Dames Discovery | Spring 2022, Vol. 32 No. 1

THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF THE COLONIAL DAMES OF AMERICA

Dames Discovery

APresident’s Message

s spring approaches and our world begins to open back up, we cannot help but be more optimistic about our future. Optimism can help us focus on what we have in common as Dames and as Americans: our genuine love of country and appreciation for America. If we focus on what we have in common, our differences are diminished and we will be stronger together. On a recent NSCDA journey in Ecuador, one of our guides commented about the country’s great respect for the contributions to all aspects of their culture—from the indigenous people to the many generations of settlers—because all of them made the country what it is today.

Great American Treasures is an important way that we can show our appreciation for all the people who contributed to the founding of our country. Our Treasurers tell the stories of early American history that we share collectively through our historic sites. The combined impact of our preservation efforts through these sites extends beyond facilitating a greater understanding of our early American history and celebrating the achievements made by so many. These efforts also uplift the importance of historic preservation and its value in teaching us about history. Through our preservation work, we provide a cultural legacy that can empower this generation and the next with the wisdom of our past.

The NSCDA’s telling of the stories of our early history, which are saved through these Great American Treasures sites, reminds us that we can, and must, continue to make efforts to broaden the list of qualifying ancestors for the NSCDA, particularly women. In this issue, you will read about some of these early women. Eight Colonial States have found ways to prove and include the contributions of these remarkable women, and they are now in the Register of Ancestors. As of today, we have 42 female qualifying ancestors. It would be an extraordinary achievement if we could qualify 250 female ancestors by the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. Can we join together in this challenge?

We will always celebrate the courageous women in our country, many of them founding Dames, who were some of the first to understand the importance of preservation for establishing a national memory, instilling patriotism and adding dimension to our national past. I cannot help but think that these ladies would be proud of our efforts to recognize more female ancestors and their brave endeavors, previously unrecognized, for their roles in the founding of our nation.

We are connected across the country through all of our efforts to ensure our legacy as Dames remains strong as we keep history alive for future generations of Americans.

With gratitude and appreciation for you all,

President

Katherine Taylor Cammack

Executive Director

Carol Cadou

Editor

Sonya Wolsey-Paige

Copy Editors

Margaret “Peggy” DeStefano, Jean Perkins & Susan Walker

Advisors

Ellen Boomer, Mimi Myer Hurst, Marcy Moody & Lee Scott

E mail | damesdiscovery@gmail.com

Website | nscda.org

Please follow the NSCDA on your favorite social media.

DamesDiscoveryis published in spring and fall for the benefit of members of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America.

Submissions deadline:

February 1, spring issue

August 1, fall issue

DamesDiscoveryaccepts 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.

Editor’s Note

This issue offers a richer, more immersive exploration of the NSCDA mission, with a focus on fresh ideas and a vision for its future.

Thank you to Massachusetts Dame Jan Brett for the joyous whimsy her illustrations and stories bring to adults and children alike. It is with great pride that we count her as a Dame and the source of our fabulous cover—surely second to none!

We celebrate our love of country and our heritage through the astonishingly perceptive engagement and accomplishments of our National Projects committees featured in the following pages. Historical Activities offers members the benefit of a new virtual lecture series and timely tips on preservation. Museum Alliance brings us up-to-speed on recent survey feedback and the Like campaign for Great American Treasures. Patriotic Service presents its newest American Heritage Award and naturalization ceremonies.

Articles on aspects of building our future show the essential role finance has played (and will continue to play) in shaping our NSCDA history. Dames have long held our nationally owned and affiliated museum properties as models of aspiration and dynamism and, as you will read, the lessons of these properties are even more relevant today.

Membership always matters. The unprecedented, proactive addition of the service of women to the criteria for qualifying ancestors will diversify and expand our Register of Ancestors for prospective Dames and genealogy sleuths. This matrilineal approach will enlighten generations to come as we uncover an inclusive shared history. Legacy and identity factor prominently for prospective members who are drawn to the Dames.

Providing in-person and online meetings will ensure the engagement of enthusiastic Dames with greater crosscategory participation. The successful pivot to virtual symposia and conferences during the pandemic demonstrated the adaptability of our members. We hope that the increase in the numbers of participants online will be repeated at our in-person meetings.

Let’s come together soon and often. We look forward to seeing you at the 2022 Biennial next fall! — SWP

Artworks by Claudia Eoline Stewart Lane, Illinois Society. ABOVE AND PAGE 8: The NSCDA Badge, colored pencil on film. OPPOSITE: Hydrangeas, watercolor on paper.

2022

SUBJECT TO CHANGE

March 30 –April 1, Wed Fri

Dumbarton House Board Meetings, Washington, DC

March 30, Wed, 3 – 4 PM (ET)

Preservation in Practice | Panel Discussion on Tradeswomen in Dumbarton House’s ‘Power in Preservation’ Exhibition

Virtual

April 1 –3, Fri Sun

Gunston Hall Meetings, Mason Neck, VA

April 28, Thu, 11 – 6 PM (ET)

Day at Dumbarton

Virtual

May 6, Fri, 6:30 – 7:30 PM (ET)

Museum Tour: Then & Now, Celebrating the 90th Anniversary of Dumbarton House

Virtual

May 10, Tue, 4 PM (ET)

Food for Thought: A Cookbook Story | Lecture Series

Program: Choice Receipts: The Building of a Culinary Collection

Virtual

(Courtesy National Historical Activities Committee)

May 10, Tue, 7 – 8 PM (ET)

Lecture Series: What Does Colonial Mean to You?

(A new lecture series to broaden understanding of shared colonial origins)

Virtual

PA-3259A KY-727

E lizab

June 9, Thu

National Board Meeting

Virtual

June 14, Tue, 4 PM (ET)

Food for Thought: A Cookbook Story | Lecture Series

Program: All Stirred Up: Suffrage Cookbooks, Food, and the Battle for Women’s Right to Vote

Virtual

(Courtesy National Historical Activities Committee)

September 13, Tue, 4 PM (ET)

Food for Thought: A Cookbook Story | Lecture Series Program: Ellie Presents: Tasting History with the Suffragists

Virtual

(Courtesy National Historical Activities Committee)

September 26 –28, Mon Wed

Audit & Finance Committee Meetings, Washington, DC

September 28 –30, Wed Fri

Dumbarton House Board Meetings, Washington, DC

September 30 –October 2, Fri Sun

Gunston Hall Meetings, Mason Neck, VA

October 10 –13, Mon Thu

Friends of Sulgrave Manor Meetings, Washington, DC

October 13 –16, Thu Sun

Biennial & National Board Meetings, Washington, DC

November 10, Thu, 4 PM (ET)

Food for Thought: A Cookbook Story | Lecture Series Program: Batterie de Cuisine Virtual

(Courtesy National Historical Activities Committee)

In Memoriam

(Mrs. Downey Milliken Gray, Jr.)

