Chico Chapter History
On
November 9, 1921, a meeting consisting of six ladies from the Chico
community was held at the home of Mrs. Annie Lund Meriam for the
purpose of organizing a local chapter of the Daughters of the American
Revolution.
The
Chico Chapter was officially organized on March 17, 1922. The original
15 members were Mrs. Annie Lund Meriam, Mrs. Agnes Meline, Mrs. B.E.
Crouch, Mrs. J.R. Case, Mrs. Etta Chiapella, Mrs. Raymond Steel, Mrs.
Fetzer, Mrs. Studley, Mrs. Eastman, Mrs. Welty, Mrs. Garsice, Mrs.
Mackay, Miss Dorothy Mackay, Mrs. H.K. Sears, and Miss Barney.
Since
then, Chico Chapter’s members have been very active in their
communities. During their first year, they assisted the four other new
chapters in California with purchasing and presenting a flag to the
Battleship California. They also purchased local history books and
promoted patriotism whenever the opportunity arose.
During
the 1920s, members participated in annual essay contests, state
projects, teas, grave markings, and tree plantings. They distributed
literature pertaining to naturalization and the proper use of the flag.
Participation in the Armistice Day parade earned them second prize!
The 1930s were plagued with difficulties for the Chico Chapter because of dwindling membership and economic hardships. During this time, donations
and history essay prizes were reduced, but not discontinued, at the
insistence of the members. Though the chapter considered disbanding in
1936 and 1937, an influx of new members in 1938 once again made the
chapter financially stable.
In
1933, one of our members, Mrs. Mary Ogden Nelson, passed away. Her
grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War, so a special grave marker
was placed on her grave, honoring her as a Real Granddaughter (see
photo at left).
In
1996, the Willows Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution
merged with the Chico Chapter to the mutual benefit of both chapters.
back to top
Willows Chapter History
The
Willows Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, was
officially organized on February 19, 1919. They named their
chapter after the grove of Willow trees at an important crossroads in
Glenn County, which later became the city of Willows, California.
The
Willows Chapter served the community by giving history awards to
elementary grade students, books to the city library, flags to various
organizations, Americanism Awards to local individuals for their civic
and religious endeavors, and held genealogy workshops for the
public. They provided funds to the Grindstone Rancheria to reroof
their sweathouse.
Besides
supporting the DAR-sponsored schools in Appalachia, the Willows Chapter
gave a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating high school student in Glenn
County each year for 20 years, presented Good Citizen Awards to
graduating seniors from eight high schools within the county, and
supported the Academic Decathlon.
Many
plaques were placed in Willows and Glenn County by the Willows
Chapter. They placed an engraved marble plaque at the Bayliss
Library to commemorate the only Carnegie Library to be built in a rural
area. They placed a flagpole and flag at Jensen Park in 1958, and
in 1996 they placed a flagpole, plaque, and flags in front of the
Willows Justice Court (see photo at left). Before they merged
with the Chico Chapter, they presented their extensive collection of
genealogy and reference books to the Willows Library for use by the
public.
The
Willows Chapter has furnished the California State Society, DAR, with
one State Regent, five state officers, and three state chairmen.
They contributed an addition to the brick patio at the DAR Hamblin
House (our state headquarters) in Glendora, called “The Willows Walk,”
which included bricks inscribed with the names of all the regents of
their chapter, before they merged with the Chico Chapter.
Continuing Our Chico Chapter History Today
Our Chico Chapter members
continue to be active, well-rounded individuals, who contribute in many
ways to the communities in which we live, as well as to our State and
National societies. We participate in Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, and
Independence Day activities in our local area.
Chico Chapter can boast of several authors and artists over the years:
- Alzada Carlisle Kistner, author of An Affair with Africa
- Helen Turner Carlisle, author of Song for Tomorrow: A Collection of Poetry and Music From the Carousel
- Michelle Shover, author of Vera McKeen of Yankee Hill
- Dorothy Morehead Hill, author of Indians of the Chico Rancheria and Maidu Use of Native Flora and Fauna. She donated her extensive and sensitive Native American collection to California State University, Chico.
- Janet
Turner, internationally recognized printmaker, donated her exquisite
print collection to California State University, Chico, which created
the Turner Art Gallery and Museum to hold the collection.
Additionally, several Chico Chapter members have been honored by our local communities:
- Frances Balaam was named "Woman of the Year" in 2000 by Beta Sigma Phi
- Dorothy
Hill was inducted into the Educator's Hall of Fame in 1996, and was
named "Woman of Distinction" in 1990 by Soroptimist International
- Agnes Carroon was voted "Volunteer of the Year" in 1997 by the California Association of Health Facilities
- Elmeretta Brown was inducted into the Chico Sports Hall of Fame in 1984.
Chico Chapter member Jennifer Lasell was honored as the Outstanding Junior Member in 2006 by the California State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The Chico
Chapter has been active for almost 90 years of service at the
community, state, and national level. We will celebrate our 90th
anniversary in 2012. Things are never dull when Chico Daughters
are involved. Come join us and help us to write the next 90 years of history! |
