Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023, Vol. 33, No. 2 by NSCDA

T H E NAT I ONA L S O CIE T Y O F T HE COL ONI AL DAME S OF AMER ICA

Dames Discovery VOLUME 33, NO. 2

FALL/WINTER 2023

C on t en ts Features

In Focus

17 NSCDA | Region II Trailblazers at the Vanguard

6 The Latest from Dumbarton House 14 Postcard from the Paris Circle

29 History Highlights The Dinner Party (Dumbarton House 1818)

16 Food for Thought The Lecture Library | Save the Date

32 Friends of Sulgrave Manor Centenary Recognition

26 Great American Treasures House Talk: Hawaii

36 A Four-Generation Family of Dames

27 Make a Difference: Leave Your Legacy

39 Gunston Hall | East Yard 40 Roots and Branches Uniting Generations 44 From the Archives Behind the Rift When CDA Sued NSCDA 46 Ancestor's Almanac Founding Females 48 Embracing Heritage From Curiosity to Connection

28 A Warm Welcome with Bows 34 Congressional Essay Contest 38 Young Dames Trip, Washington, DC February 22–25, 2024 43 Young Families Committee 50 Cluster Gatherings 52 New National Website Coming Spring 2024

Regulars

National Conference

1 President's Message

8 Reflecting on the National Conference

2 Editor's Note 3 In Memoriam

9 2023 Roll of Honor, Museum Alliance Grant

5 Note from Headquarters

10 Highlights

On the cover: Artwork by Ann Bruce Hénaff, page 4

President's Message K ATHERINE TAYLOR CAMM ACK

t our first National Conference in St. Louis, MO in October, we celebrated the “Gateway to History’s Future.” We will build on this theme as we begin to reflect on our accomplishments for this past year and establish priorities for 2024 to advance our organization and encourage the study of early American history by all. Our national identity has been evolving since our founding in 1776. In Alexis de Tocqueville’s 1835 work, Democracy in America, he noted that America defines her greatness not in her enlightenment but in her ability to repair her faults. History is not an end in itself. It is an instrument to help us understand today. Preserving history is one of the most important goals of our organization, and I think people are hungry for history to give context to our lives. If the NSCDA makes history our focal point, then our organization can thrive. I recently had the great privilege to hear Dr. Catherine Meeks, author of Living into God’s Dream: Dismantling Racism in America, speak on our more current history and civil rights in our country. She spoke about the culture of an institution and how those not part of the institution could perceive the reflection of that culture so differently. Her remarks made me consider the prevailing public impression of the NSCDA and how we as Dames can influence our organization’s public reflection to be more impactful, more relevant and more meaningful to the world around us. Rather than being staid and disconnected, are we doing all that we can to be vital and relevant? We want to make sure that our voice is heard by our members and the public. One way to do this is to focus on our Founding Females, an initiative that broadens the definition of important roles in early America. Our efforts to recognize all of the ways in which women helped form our nation and to reimagine distinguished colonial service will have a lasting impact on the NSCDA. By highlighting and celebrating the presence of women in the early colonies and the foundational roles they played in the creation of what was to become America, we realize how much these women contributed to the Colonial period and the impact they had in forming and sustaining our early nation. Many of us returned home from the National Conference with a renewed dedication to the idea that our ancestors left us a profound responsibility to honor our heritage. We accomplish this by keeping history alive for future generations of Americans and striving to be worthy of the sacrifices of all those who protect and serve our country. At the same time, we are committed to advancing the NSCDA by being more effective in supporting our mission, our members and our strategic direction. As a federation of Corporate Societies, we are stronger together and our impact is deeper. We are creating our generation’s legacy as Dames by telling a broad early history of America that is more relevant and complete. With deep appreciation and gratitude,

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

Editor's Note

PRESIDENT Katherine Taylor Cammack EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Carol Cadou EDITOR Sonya Wolsey-Paige COPY EDITORS Margaret “Peggy” DeStefano Jean Perkins Susan Walker ADVISOR Lee Scott Email | damesdiscovery@gmail.com Website | NSCDA.org Please follow the NSCDA on your favorite social media.

Dames Discovery is published semi-annually for the benefit of members of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America. Submissions deadline: February 1: Spring/Summer August 1: Fall/Winter

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. 2

his issue, the debut of our electronic-only publication, spotlights our Society’s geographical reach from Hawaii to Paris, France in addition to coverage of our National Conference in St. Louis, MO. We can delight in the past through those who define the pioneering spirit of Dames in trails blazed and foundational roles played. Our collective past shapes our sense of identity. We plan for a brighter future through broader engagement of Young Dames, and by welcoming your Legacy Circle bequests that position the NSCDA to accelerate its momentum and tackle challenges yet to come. As you will see, our membership initiatives include social gatherings that offer occasions to meet regardless of which Society we belong to. In this past-to-present continuum lies so much promise. We can feel pride in the considerable prestige of affiliation we derive from Dumbarton House, Gunston Hall and Sulgrave Manor, which differentiates us from peer organizations. There is a common sense of enterprise that can be felt in all lineage societies, as each is oriented toward an appreciation of genealogy. When we think historically, the possibilities seem endless. In aggregate, we can appreciate just how much the NSCDA and its Corporate Societies do. The current environment has sparked creativity and new opportunities, yet our purpose and values remain unchanged. As we adapt, we remain legacy-inspired and receptive to meaningful work in the mission areas of historic preservation, patriotic service and education. While admiration for American heritage and our colonial forebears isn't new, it remains deeply felt. Here's to curiosity, member engagement and a brighter future — and, of course, your support in time, talent and treasure for the NSCDA. I hope you find much to enjoy in these pages. — SWP

Artworks by Claudia Eoline Stewart Lane, Illinois Society. ABOVE: The NSCDA Badge, colored pencil on film. PAGE 3: Hydrangeas, watercolor on paper. NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

In Memoriam NJ–1593A TX–787 Margaret Cannon Boyce Brown (Mrs. Spenser Neville Brown) December 12, 1922–October 29, 2023 Texas Society President 1974–1978 National Corresponding Secretary 1980–1986 Roll of Honor 1978 Aaron Blatchley (1644–1699) NJ VA–9767 FL–334 Ann Peyton Judkins Hager (Mrs. Richard Eugene Hager) May 8, 1931–August 23, 2023 Florida Society President 2002–2004 Roll of Honor 2005 William Preston (c. 1729–1783) VA VA–9315 WV–788 Mary Frances Henderson Hodges (Mrs. J. Churchill Hodges) August 26, 1932–April 6, 2023 West Virginia Society President 1988–1990 Roll of Honor 1994 Thomas Johnson (1735–1803) VA CT–1721A WA–253 Barbara "Bobbie" Butler Black Lenfesky (Mrs. Robert Craft Lenfesky) August 17, 1915–February 2, 2023 Washington Society President 1977–1979 Joseph Wadsworth (ca. 1647–1731) CT

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

MA–3812A CA–1068 Marjorie Ada Smith Manwaring (Mrs. John H. Manwaring) January 20, 1924–July 12, 2021 California Society President 1988–1991 Roll of Honor 1991 Donald Ladd (____–1693) MA MA–4683A LA–1429 TX–1974 Mary “Meepsie” Lintot Dougherty Murray (Mrs. Craig W. Murray) February 13, 1950–July 21, 2023 National Registrar 2020–2021 Roll of Honor 2022 Richard Russell (1611–1676) MA VA–6038 CA–1103 Jean Lattner Palmer (Mrs. James E. Palmer) August 26, 1931–October 25, 2002 California Society President 1999–2002 Roll of Honor 2002 Benjamin Cave (1684–1762) VA DC–963 Dorothy Lea "Lea" Jablonsky Uhre (Mrs. Curtis Bernard Uhre) June 19, 1946–September 16, 2023 National Historian/Archivist 2018–2020 Peter Schuyler (1657–1724) NY

DAMES C over F eature DISCOVERY O

ur thanks to Ann Bruce Hénaff for graciously allowing us to feature her artwork on the cover of this issue. With this recent artistic endeavor, Ann offers a transcultural pastiche that evokes Saint Louis and his legacy in France. Her arrangement of layered elements forms a loose optical mesh through which a 1775 map of Paris by Jaillot is plainly visible. Overlaid as collaged imagery are illustration and text from La vie et les miracles de Saint Louis by Guillaume de SaintPathus (ca. 1330–1340), along with carving elements found on a door inside the Cathédrale Saint-Louis de Versailles. Ann is a member of the Texas Societ y. She currently resides in Versailles, France and enjoys being a part of the Paris Circle (see page 14).

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

Note from HEADQUARTERS b y CA RO L CA DO U , E xe c u t ive D i re c to r

MISSION: The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America is dedicated to furthering an appreciation of our National heritage through historic preservation, patriotic service and educational projects. VISION: A strong, thriving organization that: engages an active membership of dynamic women of many age groups who are passionate about the mission; preserves the history and ideals of the founding of the United States through historic preservation, education and patriotic service—and promotes their on-going significance; cultivates a solid financial base to enable it to carry out its mission; strengthens its relevance to 21st century America; and is widely recognized by the public at large for its works. VALUES: We are legacy-inspired, dedicated and visionary. NSCDA STAFF Executive Director: Carol Cadou Director of Finance & Administration: Edith Laurencin Facilities Manager: Rolando Montana Director of Institutional Advancement: Cecily Nisbet Marketing and Communications Manager: Tucker Broadbooks Development Associate: Austin Teholiz Curator of Collections: Maya Foo Collections & Archives Manager: Abby Schulte Director of Education and Mission Programs: Molly Kilbridge Education Manager: Jessica McEvoy Membership Coordinator: Caroline Eisenhuth Education Specialist: Dynito Wiles

he NSCDA staff and I enjoyed seeing many of you in St. Louis for our first National Conference! The Missouri Dames offered a perfect partnership as we worked together to welcome, orient, guide and tour over 200 members and guests. We are now looking forward to working with the South Carolina Society to prepare for the second National Conference in Charleston, SC from October 17 to 19, 2025. This winter and spring will be busy seasons at Headquarters as we implement the mission and strategic goals of the Society. We are continuing to create the infrastructure and launch the initiatives that will ensure the longevity of our organization and the long-term capability of our members to carry on the Society’s critical mission. To reach this goal, our efforts at your National Headquarters are focused on membership, financial sustainability and most importantly—our mission. In 2024, we will roll out Salesforce—a dynamic and well-regarded Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software. This software will integrate over a dozen current systems into a streamlined tool to connect members with each other as well as to provide the resources needed to carry out our mission work. We also anticipate that the public and member sides of the new NSCDA website will be up and running in the first half of 2024. We expect Salesforce and the new website to work together seamlessly to ensure that our Dames have information that is both clear and easily accessible. This new technology will also be utilized to broadcast the good work of our members across the country so that others can learn of and be inspired by the NSCDA’s mission activities. The next 12 months will be a year of building for the future by laying the foundation necessary to meet the needs of our members and their important work. We look forward to giving you the tools to help the NSCDA and our mission soar! With all best wishes,

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

The Latest

from

b y CECI LY N I SB E T, D irector o f Inst i tu t i onal A dvan c e m e n t

🚀 GENERATION NEXT Tennessee Junior Dames visit Dumbarton House with their grandmother. Pictured are Dame Susan Walker with her granddaughters, sisters Madeleine and Olivia Walker and very young Dame Isora Gray Clair.

