President General Jane Farwell Smith assumed office in 1975 and embraced as her President General’s Project, a “Bicentennial Tribute to the United States of America.” Her vignette highlights the Bicentennial celebration at the 1976 Continental Congress and includes a pewter plate, voter ribbon, and photos from Congress, including one of Mrs. Smith escorting President Gerald Ford.
President General Jane Farwell Smith, serving as 30th President General during this historic moment, led DAR’s contribution to the Bicentennial of the United State of America with a significant gift to the Nation, commissioning 16 murals and 32 vignettes for the U.S. Capitol, earning DAR the designation as an authorized Bicentennial Organization.
Our Legacy in Bloom
Good Women, Defining Moments
February - HonoringGeorgeWashington
Conservation efforts for the Washington Bicentennial included preservation of the Washington Tulip tree at Falls Church, Virginia. The tree is pictured with President General Edith Irwin Hobart. The tableau also features a rare 1782 tea bowl gifted to George Washington and his bronze bust. Leaning against Mrs. Hobart’s portrait is a reproduction of a colonial snuff box commemorating the Bicentennial.
“Let the world ring with glad acclaim of Washington,” declared President General Edith Irwin Hobart, concerning the nationwide observance of the Bicentennial of George Washington’s birth in 1932. Under Mrs. Hobart’s guidance, the DAR celebrated Washington’s birth by planting commemorative trees, ensuring his memory would continue to inspire future generations.
Our Legacy in Bloom
Good Women, Defining Moments
March - Lafayette'sLegacyinParis
President General Mary Fryer Manning’s portrait is shown with mementos of the Paris Exposition and the Marquis de Lafayette, including a photo of the statue when it was unveiled, an invitation sent to DAR Founder Mary Smith Lockwood to attend the unveiling, a Baccarat glass medallion of Lafayette, and a Limoges plate from the “Lafayette Legacy Collection,” featuring him with Silas Deane.
At the Paris Exposition of 1900, President General Mary Fryer Manning was a presidentially appointed representative of the United States, witnessing the unveiling and dedication of the Marquis de Lafayette statue. After delivering an address, she met with the French President and received the Medal of the Legion of Honor.
Our Legacy in Bloom
Good Women, Defining Moments
April
- TheLegacyofMemorialContinentalHall
Memorial Continental Hall’s cornerstone was laid on April 19, 1904, with patriotic pageantry. Along with a photo from the event, the trowel that was used by President General Cornelia Cole Fairbanks is pictured, in addition to an architectural drawing of Memorial Continental Hall’s front elevation, a souvenir spoon featuring the likeness of Mrs. Fairbanks, and several ribbons from the dedications.
A home for the Daughters and a tribute to their Revolutionary War Patriots, the building of Memorial Continental Hall was President General Cornelia Cole Fairbanks’ priority. She oversaw the purchase of the land, the choice of architect and design, and the first stages of construction during her administration, 1901-1905.
Our Legacy in Bloom
Good Women, Defining Moments
May - DeclarationofIndependenceSigners
President General Linda Tinker Watkins’ portrait sits with a portion of the DAR’s collection of autographs from the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, including a letter from John Hancock, a summons signed by George Ross, a rent receipt signed by William Floyd, a letter from Benjamin Franklin, and Button Gwinnett’s signature.
President General Linda Tinker Watkins led the DAR in accomplishing a noteworthy feat – the completion of our collection of signatures of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. In 2002 the DAR was gifted the signature of George Ross and purchased an extremely rare Button Gwinnett signature.
Our Legacy in Bloom
Good Women, Defining Moments
June
- AnAmericanLegacy
At the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, many early DAR members participated in the World’s Fair. DAR Founder Mary Smith Lockwood served on the Board of Lady Managers; her ticket book for the Fair is shown, along with portraits of DAR charter member Janet Richards, who gave a lecture on the Fair, and of President Presiding Mary Virginia Ellet Cabell.
“It should be our honorable ambition that none of the societies meeting...should be more largely and worthily represented than the 3,000 Daughters of the American Revolution, who have based their organization upon...the true and grand sentiment of patriotism,” wrote Mary Virginia Ellet Cabell, the DAR’s President Presiding in 1893, in support of the DAR’s attendance at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
Our Legacy in Bloom
Good Women, Defining Moments
July - JohnPaulJonesandtheAmericanRevolution
The portrait of President General Julia Green Scott is surrounded by reminders of the DAR’s connection to John Paul Jones: a photograph of the John Paul Jones Memorial with a DAR wreath, the program from the statue’s unveiling in 1912, an earlier program from 1906 when his remains were interred at the U.S. Naval Academy, along with a miniature souvenir spoon and the official badge of the President General.
