Chapter History

Organized February 16, 1921 - We were the 19th Chapter Organized

The President of the National Society Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America, Alice Bradford Wiles, appointed Mrs. James Schoonmaker as Organizing President for Minnesota. Eleven women assembled on February 16, 1921, in the auditorium of the Minnesota Historical Society building, for the purpose of forming a Minnesota Chapter. Five of these women had been members of the Society for some time and the other six had been invited by the organizing president. The following officers were elected between February 16, 1921 and May 13, 1921:

President, Mrs. James Schoonmaker
Vice President, Mrs. William J. Byrnes
Registrar, Mrs. Edward C. Chatfield
Historian. Mrs. Fremont N. Jaynes
Treasurer, Mrs. Lawrence C. Jefferson
Recording Secretary, Mrs. John M. Bradford
Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. W. J. Jameson
Chaplain, Mrs. A.P. Moss
Color Bearer, Mrs. George B. Tuttle
Councillor - 3 yr, Mrs. M. H. Coolidge
Councillor - 3 yr, Mrs. Charles R. McKenny
Councillor - 3 yr, Mrs. Henry J. Danforth
Councillor - 2 yr, Mrs. Percy J. Lawrence
Councillor - 2 yr, Mrs. J. B. Mooney
Councillor - 2 yr, Mrs. Walter C. Poehier

On May 13, Founders Day, the chapter met at the Tea Room in the Field Schlick Department store in Saint Paul. At a meeting held at the St. Paul's Woman's Club on January 3, 1922, the chapter bylaws were adopted. On February 16, 1922, the chapter celebrated its first anniversary with a birthday party: cake, candle, food and decorations. Many of their early meetings included a musical program. By the second anniversary, the Minnesota Chapter had 70 members, an increase of 28 members during that period. The first annual meeting was held on March 15, 1922, at the Curtis Hotel in Minneapolis.

In 1925, the chapter purchased the Wheeler Collection of Indian relics for $250.00 and donated the collection to the Minnesota Historical Society. They also came into possession of a log book of the expedition from Fort Benton to Port Van Couver and donated this item to the Minnesota Historical Society.

During the 1920's, the chapter held four meetings a year, celebrating its birthday in February, Founders Day in May and held the annual meeting in March. In the early years, they met in the afternoons for tea. The program included a musical selection, a reading or fine talks. In 1928, the chapter donated a Christian Flag to the Chapel at Fort Snelling and also donated money to the reconstruction of "Old Ironsides".

In 1930, the chapter added a meeting day so they now had five meetings a year. Their meetings were held at the Hampshire Arms Hotel, the Curtis Hotel or 510 Groveland: the meetings included lunch. A gavel made of wood from the Battleship "Constellation" was presented to President, Mrs. Wesley J. Jameson by Mr. Wilbur, Secretary of the Navy during the Hoover Administration. The chapter contributed 25 books to the New Ulm Library in 1935. In 1936, personal, historical and ancestral stories of each member were sent to the National Historian.

In 1941, the chapter contributed funds to the Valley Forge fund. During the war years, members knit, sewed, made surgical dressings and bought war bonds and stamps. In fact, they received a citation from the Secretary of Treasury, Mr. Henry Morganthau, Jr., because over 90% of chapter members purchased war bonds. Miss Elizabeth Yarrington Russell, a member of the Minnesota Chapter, served the National Society as Color Bearer from 1946-1949. During her term as National Color Bearer, Miss Russell, with the cooperation of 31 other State Color Bearers, compiled the history of battle flags and an account of historic flags of the U.S. Army and Navy into the "Heraldic History of State Battle Flags", which she bound into a volume and then presented to the National President.

