History of the District of Columbia State Society
National Society of Daughters of the American Colonists

Organizing Meeting May 3rd, 1921

The National Society Daughters of the American Colonists was organized on the 25th day of April 1921 with a number of socially prominent women residing in the District of Columbia present.

The Certificate of Incorporation was signed by Mrs. Jessie McCausland Casanova, Miss Maude Burr Morris, Mrs. Kate D. Berryman, Mrs. Mary E. St. Clair and Miss Lillian A. Norton. All were from the District of Columbia.

Mrs. Sarah E. Guernsey, of Independence, Kansas was elected the first National President and immediately appointed National Officers to serve for one year. The District of Columbia was well-represented among those appointed:
           Mrs. Jessie McCausland Casanova. 3rd Vice President
           Miss Maud Burr Morris, Recording Secretary
           Mrs. Kate D. Berryman, Corresponding Secretary
           Mrs. Mary E. St. Clair, Historian

A week later, on May 3rd, 1921, Mrs. Edson L. Whitney hosted a tea in her home with the expressed intention of organizing a local society. With the enthusiasm of the above mentioned National Officers, Miss Maud Burr Morris was elected Organizing State President and the D.C. State Society was born. She was officially appointed at the October 25, 1921 National Board Meeting. Arkansas and Georgia State Societies were also confirmed at that meeting with other states working on their organization and membership.

At the First General Assembly, held at the New Willard Hotel, April 24, 1922, Miss Morris reported members had joined (the D.C. Society) from all over the country.

And so it began, with membership of wealthy and socially prominent ladies from the District of Columbia and their friends from all over the United States. Ladies devoted to the growth of the National Organization and its ideals, as well as local charitable projects.

In 1923, with Mrs. Jessie McCausland Casanova as regent, the ladies presented a reception for the National Officers, and chose a local charity for their philanthropic support. "Friendship House" was considered "a worthy settlement charity of this city", and was supported with contributions of clothing, books, magazines, firewood, and money. Over the next several ~years much support was given to Friendship House, including selecting one family to receive aid in the form of employment, housing, clothing, and tutoring for the children.

The reception for the National Officers became an annual event, eventually becoming the Open House and Tea which the D.C. ladies continue to sponsor so graciously.

In 1924, Mrs. Casanova reported that in addition to gifts, $351 was contributed to the Friendship House. A wreath of flowers was sent for the funeral of President Harding and 10 members attended the funeral cortege and were admitted to the Capital Rotunda to view the body.

Continuing their great support for the National Society, the ladies were very involved in General Assembly, serving as Chairman and committee of this event. Another group worked on locating and copying local genealogical records with the first a bound copy of wills and tombstones presented at the 1927 General Assembly. Several other books were to follow. A trust fund was set up which would eventually donate a woman’s room, a Grandfather clock, and give other gifts to George Washington University. Other funds were set aside to place a marker at Rock Creek Cemetery.

By 1940, the local officers were being invited to participate in the following D.C. events:
           Mothers Day Ceremonies at Arlington Cemetery
           Massing of the colors at Washington Cathedral.
           Flag Day Ceremonies
           4th of July Ceremonies at Sylvan Theater
           Navy Day
           Army Day
           George Washington's Birthday celebration
           Lincoln Day celebrations, and
           Constitution Day celebrations.

During the war years, Mrs. Lottie Caldwell, served as chairman of the Red Cross for the area. She was recognized for having given 6500 hours of service. With her enthusiastic support 100% of the members participated in the Red Cross with donations of money and volunteer hours. Hundreds of books as well as cash donations were given to the Merchant Marine Library. In 1948, the ladies began sponsoring a tea for wounded veterans at Walter Reed Hospital. These teas were well received by the patients with as many as 100 attending. They were served home made cakes, cookies, ice cream, coffee, candy and nuts. These continued for about seven years with lingering support given to the hospital sponsored events for several more years. Meanwhile hundreds of children were recognized in a map reading contest held through out the D.C. School System. Each year each member of the winning male and female teams was presented with DAC Recognition medals.

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For history of the National Headquarters at 2205 click here.

 
2205 Massachusetts Ave.
Photo by Georgia C. Holder
 

Patricia Daly-Lipe models the current fashion of the year when the National Society and the District of Columbia Society were organized. She is the State Historian of the District of Columbia Society, Daughters of American Colonists.

The portrait is of her grandfather, Oliver Hazard Perry Johnson, the Chairman of the National Metropolitan Bank and owner of 2205 at the time of his death in 1939. Ironically, that bank merged in 1958 to become the American Security & Trust, the same bank that denied a mortgage in 1960 to the NSDAC for the purchase of 2205.

Oliver Hazard Perry Johnson and Katharine Hemmick Johnson purchased 2205 Massachusetts Avenue N.W., in 1911. Patricia's mother, Elisabeth Johnson Highleyman, grew up in this house and she was married here in 1927 to Malcolm Whitaker. The house was sold in 1944.

For more history and pictures of 2205 click here

Patricia's novel Forbidden Loves, Paris Between the Wars tells her mother's story and takes the reader inside 2205 Massachusetts Avenue.

(click here for link to book.)

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These notes were written by Jacque-Lynne Schulman, based in part from the published history of the Headquarters by the NSDAC and other sources includng the Washington Post.

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