The Colonial Dames of America

03/13/2020

PARENT CHAPTER MEMBER, DARA BROWN
~~~At Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia, toasting the Women’s Suffrage Movement, which had it’s centennial of the ratification of the 19th amendment to the Constitution this year.

03/13/2020

Anderson House
~~~Society of the Cincinnati

Due to the developing public health emergency, Anderson House, the American Revolution Institute’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., is closed to members, Associates, visitors and volunteers effective immediately and continuing through Thursday, April 30, 2020. As a consequence, and with no small degree of sadness, we have suspended tours, public programs, teacher workshops and other education programs, and closed our special collections library to researchers. Our leaders will meet in April to consider whether to resume normal operations in May.

To read the full statement, visit: http://bit.ly/2Qdl7jj

03/13/2020

OUR LIVELY & LOVELY CDA
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY GENERAL
~~~Pegi Ivancevich, President of Chapter VIII-Houston, the soul of elegance.

03/13/2020

Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden

Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden

In response to concerns relating to COVID-19 and the health and well-being of our community, volunteers, and staff, the Museum will close to the public temporarily, effective March 13. Please check our website for updates as we continue to monitor this evolving situation.

03/12/2020

THE MOUNT VERNON HOTEL MUSEUM, NYC, is now closed to the public out of concern for the Corona Virus health crisis which could affect staff, constituency and friends. This will be re-evaluated in future. Press release to follow.

03/12/2020

THE US STATE DEPT
RECOMMENDS BOWING INSTEAD OF HANDSHAKING
THIS MAKES SENSE!

03/11/2020

CDA has several upcoming meetings to intelligently determine the cancellation of upcoming events in DC & NYC. We will be in touch as plans unfold. The health & safety of our members & friends is paramount. Thank you.

03/11/2020

OUR CDA FOUNDERS MAY HAVE HAD A SIMILAR DRESS
~~~Dress circa 1883; CDA founded in 1890
130th Anniversary this year!

1883, America
Wedding dress
Silk, faux pearls, linen
Cincinnati Art Museum

03/10/2020

Coronavirus: Ten reasons why you ought not to panic

VERY GOOD ARTICLE
~~~Distributed by HSC’s Barry Howard

Pandemic does not refer to the lethality of a virus but to its transmissibility and geographical extension.

03/09/2020

The Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society

In this international Women's Day, we remember Eliza Hamilton, "Best of wives and best of Women".
Come join the Women's History Month commemoration at the Hamilton Grange National Memorial on March 21st. Check UpcomingHAMILTON.com for details.

03/08/2020

CDA IS AN INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY
~~~Of women, with 40 chapters in the contiguous United States and abroad: London-Paris-Rome. Founded in 1890, 130 years strong!

03/08/2020

CDA CHAPTER XXI-DALLAS DAMES
~~~~WITH INCOMING COMPANY GOVERNOR of the Jamestown Society-Lone Star Company. L-Linda Juba, R- Betty Quelch, Center- incoming Governor Gary Lovell.

03/08/2020

PARENT CHAPTER MEMBER 👰 BRIDE
~~~JUNIOR DAME ISABEL WESCOAT, a native of Michigan and formerly of New York, was married March 7, 2020 in Richmond, VA to MILES TUCKER.
💕💕💕

03/07/2020

A DAME HAS HUNG THE 130TH CHARM
~~~On a beautiful antique brooch!

03/07/2020

4 NEW CDA ANCESTOR ELIGIBILITY SERVICES:
1-Doctor/Surgeon
2-Founder of City/Town
3-Indian Interpreter 4- Church Vestryman/Warden-(all service prior to April 1775)

03/07/2020

THE CDA 130th CHARM
~~~Is lovely on a chain! The size of a quarter, it makes a real statement. Go to CDA members only library on website for order form, or call the CDA office. Limited run for anniversary...over half now sold. www.cda1890.org

