy Spencer with aunt Anna Duff
L-R: sisters Susan Woodward Walker and Judy Woodward Gregory, with Susan's daughter Margaret Walker Clair and Susan's granddaughter Isora Clair (who is a Young Dame!)
L-R: Ervin sisters—Agnes Ervin Asman and Penn Ervin Grove
L-R: Eaves sisters—Frances Eaves and Louisa Eaves Berry with Holly Jones (center)
L-R: Lila Ray and daughter English Ray Rand
L-R: Lucy McCullough Hazelhurst and mother Ann McCullough
L-R: Dowdy sisters—Jane Dowdy Winborne and Lucy Dowdy Robinson with Fairley Bell Cook (center)
Sunshine Norwood (center) with daughterin-law Kathryn Norwood and daughter Josie Norwood Cox
Three generations of Dames (BACK) L-R: Holly Hunt and Elizabeth Hunt Blanc (FRONT) L-R: Elsie Hunt and Caroline Hunt
L-R: Betsy Morrison with mother Susan Robinson L-R: sisters Jean Grainger and Janet Corcoran
L-R: Chloe Lenderman, Lina Wellborn, Margy Brooks and Roses Taylor
Dames Socials
California Palm Desert
florida Amelia Island
idaho Sun Valley
illinois Chicago
Indiana New Harmony
new York Tannersville
north Carolina Blowing Rock
Highlands/Cashiers Montreat
Pine Knoll Shores
tennessee Monteagle Mountain
Virginia Charlottesville
Check online for the latest on these and other gatherings.
We invite you to host and/or attend events around the country.
Inquiries: nscdamembership@gmail.com
L-R: Diane Eubanks with daughter-in-law Carol Lucarelli
L-R: Judith Urban with daughter Carrie Murray
L-R: Patricia Heintzelman with daughtear Caroline Heintzelman
Clockwise, from left: Suze Williams, Fay Kirby, Katherine Dewitt, Rebecca Bromley, and Lisa Holt.
L-R: Judy Nunley with daughter Caroline Nunley Satira
L-R: Ernest and Holly Hunt with daughters Louisa and Caroline ... and dog Charlie
L-R: David Chesler, Spratley Kay with mother Jane Metts
Support What Dames Do
Giving & Purpose
Mission: Women opening doors to America’s history through preservation, education and service to inspire a shared love of country
V alues : We are legacy-inspired, dedicated and visionary.
Since 1891 the NSCDA has encouraged its members to support NSCDA projects, programs and places they are passionate about. Every gift of any size counts. Each one makes an impact and sustains our mission for the future.
Steady philanthropic support ensures continuation of key initiatives that are critical to our mission.
• Donations to NSCDA National Headquarters Dumbarton House Annual Appeal support annual operating expenses of the NSCDA and Dumbarton House along with ongoing preservation and education initiatives.
• Donations to Dumbarton House Fund for the Future 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.
Donor Recognition
Donors help the NSCDA achieve more in every aspect of its mission. Donors are recognized for their gifts in the NSCDA annual report at these recognition levels:
First Ladies society
$10,000 and more
Martha Washington society
$5,000–$9,999
abigaiL adaMs society
$2,500–$4,999
doLLey Madison society
$1,000–$2,499
Patriot society
$500–$999
coLonist society
$200–$499
Legacy circLe recognizes donors who support the NSCDA by making a planned gift through their wills, trusts or beneficiary designations.
Ways to Give
• Mail your gift to the NSCDA at 2715 Q Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
• Make your gift online at nscda.org/support.
• Become a monthly donor to provide ongoing support we can count on. Your gift adds up, helping the NSCDA further its mission.
• Consider stock gifts, IRA charitable rollovers or non-probate assets.
• Include the NSCDA in your estate plan. Let us know if you do, so that we recognize your commitment as a member of the Legacy Circle.
X Learn more at nscda.org/support or contact NSCDA Development Assistant Sarah Paul at 202-337-2288 (ext. 2247) or by email at SarahPaul@nscda.org.