DAR insignia

 

Welcome to the 
Lakeland Chapter  

Lakeland, Florida  

National Society Daughters of the American Revolution

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old and new parade carsorganizing board of directors and current board
Chapter History
Chapter Meetings
Chapter Officers
Membership
National DAR
Florida DAR

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Chapter History

 

The Lakeland Chapter was chartered in December 1925, with 20 members.  The organizing regent was Mrs. Annie Hanna Darracott,  whose great-great-grandfather, colonial ancestor, Captain Andrew Barry, fought in the American Revolution.  Since that time, our chapter has grown to more than 125 members.  


The ladies of the Lakeland Chapter take the Society's goals very seriously.  For many years, the chapter distributed flag codes to every fifth grade student in Polk County, and additional copies  to Girls, Inc., and other youth groups.  Each year we hold a special Flag Day celebration for members, families and guests.  


To support educational programs, our chapter members sell more than 500 pounds of pecans each year.  We support NSDAR and FSSDAR scholarships, while concentrating on local students.  In the past 10 years, the chapter has awarded more than $10,000 in scholarships to graduating high school seniors and to women students needing assistance to raise themselves to self-sufficiency.  By working with the community college, our awards receive matching state funds, thereby doubling our efforts.


Also supporting education, our annual George Washington Tea honors Good Citizens from eleven high schools and American History Essay Contest winners in middle schools.  The students' families, counselors, and school principals join us for this meaningful event.  Each Essay winner receives a pin, certificate, and check from our chapter.  We present $200 to the Chapter Outstanding Good Citizen, $150 to the runner-up, and $100 to each of the other Good Citizens.  Our Good Citizen and eighth grade winner also receive an additional $100 from the family of past regent and committee chairman Shirley Lykes.

The American History Essay Contest is held each year for students in grades five through eight.  The subject for the essay is different each year.  The 2009-2010 Topic: "The Completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad." Students should describe how you felt on May 10, 1869, when the golden spike was driven at Promontory Summit, Utah, to celebrate the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad.  Pretend you are either a settler planning to use the train to travel to your new home in the West, an Irish or Chinese worker who helped build the line, or a Native American whose way of life was greatly affected by the railroad.
 

Our chapter supports many projects for veterans and soldiers.  We recently purchased a harness for a trained guide dog, furnished by the Paws for Patriots program for veterans.  Members supplied personal items and funds for women residents in the Tampa VA nursing home, and mailed cards and filled shoeboxes with toiletries and sundries for soldiers in the Middle East.  To honor Polk County soldiers, our chapter name appears on a brick in Bartow's Millenium Park and on Lakeland's Vietnam War Monument.  The chapter and members also donated to Haley House and a local transportation fund for veterans going to VA facilities in Tampa.  We award JROTC medals to the outstandaing cadets at five high schools and an ROTC medal to a cadet at Florida Southern College.  


The Jeannine Riley Minisci Collection of genealogy books is in the DAR chapter house, Rhinebeck, New York.  The Marie Graves Library is at the Imperial Polk Genealogical Society in Lakeland.  (Both ladies were members of the Lakeland Chapter.)  We also donated books to the Lakeland libraries and the Historical and Genealogical Library in Bartow and donated for the purchase of a 1900s Census Soundex microfilm reel for the Orlando Library.  

Chapter members also collect Campbell's soup labels and General Mills Labels for Education which help buy clothing and supplies for DAR-sponsored schools. Additionally, the chapter contributes money to assist in educating students at an American Indian school.


The Lakeland, Florida area is a great place to live.  Located about 30 minutes from Tampa and less than an hour from Orlando, just off Interstate 4, residents and visitors enjoy the diverse recreational activities the city offers. There are 13 lakes, many with picnic and boat launching areas. Some lakes are surrounded by walkways to encourage leisurely walks or jogs around the lake. Some folks prefer to relax on a bench and watch the swans as they glide gracefully across the water. Various festivals and cultural programs held around the lakes attract people of all ages. The city's Lakeland Center brings many types of big name and local talent to patrons. Lakeland can also boast of its talented Symphony Orchestra and stimulating Museum of Art. Sports fans can watch the Detroit Tigers play their spring season games at the city's Marchant Stadium, or enjoy the area's many fishing, boating, golfing, parks and other facilities.

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Meetings

Date

Program


Coming November 7th... an all day "Genealogical Training Workshop" open to women and men.  Sponsored by the Lakeland Chapter DAR. Presenters have been trained by NSDAR.  $10 registration fee includes materials, box lunch, snacks, and drinks.  Pre-registration is required.  For registration or information, contact Doris Wooden
or Gay Harlowe.
Sept. 2, 2009
Wednesday
"The U.S. Constitution," Presenter:  Paul R. Weaver


Sept. 17-23
"Constitution Week"  (See our displays in the Lakeland, Mulberry & Auburndale Libraries


Oct. 7, 2009
Wednesday
"Tea, Beautiful Tea," Presenter:  Angela Large


Nov. 3, 2009
Wednesday

"Coins of the Revolution,"  Presenter:  Nick Hauser
Dec. 11 , 2009
Friday
"Fans and Lace,"  Presenter:  Florida State Regent Barbara Makant (reservations required)
Jan. 13, 2010 
Wednesday
 "Our Greatest Presidents," Presenter:  Michelle Hubenschmidt (chapter member & Mulberry High history teacher)

