April 30, 1890 is the day that a vote was cast setting into motion a great patriotic movement on behalf of women. The Sons of the American Revolution held their first National Congress in Louisville, Kentucky. At that Congress, a new SAR Constitution was adopted and the question arose in the SAR convention whether women should be excluded from their society. The decision was in the affirmative. It was decided to have a military comradery or camaraderie type organization which ladies were not expected to join making it “Sons” in the true gender sense. Ironically, ladies had been accepted into membership in some SAR State Societies and were actually attending this convention as members only to be essentially voted out.
The newspapers of May 1, 1890 had a full account of the vote, and women around the country were stirred with indignation. I imagine that some of the sayings such as the one about the fury of a woman scorned or the one about a wet setting hen may accurately describe the feelings of those women at that time. One of those women, Miss Eugenia Washington of Washington, D.C. took immediate action by calling upon Mrs. Flora Adams Darling that same evening with the proposition of organizing a society for women. The proposition was received with great enthusiasm, but action had to be postponed due to Mrs. Darling leaving the city for the summer. As you know, this was customary for many of the time; therefore, action for this organization was postponed until her return in the latter part of September.
It is interesting to note that on July 13, 1890 a stirring article appeared in the Washington Post entitled, “Women worthy of honor.” This article, written by Mary Lockwood, contained the reproduction of a story printed in 1876 written by Miss Henrietta Holdrich, great-granddaughter of the Revolutionary Heroine Hannah Arnett, and asked the question, “Were there no mothers of the Revolution? Where will the Sons and Daughters of the Revolution place Hannah Arnett?” This recital rekindled the flame of patriotism that had been smoldering for months now.
At the same time, a great-great grandson of Hannah Arnett, Mr. William O. McDowell, who had assisted in organizing the SAR in New York City, credited for playing a major role in the organization of the SAR, and who had voted against the exclusion of women was contemplating his next action. He decided to issue a call to all who were descended from Revolutionary heroes and offered his assistance in forming a society for women. Immediately following the reprint of the article about Hannah Arnett, he wrote a letter to the Washington Post describing his idea and concluded with a formal “Call for the organization of the Daughters of the American Revolution.”
Five women of the Washington area responded. None of these women knew the others. Those women were Miss Eugenia Washington, Miss Mary Desha, Mrs. Hannah McL. Wolff, Mrs. Louise Knowlton Brown, and Mrs. Mary Morris Hallowell. Mr. McDowell contacted Miss Desha suggesting that a meeting of the five women be called at once for preliminary organization, election of officers, etc. and that arrangements be made for a grand meeting on Columbus Day, October 11. Miss Desha contacted the others, and Mrs. Brown issued the invitation to hold the first meeting at her home during the last week of July (1890).
On July 29th, five women attended this meeting: Miss Washington, Miss Desha, Mrs. Wolff, Mrs. Brown, and Mrs. Ellen Hardin Walworth. There is no mention about the absence of Mrs. Hallowell and the attendance of Mrs. Walworth. With the small attendance, the ladies decided to wait until autumn for formal action to be taken, and Mr. McDowell was informed of their decision. This decision did not sit well with him. The wet setting hen may have described him as he wrote again on July 30 and strongly urged that another meeting be called at once. He even went so far as to send blank application papers used for the SAR (striking the words Sons and hand writing Daughters), a proposed constitution, and an application for membership for himself along with a check for his initiation fee and annual dues.
Upon receiving his letter and packet of items, it was decided to organize at once. The meeting was held on August 9, 1890 at the apartment of Mrs. Walworth at the Langham. Many were still absent from the city, and only 3 of those notified showed up for the meeting. This time the small number did not deter them. Miss Washington, Miss Desha, and Mrs. Walworth proceeded with the preliminary organization. The basis of the society, a national one, was declared first, and then, the name of Mrs. Benjamin Harrison (current First Lady of the United States of America) was proposed for president general. The next day application papers were sent to her along with the request to accept the office. The second act was the revision and adoption of the constitution provided by Mr. McDowell. Next, a board of management was appointed with the following ladies: Mrs. Mary Orr Earle, Mrs. Hannah McL. Wolff, Mrs. Flora Adams Darling, Mrs. Louise Knowlton Brown, Miss Sophonisba P. Breckinridge, Miss Virginia Grigsby, and Miss Mary Desha. Mrs. Walworth was chosen secretary, and Miss Washington was chosen registrar.
Desha, Walworth, and Washington began working at once. Notices of appointments were sent and acceptances were received. Letters were written to women in different sections of the country inviting them to join the society. To further their efforts, a notice was published in the Washington Post on August 18, 1890. This notice stated the purposes of the society, stated the eligibility clause, and requested that women of Revolutionary descent send their names to the registrar and provided the address.