February 6, 1927–November 19, 2021

National Historian 2002–2006

Kentucky Society President 1998–2000

Roll of Honor 2006

Valentine Hollingsworth (1632–c.1711) PA

RI-793A IA-288

J os E phi NE F ra N c E s a u NE r b ar NE s watso N (Mrs. Jack Watson, formerly Mrs. Walter Clement Barnes)

February 28, 1925–February 16, 2022

Iowa Society President 1987–1989 & 1991–1992 Roll of Honor 1995 Samuel Gorton (1592–1677) RI

NOTE FROM HEADQUARTERS

Carol Cadou, Executive Director

As we reawaken after months of damp cold with the freezing temperatures and snow that kept us hibernating indoors, the spring bulbs are blooming at NSCDA Headquarters, Dumbarton House. We are excited to welcome Dames during Biennial Council and all visitors to our 90th Anniversary Year of programs and events. The lineup includes our signature and ever-popular Jane Austen Film Festival alongside ‘Then and Now’ tours featuring the evolution of the building and its historic spaces. In this issue, you will read of the foresight demonstrated by early Dames to establish a physical presence and headquarters in our nation’s capital. You will also learn of the projects and plans that will mark the 90th year of presenting American history to the public through the NSCDA’s first and only historic house museum wholly owned and operated by the Dames.

In keeping with other Great American Treasures properties, Dumbarton House has served as a meeting venue throughout its history—from early leaders of the new republic to 20th– and 21st–century Corporate Societies and national Dames leadership. Across the country as well as the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, GAT sites have brought together those who have influenced their country, communities, professions and families. Each person’s story offers a window into the rich diversity of men and women who came together to make America. How can we better share these stories with our nation so that all can be inspired by their thoughts, actions, courage, perseverance and contributions to the country we hold dear? How can we utilize our museum alliance and Corporate Societies to share all-too-often untold stories? And, how can we increasingly identify and highlight the important contributions of women in our founding and development?

The National Headquarters team and I will be working this year to improve our ability to host educational programs—both in-person and virtually—so that your home in Washington, DC facilitates learning about the people, places and culture in your states. The staff and I are optimistic and excited about the progress we can make together through the opportunities and resources at our fingertips.

With kindest regards and best wishes from the Headquarters team,

Food for Thought A Cookbook Story

by Elsie Smith, Chair, National Historical Activities Committee

Starting this Spring Dames will be able to participate in a new lecture program presented by the National Historical Activities Committee. Called “Food for Thought,” this series will explore how food helps define a culture. A variety of experts will share their insights about the foundational role food plays in our lives. Speakers will explore the culture of cookery in early America and more. The lectures, free to Dames as a member benefit, will be presented on Zoom. These will last about a half hour and allow ample time for questions.

CHOICE RECEIPTS: THE BUILDING OF A CULINARY COLLECTION

Marylène Altieri, curator at the Schlesinger Library

[TUE 5/10/22, 4 PM (ET)]

Receive an introduction to one of the country’s most significant culinary history research collections. Along the way we will view examples from the collections, explore the types of research involving these materials, and consider how cookbooks and other culinary resources nourish our understanding of society while guiding us along the foodways of our past and present.

ABOVE, FROM TOP: All Stirred Up by Laura Kumin; Alice Bunker Stockham’s The Woman Suffrage Cook Book; cookbooks in the vault at Schlesinger Library.

“ALL STIRRED UP: SUFFRAGE COOKBOOKS, FOOD, AND THE BATTLE FOR WOMEN’S RIGHT TO VOTE”

Laura Kumin, author

[TUE 6/14/22, 4 PM (ET)]

Uncover how women used cookbooks and other tools of domesticity to help advance the suffragist cause.

“ELLIE PRESENTS: TASTING HISTORY WITH THE SUFFRAGISTS”

Ellie Carlson, culinary historian and reenactor

[TUE 9/13/22, 4 PM (ET)]

Observe a period cooking demonstration using the tools of the time. Includes a discussion about local sources of food and local recipes.

BATTERIE DE CUISINE

Suzanne Corbett, culinary historian

[THU 11/10/22, 4 PM (ET)]

Enjoy an overview of American 18th– and 19th–century kitchens, cookware and implements used to prepare recipes that appealed to the palates of the period.

Illustrative Dame Jan Brett

by Nancy Hubert , Massachusetts Society

As a child Jan Brett loved animals and wanted to be an illustrator. Fortunately for her vast readership today, she achieved her ambition while remaining true to her passion for animals.

Jan was born and resides today in Massachusetts, surrounded by her own animals and illustrations from her more than 50 books. Her website www.janbrett.com has over 10 million visits annually.

One of our best-known children’s book authors, Brett’s books are set all over the world. She likes to create illustrations with intensely ‘real’ details that transport the reader into the world of her stories. Her favorite animal is the hedgehog (because they are curious)

and readers can find a drawing of one in many of her books. She has written four books focused on hedgehogs, Hedgie Blasts Off, Hedgie’s Surprise, The Hat and The Snowy Nap—and more with hedgehogs in a supporting role.

As a student at the Museum School of Fine Arts (MFA) in Boston, she closely observed paintings and sculpture in the MFA collection, as well as the more detailed images found on textiles and ceramics, many of which can be found reflected in her own illustrations.

With over 40 million books sold, Brett is one of the nation’s more widely read authors of books for children. They are enjoyed by toddlers in board book version as well as picture book for ages five through eight. With the support of her publisher of 55 years, Penguin Random House, she tours the country, visiting bookstores, signing books and creating a new illustration to show young readers how she works. She

also has a backdrop for her newest book against which children can have their pictures taken. When she finishes her talks, she always asks who in the audience wants to be an illustrator—all the hands go up! Jan says, “some of my most inspiring moments have come from meeting children, teachers and librarians at these mini book festivals.”

When summer comes Brett

and her husband Joseph Hearne, a bassist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, move to their second residence in the Berkshires, where Joe performs at Tanglewood. This is a complicated move involving the couple’s 60 chickens, seven ducks and one bunny (Little Snow of The Easter Egg and The Animal’s Santa fame) in the family’s custom poultry trailer. Jan’s interest in chickens dates from 1999 when she began collecting distinctive breeds. She is a Grand Master breeder of white-crested black Polish bantams and travels across the eastern half of the country to competitions. Each has a name coded by the hatch date and its heritage. Their chicken enclosures have illustrations by Brett on the walls and piped-in classical music.

Jan takes great pride in her recent show at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA that opened last November. “Each of my books takes a year to create, so seeing them presented in such a beautifully mounted and curated exhibit was a deeply moving experience. The museum delivers a powerful

educational component through technology. I’m grateful for that because children are my best audience!”

In her spare time (incredibly she finds some) Jan is a serious runner who has completed the Boston Marathon 16 times, qualifying through and fundraising for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. She is truly a remarkable Dame.

Jan Brett’s newest book, and one of her most beautiful, is The Nutcracker. As Brett describes it, “With ETA Hoffmann’s 1816 story, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King and happy memories of The Nutcracker as my guide, this book is my visualization of Tchaikovsky’s enchanting music. The music reminds me of trips to Saint Petersburg and the Baltic Sea, so a Russian setting seems perfect.” The colorful, nuanced details of Brett’s books evince her constant inspirations of family and travel.

Jan is a member of the Massachusetts Society, preceded by two generations of Dames, her grandmother, Dorothy Churchill Thaxter, and her mother, Jean Thaxter Brett. She has loved going to Dames evenings, the garden tours of Beacon Hill and most especially trips with her mother through the Hudson River Valley and to Charleston, SC.

“Out, damned spot, out, I say!”

Caring for Your Textiles

... in plain English

by Virginia Whelan , Pennsylvania Society NSCDA Sampler Survey Chair

“Out, damned spot, out, I say!”