🎥 VIDEO The NSCDA was in the spotlight as Thesis Content recorded a new video about the history of the NSCDA and its Dumbarton House headquarters for the newly installed Visitors Center.

📄 ARCHIVES

 MEETING

National Archivist Meg Beasley helps curatorial staff research a trunk filled with early photos of museum sites believed to have been part of a 1940s traveling Dames exhibit.

The NSCDA Executive Committee hosted its annual summer retreat at Dumbarton House, one of the first groups to use the renovated facilities.

 RESTORATION Both the Best Chamber and the Breakfast Room were restored. The original vibrant yellow color of the walls was discovered via paint analysis by noted expert Susan Buck.

🔍 COLLECTIONS This music book was once owned by Maria Louisa Bull Nourse, wife of Joseph Nourse and an inhabitant of Dumbarton House from 1804–1813.

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

 HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2023 🚏 NSCDA • National President Katherine Taylor Cammack visited 20 Societies, including California, DC, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia • 128 applications were processed for opportunities including the American Indian Medical Scholarship, Congressional Essay Contest and Museum Alliance Grant • 227 Dames and guests were registered for National Conference

U Virtual Lectures, Meetings & Webinars 175+ Zoom sessions hosted by NHQ: • • • • • •

• • • • •

Food for Thought lectures (four programs with noted historians) National Board meetings Executive Committee meetings Dumbarton House Board meetings Corporate Society President webinars National Standing Committee meetings: Audit Committee, Development Committee, Finance Committee, Governance Committee, Historical Activities Committee, Membership Committee, Museum Alliance Committee, Patriotic Service Committee, Strategic Planning Committee New website planning team meetings iDames training 250 by 250 Founding Females webinars Library of Congress Veteran History Project training Great American Treasures grant reviews

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

🤩 In-person Events & Activities • • •

400+ visitors attended the reopening of National Headquarters (NHQ) 700+ attendees enjoyed the Jane Austen Film Festival, held annually on the lawn of Dumbarton House 54 high school students from 18 states visited NHQ as part of the Washington Workshops Congressional Seminar

🇺 Organizations in Partnership • America's VetDogs • American Alliance of Museums • American Association for State and Local History • Citizens Association of Georgetown • DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities • Georgetown Garden Club • Girl Scouts of Nation’s Capital • Historic Hotels of America • Library of Congress • Mt. Zion - Female Union Band Society Historic Memorial Park • National Trust for Historic Preservation • VEToga • Washington Workshops Foundation

🔗 Online •

150+ emails were sent to membership, highlighting everything from programs, gatherings, news etc. • Social media accounts total over 18,200+ followers and more than 200 posts were shared. The NSCDA members Facebook group has grown to 1,327 members. • 77,000 website logins were registered at NSCDA.org 7

Reflecting on the National Conference The National Conference in St. Louis was a wonderful success! The Missouri Dames welcomed 227 Dames and their guests from across the country for the first NSCDA National Conference. Known as the Gateway to the West, St. Louis was the perfect spot for the Dames to host this conference, which was centered on the theme, “Gateway to History’s Future.”

Before the conference started, attendees and members of the Friends of Sulgrave Manor had the opportunity to tour Ste. Geneviève and the Centre for French Colonial Life, an historic site that the Missouri Dames help steward. A group of approximately 80 Dames and their guests visited the Gateway Arch—the iconic symbol of St. Louis—and many braved the ride to the top of the Arch inside cozy capsules, each of which is about as roomy as a washing machine. That evening, Dames enjoyed a crisp fall evening at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House where they saw as many as 80 species of butterflies and 150 tropical plant species inside the tropical conservatory. The conference weekend was packed with educational sessions, informative workshops and inspiring presenters. Attendees had numerous opportunities to learn about topics connected to the NSCDA mission and operations. These included the colonial heritage of St. Louis; the many ways to ruin rather than restore old buildings; the impact a seven-day program can have on veterans struggling to re-assimilate into civilian life; ideas to engage Young Dames; features and structural updates to the new NSCDA website; and so much more. Curator of Collections Maya Foo and Museum Alliance Committee Chair Catherine Cooper announced the three award recipients of the Museum Alliance Grant. During a break from

the educational sessions, Dames enjoyed an afternoon tea, which was a first at a National Meeting according to Honorary President Stuart Cobb. National Roll of Honor Committee Chair Lisa Liles announced the 2023 National Roll of Honor members at the Saturday evening gala dinner. Dr. Frances Levine, retired Executive Director of the Missouri Historical Society, gave a presentation recounting the histories of two colonial women and the freedoms for which they fought—a perfect topic for a roomful of indomitable Dames. The evening ended with the traditional patriotic singalong with Dames gathered around the piano. To close out the conference, Pennsylvania Dame Mickey Herr discussed the NSCDA founders and shared ways to rethink colonial service as we work to reach our goal of adding 250 female ancestors to the Register of Ancestors by 2026. NSCDA Executive Director Carol Cadou spoke about the enduring relevance of preserving historic places and the critical role women continue to play in those efforts. Most of all, Dames loved reminiscing with old friends, making new friends, and creating memories together! — Ellen Boomer, Conference Co-chair and NSCDA Vice President Residing in Region IV

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

2023 Roll of Honor Congratulations to the 2023 Roll of Honor recipients. Throughout their tenures as Dames, they have exemplified excellence in service to the NSCDA and its mission. A L A BAM A Louise Yelverton Rayford Elizabeth Kirksey Shaw CA LIFO R N I A Marian Jackson Bliss Julia Howell Sarno COL O R A DO Constance “Stanzi” Trimmer Lucy CON N EC T ICU T Margery Chinn Warren Harriet “Torrey” Matheson Cooke D I ST R IC T O F COLU MBI A Marta Miller Dunetz F L OR IDA Victoria Ingraham Ford Leslie Anne Freeman GEORG I A Mary Schofield Ham Lisa Lacy White H AWAII Emma White Seymour I L L INO IS Courtenay Robinson Wood KENTUCKY Helen Bragg Curtin Cleary Mary Nash Cox

Museum Alliance Grant Congratulations to the three award recipients of this year’s Museum Alliance Grant! The Museum Alliance

NORT H CARO LI NA Anne Boone Shelton Urquhart

Committee received seventeen

NE W JER S E Y Daryl Van Duzer Albury

three external grant reviewers, selected

NE W YOR K Lee Findlay Potter

historic preservation projects:

OK L AHO M A Marilyn Swan Case

HERMANN-GRIMA HOUSE

OR EGON Cindy Tucker Kaul

• Project: Deck replacement

R HODE I S L AN D Judith Briggs Larkin † S OU T H CARO LI NA Katharine Simons Armato Agnes Ervin Asman Jean Singleton Hood T ENNE S S E E Elizabeth Lindsay Wall TEX AS Anne Boyce Folkes Diana Townsend Morehouse Eleanor Oliver Petty Lucile Hellums Uhlig Nancy Wade Blalock W E ST V IRGI N I A Virginia Gussler George † Deceased

L OU ISI ANA Jayne Lobdell Middleton NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

applications, and with the assistance of the following three properties and their

in New Orleans, LA • Awarded $10,000 HOOVER-MINTHORN HOUSE MUSEUM in Newberg, OR • Project: Interior painting and restoration • Awarded $10,000 THE POWDER MAGAZINE in Charleston, SC • Project: Iron door and lintel repair • Awarded $5,000

🔗 For more information on these and other Great American Treasures, see www.greatamericantreasures.org. 9

Highlights

FROM LEFT: Silas Ford, Mickey Herr, Vicki Ford, Sally Wirts, Molly Monroe, Jane Peeples, Stuart Cobb, Cecily Nisbet, Holly Hunt, Erlan Bliss, Mim Hundley, Marian Bliss, Anne Randloph, Anne Stuart, Carol Howell, Virginia Nicholson, Carol Cadou, Carol Gould and Nell Tattersall

Anna Duff, Francie Root, Marguerite Morrison and Holly Hunt

Sarah Erwin and Cackie Boomer

Eleanor Boyse, Sara Larkin and Becky Matkov

Lynn Goldsmith, Gladys Whitney, Anne Orsi and Sandi Atkinson NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

Katherine Taylor Cammack

Catherine Cooper, Kathy Henry and Hermine Granberry

Ellen Boomer and Christy James

Joyce Artz, Molly Carey, Lisa Liles and Joan Shannahan

Terri Thatcher and Marilyn Prado

Kate Zabriskie, Carol Gould and Mary Henderer

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

Highlights

Vicki Ford and Marticia Madory

Sally Connelly, Lydia Bardin and Anne Boone Urquhart

Ann Harder and Fay Kirby

Liz Bohannon and Francie Logan

Laura Morris, Molly Monroe and Jane Peeples

Robin Staak, Ann Fleming, Virginia Keller, Katharine Winston, Ginny Cain, Kinney Moore and Freddie Hayes 12

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

Cary Brown and Carol Cadou

Frances Levine and Christy James

Irene Holmes and Sally Wirts

Katherine Taylor Cammack and Frances Smyth

Marguerite Morrison and Francie Root

Anne Randolph, Edith Stickney, Stuart Cobb, Virginia Keller, Ellen Boomer, Sally Connelly and Mary Mundy NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

P o s t c a Pr adr i s C i r c l e from

the

Wr it t en b y W H I T N E Y DE C OU RC E L, Kentu cky S o c i et y Ph otog raph s b y A N N HÉNA F F , Te x a s S o c i et y

Bonjour Saint Louis!

he NSCDA Paris Circle salutes the St. Louis gathering of the Dames from the home of the original Saint Louis (King Louis IX, who reigned over France from 1226 to 1270). Aside from being the only French king to have been granted sainthood, Saint Louis is famous for acquiring priceless Christian relics: the Crown of Thorns and a part of the Cross. These relics are housed in the stunning Sainte Chapelle on the Ile de la Cité, the main island in the Seine river. (See photo #1)

Another iconic spot honoring Saint Louis is the second island, Ile Saint Louis, where the pious king used to go to meditate and pray. That once rural island is now covered with handsome homes dating mostly from the 16th and 17th centuries. (See photo #2) The statue (in photo #3) is found in the Église Saint-Louisen-Ile, on Ile Saint Louis.