During the month of September, Professor Goode and Mr. A. Howard Clarke of the Smithsonian, aided the work. They gave much time and offered helpful suggestions. Mr. McDowell, with his experience of a lead role in the organization of the SAR, gave continual advice. Three hundred application papers were printed with the following slip enclosed in every letter:
“Name: Daughters of the American Revolution
Objects: To perpetuate the memory and spirit of the women and men of the Revolutionary period.
To collect and preserve historical and biographical records, documents, and relics, and to obtain portraits of eminent American women.
Initiation, $1. Annual, $2. Life membership, $25.
Negotiations for the use of the Arlington Hotel for regular meetings were in progress when the following letter from Mrs. Darling, having returned to the city, was received.
Strathmore Arms,
Washington, D.C., October 7, 1890
My Dear Miss Desha: Mr. McDowell will be with me at this hotel to organize the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, October 11, 2 p.m. It is our joint request that you accept the office of president of the board of management of the Society. We know of no one better equipped to fill the position than yourself, and trust you will be pleased to accept.
Sincerely, Flora Adams Darling
Mrs. Darling was immediately informed that the preliminary organization of the society was accomplished and all that remained was its completion.
The meeting was held at the Strathmore Arms on Saturday, October 11, 1890at 2 P.M. just as proposed by Mr. McDowell. The full organization of the Society was accomplished with 18 women signing the formal draft of organization. The ladies signed in the following order:
1. Miss Eugenia Washington 10. Miss Pauline McDowell
2. Mrs. Flora Adams Darling 11. Mrs. Ada P. Kimberly
3. Mrs. Ellen Hardin Walworth 12. Mrs. Aurelia Hadley Mohl
4. Mrs. Mary Morris Hallowell 13. Miss Floride Cunningham
5. Miss Susan Riviere Hetzel 14. Mrs. Carolina L. Ransom
6. Mrs. Margaret Hetzel 15. Mrs. Emily Lee Sherwood
7. Mrs. Mary V. E. Cabell 16. Mrs. Harriett Lincoln Coolidge
8. Mrs. Mary S. Lockwood 17. Mrs. Jennie D. Garrison
9. Mrs. Alice Morrow Clark 18. Miss Mary Desha
Four gentlemen were also present at this auspicious occasion: Professor G. Brown Goode, Professor W. C. Winlock, Mr. William O. McDowell, and Mr. Wilson L. Gill. On motion of Mrs. Cabell, Mr. McDowell was elected chairman (or presiding officer according to the SAR’s Centennial History), Mr. Wilson L. Gill served as secretary (according to the SAR’s Centennial History), and Miss Desha was elected secretary pro tem. The constitution that was adopted at the preliminary organizational meeting on August 9 was accepted subject to further revision. A committee to review the constitution consisted of Mrs. Darling, Mrs. Cabell, and Miss Desha. Officers were also elected at this time. The officers were as follows:
President: Mrs. Benjamin Harrison
Vice President in charge of organization: Mrs. Darling
Vice Presidents-General: Mrs. William D. Cabell, Mrs. H. V. Boynton, Mrs. A. W. Greeley, Mrs. F. P. Sinclair, Mrs. G. Brown Goode, Miss Mary Desha, Mrs. William C. Winlock, Mrs. David D. Porter
Secretaries-General: Mrs. Ellen H. Walworth, Mrs. Mary Orr Earle, succeeded by Miss S. P. Breckenridge
Registrars: Miss Eugenia Washington, Mrs. Alice M. Clarke,
Treasurer: Mrs. Marshall McDonald
Historian: Mrs. Mary S. Lockwood
Surgeon-General: Miss Clara Barton
Chaplain-General: Mrs. Teunis Hamlin
Executive Committee: Mrs. Cabell, Mrs. McDonald, Miss Washington, Mrs. Hetzel, Miss Desha, Mrs. Lockwood, and Mrs. Walworth
The meeting concluded with the election of an advisory board consisting of 6 gentlemen all of whom were SAR members: Chairman, Mr. William O. McDowell; Professor G. Brown Goode, Professor W. C. Winlock; General H. V. Boynton, General Marcus J. Wright, and Mr. W. L. Gill. Later, other names were added which included Colonel Marshall McDonald who was very active in aiding the work of the organization and Mr. Goode was made chairman. It is interesting to note that at early DAR meetings these advisors were asked to sit in an anteroom, offering their opinions when asked but never participating in the meeting actions or knowing if the advice offered was followed.
One of the last actions taken at this meeting was to pass a resolution favoring a bill that was before the United States Congress for marking historical spots. In addition, Miss Desha suggested that the first work of the new society should be to aid in raising a monument to George Washington’s mother!
The work of the newly formed society was far from over. The next meeting was held on October 18, 1890. The next post will share the decisions made at that meeting as well as other formative meetings in the beginning of the NSDAR.
Thank you to the Office of Historian General and the NSDAR Archivists for the information they provided!
