Chapter History

In the year 1922, twenty-two women joined together and organized the Redwood Forest Chapter, NSDAR. Three of these women were descendants of signers of the Declaration of Independence; Abraham Clark, William Emery, and John Adams. Another woman was a descendant of Otis Ensign, who fought with George Washington and spent the winter with him at Valley Forge. He was also Sergeant of the Detail which executed Major Andre, a British spy.

On November 4, 1922, a meeting was held to select a name for the chapter; two choices for a chapter name were Redwood or Redwood Forest.  On December 20, 1922, Mrs. Allen H. Vance, State Vice-Regent, arrived by train from Sausalito for the organizational meeting. A meeting was held on April 15, 1923, to review the application. The chapter was granted its charter as Redwood Forest Chapter, NSDAR, on May 17, 1923. The first official meeting was held on October 14, 1923, where the first Chapter Regent, Bertha Murry, presided. Mrs. Lyman B. Stookey, California State Society Regent, visited the new chapter on October 30, 1923, and was treated to a tour of the redwoods and dinner at the Eureka Inn.

The three main objectives of NSDAR are historic preservation, promotion of education, and patriotic endeavor. The Redwood Forest Chapter, NSDAR, has contributed much time, effort, and donations to its community to fulfill these objectives.

One of the ways DAR contributes to historic preservation is the placing of markers.  In 1924, Redwood Forest Chapter, NSDAR, Regent, Mrs. Murray, took five members to the small nearby community of Trinidad to locate a boulder to hold a bronze marker that was placed on February 7, 1925, at Fort Humboldt. This was the third historical marker to be placed in the state of California by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The bronze marker was placed on the land that had been deeded to the chapter by a chapter member and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Cooper. This land was later deeded to the City of Eureka. Unfortunately, the marker was stolen around 1930. Thinking thieves stole it for the value of the bronze, board members and Regent Mrs. Madeline Charters visited all the junkyards in the area to search for the marker without success. In November 1931, the members voted to replace it and raised the funds for the replacement marker. Another project the chapter has undertaken is the preservation of an original flag flown over Fort Humboldt.  Please visit the projects page to read more about this particular project.

The second objective of the DAR is the promotion of education. Redwood Forest Chapter, NSDAR, contributes to this objective in several different ways.  Every year we have educational programs that discuss art, crafts, drama, literature, or music that pertain to our American heritage. The chapter also hosts programs that educate our members and guests about our local Native Americans. 

The third objective of the DAR is to promote patriotic endeavors. Every September a week is designated as Constitution Week. During this week the chapter places a display in the local library. Redwood Forest Chapter, NSDAR, has also contributed time and funds to send our local World War II (WW II) veterans on an Honor Flight to visit the WW II memorial in Washington, D.C.

Finally, the chapter is involved with conservation. The Redwood Forest Chapter, NSDAR, has planted six trees at Fort Humboldt. 

Photos courtesy of chapter members.