Lady Macbeth went mad trying to wash imaginary blood stains from her hands. Textile conservators can go equally crazy dealing with real stains on historic textiles. Conservators emphasize preventive care with textiles because the way a textile is handled directly affects its longevity. Here are some basic guidelines for preserving textiles ... in plain English.

Ignore the Spots!

Resist the urge to ‘freshen up’ your important textiles. Consult a trained textile conservator first. Old and new textiles require different cleaning approaches. Aged textiles cannot withstand mechanized cleaning; even handwashing may cause shrinkage, dye bleeding or split weaves.

Textile conservators know how to control the conditions of cleaning. Before any work is done, a conservator evaluates the soiling’s composition, considers the fibers’ strength, examines the construction and decorative elements, and tests every color thread for fastness. Recommendations are based on the textile’s specific needs.

What can you do?

Control Your Realm

There are four main threats to textiles: light, heat & humidity, insects, dust. Control them to protect your textiles.

• Light: Light damage is irreversible; dyes fade, fibers weaken, aging accelerates. Both visible (sunlight, artificial) and invisible (ultraviolet) light are destructive. Avoid displaying a textile in direct sun or in a sunny room. Low wattage, incandescent lighting is the least damaging artificial light for textiles. Put the textile in a dark place if you are closing your home for any length of time.

• heat & humidity: Textiles naturally absorb and release ambient moisture as seasons change. Maintaining a constant temperature and relative humidity in your home will help aged textiles withstand cyclical variations. Textiles should be displayed out of direct sunlight (a source of heat) and ideally hung on an interior wall. Dampness can creep through an outside wall into a framed textile, initiating a mold bloom, causing dyes to bleed or transferring stains from the backing materials to the textile.

• insects: Textiles are delicious food sources for pests. Wool, fur and feathers attract moths and carpet beetles. Silverfish and cockroaches seek sizing, starch finishes or framing adhesives. Routine inspection and an immediate response will avert the agony of infestation.

• dust: Dust settling on textiles dulls them and mold/mildew can stain or eat away at textiles. Careful, low-suction vacuuming will reduce the particulate matter without removing original material.

Plan Your Attack

There are four options for textile storage: hanging, boxed, rolled, framed. Optimum storage conditions include a constant temperature/relative humidity and a cool, dark, dry, pest-free and dust-free environment. Store textiles in rooms where you live; basement and attics are the worst possible places.

Look for 'acid-free’ and ‘unbuffered’ packing materials. Clean cotton or poly-cotton sheets/pillowcases are appropriate alternatives to acid-free tissue. Wash in hot water (no detergent) and dry completely before wrapping any textile.

• hanging: Only very strong garments that can support their own weight should be hung for storage. Padded hangers, made to fit the shoulder contours, help them hang properly. Cotton dust covers should drape over the shoulders and cover the entire costume. Do not use dry cleaning bags or other plastics; they are unstable and can discolor the textile.

• Boxed: The ideal storage for flat textiles (scarves, napkins, bureau cloths) is unfolded, single-layered and interleaved with acidfree, unbuffered tissue within acid-free boxes. Avoid piling too many objects in the box. A larger textile (multi-layered quilt, bedcover) is folded to fit into an acid-free box. Use the fewest folds possible and insert rolled ‘sausages’ of acid-free tissue to prevent creases.

Three-dimensional objects (hats, shoes, accessories) need internal support made with custom forms or wadded-up, acid-free tissue. Pack them separately from flat textiles.

• RoLLed: Oversized, flat textiles (tablecloths, bed covers, blankets, shawls) can be safely stored on acid-free tubes. Interleave acid-free, unbuffered tissue across its entire surface if the textile is fragile or has raised designs.

• FRamed: Archival framing protects textiles from handling, dust, insects and shifts in temperature/humidity.

Old frames: If your textile is in an old frame, consult a conservator. Conservation emphasizes the retention of original materials to safeguard valuable cultural and historical information. The historical and market value of a textile is typically enhanced by its original frame and glass.

New frames: Consult a textile conservator to remove a textile attached to a non-original mount. It is tricky to undo the awful variety of glues, tapes and staples used. Use only archival materials when reframing: UV-filtered glazing (glass or acrylic), spacers (separating the glazing and the textile) and a dust cover.

Find an Ally

Additional care guidelines are found at https://learning. culturalheritage.org/caringtreasures.

Find a conservator at the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) https:// www.culturalheritage.org/.

All’s Well That Ends Well

Knowledge, the right materials and a little bit of effort will help you preserve your treasured textiles ... without going crazy.

Virginia Jarvis Whelan is a textile conservator and sole proprietor of Filaments Conservation Studio outside Philadelphia. She has conserved a range of textiles from archaeological fragments to George Washington’s Revolutionary War tent. She received her BA from University of Pennsylvania (1978) and MS in Art Conservation from Winterthur/University of Delaware Program (1997). She is a Fellow of the American Institute for Conservation.

Sulgrave Manor

How History impacted sulgrave manor and tHe wasHington Family

by Caroline Goedhart, Senior Representative to Sulgrave Manor Trust and Charbra Adams Jestin, Junior Representative

to Sulgrave Manor Trust

The ancestral home of the Washington family, Sulgrave Manor, is located in Northamptonshire, England, It is steeped in the stories of a prosperous woolen-merchant family spanning from the reign of King Henry VIII through the turmoil of the Commonwealth in the mid 17th–century, periods of great upheaval encompassing the vicissitudes of the Tudor and early Stuart monarchies. Two of the major politico-religious events that impacted the Washington family in Great Britain were the Reformation and the English Civil War.

REFORMATION IN ENGLAND

The dissolution of the monasteries in 1539 allowed Lawrence Washington, the fifth great-grandfather of the first President of the United States of America, to purchase the property at Sulgrave. Dissolution resulted from the Reformation in Tudor England. It came about when Henry VIII divorced his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, who had failed to give birth to a male heir. When the Pope refused to grant the divorce, Henry established the Church of England. Monastic land and buildings were confiscated and sold off to families who sympathized with Henry’s break from Rome. By 1540 monasteries were being seized and repurposed at a rate of 50 per month. Dissolution meant that vast amounts of monastic land as well as gold and silver plate were transferred to the Crown. The King’s own treasury profited by about £1.5 million. Lawrence Washington benefited directly from this upheaval.

THE ENGLISH CIVIL WAR

The second great challenge the Washington family encountered was the English Civil War. The Washingtons were staunch loyalists during the bitter fight between Charles I and the Puritan Parliament. After Cromwell’s victory, the Washington family was dispossessed of its lands. In 1623, Reverend Lawrence Washington (the great-great-grandfather of George Washington) was a Fellow at Oxford. Having married, he left Oxford and became the rector of All Saints Parish in Purleigh, Essex. In 1643 Parliamentary Puritans stripped the royalist Reverend Washington of his

clerical position, alleging misconduct and his being “a common frequenter of ale-houses” who “[encouraged] others in that beastly vice.” Others saw him as a “very Worthy, Pious, and a very Moderate, Sober Person; ... a Loyal Person, and had one of the best Benefices in these Parts, and this was the Only cause of his Expulsion.” After his ejection from Purleigh, he became rector of the impoverished parish of Little Braxted, Essex.