03/06/2020

THIS WILL BE A WONDERFUL TOUR
~~~Early counties of VA to explore!

Historic Garden Week is hosting five different tours in the Tidewater region where rivers, creeks and coves feed into the Chesapeake Bay. Tour properties range from the 18th to the 20th century. Details on each tour and online tickets (including regional ticket options) at https://www.vagardenweek.org/
4/21 Williamsburg
4/22 Hampton Newport News
4/22 Northern Neck
4/23 Norfolk
4/24 Middle Peninsula
#hgw2020 #preservation #restoration
Photo credit: Pam Henefin

03/06/2020

EMBROIDERED SHOES circa 1700-1730
~~~These are similar to imports that would have come to the Colonies.

Pair of shoes, English, c. 1700-1730. Made of yellow silk taffeta with embroidered carnations on the pointed toes, this delicate footwear (intended exclusively for indoor use) was originally worn by one ‘Mary Browne,’ according to a note that was tucked into one shoe. Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. #antiqueoftheday #shoes #silk #embroidery #carnations

03/06/2020

COLONIAL COOKING

Onions can be very divisive, some people love them and some people hate them. We're taking a risk making Onion Pye at our Hearth Cooking Workshops this month. It's full of onions, potatoes, and apples (produce that could survive the winter) and flavored with mace. This traditional English dish might have graced the table at Gunston Hall in March during George Mason's lifetime.

#slowfood #wintersharvest #hearthcooking #openfire #spicedonionsandapples #GunstonHall"

03/06/2020

OLD FASHIONED HELLEBORES
( LENTEN ROSE) IN THE VA GARDEN OF
~~~~Chapter XXIII-VA member
Lauren Miller Knowles

03/05/2020

UPDATED CHAPTER HONOR ROLL
~~~Including Chapter ###VIII-Santa Barbara our newest addition!

03/05/2020

CDA HAD A LOVELY FALL TRIP TO
~~~Wilton, 1753 seat of the Randolph’s, following the September 2019 Jamestown Gates Rededication. Note a recent March 2020 view of the mansion upper left; the print of an 18th c dog paw print in an early sidewalk brick; lower right signage.

03/05/2020

CDA’S MASCOT, CHLOE
LOVES P🌴B
~~~So much fun in the sun 🌞!!! Please see captions under photos.

03/04/2020

CHAPTER ###VIII-SANTA BARBARA
Has joined the Chapter Roll of Honor
The website list has been updated!

03/04/2020

CDA ANNUAL MEETING INVITATIONS
~~~Have been received! Have you selected your hat for the 🌼GARDEN PARTY🌼?

03/03/2020

CDC Works 24/7

DAMES HAVE ASKED OUR CDA POLICY
RE COVID-19 VIRUS , WE SUGGEST NOT ONLY USING GOOD COMMON SENSE , BUT ALSO VIEWING
WWW.CDC.gov

As the nation's health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health, safety, and security threats.

03/03/2020

COLONIAL CAVALIER
~~~Sir Thomas Lunsford has an amazing life size portrait at Audley End House. His 2nd wife was a Neville and the painting remained in the family collection when Sir Thomas and Lady Anne fled to Virginia after the beheading of Charles I. She died and he married Elizabeth Wormeley ( widow Kemp.) This tea house would have been built a century after Lunsford, but wouldn’t it be a charming place to have tea? Audley End House below.

The Tea House Bridge designed by Robert Adam at Audley End in Saffron Walden, Essex. Built in the 17th century, it is one of the largest and most opulent Jacobian Mansions in England.

It's illustrious history saw it being requisitioned for war use in 1941, serving as the headquarters of the Polish Section of the Special Operations Executive. In 1948 it was bought for the nation, the 9th Lord Braybrooke leaving many of the contents on loan. The house and gardens are run by English Heritage and open to the general public.

