History of the Ponca City Chapter:
The Ponca City Chapter, Oklahoma Society Daughters of the American
Revolution, was organized in 1918. Mrs. J. W. Wilker was organizing Regent
with 24 members. The parent chapter was Kay County Chapter. The Chapter has
repeatedly met the requirements for National Gold Honor Roll and has always
generously supported DAR schools and projects as well as local schools and
civic groups.
Ponca City Chapter members have served the Oklahoma Society DAR annually
as officers and chairmen of state committees. The State Conference met at
Ponca City in 1924, 1937, and 1966. In 1941 the Chapter presented a cherry
wood grandfather's clock with original brass works made during the
Revolutionary era to the state museum in Oklahoma City.
Many historical monuments have been established by the Chapter, including
a memorial to Veterans of World War I, a monument honoring pioneers who made
the land run into Oklahoma, and a monument at the site of a spring used as
the first settlers' original source of water in Ponca City.
A book entitled "The Last Run" which has a collection of oral
histories from pioneer citizens in the Ponca City area, has been compiled
and published by the Chapter. Genealogy and history books for research have
been donated to the Ponca City Library.
A museum, patterned after the museum at the DAR National headquarters in
Washington, D.C., was opened by the Chapter on February 20, 1972. The room
now houses over 300 items, one of which is an 1838 spinning wheel and also
what is reported to be an original Revolutionary Flag.
For the official Diamond Jubilee Project #743 commemorating Oklahoma'
75th anniversary as a state, Ponca City Chapter' book of "Marriage
Records, 1893-1900" was compiled by member Doris Stanley and published
in June 1983. Volume III of "Marriage Records for Kay County,
1900-1902" was published in 1986.
The Sarah Harrison Chapter of Blackwell merged with the Ponca City
Chapter in June of 1998. Sarah Harrison Chapter, OSDAR, was organized by
Mrs. Cordelia Lunsford Beatty on February 11, 1914. There were 26 charter
members from Kay County towns of Blackwell, Ponca City, Tonkawa and Newkirk.
The members chose the name of Mrs. Beatty's grandmother, Sarah Harrison who
was descended from Benjamin Harrison, as the chapter name.
In 1925 the Sarah Harrison Chapter presented a chair to Constitution Hall
in Washington, D.C., with the inscription "Sarah Harrison Chapter,
Blackwell, Oklahoma, presents this chair in memory of our valiant
ancestors." In 1954 a member of the Chapter served as a Page at
Continental Congress in Washington, D.C.
Tonkawa Chapter merged with the Ponca City Chapter on June 5, 1999. The
Tonkawa Chapter, OSDAR, was organized March 18, 1926, with 15 charter
members. Mrs. R. C. Whinery served as organizing regent. Through the 70
years as a chapter they were active in every facet of the organization and
contributed to all projects. Many members attended Continental Congress
where one chapter member served as a Page. On the state level, several
members have served as chairmen of various committees. One member was
selected as the Outstanding State Junior Member.
The Chapter has presented the Excellence in American History Award at
Tonkawa High School since 1928 and at Northern Oklahoma College since 1930.
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