Jan. 15, 2010 Florida Arbor Day --Joining the Garden Club, we will each plant a sycamore tree  at Lake Bonnie Park as a memorial to our deceased members.  
Feb. 3, 2010
Wednesday
"George Washington Tea," Present winners of American History Essay and Good Citizens Contests
Presenters:  Nancy Dotson, Jane Wood, Peggy Snow
Mar. 3, 2010
Wednesday
"Creating the Constitution," Presenter:  Edna Benson
Apr. 7, 2010
Wednesday
"Berry College," Presenter:  Pat Blaga
May 5, 2010
Wednesday
"Memorial Service"  Presenter:  Paula Morgan
June 5, 2010
Saturday
"Annual Flag Day Celebration"

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Officers

RegentJackie Asbury Jackie Asbury
1st Vice Regent Ann Cooper
Chaplain Paula Morgan
Recording Secretary Carolyn Stoia
Corresponding Secretary Nancy Dotson
Treasurer

Gay Harlowe

Historian Joyce Bode
Registrar Doris Wooden
Librarian Jean Harden
Parliamentarian Annie Laurie Wynn

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Membership

 Membership in DAR is very rewarding.  To become a member, a woman must be at least 18 years old and be able to prove blood descent from a person who rendered patriotic service during the American Revolution. If you think you are eligible, come to one of our meetings or send an e-mail to our registrar Doris Wooden. Many of our members are willing to help you find ways to document your lineage.
We're anxious to meet you and have you be a part of our chapter.

These are the patriots associated with our members.

 

CONNECTICUT

John Dewey
Daniel Doolittle
Nathan Hatch
Joseph Johnson
Ephraim Loomis
Timothy Munson
Robert Potter
Samuel Spencer
Private Uriel Strong
John Whiting

GEORGIA

Pvt William Hicklin
Drury Mims
Thomas Moffett
Matthew Nail
Sampson Wilder

MAINE

Isaac Freese
Lewis Simpson

MARYLAND

Robert Fenwick
LT John Hyland Price
Capt. Peter Rich
Henry Spalding

MASSACHUSETTS
Thomas Akeley
James Bates
William Beatman
Capt. Timothy Burr
Capt. Joseph Clapp
Phineas Clark
Pvt. Benjamin Coomer
Moses Craft
s
Oliver Drake
Jabez Eaton
John Farrar
John Griswold
Daniel Hooker
George Kimball
John Merrifield
Willoughby Nason
Lewis Simpson
Joseph Tolman
NEW HAMPSHIRE
John Brooks
Moses Hunt
John McLaughlin
Sgt. William Sibley
NEW JERSEY
Sgt. Joseph Feurt
Capt. Nathaniel Leonard
John Phillips
Lt. Col. Mattias Shipman
John Tschudi
Daniel Van Reypen
NEW YORK
Henry Cargill
Henry Ellsworth
John Henry Hayes
Asa Haynes
Pvt Simeon Krom
William Purdy
Johannes Rynex
Eli Seeley
Nicholas Stickle
Johannes Van Deusen
Cornelius Westervelt
Icabod Williams
NORTH CAROLINA
David Alderman
Gov. Samuel Ashe, Sr.
Robert C. Brashear
Col. John Bryan
Nathan Bryan
William Grady
Henry Haggard
William Hicks, Jr.
George Ingle
LT John Murphy
Matthew Nail
James Outlaw
John Pearce
Joshua Taylor
John Weaver
Joseph Whiteley
William Whitfield
PENNSYLVANIA
Leonard Bayer
Henry Black
Lawrence Brindle
James Buchanon
Jonathan Buck, Sr.
Henry Bush, Sr.
John Clark
Barnabus Doyle
Conrad Foltz
Abraham Hathaway
Daniel Hillman
Peter Hufnagel
Frederick Lieser
William McClure
John R. Mahaffey
Ensign Dewalt Mechlin
Obediah Mellott
Frederic Nagle
Michael Ohl, Sr.
Daniel Purcell
Captain Daniel Womelsdorf
RHODE ISLAND
Pvt. Sweet Briggs
William Capwell
Christopher Ellery
SOUTH CAROLINA
Jonathan Adams
John Bethea
Benjamin Chew
John Craig
Henry Dyess
John Harden
Charles Frederick Lesesne
George Martin
Matthew Nail
Mrs. Sarah Southwell
TENNESSEE
Arthur Sheffield
VIRGINIA
Sgt. William Andrews
Aaron Ball
Pierce Bayly
Isham Blake
John Bonner
Richard Bouldin
Reese Bowen
Joseph Brand
Henry Browne
Lt. Hugh Caperton
Howard Cash
Capt. Adam Clement
Private Peter Coffee
Joseph Cole
John Conway, Sr.
Robert Cooke
Rev. Arthur Emmerson, Jr.
Adj. Chandler Fowke
John Gritton
Benjamin Harris
Pvt Thomas Harvey
Captain Edward Herndon
Pvt William Horrall
Peter Thomas Hull, Sr.
Samuel Humphries
John Jackson
Jesse Johns
James Johnston
William Robert Leslie
John McMullen
Sherwood Maddox
Daniel Maupin
Francis Meadows, Jr.
Col. Samuel Meredith
Col. Isaac Reade
Benjamin Robinson
Colesby Smith
Meriwether Smith
Benjamin Swinney
Francis Thorton
Col. Nathaniel Venable
John Winfree

 

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       Webmaster, Lakeland Chapter. 
This page last updated December 20, 2009

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