2 NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

The Paris Circle The Paris Circle, founded in 2012 (with a core group of Dames who are both French residents and who have French spouses), serves as a reminder of our deep Franco-American ties since before the American Revolution. Our Founding Fathers were inspired by the principles of the Enlightenment in 18th century France, which had a significant influence on the future American democracy. The Paris Circle looks forward to hearing from any Dames who come through Paris, the eternal City of Light. À bientôt !

If you venture out of Paris to Versailles, you’ll discover the imposing Cathédrale Saint-Louis. (See photos #4 & #5) Within you will find a more contemporary statue of its namesake and a commemorative plaque from….the city of St. Louis! (See photos #6 & #7)

The French Spirit of an American City Although its environs were a center of indigenous activity for centuries, St. Louis was founded by a Frenchman, named after a sainted French king and nicknamed “the Paris of the West” during its early days. Nearly three centuries later, and more than two hundred years after the Louisiana Purchase ensured it would become a prominent American city, the French roots of St. Louis remain an indelible aspect of the city’s character. NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

Food for Thought from the NATIONAL HISTORICAL ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE

 The lecture series committee is pleased to announce the creation of The Lecture Library. All Food for Thought programming will be archived on the NSCDA website and will be available to all members. If you missed a lecture, you can now watch it at any time. If you are looking for an easy Society program or member activity, consider offering a “watch party” to enjoy these lectures.  The Lecture Library is on the Historical Activities page at NSCDA.org. Scan the QR code below to enjoy more from the digital lecture library.

🖥

Click to view The Food Explorer by DANIEL STONE

Save the Date The next installment of Food for Thought is FEDERAL FARE: 1790–1830. The series will explore how the Federalists used food to forge a uniquely American dining style. The culinary trends, etiquette and food availability that led to the staples of our diet today will be examined. Programming this year will be on Thursday evenings at 6 pm ET on Zoom. We hope that you will be able to enjoy the lectures at the end of your day. The 2024 program line up is: An Excellent Table: The Art of Dining in Federal America with Carol Cadou, NSCDA Executive Director

📅 January 25, 2024

⌚ 6 pm ET 🎟 Virtual 🔗 RSVP/Register

Etiquette and the Making of America with Winston Jenkins, Mississippi Society member and etiquette expert

📅 March 21, 2024

⌚ 6 pm ET 🎟 Virtual 🔗 RSVP/Register

Dining and the Decorative Arts with Ann Wagner, Curator of Decorative Arts at the Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library and silver specialist

📅 September 19, 2024

⌚ 6 pm ET 🎟 Virtual 🔗 RSVP/Register

Vegetables Are the Best Thing About Living in the Country with J. Dean Norton, Director of Horticulture at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate

📅 November 14, 2024 16

⌚ 6 pm ET 🎟 Virtual 🔗 RSVP/Register

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

NSCDA | Region II

TRAILBLAZERS at the Vanguard Compiled by Virginia Keller, Vice President | Region II Contributors: Kristine Bartley, Julia Boomer, Ginny Cain, Sally Connelly, Freddie Hayes, Christy James, Lois Mackin and Jessica Stavros (Executive Director, Liberty Hall)

n celebration of the first National Conference in St. Louis, MO, the Region II Corporate Societies offer a glimpse of Dames and a Dames forebear (or ancestor) who significantly shaped American history and were trailblazers at the vanguard. They drove social and cultural change within their communities—as power brokers, leaders and treasured patriots. These exceptional women of Region II showcase the extraordinary impact of female engagement. There are so many stories of tenacity and foresight in these histories! Region II proudly reflects our depth and breadth as an organization. As we step forward let us always remember to reflect on the accomplishments and strength of those who came before us.

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

LETITIA GREEN STEVENSON ELIZABETH SPRAGUE COOLIDGE

Mrs. Letitia Green Stevenson, photographed by Miss F. B. Johnston; photo courtesy of Library of Congress

Elizabeth S p r ag u e C oolidge (1864–1953) was an early member of the Illinois Society. Her proposal is dated 1899. Her father established a successful wholesale grocery chain and sat on the board of the Chicago Symphony. Her mother was a talented musician. As a child, Elizabeth excelled at piano and aspired to a musical career, a dream that was no doubt propelled further by her family’s close relationship with the famous female pianists Theresa Carreno and Fanny Bloomfield Zeisler. However, her social standing barred her from having so public a career; instead, she found outlets for her talent in Chicago’s women’s clubs, where she performed, composed and lectured. In 1891 she married Frederic Coolidge, an orthopedic surgeon. Tragically, her father, 18

Letitia Green Stevenson (1843– 1913), a charter member of the Illinois Society, was the wife of Adlai E. Stevenson. She served as Second Lady of the United States when her husband was elected Vice President during Grover Cleveland’s second term. Letitia and Adlai had four children. Letitia maintained the household in the frequent absence of her husband. When Adlai was nominated for Vice President of the United States, Letitia campaigned on his behalf. She took a firm stance

mother and husband all died in 1915–16. A week after her father’s death, Elizabeth established a $100,000 pension fund in her father's name for the Chicago Symphony, an act that reduced her family inheritance by one half. She contributed to the building of a hospital for tuberculosis treatment in Pittsfield, MA, as a tribute to her husband, and gave her own Chicago home for use as a nurses’ residence. She was instrumental in the construction of the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in 1925. The concert hall was designed to meet the needs of chamber music and was equipped for radio broadcast. Coolidge commissioned and premiered Aaron Copland’s ballet Appalachian Spring that was both choreographed and danced by Martha Graham at the Coolidge Auditorium.

on women’s rights, believed women should go to college and supported women’s right to birth control. Along with her founding role as an Illinois Dame, Letitia served as president of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) and helped organize the Bloomington, IL chapter of the NSDAR, which was named in her honor.

John Singer Sargent, Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge, 1923; photo courtesy of the Library of Congress

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

MARY SCOTT HARRISON MCKEE Mary Scott Harrison McKee; White House Historical Association; photo courtesy of Library of Congress

Mary Scott Harrison McKee (1858–1930) was one of the founders of the Indiana Society. Her father, Benjamin Harrison, was a U.S. Senator from Indiana and later President of the United States (1889–1893). When Mary’s mother’s health declined, Mary and her children moved into the White House so she could take her mother’s role as hostess and fulfill the duties of First Lady. Mary

was known to be a great conversationalist and storyteller. She, along with her sister-in-law, Mrs. Russell B. Harrison, put on the first White House dance, much to the chagrin of the press. These two women understood the White House to be the people’s house, one where good times should be enjoyed along with all the serious business. After her father left the

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

White House, Mary’s husband’s work took the family to Greenwich, CT. She volunteered for charity activities during World War I and also worked for the Christie Street House for Unfortunate Men. She was a woman of means who could have enjoyed her place in society; instead she served her country, state and family.

MARGARETTA BROWN BARRET admittance to institutions of higher education. That same year, Margaretta became the Vice-Regent for the state of Kentucky in the Mount Vernon Ladies Association (MVLA) and served in that capacity for the next 18 years.

Margaretta Brown Barret (1839– 1920) was born at Liberty Hall in the capital city of Frankfort, KY. Liberty Hall was the home of her grandfather, John Brown, whose political career extended from the Revolutionary War through the creation of Kentucky as the 15th state. Margaretta and her sisters inherited the property in the mid-19th century. They became fierce advocates for women’s rights. In 1894, Margaretta was the first President of the Woman’s Club of Frankfort. Early activities for this group included the establishment of traveling libraries for children living in rural Kentucky and Appalachia. By 1902, Margaretta became a founding member of the Frankfort Equal Rights Association, the local chapter of the national E.R.A., whose goals were more than just the right to vote—they wanted comprehensive reform, including gaining property rights for married women and 20

The Vice-Regent from each state was charged with raising awareness, funds and donations of historic items to furnish Mount Vernon. Recorded gifts from Margaretta included a cane made from the wheel spoke of Washington’s carriage, a brass lock from Liberty Hall (for the door at Mount Vernon that leads from the library to the east portico) and multiple monetary donations collected from various organizations and individuals in Kentucky. The gift she secured that received the most attention, however, was the gift of two mules. In the 1903 MVLA Annual Report, Margaretta reported a total of $200 raised for the purchase of two Kentucky mules, to be transported to Mount Vernon via the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. These mules appeared in MVLA Annual Reports over the next decade as valued and useful assets to the operation of Mount Vernon. This connection to activism, heritage preservation and civic pride led Margaretta to become a member of the NSCDA in Kentucky in 1908. She spent the rest of her life dedicated to these causes, and died in the same house in which she was born —the National Historic Landmark and Kentuky Society property known as Liberty Hall Historic Site. Photo courtesy of Liberty Hall Historic Site Collections, Frankfort, KY

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

SARAH WHIPPLE SPROAT SIBLEY Sarah Whipple Sproat Sibley (1782– 1851) was born in Providence, RI in January 1782. She was the only child of Colonel Ebenezer Sproat and Katherine Whipple Sproat. Sarah was the granddaughter of Commodore Abraham Whipple of Rhode Island, who is credited with burning the first British ship, the Gaspee, in 1772, evoking rage from King George III, and further fanning the flames of what would become the American Revolution. Sarah’s father and grandfather lost their fortunes supporting the American Revolutionary War. After the war, however, they were both given land grants and in 1788 founded Marietta, OH. Living conditions in the early days of the settlement were harsh, leading Colonel Sproat to move Sarah to a school in Pennsylvania. When Sarah turned 16, Colonel Sproat felt circumstances in Marietta had become ‘civilized’ enough for her to return. Father and daughter brought the first piano to travel west of the Allegheny Mountains when they made their return on horseback! Sarah met her future husband, Judge Solomon Sibley, in Marietta. They were married in 1804 and, after living in Cincinnati, OH settled permanently in Michigan. They had eight children. In 1806 Judge Sibley was named Detroit’s first mayor, and Sarah became Detroit’s first lady. One account of Sarah’s well-known poise, bravery and courage is described in a book published by the Minnesota Daughters of the American Revolution describing the efforts of she and others inside Fort Detroit during the War of 1812:

