Daughters of the American Colonists, Records, 1907- (C0725)

19.6 linear feet, 22 oversize volumes, 1 video cassette

INTRODUCTION

The records of a patriotic, historical, and educational organization include documents from the Missouri state organization, individual chapters, and the national society. They consist of by-laws, minutes, programs, newsletters, chapter yearbooks, and scrapbooks.

DONOR INFORMATION

The Daughters of the American Colonists (DAC) Records were donated to the State Historical Society of Missouri beginning in 1983 and ongoing to present. Individual chapters, state officers, and Mrs. Joe Cunningham collected material to preserve in this collection. Consult with the reference staff for complete donor information.

ORGANIZATIONAL SKETCH

The Daughters of the American Colonists “promotes the history and deeds of the American colonists, records and publishes the same; commemorates deeds of colonial interest, inculcates and fosters love of America and its institutions by all residents; obeys its laws and venerates its flag—the emblem of its power and civic righteousness.” Members are adult, female citizens of the United States who can prove they are lineal descendants of an ancestor who rendered civil or military service in any of the colonies prior to 4 July 1776. Membership is approved by the National Society.

The DAC was preceded by the National Society of Colonial Daughters of America, which was established on 13 May 1907. The Mary Ball Washington Court of Colonial Daughters was organized in Kansas City, Missouri, on 14 October 1918.

The National Society Daughters of the American Colonists (NSDAC) was incorporated in Washington, D.C., on 25 April 1921. The Saint Louis Chapter of the DAC was organized and officers appointed on 26 May 1921. The Mary Ball Washington Chapter, DAC, was organized in Kansas City on 21 November 1921.

The NSDAC held its first organizational meeting at the Planter’s Hotel in St. Louis on 8 December 1921. The Missouri state society was organized at the Town Club in St. Louis on 28 May 1922.

The Captain John Hall Chapter in Mexico, Missouri, was the next chapter organized on 12 March 1923. Over the ensuing years sixteen additional chapters were established around the state. In 2003 there were thirteen active DAC chapters in Missouri.

The chapters in Missouri meet regularly per their bylaws to conduct the work of the society. The state society convenes a state board meeting twice each year. The State Assembly is held annually with an additional board meeting conducted during the assembly. The national society holds a General Assembly annually in Washington, D.C. Two national board meetings are held annually.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Daughters of the American Colonists Records record the organization and ongoing activities of the local chapters and state society. A limited number of national society documents are included to illustrate the origin, rituals, and business of the organization.

The records are arranged into five series:

Within each series the materials are arranged by function, such as by-laws, minutes, programs, etc., and then chronologically. Fuller descriptions of the series can be found in the folder list which follows.

The records also contain a video cassette of a promotional television show from the Mexico, Missouri, chapter.

FOLDER LIST

National Records Series

This series includes national pamphlets covering the years from 1944 to 1952. A document titled National Ritual and Headquarters explains the traditions of the organization. The records include numerous General Assembly Programs, 1941-1997, with reports from the states regarding accomplishments and other national level goals and achievements. Selected board meeting minutes record priorities and decisions pertaining to the work of the society. The National Officers’ Club Yearbooks are planning tools, which outline activities, dates, names, and assignments. The National Children of the American Colonists material references the alliance between this organization and the society. There are also documents pertaining to National President Norma Leavene that record the tenure of this member from Missouri who held the highest national office from 1992 to 1994.

f. A1National Ritual and Headquarters
f. A2National pamphlets, miscellaneous, 1944-1952, 1982-1985
f. A3General Assembly programs, 1941-1997
f. A4National Officers’ Club yearbooks
f. A5National Children of the American Colonists
f. A6National President, Norma Leavene, 1992-1994
f. A7National Board meeting minutes, 1973-1979
f. A8National Board meeting minutes, 1980-1989
f. A9National Board meeting minutes, 1990-1996
f. A10National Board meeting minutes, 1997, 2002, 2003
f. A11National Member Certificate

State Records Series

This series documents the organization of the society from 1907 and 1921. In addition to the by-laws and state board minutes from 1960 to the present, the collection includes numerous state assembly records and memorials and historical landmark records. The State Officers’ Club rosters and State Regents’ Newsletters offer information about projects and leadership activities at the state level. The Oakleaf is the newsletter distributed to all DAC members. Copies span the years from 1963 to the present. There are also state records in the Scrapbooks series. See the description of this series below.

