The Colonial Dames of America

04/16/2021

JUST 17 DAYS TIL CDA ANNUAL MEETING
By Zoom May 3, 2021,
2 pm ET
Send in your proxy!

04/15/2021

TULIPS IN NEW YORK 🌷
~~~A swath of Park Avenue tulips 🌷
Below- tulips planted by Lauren Rose and her Junior Dames in the Mount Vernon Hotel garden 🌷Beautiful 🌷

AMERICAS FIRST COLONIAL DAMES
~~~CDA 1890
www.cda1890.org

04/15/2021

INTERESTING CHANGES AT WESTOVER

Historic Garden Week tickets are selling quickly!
Charlotte Moss LLC is thrilled to be working with the Erda family at Westover on a reboot-refresh-redecorate. 2021 ushered in the renovation of the kitchen family space in collaboration with GE and the late Mark Epstein. Charlotte and her team will continue, with work on the parlor, library, dining room, entry gallery and master bedroom to be completed in time for Historic Garden Week next spring. This portion of the project will be executed in collaboration with the fabric house Schumacher. The whole project is an exciting and challenging development for a historic house that is very much a family house. “Maintaining the historical integrity at the same time making it a comfortable family home is our challenge,” Moss said, "I am thrilled to be working in Virginia, my home state, and with the boundless energy of owner Andrea Erda. I am honored for this opportunity.” Enjoy Westover as part of Historic Garden Week at James River Plantation tour on April 17, 18 and 19. Tickets are still available for entrances from 1-2 pm and from 2-3 pm. Visitors have until the end of the day, at 4:30 pm to complete their tour of all featured sites. Tickets vailable online only at https://www.vagardenweek.org/main/tickets
#historichouses #architecture #gardens #decorating #elevateeverything #historicwestover

04/14/2021

PAST PG AUDREY SVENSSON
~~~Sends a photo of her favorite flowering cherry tree from her New Jersey home. She says, “I wait for this each year, and have never been disappointed”.

AMERICAS FIRST COLONIAL DAMES
~~~CDA 1890
www.cda1890.org

04/13/2021

DC LINEAGE WEEK 2019-PRE COVID
PG BRANTLEY KNOWLES ( center)
~~~Pictured with Lineage Society “luminary” L-Hardwick Johnson and R- CDA’s esteemed verifying genealogist NATHAN MURPHY, FASG . They are attending the mint julep reception prior to the annual meeting of the NATIONAL SOCIETY OF AMERICANS OF ROYAL DESCENT, held annually at the Chevy Chase Club. Being a member of CDA is one of the several possible prerequisites for ladies who join the Society.

04/13/2021

Historic Garden Week in Virginia

Historic Garden Week features historic properties at the Petersburg (pictured), Eastern Shore, Fredericksburg, Yorktown, South Hill, Danville/Chatham and James River Plantation tours. And of course, flowers! Tickets are available online only at https://www.vagardenweek.org/. #hgw2021 #preservation #restoration

04/12/2021

ZOOM SHOT OF CHAPTER III-DC ANNUAL MEETING
~~~Chapter President Linda Aguirre has sent this screen shot of the chapter’s April 8th annual meeting. CDA Chapter III is certainly on the vanguard of innovative ways to meet during Covid. One of our oldest chapters, Chapter III leads the way in our CDA mission of historic preservation & education, with the stewardship of the ABNER CLOUD HOUSE, a collaborative arrangement with the US National Park Service. Additionally, a member of Chapter III, Staci-Jill Burnley, was appointed by the CDA Board of Managers as CDA’s first Public Relations chairman. Brava to Chapter III for all it does!

AMERICAS FIRST COLONIAL DAMES
~~~CDA 1890
www.cda1890.org

04/12/2021

ELIZABETH FLEMING “OF WILTON “
~~~Elizabeth Fleming (left) , a new member of CDA Chapter XXIII-Virginia, is shown with Lauren Knowles, also a member of the Virginia Chapter. They are in front of the brick wall that surrounds Wilton House, built by William Randolph III in 1753, and originally part of a 2000 acre plus to***co plantation. Wilton is now an AAM accredited museum in Richmond, VA. Elizabeth’s qualifying ancestor is William Randolph III. Ironically she has worked at Wilton House Museum for 17 years....who knew she was already at her ancestral home!? Captions under photos.

04/11/2021

Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden

Our flowering quince is finally in bloom!

#accessibility [Photo Description: Three photos of our flowering quince. Each photo shows different angles of the small pink blossoms, which are clustered on the plant’s branches.]

#spring #flowers #NYC #NYCHistory #AmericanHistory #HistoricHome #museum

04/11/2021

A VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPH OF
CDA CHAPTER ###I-GEORGIA PIEDMONT, PRESIDENT
~~~The Beautiful Shannon Cowles Logue

04/10/2021

HRH PRINCE PHILIP IN 2007 AT
~~~JAMESTOWN for the 400th commemoration 1607-2007
Boarding the “Susan Constant” reproduction, which was the flagship of the tiny fleet of three ships that sailed to Virginia. HM the Queen & HRH Prince Philip would have walked through the CDA gates and gateway. RIP

04/09/2021

THE ANCESTORS OF CDA MEMBERS ENABLED THE CREATION OF BRITISH AMERICA
~~~May we send our deep condolences to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her family upon the loss of HM Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Requiescat in pace.

04/09/2021

CDA IS VERY PROUD OF
ELIZABETH “LIZA” STANDISH SACKSON
~~~Who is a member of CDA ‘s Parent Chapter ( NYC), a courtesy member of CDA Chapter XXIII-VA, and now lives in the Virginia countryside. In May of 2021, Liza will become State President of THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF THE COLONIAL DAMES OF AMERICA IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA ( NSCDA-VA). Liza will be succeeding Nancy B. Reed in this office leading the nearly 1500 member Virginia group, founded in 1892, which has an AAM accredited property-Wilton House Museum (c 1753). Liza’s term in office is 2021-2023, with an option for a second term. CDA PG Brantley Knowles held this same state NSCDA-VA presidents office 2001-2003.