The DAR honors John Paul Jones – naval hero and Father of the United States Navy –through tributes such as at the unveiling of the John Paul Jones Memorial in Washington, D.C. on April 17, 1912. President General Julia Green Scott provided a wreath for the statue’s unveiling, which occurred during the 21st Continental Congress.
Our Legacy in Bloom
Good Women, Defining Moments
August
- TheMotherofaNation:MaryBallWashington
President General Letitia Green Stevenson’s portrait rests with a postcard of the Mary Washington Monument and a star pendant of the Mary Washington Monument Association on top of Susan R. Hetzel’s book, “The Building of a Monument: A History of the Mary Washington Associations and Their Work.” A scrapbook of letters between the Association and William McDowell lays open in the background.
DAR’s first preservation project was to help preserve the grave of Mary Ball Washington and erect a monument in her honor. After raising the money needed, the monument was dedicated on May 10, 1894, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, attended by President General Letitia Green Stevenson with her husband, Vice President Adlai Stevenson.
Our Legacy in Bloom
Good Women, Defining Moments
September - CelebratingtheUnitedStatesConstitution
Rain could not dampen the spirits of the 52 DAR marchers at the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution parade in 1987. Mementos include President General Ann D. Fleck’s sash and the “Pro Walker” sneakers she wore during the parade as well as photos, nametags and commemorative pins from the trip to Philadelphia.
President General Ann D. Fleck proudly led a delegation of members to Philadelphia to celebrate the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution in September 1987. They toured Independence Hall, unveiled a painting and dedicated a tree for Independence National Historical Park, and marched in the parade, led by the President General in her sneakers!
Our Legacy in Bloom
Good Women, Defining Moments
October - VictoryatYorktown
A photograph of President General Marion M. Duncan with Virginia State Regent Margaret C. Smith at the Victory Monument lays in tribute with other Yorktown items such as a photo of Honorary President General Florence Becker with DAR members at Moore House, where Cornwallis surrendered, and a bronze medal of Washington, De Grasse Tilly, and Rochambeau, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the surrender at Yorktown in 1931.
America’s victory at the Battle of Yorktown ended the American Revolution. Yorktown’s sacred acres have been fought for and protected by the DAR, with commemorations held on Yorktown Day in October. In 1963 President General Marion M. Duncan and the National Board of Management made the pilgrimage, laying a wreath at the Victory Monument.
Our Legacy in Bloom
Good Women, Defining Moments
November - ALandmarkMomentinInternationalDiplomacy
President General Anne Rogers Minor, in attendance at the Washington Naval Conference, characterized Memorial Continental Hall as “the scene of events upon which the future of the world hangs suspended.” Featured items include the gavel and pen used by Secretary of State Charles E. Hughes and a letter from him to Mrs. Minor, replying to her offer of the use of Memorial Continental Hall.
Under the leadership of President General Anne Rogers Minor, the DAR hosted in Memorial Continental Hall the historic Washington Naval Conference. From November 1921 to February 1922, representatives from nine nations gathered in the Hall to discuss ways to preserve peace after the conclusion of World War I.
Our Legacy in Bloom
Good Women, Defining Moments
December - GoodWomenDoingGoodWork
President General Marie Hirst Yochim's portrait in the President General's Reception Room sits with a display of remarkable women who were presented with the DAR’s Centennial Medallion: First Lady Barbara Bush on the DAR’s 100th anniversary, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor at the 100th Continental Congress, Marian Anderson performing in Constitution Hall, and Shirley Temple with Helen Pouch in 1938. In celebration of the DAR’s 100th anniversary, President General Marie Hirst Yochim presented Centennial Medallions to nine “Women Worthy of Honor”: First Lady Barbara Bush, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, Elizabeth Pfohl Campbell, U.S. Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick, U.S. Ambassador Shirley Temple Black, Marian Anderson, Brigadier General Elizabeth Hoisington, and Catherine Filene Shouse.