f. B1State ledger—Colonial Daughters of America, 1907; National Society Daughters of American Colonist, 1921; lists of officers, members, vital records; organization of Mary Ball Washington Chapter, 1917; organization of John Corbin Chapter, 1930
f. B2State Treasurer, ledger, 1967-1984
f. B3State Board, minutes, 1960s
f. B4State Board, minutes, 1970s
f. B5State Board, minutes, 1980s
f. B6State Board, minutes, 1990s
f. B7State Board, minutes, 2000s
f. B8Call to State Assembly, 1971-1992, 1995, 1996
f. B9State Assembly Programs and Proceedings, 1924-1928
f. B10State Assembly Programs and Proceedings, 1932-1934
f. B11State Assembly Programs and Proceedings, 1935, 1937-1938
f. B12State Assembly Programs and Proceedings, 1939-1941
f. B13State Assembly Programs and Proceedings, 1942-1943, 1945
f. B14State Assembly Programs and Proceedings, 1946-1952
f. B15State Assembly Programs and Proceedings, 1953-1965
f. B16State Assembly Programs and Proceedings, 1967-1970
f. B17State Assembly Programs and Proceedings, 1971-1980
f. B18State Assembly Programs and Proceedings, 1981-1982
f. B19State Assembly Programs and Proceedings, 1983-1986
f. B20State Assembly Programs and Proceedings, 1987-1989
f. B21State Assembly Programs and Proceedings, 1990-1999
f. B22State Assembly Planning Book, 1997
f. B23State Landmark Markings
f. B24State Diamond Jubilee Guestbook, 1996
f. B25State Memorial Service, programs
f. B26Missouri Bylaws, 1925-1998
f. B27State Officers’ Club, 1946, 1950
f. B28State Officers’ Club, 1952, 1958-1999
f. B29State Regents’ Newsletters, 1932-1951
f. B30Oakleaf, newsletters, 1963-1998
f. B31History of the Organization, 1982
f. B32State Assembly Programs and Proceedings, 2000, 2004-2006
f. B33Missouri State Officers, 1985-1988
f. B34Directories, 1996, 1999
f. B35State Officers' Club, 2002, 2004
f. B36Oakleaf, newsletters, 1999-2006
f. B37Oakleaf, newsletters, 2007-2009

Chapter Records Series

This series contains many Chapter Yearbooks that provide membership rosters, officers and committees, meeting dates and plans, along with historical information about the chapter and members. Other documents record the marking of historical venues and gravesites of members. Chapter meeting minutes provide records of ritual and business. There are also chapter records in the Scrapbooks series. See the description of that series below.

f. C1Organization of chapters
f. C2Chapter Yearbooks—Aux Arcs—Lebanon
f. C3Chapter Yearbooks—Benjamin Lillard—Fulton (empty)
f. C4Chapter Yearbooks—Captain John Hall—Mexico
f. C5Chapter Yearbooks—George Hull—Kirksville
f. C6Chapter Yearbooks—John Corbin—Columbia
f. C7Chapter Yearbooks—Hannah Dustin—Webster Groves
f. C8Chapter Yearbooks—John Forster—Farmington
f. C9Chapter Yearbooks—Joseph Lovelette—Children of the Colonists
f. C10Chapter Yearbooks—Marshall
f. C11Chapter Yearbooks—Martha Custis—Columbia
f. C12Chapter Yearbooks—Mary Ball Washington—Kansas City
f. C13Chapter Yearbooks—Mersey Lucas Wood—California
f. C14Chapter Yearbooks—Moberly
f. C15Chapter Yearbooks—Osage—Excelsior Springs (empty)
f. C16Chapter Yearbooks—Slater
f. C17Chapter Yearbooks—St. Louis
f. C18Chapter Yearbooks—Stukely-Westcott—Springfield
f. C19Chapter Yearbooks—Thomas Sanford—Cape Girardeau
f. C20Chapter Yearbooks—William Greenway—Jefferson City
f. C21Chapter Landmarks and Memorials
f. C22Chapter, meeting minutes, John Corbin, 1938-May 1956
f. C33Chapter, meeting minutes, John Forster, 1957-1967
f. C34Chapter, meeting minutes, John Forster, 1968-1977
f. C35Chapter, meeting minutes, John Forster, 1977-1984
f. C23Chapter, meeting minutes, Osage
f. C24Chapter, meeting minutes, Slater
f. C25Chapter, meeting minutes, Other chapters
f. C26Chapter officers, 1982-
f. C27Colonial and Genealogical Records, Stukley-Wescott
f. C28Chapter, meeting minutes, John Corbin, September 1956-1974
f. C29Chapter, meeting minutes, John Corbin, 1975-1994
f. C30Correspondence and miscellaneous, John Corbin, 1932-1965
f. C31Correspondence and miscellaneous, John Corbin, 1966-1996, n.d.
f. C32Miscellaneous, Moberly