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

…the women and children were all placed in the fort for safety. Mrs. Sibley, then the mother of three children, was found holding her youngest child, Henry Hastings Sibley in her arms while with her busy hands she was making cartridges for the soldiers. Four officers, including her cousin, were killed by a cannonball in the adjoining room. Her husband was out in the field commanding a company of militia. Judge Sibley died in 1846. After her husband’s death, Sarah Sproat Sibley built a house next to the original Christ Church of Detroit for herself and her two daughters. It is one of the few surviving mid-19th-century houses in Detroit. The Sibley family lived in the home for almost 80 years. Sarah died in 1851 and is buried beside her husband in Detroit’s historic Elmwood Cemetery. Current Michigan Dame Deborah Johnson Gillespie is Sarah and Judge Sibley’s fourth generation lineal granddaughter. Photo courtesy of the Michigan Society

EMILY GILMAN NOYES

Missouri. A pro-slavery mob ignited the warehouse and gunned down Lovejoy. The loss of the warehouse destroyed the Gilman family's livelihood. Winthrop’s firm failed, so he moved first to St. Louis, MO and then to New York City.

Emily Gilman Noyes, born in 1854 in New York City, was the tenth child of Winthrop and Abia Gilman. At age 20 Emily married Charles Noyes and moved to Minnesota, following her elder sister Helen. Emily and Helen were two of the 14 founders of the Minnesota Society. Shortly after arriving in Minnesota, on a cold winter’s night, fire destroyed the row of houses where Emily and Charles lived. This was not Emily's first brush with adversity. Her father lost a warehouse where Abolitionist Elijah Lovejoy printed his anti-slavery newspaper in Alton, IL, just across the Mississippi River from the slave-holding state of

Adverse circumstances failed to lessen Emily’s commitment to social justice. With young rural women coming to the city to find employment, Emily helped establish the St. Paul YWCA as a refuge where they could gather and live. Emily was a founder and President of the Women’s Welfare League and Vice President of the Minnesota Woman Suffrage Association. In 1915, she testified before the Minnesota Senate Elections Committee to put women's suffrage on the ballot. Once women got the vote, Emily founded the Ramsey County League of Women Voters. She is one of 25 Minnesota women commemorated on the Minnesota Woman Suffrage Memorial at the State Capitol. Emily is a descendant of the Honorable John Gilman of New Hampshire.

Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

SABRA REED TULL MEYER

Sabra with her daughter Sabra Anne Johnson in front of the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery monument; photo courtesy of the Missouri Society

Sabra Reed Tull Meyer was the sixth generation of her family to bear the Sabra name and to reside in Boone County, MO. Intelligent, charming and beautiful, she was the 1946 University of Missouri (Mizzou) homecoming queen. After graduation she married her college sweetheart, James Edward Meyer. They were married for 65 years. For the first 18 years of their marriage, she happily devoted her energies to nurturing their two sons and two daughters. When the first child entered high school Sabra chose to return to Mizzou to resume her studies in art. Very creative and artistic, she had a passion for sculpture, a course

that had not been offered when she first attended. She earned two graduate degrees in art and fine arts and taught courses at surrounding colleges. Sabra had a strong desire to express herself through her art: “There is something about the permanence of bronze that I really like. How cool, thinking of my art being archaeology of the future!” She was a prolific and talented sculptor; her works of prominent Missourians can be found in the rotunda of the Missouri State Capitol, in public sites around the state and in private collections across the country. Her special sense and attention to detail resulted in amazingly

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

life-like, lively images. Perhaps her best-known work is the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery Monument on the state capitol grounds which was completed when she was 80. Sabra felt that her family and her work kept her young and strong. She completed her final bronze in her 95th year — a French nun, Rose Philippine Duchesne, who ministered in Missouri in the early 1800s and was canonized in 1988. Sabra passed away in April 2023. She was a Missouri Dame for nearly 50 years. Her sculptures will live on as a path to Missouri history’s future.

MARIA LONGWORTH STORER Maria Longworth S torer (1849– 1932) was an artist and arts patron, feminist, entrepreneur and philanthropist. She was a founder of the Ohio Society (Member number 2). Maria was born in Cincinnati on March 20, 1849 to Joseph Longworth and Anne Rives. The Longworths were perhaps the wealthiest family in the city of that time and Joseph managed the family estates. Maria’s family encouraged her to become a leader and philanthropist. Besides being a founder of the Ohio Society, Maria is credited with

influencing the development of the Cincinnati Art Museum and Academy, Cincinnati Symphony, May Festival, Music Hall and the School of Music at the University of Cincinnati. Maria founded Rookwood Pottery in 1880 where she worked as a decorator. An artist in her own right, she received a gold medal for bronze work at the 1900 Paris Exposition. Her original student work was on display at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition Women's Pavilion. Many members of the Centennial Women's Committee were associated with the founding of the NSCDA. Photo courtesy of the Ohio Society

EVE NOURSE Dames in Iowa treasure their connection to Eve Nourse, who served as State Registrar (1936–1942), third Vice President (1925–1931) and Honorary Vice President (1946–1958). She also served the Dames in several other committee capacities. Her NSCDA badge was donated to the State Society at the time of her death. The badge and a gavel are passed down to each successive Iowa Society President. Eve was married to Charles Nourse who was descended from the brother of Joseph Nourse, an early occupant of Dumbarton House. The Iowa Society is pleased to continue this Nourse family affiliation with Eve's granddaughter Onnalee Gettler along with her baby daughter Betty. 24

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

POLLY ANTISDEL MARINER STONE MARY FARGO ANTISDEL MARINER

Picture courtesy of the Wisconsin Society

P olly A ntisdel M ariner Stone (1898–1995) is famous in American decorative arts circles, but her keen historical eye was honed as the daughter and granddaughter of Colonial Dames. Years before Polly Mariner Stone of Milwaukee and her husband founded Chipstone Foundation as a center for the collection and study of American decorative arts, she helped save and restore the Old Indian Agency House in Portage, which was purchased by the Wisconsin Society in 1932. As chairwoman she steered the Dames preservation efforts and the selection of antiques appropriate for the time period. Polly

was the daughter of Mrs. John Watkins Mariner and granddaughter of Mrs. Albert Antisdel who were all descendants of Gov. William Bradford of Plymouth, MA. Chipstone Foundation is a Wisconsin-based foundation dedicated to promoting American decorative arts scholarship. Originating from the private collection of Stanley and Polly Stone, the foundation uses its objects and resources to support decorative arts projects and publications at other institutions, seeking to find "newer ways to look at old things."

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

As a Dame, Polly’s mother, M ary F argo A n t isdel Mariner (1869–1952) chaired the Wisconsin Chapter of the National League for Women's Service (NLWS). Many early Dames actively supported this organization during World War I. The NLWS was a United States civilian volunteer organization formed in January 1917 to provide stateside war services such as feeding, caring for and transporting soldiers, veterans and war workers. The NLWS was described as "America's largest and most remarkable war emergency organization.”

Great American Treasures

House Talk:

Hawaii

b y JUA NI TA A L L EN , Hawai i S oc i et y

Bedroom of Rev. and Mrs. Hiram Bingham; courtesy of Hawaiian Mission Houses

own NSCDA society. She gathered a few friends and in October 1986 became the President of the 44th Corporate Society.

At this time, Iolani Palace—the former royal residence—had emerged from a 10-year, $7 million restoration after serving as the capitol from 1893–1969. About half of the original furnishings had been retrieved but were awaiting restoration. Evelyn quickly volunteered to be a Palace docent. A few years later, she decided that Hawaii needed its

The new Dames began fundraising to support Evelyn’s planned Iolani Palace restoration projects. They sponsored sea/land tours of the Islands that funded: the restoration of 10 volumes of James Audubon’s Birds and Quadrupeds of North America gifted in 1856 to King Kamehameha IV, Queen Kapiolani’s writing desk and exotic Odalisque on Elephant statuette, and King Kalakaua’s plant stand. They also funded a reproduction of his Royal Coat of Arms quilt and donated one

velyn Beebe Shirk, a former President of the Oregon Society, founded the Hawaii Society. She was an inveterate volunteer and always involved in her community. Evelyn relocated to Honolulu in 1980 to realize a long-held dream.

of the Palace's Bohemian crystal plates. The Palace and the Hawaiian Mission Houses, offer a striking contrast—Iolani Palace is elegant Victorian, whereas the Mission Houses are plain New England. Grand versus homey. Dames find it rewarding to volunteer at each place and share their history with locals as well as tourists. You may wonder why the Hawaii Society tackled such an ambitious first project. For anyone who knew Evelyn, the restoration of Iolani Palace, where Evelyn herself served as a docent, makes perfect sense.

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

Make a Difference Leave Your Legacy b y K AT Y DE W A M LI NG, L ega c y Circl e Ch air

THE LEGACY CIRCLE CHALLENGE

Katy Dew Amling is pictured left with Edith Huntley Stickney, right, and Genevieve Wheeler Brown, center

There’s no time like the present to join the Legacy Circle. Edith Huntley Stickney, current Chair of the Dumbarton House Board and former Chair of the Legacy Circle, has generously offered a challenge. For each Dame who becomes a new member of the Legacy Circle before June 1, 2024, Edith will contribute $500 up to a total of $25,000, a challenge which will cover the addition of 50 new members! So please do as I did—call your estate and trust lawyer to add NSCDA to your will. After putting it off for three years, I picked up the phone, made an appointment with my lawyer and spent all of 15 minutes in his office signing the paperwork. It was that easy! — Katy Dew Amling

THE DETAILS:

📜 Either add NSCDA to 📈 The NSCDA will receive your estate plan or let National Headquarters know that NSCDA is already in your estate plan.

a $500 contribution to annual giving for each new member of the Legacy Circle. Deadline: June 1, 2024

🥂 You will receive the beau-

tiful pin, shown here, to thank you and demonstrate to other Dames your commitment to the future of the organization.