Reverend Washington’s son, John, was nominated by Charles I to the Charterhouse School in London, but ended up as an apprentice to a London merchant, where he received a valuable education in colonial trade. In 1656 he joined a business partnership, necessitating a voyage to the Colony of Virginia. John Washington’s ship was wrecked in Virginia in 1657 and he elected to remain— the start of the Washington family in America.

CELEBRATING ALLIANCES

Sulgrave Manor was purchased in 1914 by people on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean to serve as a “centre from which sentiments of friendship and goodwill between the British and American peoples will forever radiate.” Those sentiments continue to highlight the importance of continuing friendship, working together to overcome differences, learning tolerance, working collaboratively and remaining optimistic for the benefit of all peoples. Such ideals remain important in today’s world. By using its historic assets, Sulgrave Manor continues to highlight the need for deepening relationships and understanding, be they transatlantic or local.

Today, Sulgrave Manor engages its 21st–century visitors in discussions about history as well as the challenges that exist in contemporary society. Drawing from its history, tour leaders and exhibits stimulate debate about the challenges we face today. The legacy of George Washington and the stories of the Washington family encourage visitors to the Manor to consider how the choices that the Washington family made shaped the society of the day and how today’s visitor might gain insight to improve family relationships, neighborhoods and the greater society.

In 2022 the Manor will examine emigration, the challenges it presents and why people choose to make such a momentous move, whether it be for religious reasons, opportunities for betterment or personal adventure. The Washington family and the challenges it faced in emigrating to a new world provide the framework for these discussions. The Manor will also continue its digital educational seminars, reaching out to a broader international audience, including the NSCDA. Future seminar topics will include culture across the Atlantic and trade between allies. We invite you to learn more about Sulgrave Manor and the work they are doing today: https://sulgravemanor.org.uk/.

ABOVE, FROM TOP: Sulgrave Manor and recent program promotional materials. PRECEDING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Portraits of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon by unknown artists © National Portrait Gallery, London; “The Eve of the Battle of Edge Hill 1642” by Charles Landseer (Credit: Walker Art Gallery/Domain).

Conversation,Culture, Collaboration & Community

by Elizabeth Steele Forman, Virginia Society

“How can you be a part of anything that supports colonialism?” That was not the question I expected when discussing lineage societies with a dear friend. Taken aback, I danced around it like I was Fred Astaire, looking for the first opportunity to “exit stage left” and change the subject.

Colonialism, the cultural catchword with a negative connotation, made this a loaded question. Challenges have always intrigued me, so why did this particular inquiry feel so impossible to answer? I had the tools I needed to tell the story of the NSCDA and I knew how to tailor my response to fit almost any situation. But something in that question made me “forget my lines.”

The four elevator speeches in the Branding Guidelines are those “lines.” Powerful, relatable and easy to understand, they are primed for personalization and expansion. I could have used any one of them. For instance,

The NSCDA is a group of women whose ancestors contributed to our country’s founding in a significant way. It’s our mission to encourage all Americans to know the story of our founding and development, and that the history surrounding it is preserved.

ABOVE: Narrow hoe blades, “Wilton Uncovered ” exhibit. OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM

TOP RIGHT: block print artistic rendering by Dennis R. Winston (2020) and exhibition signage at Wilton House Museum, Virginia Society headquarters.

Talking Dames

is a series that was launched at the inaugural National Conference under the aegis of the National Membership Committee. It offers Dames a framework for discussion about our beloved organization with a variety of audiences.

Why didn’t I start there and talk about the work my Corporate Society does? (I could have given an example such as our museum’s current exhibit, Wilton Uncovered: Archaeology Illuminates an Enslaved Community.) What was it that caused me to stumble? The answer turned out to be quite simple: the question centered on an ideology. The reply to the question was simple as well:

The NSCDA does not support any ideology, including the ideology of colonialism. We tell the story of the history of the American colonial period and we strive to tell it to its fullest extent.

Hindsight is 20/20, but what an expanded elevator speech I might have crafted! I could have addressed the ideology and added that for over 130 years the NSCDA has told the story of the colonial American era by examining it through the lens of historic scholarship. I could have explained our preservation work and applauded our commitment to collaborative projects such as Great American Treasures. My exciting conclusion could have focused on moving into the future by increasing our collaborative efforts, thus building real community with organizations such as the Smithsonian. What great talking points ... but I had hung up the phone.

Last summer I was asked to be a panelist for the Talking Dames session at the October 2021 National Conference. Both the questions from the session’s online participants and the post-meeting survey results indicate there is tremendous interest in continuing to learn how to clearly articulate the vision and mission of the NSCDA in relation to the cultural concerns of today. Such cultural questions can open deeper conversations if we know how to address them. Conversations can and will lead to collaboration and build community. I am looking forward to more opportunities to explore these issues together.

Welcome, A MERICANS !

by Am É lie Cagle, Region IV Vice-Chair, National Patriotic Service Committee

Now, imagine trying to answer several of these questions in an oral test knowing that your American citizenship depends on how well you understand the English language and the fundamentals of the United States government.

Pop Quiz

1 What is one power of the federal government?

2 What happened at the Constitutional Convention?

3 What are two Cabinet-level positions?

Did you answer these questions correctly? If so, BRAVA fellow Americans!

Becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States of America takes a real commitment. According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), applicants must show proof that they are at least 18 years or older and have been lawfully admitted, permanent residents of the US for several years. It usually takes months to become proficient in English, fill out forms, pay legal fees, take oral tests, take written tests and sit for interviews. Once the preliminary requirements are met, candidates are invited to attend a naturalization ceremony where they recite the Oath of Allegiance and receive a Certificate of Citizenship. Finally, new citizens hear the words, “WELCOME, AMERICANS!”

Naturalization ceremonies, run by the USCIS, are held at courthouses and other locations across the country. The National Patriotic Service Committee would like to encourage Dames to support these events. Some of the needs may include serving as color guard, handing out American flags and staffing tables

with information on voter registration and jury service.

The DC Society supports two naturalization ceremonies that are held at Gunston Hall each year. The DC Dames provide a live band, serve refreshments and give the new citizens a standing ovation. At the most recent naturalization ceremony held this past fall, new citizens came from all over the world: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Honduras, India, Iran, Jamaica, Mauritania, Mexico, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, Trinidad & Tobago, Ukraine and Uruguay. After the citizenship certificates were presented, family members in attendance rushed to give hugs to loved ones. This was a wonderful experience for all Dames in attendance that day. It deepened our pride of country and our appreciation for those who come from afar and choose to be citizens of the United States of America. The whole scene took our collective breath away.

Spotlight on H ERITAGE

by Margaret Freeman, Chair, National Patriotic Service Committee

Lights, camera, action! Oregon, Kentucky, North Carolina and Connecticut share center stage this year as they are the presenters of our newest educational awards the American Heritage Awards.

AMERICAN HERITAGE AWARDS 2022

D OREGON SOCIETY | REGION I

Oregon Historical Society Museum

D KENTUCKY SOCIETY | REGION II

Announcement pending

D NORTH CAROLINA SOCIETY | REGION III USO

D CONNECTICUT SOCIETY | REGION IV

Boy Scout Troop #85

“Flags Over Wethersfield” project Stonington Historical Society

WHAT ARE THESE AWARDS AND WHAT IS THE PROCESS? On a rotating basis every year, four Corporate Societies (one from each of our four Regions) become “Spotlight Societies.” The Spotlight Society illuminates any nonprofit organization, group or student scholar who promotes knowledge of patriotism and American heritage through community work, programs, projects or through a course of study. The Patriotic Service Committee of the Spotlight Society selects the recipient(s) and presents the selection to its Corporate Society board for approval.

