The Oklahoma City Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, the oldest chapter in the state of Oklahoma, was organized 14 December 1904, by Mrs. Robert. P. Carpenter in her home at 212 N. W. 15th Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Territory, with sixteen charter members.
The chapter observed its 75th Anniversary on 14 December 1979, by placing a DAR marker at the site of Mrs. Carpenters home on which St. Lukes United Methodist Church is now located. The church was also used as a meeting place for the chapter.
The chapters 100th Anniversary was celebrated on 11 September, 2004, with an elegant Centennial Tea that was held in the Colonial Room of St. Lukes United Methodist Church in honor of the chapter history. This tea, held during the term of chapter regent Janice Yancy Gunn (2004-2006), was attended by the state regent, Sharel Sue McAdoo (2004-2006) as well as Honorary State Regent and past chapter regent Annalee Nunn Hixon (1984-1986) and Honorary State Regent Mary Jackson Duffe (19992000). Also in attendance were past chapter regents, Virginia Stallings Hampton (1956-1958), Mary Hardie (1990-1992), Joy Alexander Ansley (1986-1988), Phyllis Ghormley Manning (1998-2000), Linda Linton Koch (2000-2002), and Audette Smoot Knutson (1994-1996, 2002-2004). Noted harpist Jill Justice was engaged to provide music during the tea. Each chapter member received a porcelain ornament to memorialize this event. Members of the John Bray Society Children of the American Revolution assisted.
The Oklahoma City Chapter DAR began its own library early after organization and following additional contributions of books and money it was combined with the State DAR Traveling Library. This led to the formation of the State DAR Library now housed in the Oklahoma Historical Society Research Library at the Oklahoma History Center and known as the DAR Collection.
This chapter has had the privilege of honoring a number of 50 year members since being chartered 105 years ago in 1904. Furthermore, several prominent women have been members of the Oklahoma City Chapter:
· Patience Latting was elected Mayor of Oklahoma City and served several terms until 1983. At the time of her election, Oklahoma City was the largest city in the nation to have elected a woman mayor.
· Dr. Muriel Wright, who was the first Curator of the Indian Archives at the Indian Archives at the Oklahoma Historical Society.
· Louise Fluke, designer of the Oklahoma Flag, was a member of the Oklahoma City Chapter from 1967 until her death in 1986. Her design was adopted by the State Legislature on 2 April 1925. In 2005, the Fluke family donated the original flag to the citizens of Oklahoma on 7 April 2005, in ceremony held in the Governor's Blue Room at the State Capitol. A standing room only crowd of friends, family, and historians watched as Lt. Governor Mary Fallin accepted the flag which now hangs in the rotunda area of the state capitol. chapter member Cynthia Glover Henderson attended this dedication.
· Frances Reaves Young was Assistant General Manager of the State Fair of Oklahoma for 17 years prior to her retirement in 1991. She was active in the restoration of the Goodholm House, as well as numerous other building projects on the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds, including the Women's Building. As a member of the International Association of Fairs & Expositions, she was chairman of the Women's Committee and Competitive Events Committee.
The Goodholm House, an example of a fine Victorian home which existed in the northeast area of Oklahoma City, was constructed in 1899 and later moved to the Oklahoma State Fair Grounds under the direction of Frances Reaves Young. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Throughout the years, members of various DAR chapters have served as docents and have been awarded the Goodholm House pin for their time volunteered. The home was moved from the fairgrounds property in 2009 and is now in private hands. The new owner is restoring the home to its former glory in eastern Oklahoma county.
Prior to the adoption of the Fluke designed Oklahoma Flag, the Oklahoma City Chapter presented a silk printed Oklahoma Flag in its original design of a white star, edged in blue, centered in a field of red to the Commander of the USS Oklahoma Battleship at its commissioning in May 1916. In addition to the flag donation, the chapter has marked the following seven historical sites in Oklahoma:
· The Spring Water Camp Site of David L. Payne which is now in the vicinity of the Presbyterian Hospital Complex at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center was marked in December 1921.
· The sites of Washington Irving's trip of 1832 were marked at Jones, Spencer and Arcadia, Oklahoma, in 1932.