💬 For questions or to notify us of your plans, please contact Cecily Nisbet at CecilyNisbet@nscda.org or 202-337-2288 ext. 2237 FROM

Dora L. Rogers

“Entrusted with History’s Future”…our today will be history tomorrow. The NSCDA is important to keeping the stories of all those “todays” available, and relevant for the future. I’m doing what I can for the NSCDA both Nationally and in my Corporate Society now. When I’m gone, I want to be sure that those who come after me, whether they be my own grandchildren or those who have yet to discover the Dames, have the resources to carry on with the projects and activities that make our organization unique. We use our museums, collections, scholarships and so much more to connect our fellow citizens to our country’s yesterdays, todays and tomorrows. A bequest is a small way of ensuring the continuation of the good works that the Dames have been doing since 1891! NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

Pennsylvania Society Dames: Dora Rogers is pictured on the far right, with daughter Dorothy Mayhew and granddaughters Sarah Mayhew and Grace Mayhew—left to right 27

A Warm Welcome with Bows

At your next Dames event, keep an eye out for the colorful, polka-dot bows that embellish name tags of new members, prospective members and/or Young Dames. There's nothing like the feeling of a warm welcome, especially if you are new to the Dames or are a Young Dame. Kudos to every member who helps build and expand our NSCDA community. To those who help make connections and deepen engagement, we thank you for being a part of this community. Blue and yellow bows are offered upon request and at no charge to Corporate Societies and Town or County Committees. The bows are a gentle way of welcoming new members, prospective members and/or Young Dames. Each Society determines how best to use these bows. Allow us to suggest the following:

BLUE BOWS YELLOW BOWS Prospective members and/or Young Dames

New members, for the first two years

INQUIRIES

Margo Barry, National Membership Committee Vice Chair margobrry@icloud.com 28

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

History Highlights b y A BBY S C H U LT E , C urat o r ial an d C oll ec t ion s A s si st ant

The Dinner Party

Dumbarton House 1818 | Pet er Waddel l, 2022 , oi l on c a nv a s. Commissioned by the Ladies of the Dumbarton House Board, "The Ages of Dumbarton" is a series of four paintings by Peter Waddell that celebrate the lives of the women who influenced and shaped Dumbarton House, our National Headquarters. To date, these include: At Home on the Heights (Dumbarton House 1865); Called Into Service (Dumbarton House 1945) and The Dinner Party (Dumbarton House 1818).

rom circa 1817 to 1818, Henry and Mary Middleton rented Dumbarton House, then called Bellevue, from Charles Carroll. During his time at Bellevue, Henry served as a Congressman from South Carolina. As was typical of the early Federal City, his family’s social life ebbed and flowed with the political season. They lived at Bellevue when Congress was in session and spent the rest of their time at Middleton Place in Charleston or at Whitehall in Greenville, SC. At Bellevue, the Middletons held many social gatherings, including dinner parties. As referenced in a diary entry by John Quincy Adams, the couple hosted a dinner party on April 4, 1818 to mark the end of the Congressional session. Adams and his wife Louisa Catherine attended, along with other guests, including the Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Crowninshield and his daughter Elizabeth Crowninshield, Congressman Samuel Ringgold and his wife Elizabeth Ringgold, Senator George W. Campbell and his wife Harriot Stoddert Campbell as well as Senator Henry Johnson. In reimagining the atmosphere of this gathering, Peter Waddell’s The Dinner Party depicts Dumbarton House’s role as a site of early Washington social life. Some of the featured objects are sourced from the Dumbarton House and Middleton Place collections, or are based on furnishings referenced in accounts of the Middleton family. NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

③

①

④

A n atomy of a n A r twork

②

① TRI-PART OVER MANTEL LOOKING GLASS, CA. 1800–1815, DUMBARTON HOUSE COLLECTION This over mantel looking glass is based on the looking glass in the Dumbarton House dining room today. It dates to circa 1800–1815 and was likely made in New York or Boston. Guests would have recognized a looking glass of this sort as a signifier of the Middleton family’s wealth. The object also had a practical purpose, helping to reflect candlelight and brighten the room at night. 30

② BENJAMIN FRANKLIN’S GLASS HARMONICA, 1761, FRANKLIN INSTITUTE COLLECTION Shortly after living at Bellevue, Henry Middleton was appointed Minister to Russia, prompting his family to auction the majority of their belongings. An advertisement from this sale notes that they owned a glass harmonica, similar to the one seen here. Waddell modeled this object after a harmonica housed in the Franklin Institute Collection. The instrument, invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1761, would have been used in dinner party settings to provide guests with music and entertainment.

③ “THE RETURN OF TELEMACHUS,” CA. 1770– 1780, OIL ON CANVAS, MEAD MUSEUM OF ART AMHERST COLLECTION In determining how art would have been used in a Federal period dining room, Waddell looked to the 1827 watercolor, Friends and Amateurs at Musick, by Thomas Middleton, a relative of the Middletons at Bellevue. On the wall in Middleton’s painting is Angelica Kauffman’s The Return of Telemachus, which is seen reproduced here. Waddell’s use of the painting draws both from Thomas Middelton’s watercolor and the likelihood that the family had knowledge of Greek mythology.

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

⑤

⑥

④ PORTRAIT OF HENRY MIDDLETON, BENJAMIN WEST, CA. 1771, OIL ON CANVAS, MIDDLETON PLACE COLLECTION The subject of this portrait is Henry Middleton, the grandfather of the party host. He was a planter and public official, serving as Justice of the Peace and Speaker of the Commons House of Assembly in Charleston, SC. In 1774, he served a four-day term as President of the First Continental Congress.

⑤ ARTHUR MIDDLETON & FAMILY, BENJAMIN WEST, CA. 1771, OIL ON CANVAS, MIDDLETON PLACE COLLECTION Benjamin West painted this portrait of the Middleton family in 1771. Henry Middleton, the party host, is the infant flanked by his parents, Arthur and Mary. Arthur Middleton signed the Declaration of Independence and served in the Revolutionary War. Today, the painting resides in the collection of Middleton Place, his former home.

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

⑥ ICE PAIL, CA. 1820, PORCELAIN/GILT, DUMBARTON HOUSE COLLECTION This object is based on a porcelain ice pail that is part of the dessert ware collection at Dumbarton House. It consists of three parts. The main body would have held crushed ice below a bowl insert for ice cream or other frozen treats. The top would have then been piled with additional ice to keep the entire vessel cold. Ice was a luxury in the 19th century, and those who could access it stored it in ice houses, similar to the one brought to Dumbarton House by the Nourse family. 31

F riends of S ulgr ave M anor Centenary Recognition

b y C H A R B R A A DA MS J E S T IN, J u nior Repre sent at ive to Su lg rave Ma n o r Tr u st

2024 will mark the centenary of the establishment of the endowment for the preservation and maintenance of Sulgrave Manor now called the NSCDA Sulgrave Manor Fund for the Future.

📅

In 1924, the NSCDA raised $112,000 by asking each of its 9,000 members to raise money from family and friends.

In 2024, through its annual appeal, Friends of Sulgrave Manor hopes

🎯

that every one of the 14,000+ members of the NSCDA will step up to surpass the 1924 level of participation. With your help we hope that the 2024 appeal will exceed that of 1924. Please help Friends of Sulgrave Manor (FSM) meet this challenge with a contribution, large or not so large, to the 2024 annual appeal when you receive the 2023 fall FSM newsletter or the solicitation in February 2024.

🖥

You can donate online at www.sulgravemanor.us/donate.

🖥

Click here to learn more about this campaign by watching a short video at https://youtu.be/CNDmOkrwJ04.

PA R T I C I PA T I O N C O U N T S ! All money raised goes directly to support projects at Sulgrave Manor such as the current project—the refurbishment of the courtyard buildings with a new HVAC system, restrooms and electrical supply.

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023



FRIENDS OF SULGRAVE MANOR

ASSOCIATE TRUSTEES

Each Corporate Society is represented by one member as an Associate Trustee to the Friends of Sulgrave Manor, a support group formed in 1977.

The Friends of Sulgrave Manor raises funds in the United States for maintenance of the property, as well as for support of special projects. Thank you to all our Associate Trustees for their support of Sulgrave Manor, especially their volunteer efforts in welcoming and engaging Dames with an interest in Sulgrave Manor. Our thanks in advance to you, our Dames supporters, for your essential role in ensuring the health and vitality of the Manor.

a What is the only property outside the United States that the NSCDA has supported financially for over 100 years? — SULGRAVE MANOR IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, ENGLAND

a What is the only property outside of the United States for which the NSCDA holds governance authority? — SULGRAVE MANOR, BUILT BY GEORGE WASHINGTON’S 5TH GREAT GRANDFATHER

a What is the oldest, historic property supported by the NSCDA? — SULGRAVE MANOR, BUILT IN 1539

🔗

Sulgrave Manor is a proud member of the NSCDA’s Great American Treasures collection

Fun Facts about Sulgrave Manor and the NSCDA

Shop Sulgrave Manor Merchandise

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

CONGRESSIONAL

E s say C o n t e s t

At their opening session, the students were challenged to “seek the truth! Freedom is incompatible with ignorance.” Citing Goethe, Leo Tonkin, founder of the Workshops b y JE S S I CA M C E VOY , E du c at i o n Ma n age r Foundation, added, “nothing is more frightful than ignorance in action.” The 52 participants were also encouraged to maintain civility during discussions his year’s Congressional Essay Contest winwith others from diverse backgrounds with differing ners made their trek to Washington, DC views on the government's role in the lives of its citifrom 18 states for their prized seat in the zens. The students formed their own committees and Congressional Seminar conducted by the NSCDA’s engaged with topics including “How can Congress partner of 47 years, the Washington Workshops accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources and implement policies to promote a sustainable Foundation. The seminar consisted of a model future?”; “How can the United States reduce income Congress in which participants had a hands-on experience in the dynamics and challenges of polinequality, promote economic growth and address icymaking. Attendees were challenged to analyze, wealth disparities?”; and, “How should the United discuss and design solutions for national and States address policies related to data privacy, online international problems based on their enrichment security and the regulation of emerging technologies such as AI (artificial intelligence)?” From start to excursions throughout the trip.