03/03/2020

CDA CHAPTER VII-~NASHVILLE~
YOU ARE IN OUR THOUGHTS & PRAYERS REGARDING THE DEVASTATING TORNADO LAST NIGHT~STAY SAFE

03/02/2020

THE RANDOLPH LADIES
~~~At Wilton

At Wilton House Museum, every month is #womenshistorymonth.

Join us this month for a tour of the historic house and explore its history of female stewardship, from Anne Harrison Randolph to the NSCDA-VA. Wilton has now entered its fourth century of making women's history!

After your visit to Wilton, there are many more sites highlighting women's stories to explore! Take advantage of Time Travelers Weekend for the opportunity for visit 24 historic sites in Richmond free of cost, many of which tell stories of women making local history.

03/02/2020

REFURBISHED CDA RIBBON
~~~Such a delight to wear the refreshed insignia ribbon at every CDA occasion! After scholarly research, the ribbon has been restored to historic cerulean blue. Note the former grey faded color on chapter president’s insignia bottom right. Our CDA president general’s insignia is the original Tiffany piece from 1890, with diamonds added at the formation of the first 22 chapters. We now have 39 chapters internationally, plus the Parent Chapter in New York. Captions under photos.

03/02/2020

WEST PALM BEACH DAWN
~~~Overlooking Palm 🌴 Beach, photo courtesy of Parent Chapter member, Kathy Springhorn.

03/01/2020

FLASHBACK TO FOUNDING
~~~CHAPTER ###VIII-SANTA BARBARA
Jan 30, 2016 Organizing tea at the exquisite home of Kathi Chulick. Brantley Knowles, then Chairman of the CDA Chapter Liaison Committee and Charlotte Christian, now chairman, journeyed to Montecito, CA to meet the lovely ladies organizing the Santa Barbara Chapter. A program was given by Brantley Knowles about CDA, it’s history and the wholly owned and operated Mount Vernon Hotel Museum in New York. All present were treated to a formal tea with an elegant table resplendent with heirloom silver, porcelain, and crystal.

03/01/2020

COLONIAL DAMES AT ST NICHOLAS SOCIETY EVENT
~~~At the French Consulate, New York.
Pictured (L to R) Past CDA President General-Audrey Allerton Chapin Svensson; President of the St Nicholas Society-Robert Armstead Naud wearing the regalia of the Society; member of the CDA board of managers-M.P. Naud ( Mrs. Naud is also President of the NSCD-NY.) CDA Executive Director, Deborah McWilliams was also in attendance. Awards were given at this special event to the French Ambassador (in absentia) , and to Jennifer Raab, the President of Hunter College, who gave a lovely acceptance speech. The ST Nicholas Society was founded February 14, 1835 by Washington Irving and others to commemorate the history of New York. Society members must prove descent from an ancestor living in New York prior to 1785. The St Nicholas Society also holds a December ball celebrating the feast day of St Nicholas and the annual Paas Heritage Ball which includes a debutante presentation.

03/01/2020

NEGLIGEE’ OF COLONIAL DAME
~~~Marjorie Merriweather Post of Chapter XVII-Palm Beach. CEREAL heiress and founder of General Foods, Mrs Post, built her former Florida home Mar a Lago in Palm Beach; her Washington DC home is now Hillwood Museum Estate & Gardens.

Marjorie Meriweather Post negligee, 1918-21. Made of silk, organza, tulle, and silk satin.

02/29/2020

ALL CHARMS HAVE ARRIVED
~~~Contact CDA Office to order; or for order form-go to Members Library on CDA members only portion of website.

Left-bottom both charms shown on chain. Limited edition 130th charm, upper right-large, size of a quarter. Bottom right CDA charm for necklaces, charm bracelets or Branch Bars-always available-size is between nickel and dime.

02/28/2020

TIMOTHY FIELD BEARD, FASG (1930-2015)
~~~Was a beloved friend of numerous hereditary lineage societies. Tim, as he was known, was one of our nations foremost genealogists, and one of the 50 Fellows of The American Society of Genealogists. He grew up in the Massachusetts Berkshire’s where his parents owned the Sheffield Inn. In 1977 Tim published the iconic, “How to Find Your Family Roots”, and was a renowned Colonial and Medieval scholar with “total recall.” CDA is fortunate to have Tim’s FASG successor as our own Verifying Genealogist: Nathan W. Murphy, FASG. Tim would be happy and proud that CDA has chosen an FASG as our verifier- Nathan Murphy-who is such a fine gentleman, and a talented and committed scholar of genealogy. Nathan assumes the mantle and legacy of our late wonderfully knowledgable Timothy Field Beard, FASG.

