National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), Catharine Greene Chapter Records (MS-684)
Scope and Contents
The collection documents the history and activities of the Catharine Greene Chapter, NSDAR, and is divided into two series:
Series I, Administrative, includes founding documents, general history, membership lists, meeting minutes, treasurer’s records, and genealogical information, dating from 1893 to 2017. Of particular note in this series is the original charter (1894); the Registrar’s record book (1893-1982), which includes dates of admission for all members and information about their Patriot ancestor; a log of births, deaths, and marriages for members (1905-1939); and a nearly complete set of meeting minutes (1894-2017). The files of Treasurer’s Reports (1894-1967) reflect their original filing order (i.e., these were received together in a binder) and contain several annual financial reports, as well as some detailed financial data. The meeting minutes also contain treasurer’s reports and financial information, and this original order was retained (i.e., treasurer reports received interfiled with minutes have not been separated to their own section). This series also includes summary historical narratives written in 1931, 1945, and the 1990s.
Series II, Activities, collectively document the chapter’s activities, with materials dating from 1897 to 2019. The yearbooks, usually published annually but sometimes covering 2-3 years, contain information about chapter officers, as well as the dates and topics of meetings and other activities. The yearbooks date from 1897 to 1991, with few gaps. The scrapbooks, which cover 1894 to 2019, typically contain newspaper clippings, programs, and a few original photographs, and most of these consist of loose pages removed from 3-ring binders. Often, the scrapbooks also contain a copy of the relevant yearbook for the same time period. This series also includes the contents of a binder identified as Members’ Accomplishments, which features mainly articles filed alphabetically by the member’s name, as well as individual files on a few specific programs and activities. Two noteworthy items in this series include: a register concerning a loan exhibition held by the chapter in 1897, in commemoration of Greene County’s centennial, with early pioneer objects on display; and a speech delivered on the occasion of the placement of the historic marker at Oldtown in 1906.
Dates
- Creation: 1893-2019
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
There are no donor-imposed restrictions on accessing material in this collection; however, the original charter is stored off-site in oversize storage.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright restrictions may apply. Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
Biographical / Historical
The Catharine Greene Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded at Xenia, Greene County, Ohio, on December 17, 1894, by organizing regent Emma Cornelia King. It was the fourth DAR chapter established in the state of Ohio. The name of the chapter is derived from Catharine Greene, wife of Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene, for whom Greene County, Ohio, is named.
The charter members were: Clara C. Nicholas Adair (Mrs. Robert D. Adair), M. Louisa Allison (Mrs. S. M. Allison), Lua Mitchell Carey Cooper (Mrs. George F. Cooper), Melissa Snively Darlington (Mrs. Charles Darlington), Miss Rebecca Alice Galloway (later Mrs. Eavey), Maude Lyon Galloway (Mrs. William A. Galloway), Sallie E. Harbine (Mrs. J. T. Harbine), Ella Miller Johnson (Mrs. Charles S. Johnson), Maude Lauman Johnston (Mrs. James A. Johnston), Mrs. Betsy Kendall King, Miss Isadora F. King, Miss Emma C. King, Virginia Lauman, Mary Spencer McCurdy, Miss Helen G. Moorehead (later Mrs. Vanderveer Taylor), Miss Helen V. Shearer (later Mrs. Walkley), Miss Sarah Bell Williams, DeEtta Greiner Wilson (Mrs. William M. Wilson), Miss Mary A. Munger, and Mrs. Cora Day Young.
The DAR is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education for children. The Catharine Greene Chapter meets several times per year to hear and discuss a paper or presentation, usually on a historical topic. The Chapter sponsors a history essay contest for local school children. Members also engage in social activities, which for many of the early years included an annual Christmas party at Miss Emma King’s home (known as “the Kingdom”) on East Main Street in Xenia.
Other important events in the history of the Chapter have included the preservation and exhibition of “relics of the past,” a catalogue and guest book (1897) of which are included in the collection. In 1906, the Chapter placed a historic marker at the site of Oldtown, an early Shawnee Indian settlement in the area. During World War I, the Chapter participated in war work, including selling bonds, knitting sweaters and socks, fundraising, and supporting war orphans. They have been active in caring for Shawnee Park, planning 40 trees there in 1928 to commemorate Revolutionary War soldiers, and fundraising for a new flag pole after the 1974 Xenia tornado.
Extent
4.59 linear feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Catharine Greene Chapter, was founded at Xenia, Ohio, in 1894. The records document the history and activities of the chapter, including meeting minutes, membership records, financial information, yearbooks, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, programs, photographs, and genealogical information.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in two series:
- Series I: Administrative, 1893-2017
- Series II: Activities, 1894-2019
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Many of the early documents are handwritten in cursive script.
Custodial History
The collection was under the custodianship of the Greene County Historical Society from 2002 until March 2021.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated to Wright State University Libraries’ Special Collections and Archives by the Chapter in April 2021.
Accruals
Additional accruals are anticipated.
Separated Materials
The original charter has been physically separated to oversize storage.
Processing Information
The collection has been minimally processed, with some metal fasteners, newsprint, and original plastic page sleeves remaining. Minutes, reports, and activities scrapbooks were removed from original plastic 3-ring binders at time of processing. All materials have been transferred into acid-free archival boxes and folders.
donor
Subject
Genre / Form
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), Catharine Greene Chapter Records (MS-684)
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Lisa Rickey
- Date
- 2021 June 18
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
Wright State University Libraries
Special Collections and Archives
3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy
Dayton OH 45435-0001 USA
937-775-2092
library-archives@wright.edu