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

The Congressional Seminar Washington Workshops Foundation, June 19–23, 2023 finish the students rose to the challenges set for them by Washington Workshops and the NSCDA. During their program, the students visited Congress, memorials and museums on the National Mall. They also witnessed the changing of the guard at the Arlington National Cemetery Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. At Arlington, students laid a floral wreath in remembrance of our nation’s fallen soldiers. A highlight of the trip was a visit to NSCDA National Headquarters Dumbarton House for a tour of the museum and lunch with members of the DC Society. Upon the completion of their model Congress, the students had wonderful words for us: “I learned so much about this remarkable nation, and I was able to make incredible memories with new friends.” One young woman remarked how the short experience made her desire to become a congresswoman one day. Another student thanked Washington Workshops and the NSCDA for the opportunity of the trip, “Thank you so much for your generosity and how well this experience was carried out!!! I have made so many memories that I will never forget.”

make this trip possible. Tuition and travel support for seminar participants was generously provided by the students’ respective NSCDA Corporate Societies and Town or County Committees as well as the NSCDA National Patriotic Service Committee. Societies work hard year-round to engage students and teachers at their local level and encourage entry and participation in the program. Dames donations, sponsorship and dedication help defray unexpected costs. Donations can be made through the NSCDA website or this following link: https://dumbartonhousetrial. salsalabs.org/donationformpd20170328copy2/ index.html. Now that this year’s students have returned home, the work begins for next year’s contest. Students are being asked to draft an essay answering the question “Why did the nation’s founders choose a government with separated powers rather than a parliamentary system?” Contact Mary Bradshaw at mary_bradshaw@ comcast.net with any questions about the program, or if you wish to become involved with this fantastic endeavor.

We would also like to thank the marvelous Dames who NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

A FOUR-

GENERATION FAMILY

OF DAMES

by D R. A . SA N DY PA R S ON S, C alifor n ia S oc iet y Reg ist rar 20 22–2023

Four Generations of Dames Dame Susanna Wolcott Rice, standing; Dame Emily Rice Green seated with Dame Margaret Louise Green; Dame Nancy Ranney Wolcott on the right.

he California Society views the Junior Dames classification as essential to its future. This group of young (birth through 20 years of age) ladies will continue to bless our membership, ensuring that our organization attracts new members and remains contemporary in our programs and activities. This influx of Junior Dames proposals has introduced a new 15th generation to the Line of Ascent, now available on the California Society website. This classification will rejuvenate our membership. Our National

President recently reported that 50% of our Dames are age 70 or over; 20% of our Dames are age 80 or older. Our senior Dames witness the attainment of NSCDA Dames status for their descendants with joy and wonder. Many Dames approaching (and in) their 90s are considering proposing their daughters, granddaughters and great-grands for membership. One mother-daughter pair in California included a great-grandmother and her great-granddaughter as candidates for membership together. What a cause for celebration when their membership

created a four-generation California Dames family! This lovely picture above captures that family. Susanna (Suzy) Wolcott Rice brought in her daughter, Emily Rice Green. Then Suzy proposed her mother, Nancy Ranney Wolcott and her granddaughter Margaret Louise Green as candidates together. The great-grandmother and great-granddaughter pair brought the number of new members in the California Society to 31 including nine Juniors and four Young Dames as new members in a single year, 2022–2023.

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

The California Society warmly welcomes all new and multigenerational Dames families. We realize that we need ageappropriate welcome packages for these youthful members, including preschool, juvenile and young adult literature, as our existing handouts and brochures target an adult audience. Researching appropriate titles of books to include for these Junior Dames has been a fun adventure. A few suggested titles are provided below: • Martha Washington (On My Own Biography), by Candice Ransom, illustrated by Karen Ritz [First Avenue Editions, an imprint of Lerner Publishing (2023)] Reading age: 7–10 years • The History of the American Revolution: A History Book for New Readers (The History Of: A Biography Series for New Readers), by Emma Carlson Berne [Rockbridge Press, Emeryville, CA (2021)] Reading age: 6–9 years • Exploring the Massachusetts Colony (Exploring the 13 Colonies | Smithsonian), by Danielle Smith-Llera [Capstone Press Mankato, MN (2016)] Reading age: 9–12 years

The California Society added the classification of Junior Dame in April, 2022. This Society also has a very active Young Dames Committee. These Young Dames are generally considered to be under the age of 50, although the Society bylaws do not designate this as a classification. California Society Bylaws Junior Dames Junior Dames are age birth through 20 years of age who meet all qualifications for membership of both the National Society and the California Society. Junior Dames: 1) Shall pay annual dues as approved by the Board of Managers; 2) May participate in activities of the California Society; 3) May not be elected an officer; 4) May not serve as a committee chairman; 5) Shall have no voice or vote. When a Junior Dame reaches her 21st birthday, she may become, with the assistance of the Registrar, a regular member of the California Society.

Dames Demographics

Junior Dames By the Numbers

The Smithsonian has produced a wonderful junior literature series on the 13 colonial states. The Wolcott, Rice, Green four-generation family ancestor was from Massachusetts including a Mayflower descendant. They received the Massachusetts edition. NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

NSCDA members under 18 years of age Arizona 1 California 6 Connecticut 2 Illinois 5 Indiana 1 Kentucky 1 Massachusetts 8 New Hampshire 2 New Jersey 5 New York 14 Ohio 6 Pennsylvania 21 Tennessee 9 TOTAL 81 37

Young Dames Trip Washington, DC Febr u ar y 2 2 – 2 5 , 2 0 2 4

Please join us!

The Committee has carefully planned a trip for Dames that includes: cocktail parties ● dinner at a private club ● tour and private lunch at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens ● special private tour of Dumbarton House Museum, our National Headquarters ● a day across the Potomac at George Mason's Gunston Hall ● shopping and hobnobbing in Old Town Alexandria

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

esigned for Young Dames who would like to spend a fabulous, insider-access weekend together in Washington, DC, this trip is not to be missed!

LIMITED SPACE BOOK NOW!

Cost: $850 per person (Payable in installments) •

The Young Dames membership category includes those under the age of 50.

Excludes transportation in the District and hotel accommodations

•

Suggested hotel: Georgetown Inn. A block of rooms has been reserved at Georgetown Inn under the group name, Young Dames. Be sure to mention Young Dames when making your own reservation.

TO R EGIST ER FOR OR INQUIR E A BOU T T H IS T R IP, CON TAC T National Membership Committee members met in DC to carefully scout venues for the upcoming Young Dames Trip. Pictured with a George Mason bronze at Gunston Hall are Young Dames Committee Vice Chair Liz Bohannon, left, and Co-chair Francie Logan, right.

Fra ncie L oga n, Nat iona l Young Da me s C ommit t ee C o-ch a ir NSCDAYD@gmail.com

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

Gunston Hall East Yard b y PE T ER NORT H E d u c ato r, Gu n sto n Ha l l and K AT E S T EIR , Cu rato r, Gu n sto n Ha l l

unston Hall’s archaeology team made an important discovery in 2014: our staff and volunteer researchers found evidence of the dwellings of enslaved people. Hundreds of people lived in slavery at Gunston Hall during the 18th century, but staff had previously not been able to locate any of the places where these bound laborers lived. Now, with support from the Commonwealth of Virginia, Gunston Hall is embarking on a Archaeology volunteers at work in the east yard; project to explore this area. Archaeologists, photo courtesy of Gunston Hall as well as historians, landscape architects, historic preservationists, engineers and architects will join forces to research the dwellings of enslaved people once located in the “east yard,” an area that is a short walk from the mansion. The team hopes to find enough clues to reconstruct the missing structures. Gunston Hall staff and volunteers have already learned a great deal. Preliminary archaeological surveys of the east yard revealed a wealth of artifacts. These materials provide insight into the foodways, dress and material culture of the enslaved people of Gunston Hall. The new research, combined with previous discoveries, will help Gunston Hall staff piece together more of the story of Nell, Poll and Dick who were assigned to the mansion. Nace, who worked with horses, as well as gardeners, dairy workers and livestock herdsmen, may also have lived in these quarters. Once complete, the east yard project will enable visitors to understand more fully the lives and stories of the many enslaved people who lived on the property. To learn more, please visit https://gunstonhall.org/.

Iron key, late 18th century, excavated from the east yard at Gunston Hall; photo courtesy of Gunston Hall NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

ROOTS AND

BRANCHES Uniting Generations

b y C U RT I S FL OW E R S , A l a b a m a S o c i et y

any things have changed since Alex Haley’s Roots was published in 1976: the explosion of the internet, the digitizing of library files, ancestry.com, the use of DNA and PBS’s Finding Your Roots program. Black Americans search for their roots now in the hope of finding real, documentable links, but their odds of success in finding data before the late 1800s are significantly lower than a white person’s chances. What has not changed, and cannot, is the absence of pre-emancipation records that systematically name black individuals. This void will always exist. Fortunately, small bits of data do exist, pertinent data tucked away in private documents of families like mine. If only, I think. If only the people who have these records could see how easy it is to share, and how much access to such information could mean to someone, surely they would gladly contribute. How does one reach those who might have such records? What about the Dames? And other lineage societies, too? Who knows better about investigating and documenting genealogy? Although the vast majority of slave- holders were in the South, we should still consider that the possibility of having slave-holding ancestors applies not only to those of us who are Southerners, or who have Southern ancestors. Every one of the American colonies had some degree of slavery by 1740. In 1790, 10% of the US slave population lived 40

Parson Dick by Edward Troye, ca. 1842. Oil on canvas. Private Collection. NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

1890s photos of what had once been slave quarters in North Alabama. The photo on left shows an old smokehouse to the left and to the right, the old plantation kitchen and cook's house. The photo on the right shows an old slave home.

in the North, the greatest number (over 20,000) in New York. Not until the 1840s was slavery abolished in every Northern state. What can a Dame do? We can examine our family records, especially those from between 1750 and 1865, by looking at wills, estate inventories, letters, family Bibles, plantation account books, bills of sale, etc. Wills and estate inventories are usually held in the probate office of the county where the deceased person lived. I have found clerks in these offices very willing to help. When a record is in a distant location, often, for a small fee, these clerks will make photocopies and mail them. We should record such data referring to a black American by name and give copies to the appropriate historical, publicly accessible repository, online if possible. Shedding light on enslaved persons as individuals

honors their lives. Their descendants—those with whom I have spoken—have taught me that any tiny piece of information that can help complete the record of a family’s history is a treasure, often the key to unlocking even more information. In sharing how from one such record she had been able to add three generations to her family history, one woman told me that when she found that small item, she broke down and wept at the enormity of it. “It was so terrible, but so precious to me. My pearl beyond price.” This is a difficult time in this nation we love. Often it can be challenging to perceive a clear course, and hard to know with certainty how one can take a positive step. This is just such an opportunity. To any Dame who might consider joining this effort, I am happy to help however I can. Contact me, Curtis Flowers, at cpflowers@bellsouth.net.

