The Jane Randolph Jefferson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution celebrated its 125th anniversary Sunday with a tea party at Capital Bluffs Event Center.
Mayor Carrie Tergin presented a proclamation to the group, noting the local chapter has served the community by providing thousands of volunteer hours each year at veterans’ homes, schools, hospitals, state archives, nursing homes and historic societies, and providing the community with 5,000 masks and PPE during the pandemic.
“Congratulations on 125 years and all you have done to make Jefferson City better,” she said.
More than 70 people attended the event, which featured speeches, tea and sandwiches, and a presentation by local historian Michelle Brooks on “Interesting Women of Jefferson City.”
The chapter has 105 members, and about a third of them attended. Many of the other attendees were DAR officers from other chapters across the state.
Many members and guests were in period dress to celebrate their ancestors. Other guests included Cole County Presiding Commissioner Sam Bushman and state Rep. David Griffith.
According to the chapter, the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 in Washington D.C., to promote historic preservation and patriotism. They were excluded from men’s organizations of the day, so four pioneering women gathered from across the country in the nation’s capital to form a society of their own.
Less than seven years later, on Jan. 6, 1897, 14 women met in Jefferson City to organize the third chapter in Missouri. They chose the name Jane Randolph Jefferson as the chapter name in honor of the mother of Thomas Jefferson and a nod to chapter charter member, Miss Margaret Julia Eppes, a lineal descendant of President
Thomas Jefferson.
Chapter Regent Tina Sellner said the organization, which is the largest women’s patriotic women’s organization in the world, was founded on the objectives of patriotism, education and historic preservation.
“These objectives are as true today as they were in 1890 when the national society was founded,” she said.
In the early years of the chapter, it held an annual tea party in February to celebrate George Washington’s birthday. Many members wore colonial dress.
“As a tribute to them and to our patriots from the Revolutionary War, several of our chapter members are wearing colonial attire (today),” Sellner said.
Members of the chapter through the years have promoted a wide variety of issues on a local, state and national level, including American history, service to veterans, national defense, women’s issues and local cemetery restoration. The chapter has given many college scholarships to high school seniors through the years.
Denise Doring VanBuren, DAR’s president general, sent a letter to the organization congratulating its members on the anniversary.
“Every Daughter plays a vital role in continuing our Society’s role as one of the most successful and long-standing volunteer organizations in the nation,” she wrote. “Your most recent achievement further illustrates the relevancy, constancy and vibrancy of our work, which must continue if the accomplishments, memory and spirit of our Patriot ancestors is to be appreciated by future generations. Congratulations on this significant occasion, and may you continue to grow in strength and steadfast service.”
Esther Rosner, the chapter’s first vice regent, started with the organization in 2015. Before that, she didn’t think she had a “patriot,” an ancestor who either served in the American Revolution or aided in the war’s effort.
She said women should look into their genealogy and see if they have such a connection, then consider joining the
organization.