The Minnesota Chapter celebrated its 50th anniversary with a Silver Tea and a program of music. The delicious luncheon was a treat after four years of war rationing. Four charter members were present: Mrs. W. 1. Byrnes, Mrs. John F. Mooney, Mrs. C. R. McKenny and Mrs. E. D. Champine. During the 1950's, there were 45 members in the chapter. In 1953, the Minnesota Chapter contributed 76 books and $44.00 to purchase new books to the Taylors Falls Library and in 1954, they gave historical books and $100.00 for purchasing books to the Forest Lake Library. Members of the chapter carried the DFPA banner in the processional of patriotic societies in the Magna Charta Service at The Cathedral Church of St. Mark from 1945 and continued at least until 1965. In 1957, the chapter first awarded the DFPA medal to a cadet at the Shattuck Military School. Miss Elizabeth Russell, Chairman of Restoration and Preservation Committee, resumed the work of transcribing vital records found in the old files of the Gospel Messenger, the publication of the Episcopal Church, 1827-1872. Mrs. Maude Lawrence had compiled 157 pages of these records, had them printed, bound and presented to the National Society during the 1930's.

At the September meeting in 1960, the chapter voted to raise funds to contribute toward the restoration of the state's most significant and historical landmark, Fort Snelling. The "Greenback Tea" raised $300.00 and enabled the chapter to be the first patriotic society in Minnesota to donate funds to this project. There were 65 members in the chapter on Founders Day in 1963. Mrs. F. Lloyd Young was elected as National Recording Secretary on April 1964 and served until 1967 On June 8, 1964, a medal was presented to an outstanding student in military history at the St. Thomas Military Academy. Also, Certificates of Awards were presented to the director and assistant director of the Minnesota Historical Society, Many paperback books were sent to the armed forces in Viet Nam during 1965-1966. The Minnesota Chapter continued to have five meetings a year, always celebrating its anniversary in February and Founders Day in May. On Thanksgiving Day in 1965, a bronze plaque was placed at the Fort Snelling Chapel by the chapter. The inscription on the plaque reads: "This Chapel was built by public contributions and dedicated June 10, 1928, was rededicated November 15, 1964 to the spiritual needs of the Citizens of Minnesota. This Plaque placed by the Minnesota Chapter, Daughters of
Founders and Patriots of America.

In 1974, there were 39 members. The DFPA American History Medal was awarded to Minnesota High School students for historical excellence in 1976. Also, gold DFPA medals were presented to six ROTC college students and one bronze medal to a high school student. They contributed to the National Fund for Preservation and Restoration of Historical Records and to the maintenance of National Headquarters. By 1977, the Minnesota Chapter was giving six gold DFPAmedals to six ROTC outstanding college students and six bronze DFPA medals to ROTC high school students. Mrs. F. Lloyd Young was elected as National Councillor in 1975. Mrs. Robert E. Warren served as National Corresponding Secretary from 1976 to 1979. Mrs. Sidney D. Pidgeon received the National Society's Special Award in 1979.

In 1988, each member wrote a history of her founder and patriot which Miss Grace V. Rice compiled and bound. Copies were given to each member and to the National Society, the Minnesota Historical Society and the Duluth Genealogy Library. The book will be updated as new members join the Minnesota Chapter.

The chapter continued to meet in members' homes five times a year for lunch followed by a business meeting and an interesting program. Members contributed $3.00 at each meeting. The annual meeting remained in March, but no longer celebrated its birthday in February or Founders Day in May. Over the years, membership has varied from 32 to 76 members, with about 42 members in 1994. This included 15 life members. Several members attended General Court each year. The chapter contributed to the National Endowment Fund and the Preservation and Restoration of Records. In 1993, they also contributed to the Military Education Fund. The presentation of bronze medals to ROTC high school students has been discontinued, but the chapter presents nine gold DFPA medals to ROTC college students and one medal and a certificate to an outstanding high school student in American History.

Currently in 2011 the chapter has 17 members. We meet twice a year in May and September with our Annual meeting being held at the September meeting. We no longer contribute the $3.00 at each meeting. We presented 6 gold ROTC medals to University students and 11 Bronze JROTC medals to High Schools students. We also contribute to the National President's project and give a donation to the Mpls VA Medical center. Some years we gave money to the Fisher House.

Majority of the history was taken from "National Society of Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America Chapter Histories, December 2006".

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This page was last updated: October 10, 2011
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