STATE
HISTORY
The Virginia Society Daughters of the American Colonists
has been a
small but thriving hereditary society. From its beginning
restoration of old
records have remained a primary concern. Other interests that have
continued through
the years are the marking of historical places, support for the
history taught in the schools, correct usage and respect
for the Flag of the United States of America,
National Defense,
Veterans Service, recognizing outstanding students and donations to libraries.
The society was organized
Mrs. James Branch Cabell who was appointed State Organizing
Regent by the National President, Mrs. George Thatcher Guernsey.
Officers elected were:
Regent Mrs.
James Branch Cabell
Vice Regent Mrs.
B. H. Ellington
Secretary Mrs.
John D. Clothier
Treasurer Mrs.
Albert H. Hunts
Registrar Mrs.
W. O. Wood
Members present were:
Mrs. Benjamin L. Purcell
Mrs. Warner Moore
Mrs.
Robert N. Williams
Mrs.
Stuart Michaux
Mrs.
L. Hawkins
Mrs.
William Hugh Nelson
Mrs.
Melville C. Branch
Miss
Mary Anna Nesbett
Miss
Margarett Conway
The program for the day was a discussion of work done by
and qualifications of members of NSDAC.
On
In May 1924 a wreath was placed at Monticello.
The following year the National Society placed a fence
around the ancient foundations at Jamestown.
It was dedicated during the visit of the National
President Mrs. Guernsey.
Also 1,000 pages of old records were restored.
In 1928 Mrs. James
B. Cabell was elected to the office of National Vice President Southern
Section.
Virginia became a State Organization in 1931 with the
birth of a second chapter the Chanco Chapter.
Two years later NSDAC laid the corner stone for the cross
at Cape Henry.
The first annual meeting of the Virginia Society,
Daughters of the American
Colonists were
held
The Memorial Cross at Cape Henry was dedicated on April
26th.
By 1938 there were
90 members of the State Society.
Numerous old
records and will books were restored during the early years.
Regents’ homes
were determined to be the headquarters for the respective chapters.
In 1943 and 1945
State Assembly meetings were not held.
Members volunteered for numerous war efforts.
The first annual Fall Board Meeting was held
of Mrs. M. M.
Fitzhugh, State Regent. Members
continued to restore records
and work in the VA
hospitals. On
G. Tyler, past
president of the College of William and Mary was presented by the
Virginia Daughters
to the Virginia Historical Society. In
1948 a State Regent’s pin was purchased.
In 1953 the first Memorial Service was held at the State
Assembly.
That same year the National President was presented a pin
that was a replica
of the Norfolk
Mace. During these years the Virginia Society continued to restore
old records and books throughout the state. Magazines were contributed to the
Veterans Hospitals.
Members from other societies and neighboring DAC societies
were frequent
guests. Some years the Virginia DAC had
joint meetings with other societies.
Pledges and gifts were also presented to the National
Society.
During the Viet Nam era, a strong focus was placed upon
veteran service.
Membership climbed
to 210. Virginia DAC continued the tradition of restoring old records
and donating books to libraries. Gifts of American and NSDAC flags and bible
records were
donated to the National Society. A gavel from the only known tree
standing on Jamestown Island at the time of the first
arrivals was presented to the State Society.
It is still used
at the discretion of the State Regent upon special occasion.
Virginia Daughters were on hand when Berkeley Hundred was
identified
as the site of the
first official Thanksgiving Day in America.
In 1969
the State Society hosted the National President and
Executive Board and
the State Regents
when the national project was dedicated at Berkeley.
During the 70’s the Virginia Society marked the grave of
Elizabeth Bassett
Harrison 1730-1792.
By 1979 membership was 242.
National Defense messages
were
emphasized. Over the years numerous
state daughters have served as
national officers
in a variety of positions. In the earliest
years history scrapbooks
were presented to
the Virginia Historical Society. More
recently State Regents
have served as the eventual Curators for these histories
of their administrations.
The Park Service has received special recognition and support
over the years.
The State Regent’s Project during Mrs. G. Humphrey Bryan,
Junior’s administration
was a teak wood bench built in England and designed in
the style reminiscent of the
Colonial era for
placement at St. Luke’s Church, Isle of Wight County.
A number of
distinguished national and state leaders from NSDAC and several others
Historical
societies were present at the dedication.
The State Society donated numerous books and money to the
National Library.
Membership in 1983 was 285. Records preservation and book
contributions continued to serve as priorities for
Virginia DAC.
On
grave marker in
memory of Mrs. James Branch Cabell,
the Organizing State Regent and Honorary National Vice President.
Virginia was the
second state to mark the grave of its Organizing Regent.
All chapters
supported the restoration of The Statue of Liberty.
On
Her State Project was the compiling of the history of the
Virginia State Society.
Much information
from her literary efforts was offered by Mrs. Holder and utilized in this
history.
In 1987 Virginia and West Virginia received an award from
the Southern Section
for having the most Golden Acorns attending the General
Assembly.
DAC Daughters in
the Commonwealth assisted with the restoration of National Headquarters.
During the administrations of Regents Shipp, Muller and
Gordon Virginia
continued numerous
restoration projects. During Honorary
Regent Gordon’s term
antique chairs dating to the period 1683 in the Lynhaven House were restored,
both the chairs
and seats. In Regent Osborne’s term the Virginia
Daughters continued their service to America’s heroes.
Beautiful boxwoods were planted along the carriage path
to historic “Village View”
at Emporia during the administration of State Regent Mrs.
Charles Featherston.
Tree pins were
sold to help fund the project. The
graveyard at Red Hill,
last home of Patrick
Henry was rededicated on the 200th anniversary of his death.
Veteran Service
and National Defense were priorities.
Membership was reported at 270 during that time.
During the
recent administration of State Regent Mrs. Russell Bersch
Virginia Daughters
adopted her project
to restore Will Book 13 in
The State Society supported the
National President’s Project that was marking the most heavily traveled
road in Colonial America, The Great Indian
Warrior/Trading Path located from
the northern to
southern borders of the Commonwealth.
That
dedication was held at Stanton.
Mrs. Bersch represented the National Society as color
bearer at the annual
Yorktown Day Ceremony on
NSDAC Patriotic Book Marks
were placed in several schools.
State Regent Bersch
created and presented a special program exhibiting and explaining the various
NSDAC insignia
at her official chapter visits.
She also
honored three Centenarians during her
administration.
Parties for
patients were held at a local Veterans Medical Center.
During Mrs. Charles Odom’s
administration the State Regent’s project was a pair of paintings
presented to
the history of religious freedom in
manufacturers’ coupons and visits honored veterans. Hampton Spanish American War Cemetery
received flags at a grave
marking ceremony. The Regent restored
a marble tablet for historic Mason’s Hall that had formerly served as a
veterans’
hospital in
Nancy Ackerman and Carol Stone
were appointed to organize two new chapters.
Sharon Stine assisted in
establishing this web site. Implementation of computer technology
facilitated operations.
Betty Shackelford coordinated marking Meander
Plantation as a State Project.
This webpage
last updated February 16, 2010
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