A bronze plaque was presented to mark the site of Mrs. Carpenter's home and the organization of the new chapter during the term of Glenna Greene Booth, Chapter Regent 1974-1976. The home was on the site of the present St. Luke's United Methodist Church. The Oklahoma Society began as both Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory and for the first several years, there was a State Regent in each of the territories. After statehood the two were merged and Mrs. Ira L. Reeves of Muskogee was elected the first State Regent of Oklahoma and Mrs. Robert P. Carpenter, Regent of Oklahoma Territory and founder of Oklahoma City Chapter, was elected Vice Regent.
Both groups met for the first State Conference in Muskogee in March 1909. The Constitution and Bylaws for the state, prepared by the Oklahoma City Chapter, were presented and adopted at this meeting.
Many prominent women have been members of the Oklahoma City Chapter including Dr. Muriel Wright, first Curator of the Indian Archives at the Oklahoma Historical Society.
 |
Mrs. George Fluke, designer of the beautiful Oklahoma Flag, was a member of Oklahoma City Chapter from 1967 until her death in 1986. Mrs. Fluke entered a contest to design a flag for the young State and won with her design showing an azure background, the Choctaw Indian Shield in the center with a peace pipe across the center of the shield. |
Mrs. Fluke was originally a member of the Ponca City Chapter in 1928 and transferred to Oklahoma City Chapter in 1967. She was presented her 50 year member pin in 1983 and continued her membership until her death in 1986.
Our member, Patience Latting, was elected Mayor of
Oklahoma City in 1971 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.
Nine Oklahoma City Chapter members have been elected to 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. Frances Reaves
Young. One member, Mrs. Pettee, served two consecutive terms as State Regent
from 1914-1918.
One of our projects, of which we are most proud, is the continuous
presentation of Flags of the United States of America over a period of 81 years
to newly naturalized citizens at each Naturalization Court hearing in the
Oklahoma City District Court. The Chapter has given flags to new citizens since
1923, and has Chapter members present at naturalization ceremonies. The Chapter
also provides the DAR Manual for Citizenship, printed by the National Society,
to the Court for study by interested immigrants.
Chapter members have planted many trees on the grounds of the Oklahoma City
Schools, the state fairgrounds, the State Capitol grounds and around the
Governor's Mansion. We have given United States flags to many schools and in
1940 gave an Oklahoma flag to hang in the Bell Tower at Valley Forge.
Oklahoma City Chapter gives $20,000.00 in Scholarships each year to students
enrolled in state universities. The Chapter adds $1,000.00 to the funds
distributed as prize money to the State DAR Scholarships and the DAR Good
Citizens contests at State Conference each year.
Oklahoma City Chapter meets at 12:00 noon on the second Wednesday every month
from October through May. In addition, the Chapter holds a Registration Tea on
the second Wednesday in September.