Scrapbooks Series

The Scrapbooks series consists of state and local chapter records. State History Books contain copies of state assembly documents, published material about the society, and selected materials submitted by the individual chapters. All chapters are requested to include items that highlight their annual activities. State Press Books contain publicity about the chapters and the society. These scrapbooks have been exhibited at the General Assembly in Washington, D.C.

Chapter History Books include copies of yearbooks, other commemorative programs, photographs, and memorabilia from the chapters' activities. The Chapter Press Books include clippings from publications such as newspapers, magazines, or newsletters.

State History Books

v. 11972
v. 541978-1979
v. 551982-1983
v. 561984-1985
v. 21989
v. 31991-1992
v. 41994
v. 51995
v. 61996
v. 71997-2000
v. 352002-2003
v. 76, 822006-2009

State Press Books

v. 81981-1982
v. 91982-1985
v. 101989-1990
v. 111991-1992
v. 121994-1996
v. 131997-2000
v. 332000-2001
v. 342001-2002
v. 422002-2003
v. 572003-2004
v. 582004-2005
v. 592005-2006

Chapter History Books

John Corbin, 1931-1934v. 60
John Corbin, 1935-1936v. 61
John Corbin, 1971-1973v. 49
John Corbin, 1975-1976v. 62
John Corbin, 1976-1978v. 50
John Corbin, 1980-1982v. 14
John Corbin, 1982-1984v. 51
John Corbin, 1984-1985, 1991-1994v. 52
John Corbin, 1988-1989v. 15
John Corbin, 1989-1990v. 16
John Corbin, 1990-1991v. 17
John Corbin, 1994-1997v. 53
John Corbin, 1997-1998v. 63
John Corbin, 1998-1999v. 64
John Corbin, 2000v. 65
John Corbin, 2001v. 79
John Corbin, 2003-2004v. 80
John Corbin, 2004-2005v. 81
John Hall, 1990-1998v. 83
George Hull, 1997-1999v. 44
George Hull, 2003-2004v. 45
Moberly, 1958-1984 (Frances Marshall Mementos)v. 23
Moberly, 1988-1989v. 66
Moberly, 1988-1991v. 24
Moberly, 1989-1991v. 67
Osage, 1987-1988v. 18
Osage, 1987-1997v. 19
Osage, 1990-1991v. 20
Osage, 1991v. 21
Osage, 1993v. 43
Osage, 1997-2000v. 36
Osage, 2000-2002v. 68
Osage, 2001v. 37
Osage, 2004-2006v. 69, 84
Osage, 2006-2009v. 85
Osage, Guest book, 1987-1989v. 22
Stukely-Wescott, 1986-1987v. 25
Stukely-Wescott, 1988-1991v. 26
Stukely-Wescott, 1991-1994v. 27
Stukely-Wescott, 1997-1998v. 28
Stukely-Wescott, 1999v. 29
Stukely-Wescott, 2004-2005v. 77
Stukely-Wescott, 2005-2006v. 78

Chapter Press Books

George Hull, 1998-1999v. 46
George Hull, 1999-2000v. 47
George Hull, 2003-2004v. 48
George Hull, 2004-2005v. 70
George Hull, 2006-2007v. 74
George Hull, 2007v. 75
Marshall, 1976v. 30
Moberly, 1982-1985v. 71
Moberly, 1988-1989v. 38
Moberly, 1991-1996v. 39
Moberly, 1997-2000v. 40
Moberly, 2000-2002v. 41
Osage, 1990-1993v. 31
Osage, 1993-1994v. 32
Osage, 2000-2003v. 72
Osage, 2003-2004v. 73

Miscellaneous

v. c. 1Promotional TV show, Mexico, Missouri, 1995

INDEX TERMS

These index terms are the subjects, people, places, etc. under which this collection is listed in all available indexes at the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia. If you are interested in a specific index term, please contact the reference staff.

  • Daughters of the American Colonists
  • Leavene, Norma
  • Merchants
  • Patriotic societies
  • Pennsylvania, Litiz
  • Women--Societies