02/28/2020

CHAPTER XX-LOS ANGELES
~~~LORA MCLAUGHLIN PETERSON is the newest chapter member. Lora is a well-known broadcast news personality, television host, and journalist. A native of Kansas, Lora received her BA in journalism, and immediately went into the news industry in Michigan. She has been a reporter based in Los Angeles for CNN, CBS, Court TV, KABC and Reuters. She has conducted many substantive and important celebrity interviews. Lora has also been featured on the A & E - Investigative Reports. What an amazing career. Welcome to CDA, Lora !

02/27/2020

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT IN VIRGINIA
~~~The 25th President (1901-1909), Theodore Roosevelt, was in Virginia not only for the Jamestown Exposition in 1907-for its 300th commemoration-but also in Williamsburg to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Anglican Church in North America. This celebration was held at Bruton Parish Church, formed 1674, Williamsburg. Roosevelt personally donated a bronze lectern for the church designed by John Stewart Barney (1867-1925) of Virginia who was a Beaux-Arts School trained architect and painter. The lectern depicts the “Angel of Peace” on which a Bible, the gift of HM Edward VII of Great Britain, would sit. Roosevelt, through his mother-Martha Bulloch of Georgia-was a descendant of the Carter, Dale, and Skipwith families of Virginia, all Anglican Colonial Cavalier families. Through the Skipwiths, Roosevelt had numerous Royal Descents through Plantagenet Kings to Charlemagne. Captions under photos.

02/27/2020

CDA PARENT CHAPTER ( NY) MEMBER
~~~Angela Parks Masand in Australia with “Matilda the Koala”...so adorable!

02/26/2020

COLONIAL DAMES
~~~Another idea for Easter fun at a party or Easter Egg Hunt! The children and grandchildren will love these.

02/26/2020

The Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society

Details: UpcomingHAMILTON.com
Join us for a special program commemorating Women's History Month. Speakers include Dr. Nora Slonimsky from the Institute for Thomas Paine Studies at iona College, Jessie Serfilippi from the Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site, and Eliza Vincz-Lichack from Early American Music and Arts with the musical participation of Erik Lichack from the Hearts of Oak Independent Militia Company.

Events presented by Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society and the Hamilton Grange National Memorial, the Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site, he National Parks Conservation Association, the Institute for Thomas Paine, the National Parks Conservation Association, Revolutionary NYC, and the Hearts of Oak independent Militia Company

02/26/2020

02/26/2020

THE CHAPTER HONOR ROLL
~~~2019-2020 fiscal year
These chapters donated $500 or more to the initiatives of the CDA or its wholly owned and operated Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden. Brava! ( please click on picture so full list is shown; Georgia Piedmont is last Chapter ###III.)The Chapter’s are listed in order of their founding.

02/25/2020

SHROVE TUESDAY

Fat Tuesday was originally known as Shrove Tuesday, and in French, it is called Mardi Gras. This holiday is the last day before the beginning of Lent, a season of fasting in the lead up to Easter Sunday. Traditionally, families would use up all the ingredients in their cupboards like butter, eggs and milk, on Shrove Tuesday, ahead of the fast. This is how Pancake Day came to be, as the ingredients were used for a sweet treat before Lent.

Pictured: A North Devon frying pan. This artifact is in the collections vault at Historic Jamestowne. (📸: Cindy Deuell & Jamestown Rediscovery Staff)

02/25/2020

THIS GOWN WOULD COMPLIMENT
~~~CDA insignia
Worn by HM the Queen to the Netherlands in 1958.