HOW MUCH ARE THE AWARDS? The amounts vary in each Region. The total amount of the award is determined by the contributions of the Spotlight Society along with the contributions of other Corporate Societies in that Region. Plus, the National Patriotic Service Committee annually contributes $500 to the Spotlight Society in each Region to support the initiative.

WHEN WILL MY CORPORATE SOCIETY BE THE NEXT SPOTLIGHT SOCIETY?

The complete rotational schedules, guidelines and timetables are found on the National Patriotic Service Committee web pages under Educational Awards. The Regional Vice Chairs are readily available to answer any questions.

We are looking forward to sharing in the excitement of the recipients and to seeing pictures of the award ceremonies. What an impact the NSCDA will be making across the nation!

Register of Ancestors

Building, Belonging & Becoming

by Courtenay Wood , Illinois Society

Have you ever had a prospective candidate without an ancestor in The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA) Register of Ancestors (ROA)? If so, then it’s time to think outside the box and find a new ancestor that meets a Colonial State’s qualifications for service. This article will give you some basic tools and resources for your research to prove a new ancestor.

Step one is to understand what the NSCDA regards as service to the American colonies prior to July 5, 1776. Each Colonial State has its own eligibility criteria. Let’s say you are a candidate who has proven her lineage to someone born approximately 1740 and you would like to know if he or she qualifies as an ancestor for NSCDA membership. A helpful tip is to see if the ancestor was literate as a hallmark of possible service. If a land record was signed with a X, you may not want to spend time looking for eligible service. Next, you must know the colonial state or states in which the ancestor resided or gave service. Consult that Colonial Society’s Eligibility List found in the Genealogy Resources section on our website. If you know the service but need a primary source for proof, you will also want to view the list of accepted resources in ROA Bibliographies in the Resources section of the Registrars area under Corporate Society Guides. The listed titles name services and those who served.

As genealogical researchers, you know the importance of documentation. You are seeking public records to prove your lineage. The challenge becomes finding documentation before 1850. Consider the historical context in your record search, especially migration patterns of families, as you search for records. Remember the website Find-A-Grave does not prove lineage. However, it might tell where someone is buried and provide clues as to where to look. A family history may state dates and places of birth, death and marriage, but if the family history is undocumented, you must find proof before submission. Remember, you are proving parentage from one generation to the next.

In our first case study, we have a proven lineage back to Samuel Eddens who was baptized March 9, 1747 in Surrey, England. There is a Revolutionary War pension and land grants; however, we are looking for service BEFORE July 5, 1776. We know he lived in Mathews County, which was formed from Gloucester County in Virginia. We know he sold his Revolutionary War bounty land warrants on August 22, 1797, and his date of death is after that.

Digitized Library of Virginia records include a note of his appointment as Ensign of the Gloucester County Militia on April 13, 1775.

In our second case study, we have a proven lineage back to Thomas Hazen, who lived 29 Jan 1657/8–12 Apr 1735. He signed land deeds as Ensign Thomas Hazen in both Boxford, Massachusetts and New London, Connecticut. Ensign qualifies as eligible service in Massachusetts but not Connecticut. An old undocumented family history states he served in King Philip’s War, but that could not be substantiated. Fortunately, Boxford Town Clerk Records report his service as Ensign in 1699/1700.

In our third case study, we have a proven lineage to William Cloud, who arrived in America in December 1682 on the ship Unicorn. His 500–acre land grant made by William Penn was recorded in Philadelphia on August 12, 1683.

At the Concord Meeting January 10, 1697, William Cloud paid his share for the construction of the Chichester Meeting House and Burial Ground. This qualifies him as the founder of a church of an established religion in Pennsylvania.

r egister oF a ncestors

Once a new ancestor is found, please consult with your Corporate Society Registrar, who will submit the necessary paperwork to approve the new ancestor. After the Colonial Society and National Registrar approve a new ancestor, the information will be posted online to the Register of Ancestors. An ancestor must be in the Register of Ancestors before a candidate may submit her papers. The process is the same for the submission of papers for a supplemental line.

e ligibility l ists

Eligibility Lists are accessible by both members and candidates. Once you have logged-in online at nscda.org, click on Genealogy Resources. From this, click on Research Lists & Forms and then click on ROA Eligibility Lists.

A Sampling of Recently Added Ancestors

Delaware

• Jeremiah Claypoole, Justice of the Peace, Sussex County

• Christine Ollesdotter, Historic Founder, Deer Point, New Castle County

Maryland

• Joseph Wood, Lieutenant Colonel, 2nd Battalion, Frederick County Militia

Massachusetts

• Thomas Hazen, Ensign, Boxford, Essex County

North Carolina

• John Rogers, Sheriff, Johnston County

• Richard Simpson, Justice of the Peace, Orange County

Pennsylvania

• William Cloud, A Founder, Chichester Meeting House and Burial Ground, Chester County

Virginia

• Samuel Eddens, Ensign, Gloucester County

• James Jones, Overseer of Roads, Surveyor, Frederick County

• Samuel Lewis, Justice of the Peace, Magistrate, Surveyor, Botetourt County

• Thomas Pulliam, Constable, Precinct Between the Two Rivers, Spotsylvania County

• Clementina Rind, Publisher appointed by General Assembly [Women of Distinction], Williamsburg

• Constant (Watkins) Woodson, Discovered an effectual remedy for curing cancer [Women of Distinction], Prince Edward County

HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS

by Molly Carey , Vice-Chair , National Membership Committee and Lisa Liles , National Registrar

Thirteen to fourteen generations ago our ancestors began settling what would become the 13 British colonies in America. On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence. It began with “A Declaration of the Representatives of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” For the colonists this action ended British colonialism in America and July 4 is now celebrated as the birthdate of The United States of America. Thus, The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America recognizes the service of our colonial ancestors before July 5, 1776.

During the time between 1607, the landing at Jamestown, VA and July 1776, there were approximately three men for every woman in the colonies. We need to identify those women and celebrate their accomplishments and contributions to the founding of our country! The National Society encourages the consideration and addition of service categories that include women. After all, we are a women’s organization.

Our Colonial Societies kept their own records on service categories and qualifying ancestors until 1970, when the National Society began the

The Feminine Side

Register of Ancestors (ROA), which allowed all members access to information on all ancestors and their services. According to NSCDA records, the first female qualifying ancestors were added in 1976 beginning with Mary Chilton from Massachusetts. To date there are 42 females in the ROA representing 8 of the 13 Colonial Societies. Finding service categories that can include women is not difficult. It just requires a trip down history lane to research what women were allowed to do in colonial America. Often this differs from colony to colony. Registrars can collaborate in this endeavor with members who enjoy genealogy as a hobby and with summer interns to assist in research.

