Chapter History

Chico Chapter held their Chapter Centennial at a Rose Garden Reception on April 24, 2022. The party included guests from all over the state of California. Guests included California State Regent Susan Broderick, State Vice Regent Sharon Maas, and State Cooresponding Secretary Emily Boling. District Directors and Chapter Regents--Past and Present--joined Chico Chapter members for the party. 

The Chico Chapter, NSDAR, was officially organized on March 17, 1922. The original 15 members were: Organizing Regent Annie Lund Meriam , Agnes Meline, Mrs. B.E. Crouch, Mrs. J.R. Case, Etta Chiapella, Mrs. Raymond Steel, Mrs. Fetzer, Mrs. Studley, Mrs. Eastman, Mrs. Welty, Mrs. Garsice, Mrs. Mackay, Dorothy Mackay, Mary Sears, and Miss Barney.

During our first year, members assisted four other new California chapters in purchasing and presenting a flag to the battleship U.S.S. California. They also purchased local history books that were later donated to the National Society and promoted patriotism whenever the opportunity arose.

During the 1920s, members participated in annual essay contests, state projects, teas, grave markings, and tree plantings. They distributed naturalization literature and the proper use of the American flag. Their participation in the Armistice Day parade earned them a second prize!

Three of our members, Mary Ogden Nelson, Mary Sears, and her sister Elizabeth Edwards, were "real granddaughters," whose grandfathers themselves aided in the American Revolutionary War. We recently placed special markers on our real granddaughters' graves. 

In 1996, the Willows Chapter, NSDAR, merged with the Chico Chapter, NSDAR, to the mutual benefit of both organizations. The Willows Chapter, NSDAR, was officially organized on February 19, 1919, and provided many services and projects to local communities. 

The Willows Chapter, NSDAR, served the community by placing commemorative plaques on historic sites, including the Bayliss Library to commemorate the only Carnegie Library to be built in a rural area in all of the United States. They were best known for their generous scholarships to a deserving graduating high school senior in Glenn County for 20 years running! 

Honoring Chico Chapter, NSDAR, Daughters

Chico Chapter, NSDAR, Daughters are active, well-rounded individuals, who contribute in many ways to the communities in which we live, as well as to our National and State Societies. Chico Chapter, NSDAR, Daughters are medical professionals, civic leaders, teachers, clergy, professors, business professionals, secretaries, homemakers, past elected officials, authors, artists, and retirees.

Chico Chapter, NSDAR, can boast of several authors and artists over the years: 

  • Alzada Carlisle Kistner, author of "An Affair with Africa"
  • Helen Turner Carlisle, author of "Song for Tomorrow: A Collection of Poetry, and Music from 
           the Carousel"
  • Michelle Shover, author of "Vera McKeen of Yankee Hill," "Blacks in Chico 1860-1935: Climbing the Slippery Slope," "Chico's Lemm Ranch Murders and Anti-Chinese Campaign of 1877," "Exploring Chico's Past and Other Essays," and "California Standoff: Miners, Indians, and Farmers at War, 1850-1860"
  • Dorothy Morehead Hill, author of "Indians of the Chico Rancheria" and "Maidu Use of Native
           Flora and Fauna," donating her extensive and sensitive Native American collection to California
          State University, Chico; 
  • Janet Turner, internationally recognized printmaker, donated her exquisite print
          collections to California State University, Chico, which created the
          Turner Art Gallery and Museum to hold the collection.

Additionally, Chico Chapter, NSDAR, Daughters have been honored by our local communities:

  • "Woman of the Year" in 2000 by Beta Sigma Phi. 
  • Educator’s Hall of Fame in 1996 and was named "Woman of Distinction" in 1990 by Soroptimist International. 
  • "Volunteer of the Year" in 1997 by the California Association of Health Facilities.
  • Inducted into Chico State Sports Hall of Fame in 1984
  • Awarded the Chico Chamber's J "Pat" Lappin Award for contributions to the City of Chico

Daughters recognized by the National and State Societies:

  • A Chico Chapter, NSDAR, Daughter was honored as the "Outstanding Junior Member" in 2006 by the California State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
  • A Chico Chapter, NSDAR, Daughter was awarded 1st Place by NSDAR for Papercrafts in American Heritage Contest in 2018 and 2020. She received 2nd Place in 2019. 
  • A Chico Chapter, NSDAR, Daughter received the 2019 Excellence in Community Service Award from the California State Society for her assistance in restoring the Paradise "Parade of Flags" following the devastating Camp Fire in 2018.

 

National Society Daughters of the American Revolution

California State Society Daughters of the American Revolution

 

Photos Courtesy of of Chapter Members