· The Jones marker was reset in 2007 during the term of regent Kathleen Blevins.
Council Grove, the site where many Indian Treaties were signed, was marked in 1941.
· The USO Building Grounds, at 208 North Broadway, Oklahoma City, located just north of the Skirvin Hotel was marked in March 1945.
The original site of the home of Mrs. Robert P. Carpenter, where the chapter was organized, currently the site of St. Luke's United Methodist Church, was marked 14 December, 1979, during the term of Mrs. Glenna Booth (1974-1976).
Nine Oklahoma City Chapter members have been elected as state regent of the Oklahoma Society over the years since 1904. They include Mrs. R. P. Carpenter, Mrs. W. J. Pettee, Mrs. A. R. Hickam, Mrs. Fred G. Neff, Mrs. Virgil Browne, Mrs. Earl Foster, Mrs. Olen Delaney, Mrs. Fay E. Hixon and Mrs. Arthur L. Young, Jr. One member, Mrs. Pettee, served four annual terms as state regent in the early years of our society.
One of the chapters projects of which the members are most proud, is the presentation of the Flag of the United States of America and DAR flag code leaflets to each new citizen at every Naturalization Court ceremony in the Oklahoma City Western Federal Court. The chapter has given flags to new citizens since 1923. During the second term of regent Audette Smoot Knutson (2002-2004), the decision was made to share these duties with nine other Oklahoma City area chapters. Oklahoma City Chapter will continue to attend twice yearly, as well as provide the other metro area chapters the opportunity to purchase the flags and flag code leaflets at our cost to chapters attending.
Chapter regent Joy Ansley (1986-1988) had the privilege of presenting the DAR Americanism Award to recipient Ingeborg Acker during her administration in April of 1987. This award is given to adult naturalized citizens in recognition of trustworthiness, leadership, patriotism, and service. NSDAR makes the selection for this award.
Chapter members have planted many trees on the grounds of Oklahoma City schools, the State Fairgrounds, the State Capitol grounds and around the Governor's Mansion. Over the years, we have given the United States flag to many schools across the state. In 1940, through the Valley Forge Society, we gave an Oklahoma flag to hang in the Bell Tower at Valley Forge.
The Oklahoma City Chapter awards scholarships each year to worthy students enrolled in colleges and universities. The chapter also funds one of the state DAR scholarships each year and two scholarships at the University of Central Oklahoma through the Nannie Blanc Trammell Endowment.
Since 2006 the chapter has participated each December in the national Wreaths Across America event, which began in 1992 when Worcester Wreath Company in Maine started placing wreaths on headstones at Arlington National Cemetery. The local wreath-laying ceremony is held at the Oklahoma City Veterans Cemetery and is coordinated by the Cleveland County Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol in association with the DAR Oklahoma City Regents Council.
The chapter was recognized for several achievements and honors during the 2006-2008 administration of chapter regent Kathleen Blevins. In May, 2007, the applicant sponsored by the chapter was awarded the Dr. Aura-Lee A. and James Hobbs Pittenger American History Scholarship.
A Historical Preservation Project was submitted to the national competition by chapter member Laquetha Guthrie Young for the restoration of the two room country school. The project was awarded first place by Oklahoma Society Daughters of the American Revolution. It was then sent to the South Central District national vice chairman for consideration at the National level, where it was recognized for 3rd Place Historic Preservation-Individual, Antioch Dependent School, June 2007. The chapter plans to mark this site in the near future.
Chapter members take great pride in celebrating Constitution Week each year partnering with local cities, universities, churches and schools to promote Constitution Day and Bells Across America.
Attorney William J. Paul, a founding trustee of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, PA, spoke to the chapter and shared in its 2007 Constitution Day activities at Oklahoma City University. In 2008 the chapter provided a Constitution display, distributed DAR leaflets and bookmarks, and assisted with voter registration at Oklahoma Christian University. The chapter has been recognized by the National Society for its Constitution Week programs.
Also, during the 2007-2008 Blevins administration, member Cynthia Glover Henderson won national outstanding chairman for Womens Issues as state chairman for that committee.