After working with Virginia historians for over a year, the Virginia Society approved several service categories

that can include women and immediately added six women to their roster. These new services were:

M Women of Distinction under the heading of Historic Founder—one who resided in Virginia after Jan 23, 1624/5 and rendered a distinguished or eminent service contributing to the founding of Virginia. Distinguished service may be found in (but not limited to) civic, ecclesiastical, educational, commercial and patriotic areas.

M Seigniory Rights after 1619. A short-lived practice and title in Virginia bestowed by the King to his favored colonist who represented his land interests in the colony. “The Lord or Lady of the Manor” who managed the land to whom land rents were paid for the benefit of the colony and crown.

M Land ownership

M Warden and Vestryman of the Church of England and documented officials of other settled churches in Virginia.

M Business ownership— defined as one who owned or operated a socially acceptable and economically productive business that contributed to the economic and political development of the colony, or obtained recognized and distinguished superiority in a specific sphere or profession.

These are just a few ideas for female qualifying services that could be used in all our colonial states. More options may be available for each Colonial Society after research.

Enjoy learning about a few of our female ancestors, their service and stories.

By adding service categories that include women and identifying female qualifying ancestors we open membership to a wider pool of candidates. Let’s celebrate these illustrious women who contributed to the building of our new nation, often quietly and behind the scenes.

Elizabeth Dalbo (1622–1700)

Historic Founder, (DE)

Born in Sweden and died in 1700 at age 78. Arrived in New Sweden as wife of Matts Hansson. Later married Anders Larsson Dalbo (mentioned in Peter Andersson’s 1668 patent).

Priscilla Mullins (c.1603–c.1688)

Mayflower Passenger & Founder of Duxbury, (MA)

Born in Surrey County, England. After traveling with her family on the Mayflower, only she survived the first winter. Married John Alden in Plymouth in 1622/3. Later founded the settlement of Duxbury.

Anne (Ayres) Chew (c.1635–13 April 1695) Quaker Minister & Land Owner, (MD)

Born in Nansemond County, VA and settled in Anne Arundel County, MD. Married Colonel Samuel Chew. Settled in Herring Bay, a thriving tobacco port and center of Quaker activities in the area.

Hannah (Callowhill) Penn (bap. 11 Feb 1670–1726) Manager of Proprietary Affairs for the Colony of Pennsylvania, (PA)

Born in Bristol, England. Married William Penn when she was 25 and he 52 years old. Came to America in 1699. William became proprietor and governor of the new colony of Pennsylvania. After William suffered multiple strokes, Hannah administered the Province for six years. William willed Hannah his entire fortune and full control of the colony. Hannah won a suit against her by William Penn, son of the Governor by his first wife, to dismiss his father’s will. Served as

acting proprietor from 1712 until 1726.

Anne (Marbury) Hutchinson (1591–1643) Founder Aquidneck (Portsmouth) Settlement & Preacher, (RI)

Born in Alford, Lincolnshire, England. Married William Hutchinson. Began following John Cotton, a Puritan preacher in nearby Boston, Lincolnshire. In 1634 they followed Cotton to Boston in “New” England. Anne practiced midwifery and became a Puritan advisor and religious reformer. Deemed a threat to the teachings of the Boston clergy, she and her followers were banished from the Boston colony and founded the settlement of Portsmouth, RI. After additional threats, she moved to Split Rock, which later became the Bronx in New York City. A key figure in the history of religious freedom in the American colonies.

Catharine (Kaidyee) Blaikley (c.1695–25 Oct 1771) Women of Distinction—Eminent Midwife, (VA)

Born in York County, VA. Married William Blaikley, a watchmaker. Catharine inherited her husband’s estate. Living in colonial Williamsburg, she began a midwifery business by 1739. At her death the Virginia Gazette praised her as “an eminent Midwife” who brought “upwards of three thousand children into the World,” the equivalent of one-and-a-half times the population of the city. She delivered white, black, slave and free including some of Williamsburg’s most prominent family members.

Dumbarton House Cheers to 90!

In 1927, the National Board of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA) approved that the Society should “acquire an old, historic Colonial house, in its domicile, Washington City, and maintain it as a museum, or educational center, for the collection, care and display of American arts of the Colonial Period; to be open to the public under suitable restrictions, so that it might worthily illustrate the character and objects of the Society.”

The NSCDA purchased Bellevue (as Dumbarton House historically was named) in 1928. At the time of acquisition, much of the structure’s original Federal period elegance had been obscured by later Colonial Revival embellishments and many years of deferred maintenance.

The Dames moved quickly to begin restoring Dumbarton House and collecting fine and decorative arts to furnish the headquarters and museum. After the structure was restored to its earlier Federal splendor, Dumbarton House finally opened to the public in 1932 as a museum of Federal period decorative arts.

In 1942 the NSCDA supported the war effort by allowing the District of Columbia chapter of the Red Cross to occupy

Dumbarton House. All furnishings were removed from the museum and the period rooms were used to establish a production unit for sewing and knitting garments for the armed services and to conduct classes in first aid, home nursing and nutrition. Dumbarton House formally returned to the custody of the NSCDA in October 1945 and the museum reopened to the public shortly thereafter.

by Meaghan White, NSCDA Assistant Director, Marketing and Communications

House, acknowledging the museum’s adherence to the highest standards. In 2021 Dumbarton House was awarded reaccreditation by AAM.

Nearly 60 years after Dumbarton House originally opened to the public, the NSCDA completed a major expansion and renovation of the building. The 1991 expansion included the construction of a public meeting space, office renovations and the installation of an elevator. On the grounds, period-appropriate plantings replaced an earlier landscape design and an overgrown vacant lot was transformed into a park.

In 2006 the American Association of Museums (AAM) conferred accredited status to Dumbarton

As we reflect on the past 90 years of Dumbarton House, we also look toward the future. This summer, to ensure that our National Headquarters at Dumbarton House serves our 21st–century mission, we will begin the restoration of the Best Chamber as well as renovations to the second floor gallery spaces and East Wing as part of our Master Site Plan. These infrastructure-based investments will enhance our ability to offer educational experiences and programs to on-site and virtual visitors. For additional information and to participate in virtual and inperson programming related to these projects, be sure to check out DumbartonHouse.org and follow us on social media @ DumbartonHouse.

Best Chamber, Dumbarton House 2021

The Ages of Dumbarton House

If these walls could talk, what would they say? What moments of history have they witnessed? For Dumbarton House, we know one story—of Joseph Nourse, first Register of the US Treasury (spanning six presidential terms), and his wife Maria, who made this house their home from 1804 to 1813—but we wanted to ask, “What else has taken place between these walls?” That is the central question for the newest Dumbarton House project: What other stories comprise the rich history of our National Headquarters? This project, The Ages of Dumbarton House, seeks to show different views of our beloved house and to widen the lens of its history through a series of four paintings, commissioned by the Dumbarton House Board.

To execute the series, the Ladies of Dumbarton House selected Peter Waddell, who is currently artist-in-residence at neighboring Tudor Place. Waddell was born in New Zealand. He had always been enamored with America and its history, so one of his proudest moments was to become a US

citizen. Best known for his paintings of Washington, DC history and architecture, Waddell has created works about the Capitol in the 1800s, along with numerous commissions for historic sites, including Mount Vernon and Tudor Place. Our own Dumbarton House is now added to that list.

by Rachel Jones, NSCDA Assistant Director, Membership

In 2017, Waddell was commissioned to create a painting of the reimagined farm at Dumbarton House. This View from the Best Chamber Window allows visitors to imagine what early Georgetown and our Nation’s capital looked like, with its rolling hills and farmland. This work led to Waddell’s selection for the fourpainting commission.