1840 estate inventory and baptismal records

I’m a fourth-generation Dame whose family enjoys a wealth of recorded data about our long history, both in this country and before. As a Dame, I was alert to the difference in historical value between legal documents and family traditions. A black American friend’s request spurred me to ask Alex Haley about records. Before that, I had never considered the racial gap in family genealogy, but the exchange with Alex Haley planted a seed.

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

I recalled I had once seen my great-great-great grandfather’s 1840 will and estate inventory, which named the people whom at the time of his death he held as slaves. I learned that it was uncommon for such lists to contain names, but many did. The will had mainly first names, yet a few surnames, too. I realized that estate inventory provided pre-emancipation documentation for at least one group of black Americans. I sent the list to Alex Haley and he encouraged me to make it available in the local history section of our public library.

Records of slave dwellings are of great value to researchers. For years I took for granted that these items and information were properly the purview of my family or my church. I even imagined we shared them publicly with some degree of generosity. How very slowly the dawn comes.

Occasionally in the ensuing years, I came across other documents that made mention of enslaved people, e.g. “To my son William, I leave old Simon; to my daughter Elizabeth, I leave Sallie and her daughter Henrietta.” When a cousin in another state was putting her documents together for the Dames, she asked me to check my church’s records for her ancestors’ marriage data. In the same parish register I found baptismal records, as well: “Susan, Joseph and 44 others, slaves of Col. Armistead; Sponsors: Bill, Myer and Dement, December 18, 1846.” The 19th-century equine painter Edward Troye was engaged to paint an ancestor’s horse. Upon visiting the stables the artist became fascinated by the formidable demeanor of the groom, named Captain Dick. Troye painted the horse as commissioned, but for his own interest (as he put it) he painted the man. Predictably when my ancestor saw the portrait he asked to buy it.

💡

In a great-great aunt’s photo album I found a lovely tintype of her nanny, probably Anne York who appears in the household as recorded in the 1870 US Census.

What Can a Dame Do? ☟

� We can examine our family records and inventories, especially those from between 1750 and 1865.

p We should record such data referring to a black American by name and give copies to the appropriate historical, publicly accessible repository, online if possible.

✉ For more information, contact Curtis Flowers at cpflowers@bellsouth.net. 42

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

YoungFamilies Committee

b y H OL LY HU N T, Nat io n a l Me m b e r s hi p C o m m i t t e e Cha i r

he New York Society’s Young Families Committee was originally launched by Gillian Boyer, who had chaired the Young Dames Committee. Soon after the New York Society adopted the Junior Dames program, it was placed under the umbrella of the Young Families Committee.

For well over 15 years, this committee has kept Dames involved through creative family programming and events. The Society sought to accommodate the many time constraints on young families, when unsurprisingly, the demands of juggling work, a panoply of volunteer commitments, extracurriculars and raising children vied for available time with the Dames. Thus a plan was created to reach out to members of this demographic and invite them to enjoy gatherings together with their children. More relaxed affairs with youngsters were offered and older siblings, brothers and grandsons have been included at these events, too. Grandmothers have also been a cherished presence on the Young Families Committee, making for meaningful three-generation events. Over the years, the New York Society has hosted an annual Halloween party at its headquarters that caters to children under the age of 12. Occasionally older siblings help out and conveniently earn community service hours (a graduation requirement at some schools). Another event included a tour of NY Headquarters and some guests dressed in colonial costumes learned the minuet. All guests enjoyed “tea” (apple juice) and cookies. Families visit with Santa when Headquarters is decorated for Christmas, and they celebrate George Washington’s birthday in February. The legacy endures as the Young Families Committee continues to flourish to this day. With inspiring drive and inimitable foresight, the New York Dames have embraced changing times and have accomplished more in member satisfaction, member retention, member engagement and new member interest.

F O R MO R E I N F O R M AT I O N, C O N TA C T

H ol ly H u nt , Nat iona l Membersh ip C ommit t ee Ch a ir h ollyh un t@mindspr ing.com

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

From the Archives According to our history: Indeed there could be no compromise between the two widely divergent principles of a highly centralized organization with the policy making power held by headquarters and, on the other hand, a loose confederation of Societies, each vested with power to act.

BEHIND

THE RIFT

When CDA Sued NSCDA

b y SA L LY C ON N E LLY, Nat i o n a l H i sto r i a n

and the word “National” added to their name. From the very beginning there were two very similar yet unique organizations both using the term “Colonial Dames.”

On April 10, 1981, our founders sent a joint letter to the New York women who were organizing the CDA, “asking for cooperation in establishing a National Society based on the form which would allow the member Societies to develop their activities in their own way." The “Colonial Dames” in New York did not respond to this letter, but instead quietly incorporated in New York on April 13, 1891. However, before the CDA in New York could regroup, the “Colonial Dames” of Pennsylvania had 125 members

From our start in Philadelphia, women from the 13 original colonial states and the District of Columbia organized independent Corporate Societies, bound together by common interests and ideals. Membership in the NSCDA grew rapidly. Early on the New York Society of the NSCDA found itself in conflict with CDA. Matters grew so fractious in New York that in 1897, the CDA sent a letter to the NSCDA stating their intent to bring a suit to enjoin the NSCDA from using the title "Colonial Dames". To understand what really happened is to understand the strong women who disagreed over the structure of these early heritage organizations. Undoubtedly, the CDA in New York was organized first. However in 1876, founding NSCDA Dame Elizabeth Duane Gillespie (1821–1901) (great-granddaughter of

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

hortly after a group of women held a Founders Tea in Philadelphia on April 8, 1891, the NSCDA was established. Originally the Philadelphia women had been asked to join a group calling themselves “Colonial Dames” that was being organized in New York. Why didn’t they? Fortunately, we have several accounts of what the Colonial Dames of America (CDA) called the “rift” and the “molehill” and why our NSCDA founders rebuffed the CDA.

Justine Van Rensselaer Townsend of New York (1828– 1912) National President Regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association

All things considered, perhaps the rift between the NSCDA and the CDA didn’t justify the energy and emotion with which the principals battled, but it was high drama in its time. Mrs. Townsend, the sitting President of the NSCDA and a Regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, was sued by the CDA, which had been founded earlier by her distant in-law, Mrs. John King Van Rensselaer.

Benjamin Franklin) had organized the original Centennial "Colonial Balls". Anne Hollingsworth Wharton (1845–1928), our first national historian, had also used the name “Colonial Dames” in 1876 in public lectures that were later published in book form. The women who founded the NSCDA must have been taken aback by the CDA’s use of what Anne likely saw as her intellectual property. They did not like the proposed CDA organizational structure, preferring the federated structure. Very early on the famous Van Rensselaer family of New York took sides. Justine Van Rensselaer Townsend (1828–1912), an early historic preservationist, served as our National President between 1894 and 1902 and was a determined leader. The Society grew quickly under her guidance. In 1895 the New York Society received the keys to the first museum property, Van Cortlandt House, and began restoration. Justine Townsend’s successful preservation efforts during the early years of the National Society helped to spur membership growth. The NSCDA has been a leader in the field of historic preservation, restoration and the interpretation of historic sites ever since. Though she does not appear on the Founders list, she had a key role in molding our Society. She was also the matriarch and most famous daughter of the Van Rensselaer family. NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

At the time the suit was filed, the CDA had 300 members and two chapters and the NSCDA had 4,000 members spread across 28 states. The Supreme Court of New York acknowledged that the NSCDA not only had a larger membership but also was in partnership with the state of New York to conserve Van Cortlandt Mansion: However that may be, there certainly is some significance in the fact that the Legislature of the State, by chapter 837 of the Laws of 1896, recognized not only the existence but the name of the same defendant by authorizing the department of parks of this city to entrust to it the Van Cortlandt Mansion in Van Cortlandt Park. In pursuance of that authority the property was leased to the society for a long period, and is now under its control and care. The lawsuit wended its way through the courts and led to the pronouncement in 1899 by the New York Supreme Court that both organizations could use the term “Colonial Dame” and should move forward…amusingly asking us to just get along. From a semantic perspective, we continue to refer to ourselves formally as The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America. Or, as the National Society, the [State] Society, the [State] Dames, the NSCDA or Colonial Dames. Our friends at the other heritage society are inclined formally to use the Colonial Dames of America and informally, Colonial Dames. Occasional confusion isn’t surprising. It may be a mouthful, but The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America is our name, and we fought hard to ensure our distinction from the CDA. 45

Ancestor's Almanac

250 by 250 Founding Female Initiative Nat i onal Sp e c i a l C o m m i t t e e

Anne Hollingsworth Wharton, First National Historian: “When we look into the faces of some of these Colonial Dames, as they have come down to us in portraits of the time, and read there the strength, nobility, and self-restraint that the lines disclose, we realize how much these women contributed towards the character-building that rendered the Revolutionary period an almost phenomenal epoch in the history of nations.”

Anne Marbury Hutchinson of Rhode Island (1591–1643) REGISTER OF ANCESTORS BUILDING A LASTING LEGACY This continuing series celebrates the presence of women in the early colonies by highlighting the foundational roles they played in the creation of what was to become America. There's no time like the present for the NSCDA to recognize more women as qualifying ancestors and add to our ancestor base for proving lineage.

Anne Hutchinson was a Puritan spiritual advisor, religious reformer and one of America’s earliest feminists. Hutchinson arrived in Boston in 1634. Initially trained as a midwife, Hutchinson soon developed strong ties with local women and began holding religious meetings in her home, which led to her trial for heresy in 1637. In March 1638, Hutchinson was excommunicated and banished from the Puritan Colony. The Hutchinsons moved to Roger Williams’ more liberal colony of Rhode Island. In 1642, following the death of her husband, Hutchinson relocated to the Dutch colony of New Netherlands (now New York), and settled on Long Island Sound. There, she and her family—with the exception of one daughter—were killed in an Indian massacre. At the genealogical library in Salt Lake City, there is a large display labeled, “The Descendants of Anne Hutchinson,” which is a tribute to this remarkable woman. Six Dames already claim descendancy from Anne Hutchinson.