The DAR Medal of Honor is given for outstanding leadership, service, and patriotism and is the most prestigious award presented by the DAR. Our chapter has had the privilege of presenting two in the last ten years. In May of 1988, chapter regent Joy Ansley had the honor of presenting the Medal of Honor to Major General William P. Bowden, commander of Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker Air Force Base. He received one of 45 awards presented nation-wide that year. And in May 2008, during the term regent Kathleen Blevins, a chapter nominee, Cindy L. Pipkin, was awarded the DAR Medal of Honor. Mrs. Pipkin is the founder and director of Life Change Ballroom, a non-profit program that teaches ballroom dance in Oklahoma City Schools. This award was presented by state regent Joyce Shults Hill at a chapter meeting.
The Oklahoma City Chapter DAR is considered the mother chapter of Oklahoma, having many members who have helped organize other chapters in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. It has been a vital part of Oklahoma City for over 100 years and as new members are welcomed each month, the Oklahoma City Chapter will continue to be a cornerstone in community service throughout the coming years.
The most recent awards may be viewed on the Awards and Recognition Page.
Honorary Chapter Regents
**Mrs. R. P. Carpenter*,
Organizing Regent .........................1904-05
**Mrs. W. J. Pettee* . .....................1905-07
Mrs. R. H. Gardner* .........................1907-08
Mrs. Ross R. Fuller * ..........................1908-09
Mrs. T. W. Williamson* .......................1909-11
Mrs. W. E. Taylor* ........................1911-13
Mrs. Francis K. Brooke* ........................1913-14
**Mrs. W. J. Pettee* ............................1914-18
Mrs. R. H. Gardner* .........................1918-19
**Mrs. A. R. Hickam* ........................1919-24
Mrs. Calvin Hornaday* ..........................1924-25
Mrs. J. Enoch Piersol* ........................1925-28
**Mrs. Fred G. Neff* .........................1928-31
Mrs. John P. Cook* .........................1931-33
Mrs. John M. Hill* ........................1933-35
Mrs. Lester B. Gum* ........................1935-37
Mrs. Charles G. Girvin* .........................1937-39
Mrs. John R. Abernathy* ........................1939-41
Mrs. Ernest Sullivan* .......................1941-43
**Mrs. Virgil Browne* .........................1943-46
Mrs. Harlan T. Deupree* ........................1946-48
**Mrs. Earl Foster* .......................1948-50
Mrs. Otto K. Wetzel* ........................1950-52
Mrs. N. Bert Smith* ......................1952-54
**Mrs. Olen Delaney* .......................1954-56
Mrs. Harry C. Stallings* .........................1956-58
Mrs. Pat Pugh* .......................1958-60
Mrs. William Glenn Bennett* .....................1960-62
Mrs. H. Mead Norton* .........................1962-64
Mrs. Harold W. Shuelke* .......................1964-66
Mrs. Inez Gose Lee* ........................1966-68
Mrs. Henry H. Harrill* .........................1968-70
Miss Eula E. Fullerton* .........................1970
Mrs. Frank Grass* .................... ....1970-72
Dr. Mary Lou Farris* .......................1972-74
Mrs. John N. Booth .........................1974-76
Mrs. Arthur L. Young Jr* ........................1976-78
Miss Glendine Mathis* ........................1978-80
Mrs. Martin L. Carter, Jr ........................1980-82
Mrs. T. S. Bumpass* . .......................1982-84
**Mrs. Fay E. Hixon .........................1984-86
Mrs. Ernest L. Ansley ...................... .1986-88
Mrs. Earl J. Hampton* ........................1988-90
Mrs. Jack E. Hardie .................. ....1990-92
Mrs. Blake Sheppard* ........................1992-94
Mrs. Gerald Knutson .......................1994-96
Mrs. W. Harold Ammerman .......................1996-98
Mrs. Richard Manning .....................1998-2000
Mrs. David L. Koch ...................2000-2002
Mrs. Gerald Knutson ....................2002-2004
Mrs. Robert M. Gunn ................... .2004-2006
Mrs. W. Lee Blevins ....................2006-2008
Mrs. Steven Thompson ................... .2008-2010
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