The first painting of the series, At Home on the Heights (Dumbarton House 1865), was featured on the cover of the Fall 2021 issue of Dames Discovery. It depicts the rear of the house, then called Bellevue. It sat on a steeply sloping hill with a view of the Potomac (Dumbarton House was moved to its current location in 1915), and was the home of Sarah Louise “Lulie” Rittenhouse, who worked tirelessly to preserve the grounds of nearby Montrose, a neighboring home, as a public park and playground. Future paintings in the series will address other elements of the property, in turn highlighting different aspects of life there.

Hopefully this perspective of Dumbarton House has piqued your interest. Just as Sarah Louise Rittenhouse gazed out at the prospect of mid 18th–century Washington, DC, you can consider the prospect from your National Headquarters.

LEFT: Waddell in his studio (Courtesy: Tudor Place Historic House & Garden)

At Home on the Heights (Dumbarton House 1865)

View from the Best Chamber Window

GAT Likes c ampaign

This past fall and early winter, the NSCDA set a challenge for itself: make Great American Treasures (GAT) a household name. How does one do that with time and budgetary constraints? Using branded icons and fun animation, our marketing agency, Firefli, created ads for GAT. Between October 7 and December 21, these ads were seen over 168,000 times. They may have even played across your social media stream.

We targeted people whose interests align with our own: preservation, education and patriotism. Our story largely resonated with women over the age of 65, and likely their families, who live near our historic properties. Being seen is only half of the battle. Good advertisements inspire viewers to respond and take action; in this case we wanted them to “like” our Facebook page and visit our website to learn more.

LIKE us they did. We increased our Facebook likes from 256 to 3,755. This is noteworthy growth for such a short amount of time. From now on, every time we post on our Facebook page more than 3,700 people will see and potentially spread the word about this great National project.

As a result of these ads, we observed more than 5,700 link clicks to the Great American Treasures website, where many users learned more about our remarkable historic properties, museums and monuments across the country. Our click-through rate, the ratio of people that see an advertisement versus clicking on it, was four–and–a–half times higher than the national average. With continued shares and likes, this digital momentum will carry our Treasures to even more supporters and visitors yearover-year.

by Samantha Dorsey, NSCDA Director of Programs and Audience Engagement

Great e xpectations

To measure and celebrate the success of one of our biggest endeavors, the Great American Treasures (GAT) national project, an online survey was launched one year after GAT made its debut. This survey asked our members how GAT touches their lives and helps them live the Dames mission.

A historic house museum, monument or property competes for attention among an ever-increasing number of distractions and worthy causes. We believe (and our Treasures have confirmed) that to do an even better job, we need more unencumbered financial support. Your donations, directly to our sites or to collective endeavors like the NSCDA Museum Alliance Grant fund, make that possible.

Many thanks to the Dames who participated in this survey.

by Samantha Dorsey, NSCDA Director of Programs and Audience Engagement

Lessons Learned

Fifteen questions produced a great deal of information, which the NSCDA Museum Alliance Committee will use to guide our future success.

M Most respondents are Dames who have invested time and attention to our collective cause. They identify their service through the position in which they serve. We can do more to capture the perspective of those who are not in leadership roles.

M Many Dames support a Great American Treasure. Sixty percent of our participants have volunteered, donated, visited or attended a program at one of our Treasures. Nearly half of our members consider our historic sites to be among our most important assets. Our sites are an important part of our Dames identity.

M Some members feel most loyal to our headquarters, Dumbarton House, the only property owned by the National Society, as well as to the other properties which the National Society supports, Sulgrave Manor and Gunston Hall, and to their local museum properties. Perhaps we can expand awareness about all of these remarkable sites through GAT.

M Our members were asked what period of history interests them the most, and they responded that the 1700s and 1800s held the greatest fascination for them. These periods may top the list, but clearly, Dames have historical interests that span all periods of American history.

A PEEK INSIDE THE FINANCIALS

On the Money

by Bethe Hagopian , NSCDA Treasurer and Dora Rogers , NSCDA Finance

Committee Chair

The NSCDA relies on many funding sources to fulfill its mission of preservation and education. Our member dues provide the foundation of our support, augmented by the generosity of our individual members and the Corporate Societies that donate to the National Society, but there is more to the story. Non-member donations and grants, both public and private, are important to our financial health. These contributions and grants have allowed the NSCDA to keep the per member national dues at $40 for a dozen years a grand achievement!

We receive grants for many NSCDA activities. Bricks and mortar projects at Dumbarton

House is one area where we have been particularly successful with our grant applications. We have also begun soliciting for corporate sponsorships.

Grant funding from federal and local governmental agencies provides critical support for our museums’ preservation and community outreach efforts— over $1,170,000 since 2017. IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Services) grants have allowed us to catalogue and inventory our collection of over 2,600 artifacts and artworks documenting life in the early nation, and to create a Collections Manager position to care for our artifacts so they can continue to inspire and educate future

generations. Two other IMLS grants supported creation of a new Collections Storage and Archives Center, as well as a new Interpretive Plan to guide exhibition and tour development that will engage our 21st–century community.

NEH (National Endowment for the Humanities) funding supported the comprehensive study and redesign of our failing HVAC system and underwrote a portion of the replacement of the system. The new system allows us to better care for our

centuries-old artifacts, maintain a more comfortable climate for our guests and efficiently operate so that we can conserve resources moving forward.

Funding from NEH also supports the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the DC Humanities Council, both of which have supported Dumbarton House preservation efforts and educational programs in recent years.

All these grants have been competitively awarded through a rigorous peer-review process, and all have required matching funds or cost-sharing. The NSCDA also received COVIDrelated funding from the Small

Business Administration which allowed us to maintain our staff and operations without layoffs during the pandemic.

A private donation from a non-member established an endowment to fund our oldest project, the American Indian Medical Scholarship Program. Across the country, NSCDA-affiliated museums and collections supported through our Corporate Societies have benefited similarly from grant programs like those highlighted above, as well as through the Save America’s Treasures grants, a collaborative venture of the NEA (National Endowment for the Arts), NEH, IMLS, National Park Service

and President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities.

Our success in preserving the future of history lies in our ability to maintain and expand our sources of support. Grant funding is a key component of that effort and agency grants are the primary source of that funding.

A collective commitment to supporting the NSCDA is as important as ever. We continue to have faith that our members will include the NSCDA in their philanthropic giving and estate planning. Donations and bequests show an appreciation for the NSCDA and its mission well into the future for which we are grateful.

2019 National Board Meeting in Washington, DC—PRECEDING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: Lou Perry (seated) and Melissa Robb; Allison Brokaw; Janet Binder and Brooke Ross; Stuart Cobb and Edith Stickney. ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Loftus and Charbra Jestin flank niece Molly Adams; 2019 American Indian Medical Scholarship recipient Kyle Durrant and Mary Steed Ewell; Dora Rogers and Sally Congdon; Sandi Atkinson and Marcy Moody.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

by Sally Connelly, National Historian

Topsy-Turvy Biennial

We find strength in our traditions and in our ability to adapt to changing circumstances. I often think of how we are connected to so many women who started a movement in historic preservation over 130 years ago and of how our history is strong. This is a great comfort when the world is shaken or “topsy-turvy,” as one Dame described the influenza epidemic of 1918.