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

Elizabeth Pierce of Virginia (ca. 1612–c 1640)

Elizabeth Tilley of Massachusetts (ca. 1607-1687)

As a child, Elizabeth Pierce emigrated in 1618 with her mother Alice Pierce to Charles City, VA on the supply ship William & Thomas. Four years later her father Thomas Pierce (1592–1622) was killed in the 1622 Indian Massacre near Martin’s Hundred in present-day Prince George County. His widow and 10-year-old daughter Elizabeth were likely captured and held for ransom for almost a year. During the 1622 uprising, Powhatans captured 20 women and children from Martin’s Hundred. Few details of their ordeal have survived.

Elizabeth Tilley was a child on the historic 1620 voyage of the Mayflower. She was the daughter of Mayflower passenger John Tilley and his wife Joan Hurst. Though she was their youngest child, she appears to be the only one who survived the voyage. She eventually married fellow Mayflower passenger John Howland, with whom she had 10 children and 88 grandchildren. Because of their progeny, she and her husband have millions of living descendants today.

We know that Elizabeth Pierce was engaged to a young yeoman, John Filmer, who died before they could marry. Her fiancé remembered her in his will of 1624 and left land to her, making her, like her mother, an early property holder in Jamestown Colony.

Five Dames now claim descendancy from the brave new world girl, Elizabeth Tilley, who lost her parents, brother, sister, aunt and uncle in the first winter.

Attention Dames Researchers The 250 by 250 Founding Females Committee is seeking Dames to assist with researching and proving the service of female ancestors for the Register of Ancestors (ROA). To honor the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, The NSCDA set an objective to add 250 female ancestors to the Registry of Ancestors (ROA). The ROA now contains 10,500 men and 89 founding females that candidates can use as membership-qualifying ancestors. We can celebrate colonial women and enhance the ROA. Help us add to the list.

If you enjoy solving puzzles, we need your help! Our goal is to add 250 female ancestors to the ROA by October 2026. While this effort is well underway, many members need assistance in their journey to prove the service of a female ancestor who they have either identified in their own family or read about in colonial history. This is service research only, not lineage research. We would like to offer your name as a research assistant. If you can help, please contact Molly Carey or Lisa Liles, 250 by 250 Founding Females Committee Co-Chairs. Molly Carey

(804) 334-5704

mollyjordancarey@gmail.com

Lisa Liles

(317) 979-1991

lliles5939@gmail.com

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

Embracing Heritage:

From Curiosity to Connection b y PR I S C I L L A BA R L OW , I l l i n o i s S o c i et y

In 1891, our NSCDA founders certainly could not have imagined the world we are living in today. And yet, they gave us a reliable road map when they claimed the motto Virtutes Majorum Filiae Conservant, daughters conserve the virtues of their ancestors.

had been a member of the NSCDA for several years before I became interested in genealogy. To join, I had used the line my mother proved in the 1970s when she joined the Massachusetts Society. Her research was a time-consuming process that involved multiple trips to the New England Historical and Genealogical Society in Boston, as well as courthouses and cemeteries in Virginia. As part of their centennial celebration, the Massachusetts Society voted to allow daughters and granddaughters of current Dames to join without having to be proposed and seconded. I was happy to take advantage of this opportunity and joined the Massachusetts Society in 1993. After a few years, however, I decided to do some research into my father’s side of the family. I soon discovered that genealogical research in the year 2000 was not my mother’s genealogy. With the advent of the internet, records that my mother had only seen on microfiche were available for me at home on my laptop. Thus began my deep dive into genealogical research. Eventually, I discovered the website of the Hereditary Society Community of the United States of America (HSC —https://hereditary.us). Founded in 2002, the HSC describes itself as “the public interface for over 300 lineage societies.” Their website includes a brief description of every lineage society, and where available, a link to the society’s website. 48

The variety of hereditary societies listed on the HSC website is astonishing. There are groups devoted to ancestors who were involved in a trade or profession, such as tavern keepers, whalers or clergymen. Others focus on groups that emigrated because of their religious beliefs, like the Puritans, Quakers and Huguenots. Several societies celebrate descent from Magna Carta signatories, Crusaders and European royalty. Some societies are wide open to any applicant who can prove descent from a qualifying ancestor; others are, like the NSCDA, “invitation only,” meaning that to join, you need to be proposed and seconded by members of the Society. Perhaps, like me, you became a Dame because of a family member, or perhaps you were introduced to the NSCDA by a friend. These routes ensured growth in the past, but in these days when every non-profit volunteer society is mindful of its membership numbers, it is worth broadening our focus beyond our immediate family and friends. As a group, we have much to offer; more, indeed than many hereditary societies. We offer a variety of preservation projects, patriotic activities and types of social engagement. Our members can participate in everything from a book club to a trip to Sulgrave Manor. We should be proud of this variety, and more importantly, we should want to share. In a survey conducted by the Illinois Society, 51% of those surveyed had never proposed a candidate NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

for the NSCDA, and of those, 29% said that they didn’t know whether someone was qualified to join. In addition, some members said none of their friends were interested, or that they didn’t know any suitable candidates. In other hereditary societies we gain access to other women who are interested in genealogy and who have already gone through the process of proving a line to a qualifying ancestor. In addition, many hereditary societies base their membership on exactly the sort of people who constitute our qualifying ancestors. For example, to join The General Society of Mayflower Descendants, one must prove descent from someone who signed the Mayflower Compact—a qualification for the Massachusetts Society. To join the Hereditary Order of the Descendants of Colonial Governors, one must prove one’s descent from a Royal Governor of one of the original 13 colonies—again, someone who would serve as a qualifying ancestor for the NSCDA. The Massachusetts Society includes founders of parishes as a category of qualifying ancestors; members of the Society of the Descendants of Colonial Clergy would very possibly have many qualifying ancestors in common with the NSCDA. In addition to having members who can trace their ancestors to an already-established qualifying ancestor, these other hereditary societies might have members whose ancestors qualify for our Register of Ancestors, but are not yet included in it. For example, an ancestor who was a tavern keeper, thus qualifying one for membership in the Flagon and Trencher, might also have been a constable—a qualification for the NSCDA. Adding to our Register of Ancestors is one way to ensure NSCDA’s long-term growth. My mother’s ancestor was added to our Register of Ancestors; I like to think that discovering his qualification was her first service to the NSCDA. You may have joined the NSCDA to learn more about colonial history, become involved in hands-on activities, meet like-minded individuals, attend educational programs or enjoy social gatherings. These reasons for joining the NSCDA apply equally well to other hereditary societies. The last few years have taught us the importance of community and each of these heredity societies has something to offer. Let's help one another achieve our common goals. NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

ME MB E R S H IP

Post-Script 🇺 ACROSS THE REGIONS Corporate Societies are grouped into four geographically distinct regions. Seven states do not have Corporate Societies—Alaska, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah. Beginning in 2021 candidates from states without a Corporate Society can be invited to join the NSCDA through a neighboring Society. Unchanged is the prescribed pathway for candidate proposals and vetting through a qualified ancestor. Dames who move into a non-NSCDA state can continue their involvement through a neighboring Society.

❦ FRIENDS AND FAMILY In 2021, the NSCDA introduced a non-member Friends program. This initiative allows adopted daughters, granddaughters and daughters-in-law, who do not qualify for membership, to associate with the Dames. Members have long desired to welcome adopted and extended family members into our Dames world. (It is the prerogative of individual Corporate Societies to approve this non-member program.)

🌼 YOUNG AT HEART Young Dames and Junior Dames are defined differently and the membership guidelines vary from Society to Society. In general, a Young Dame is from 18–49 years of age and a Junior Dame ranges in age from newborn to 17 years. Note: not all Corporate Societies admit Junior Dames at birth. These are typically legacies. (Refer to your Corporate Society Bylaws for more information.)

E DAMES BY LEGACY Mothers, daughters, grandmothers, granddaughters, aunts, nieces and first cousins are considered legacies if they are related through the same lineage as a member. They may be proposed for membership in the NSCDA through the legacy process described in the National Registrar's Manual. (Refer to your Corporate Society Bylaws for more information.) 49

Cluster Gatherings b y HO LLY H U N T , Nat ional M emb e r s hi p C o m m i t t e e Cha i r and SUSA N WALK E R , Te n n e s s e e S o c i et y

ames are always looking for ways to connect and to enjoy being together in social settings! Cluster Gatherings introduce us to new friends and encourage us to renew old friendships as we get together across the country in the places we love to live, visit and vacation. The concept of Cluster Gatherings is flexible, and these events can be organized in many different ways. Gatherings in past years were centered on Dames getting together in resort communities where they have summer homes in Leland, MI and Lake Okoboji, IA. Gatherings were held this past summer at Halstead House at High Hampton in Cashiers, NC; at a private home in Montreat, NC; and at the Onteora Club in Tannersville, NY as vacationing Dames joined with Dames who are residents of these areas to celebrate their friendships. All of these ladies are looking forward to these becoming annual gatherings. The Pamlico Town Committee in Atlantic Beach, NC enjoyed their long-standing tradition of inviting vacationing Dames to join them for their regular summer meeting which was held at the Coral Bay Club. Dames ties are long lasting and far reaching in the most unexpected ways. Many who have attended a gathering did not know that they had the shared bond of being Dames. Now, they have connected through their common heritage and mission, while enjoying the camaraderie that comes with being together. Thank you to all Dames who came to these summer events and made these gatherings so successful and special. We hope to see more of you at future events!

🕳 For more information about how to organize a Cluster Gathering in your area

or how to find a Cluster Gathering in your area, email nscdamembership@gmail. com and put “Cluster Gatherings” in the subject line. Also, if you have a second home, please contact your State Registrar to add this address so that we can use this information to make connections in different areas.

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

Cashiers, NC ⚫ 32 Dames | 9 Corporate Societies

July 2023 Montreat, NC ⚫ 20 Dames | 5 Corporate Societies

NSCDA | Dames Discovery | Fall/Winter 2023

NEW NATIONAL WEBSITE Coming Spring 2024 L

📄

Explore current NSCDA directories, upcoming offerings and more complete, timely organizational information

🖥

Enjoy smoother navigation, user-friendly design and easier access across devices—Dames information anywhere, anytime from your computer, smartphone or tablet

📅

View Town Committee, Corporate Society and National programming through newly redesigned calendar and archival galleries