In 2020 at our 63rd Biennial in Florida, I witnessed the installation of our 24th president, Katherine Cammack, where Dumbarton House staff beamed the proceedings to the new Zoom world through an established link back to Washington, DC. As the incoming historian, I was asked to observe the “all-virtual” meeting in person. Few of us remember that in the weeks leading up to Biennial, we had surpassed the 200,000 death toll in the United States and that then- President Trump was released from Walter Reed

hospital after testing positive for Covid. The “topsy-turvy” times forced us to pivot to an all-virtual conference.

Zooming in from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, outgoing National President Anna Duff presided throughout the events and meetings of Biennial. Following the strict protocols required during the proceedings, only five people could be in the room, and we were required to space ourselves 10 feet apart. Joining Anna were Ellen Boomer, incoming Vice President for Region IV, Mary Mundy, incoming Recording Secretary and myself. Ellen served as our on-set producer, staying in close contact with the staff at Dumbarton House regarding technological arrangements, while Mary ensured that the meeting would proceed in good order. Flowers, flags and a podium appeared in typical Dames fashion. The world indeed felt “topsy-turvy” but it was not the first time in our history when Dames adapted to circumstances beyond their control.

Highlights

1 st Virtual Biennial Council Meeting

890 Registrants

3,974 Viewership over the course of the week —

Digital transmissions from both Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and Dumbarton House, Washington, DC

This took a herculean effort by so many. At Dumbarton House the staff worked tirelessly to make everything flow smoothly for each of the educational and Biennial sessions and special events. In their own homes, Dames logged on and off, learning new computer skills, adapting quickly and actively participating in Biennial through this new virtual platform.

Preparing for the virtual Biennial in the months and weeks leading up to the meeting required hard work and ingenuity. Behind the scenes the Biennial Arrangements Committee members Anna Duff, Jane Boylin, Bunny Muir, Marta Dunetz, Ellen Boomer, Gretchen Bukowski and Susan Walker made the difficult decision to change from an in-person to a virtual meeting and, with the incredible skills and support of staff,

put together the first-ever virtual Biennial in the history of the Dames. National Parliamentarian Leonora Branca guided us through the details of voting in electronic meetings to ensure that proper parliamentary procedure was followed.

In spite of the changes, the meeting had the hallmarks of every Biennial Council meeting held during our 130+ year history, including sign-ins, voting, the Salute to the Flag and the all-familiar reading of Article II, not to mention the introduction of 21 new presidents and installation of a new National President. I think at many times we were all holding our breath, but it was working and so many Dames were joining our live broadcast.

Before we knew it, it was time for Anna to give her farewell comments. Marcy Moody, our former National President, greeted Anna on camera as she stepped from the podium for the last time. At that

moment, Marcy stood in for all our honorary presidents and for all of us. As Anna handed Katherine the gavel, our new officers were installed in perfect order as ribbons were seemingly placed on shoulders by Lisa Liles, our outgoing National Registrar, from her home in Indiana through a clever trick of video manipulation.

Undaunted, we rose to the challenge of the extraordinary circumstances of a pandemic in 2020, and hopefully, our next Biennial on October 13–16, 2022 will return to an in-person event in Washington, DC. A quote from our renowned National President Mrs. Joseph Rucker Lamar reminds us of the importance of meeting together in person:

One characteristic feature of the Society is due to the fact that the Councils are small and during its sessions the delegates and alternates live together for almost a week at the same hotel in which the meetings are held. They foregather

between sessions in private parlours, or in the hotel lobby; they breakfast, lunch and dine together in groups; they hold conferences, and go together on pilgrimages to visit historic houses, and they learn to know and appreciate each other as they could never do without this constant and intimate companionship. At one of the early councils a very wise New England woman said to a delegate from what is called 'the deep South,' 'My Dear, if we had had such meetings as this before 1860 there never would have been any war!'

I cannot wait for NSCDA President Katherine Cammack to raise a toast at Dumbarton House next October to the officers who stepped down in 2020; to those officers who served throughout the pandemic, adapting to new challenges and holding meetings in new ways; to our talented, resilient staff; and to the strength of friendship. We will have much to celebrate.

Dames Discovery

ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Anna Duff; Ellen Boomer, Mary Mundy, Marcy Moody, Katherine Cammack, Anna Duff and Sally Connelly; Katherine Cammack and Anna Duff; Marcy Moody, Katherine Cammack and Anna Duff.

ANCESTOR’S ALMANAC

by Sally Connelly, National Historian

Bygone Biennials

J 1893 The first “Council” was held at Tudor Place in Georgetown and at Blair House on Pennsylvania Avenue. At that time Tudor Place was the home of first Vice President of the National Society, Britannia Peter Kennon (1815–1911) (DC 0001)— the great-granddaughter of Martha Washington. Minna Blair Richey (1850–1911) (DC 00018), who lived at the fabulous Blair House, also welcomed the first Council to her home.

J 1894 The second Council met at Wormley's Hotel in Washington (the proprietor was James Wormley, a free-born African-American man known as a fervent supporter of equality and friend to Senator Charles Sumner). Seven new Societies had been incorporated and were admitted to the National Society, making a total of 14 Societies, which are called “The original fourteen Societies” in our By-Laws. First Lady Frances Cleveland invited the Council to the White House, where she received them on April 6.

J 1896 The third Council met at the Arlington Hotel, which stood from 1868 to 1912 and was considered the most opulent hotel in the District of Columbia during the post-Civil War era.

J 1898 The Council of 1898 was held as the country was teetering on the brink of hostilities. The ever-darkening future became reality with the sinking of the USS Maine Earnest discussions ensued, resulting in the creation of the Relief Association—a mechanism through which the Corporate Societies and National could assist the Red Cross. In addition, a generous sum was sent to the Surgeon General of the Navy to buy equipment for the hospital ship USS Solace

J 1900 At the 1900 Council it was reported that almost $20,000 had been expended by the Dames in support of the war effort.

J 1902 The dedication of the Arlington Monument took place

in May, during the sixth Council. It was attended by President Theodore Roosevelt, the Secretary of War, 1,000 veterans of the Spanish War, 2,000 soldiers and sailors, as well as by representatives of the Sons of the American Revolution, Daughters of the American Revolution and many other distinguished guests.

J 1914 The 12th Council met at the Shoreham Hotel. The Wyoming and Oklahoma Societies were admitted.

J 1925 The 17th Council met at the Washington Hotel. The Americanization Committee showed The Gates of Opportunity, a film it had produced, to the Council.

J 1941 The 25th Biennial Council met at the Shoreham Hotel and observed their “50th Birthday.” It would not meet again for five–and–a–half years due to World War II.

J 1952 At the 29th Biennial Council meeting, the four Regions and 11 Districts were established to support the Regional Conferences.

J 1966 For this very special year, our 75th anniversary, a Diamond Jubilee Dinner was held at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC during the Biennial Council. At the banquet, each Corporate Society President wore a costume in the style of the year when her Society was admitted to the National Society.

Join us as we consider The Indelible Impact of a Dame – stretching from the past to today, rippling across generations and our beloved country. Come celebrate your indelible impact and be a part of setting the stage for the future.