AMERICAS FIRST COLONIAL DAMES
~~~CDA 1890
www.cda1890.org

04/08/2021

25 DAYS UNTIL CDA 2021 ANNUAL MEETING
By Zoom @ 2 pm EST May 3rd
Please send in your proxy!!!!

04/08/2021

A REMARKABLE READ
~~~a reprint of the 1915 original...letters of two gilded age dames. Available through our website shop!

AMERICAS FIRST COLONIAL DAMES
~~~CDA 1890
www.cda1890.org

04/07/2021

FUN FACT: Only 2 CDA PG’s of 38, have ever been a Chapter President:
Ellie Penniman & Brantley Knowles

04/06/2021

OUT OF 38 CDA PRESIDENTS GENERAL ONLY THREE WERE NOT FROM NEW YORK’S PARENT CHAPTER
~Left-Eleanor Penniman of Chapter II-Philadelphia served 1991-1994
~Upper right-Helen Evans, although living in NYC, was a member of Chapter VII-Nashville when she served as PG 1997-2000. Helen is now a Parent Chapter member.
~Bottom right- Brantley Knowles of Chapter XVII-Palm Beach served 2018-2021
*Today there is a wide demographic represented in CDA leadership. Three of five members of the incoming CDA executive committee are from the chapters! 86% of the CDA membership today is not in New York.

AMERICAS FIRST COLONIAL DAMES
~~~CDA 1890
www.cda1890.org

04/06/2021

Oakland Cemetery expert discusses famous Buckhead figures buried there - Reporter Newspapers

A LONGTERM PROJECT OF
~~~CHAPTER XXIV-ATLANTA

Atlanta’s Oakland Cemetery is the final resting place of many famous figures of Buckhead’s history. David Moore, director emeritus of the Historic Oakland Cemetery Foundation, will talk about some of them in a free, live-streamed presentation to the Buckhead Heritage Society on April 8 at 7 p.m....

04/06/2021

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE CDA INSIGNIA MEDALLION IS ON THE DOOR
~~~ That CDA gave at Valley Forge’s George Washington Memorial Chapel? After groundbreaking in 1903, CDA & chapters created an outdoor pulpit, the Commander- in Chief Gothic doorway, and other projects. Click on article at left for more information. Captions under photos.

04/05/2021

Historic Jamestowne

On this day in 1614, Pocahontas married John Rolfe at Jamestown. Prior to the marriage, Pocahontas was baptized and christened as “Rebecca.” More info: http://bit.ly/2phoYON #OTD

Now through April 30, get 15% off several featured Pocahontas-themed gifts. Shop: https://bit.ly/2Oa4nM9

04/05/2021

MAGNIFICENT DETAILING

A bit of #CottageCore inspiration? 🥧

This dreamy 18th century gown is made from cream coloured silk, and features numerous hand painted flowers across the skirt and bodice.

04/05/2021

SEE THE BIRTH ENTRY OF
~~~George Washington, 1732

The Washington family Bible, which contains a sheet of paper carefully inscribed with the date George Washington was born, as well as when he was baptized, which was #OnThisDay in 1732.

The Bible is in our Museum Collections, which you can explore at home at https://bit.ly/34bxT7V

04/05/2021

CDA CANDIDATE KAREN STETLER SENDS EASTER GREETINGS FROM HAWAII
~~~Aloha 🌸

04/05/2021

DAMES TOGETHER AT EASTER
~~~L-R: President General Brantley Knowles; Grace Brown-former Treasurer Chapter XVII-Palm 🌴 Beach; Kathy Springhorn -Parent Chapter, former 1st VP of the CDA. Dames together on a special Holiday! 🐰

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A DAME!

04/04/2021

TIFFANY “FIELD OF LILLIES” WINDOW (1892)
~~~Courtesy of the Morse Museum, Orlando FL

04/04/2021

THE YOUNGEST GRANDDAUGHTER OF
CDA’S REGISTRAR GENERAL
~~~Her first visit with the Easter 🐰 Bunny

04/04/2021

EASTER 🐰💚🐰 LOVE
~~~Daughters of SJ Burnley of Chapter III-DC enjoying an Egg Hunt on a beautiful Easter Day.

AMERICAS FIRST COLONIAL DAMES
~~~CDA 1890
www.cda1890.org

04/04/2021

04/04/2021

EASTER SYMBOLISM
~~~From Kathy Springhorn Dillman, Parent Chapter

04/03/2021

CDA MEMBERS IN SPRINGTIME CHAPEAUX
~~~Perfect for Easter 🐰 , captions under
photos 🌸

AMERICAS FIRST COLONIAL DAMES
~~~CDA 1890
www.cda1890.org

04/03/2021

KATHY SPRINGHORN DILLMAN
OF THE CDA PARENT CHAPTER
~~~Shares her magnificent gardenia blooms, which have appeared in time for Easter in Florida 💚

04/03/2021

LOVELY SHELBY CARR OF THE PARENT CHAPTER
~~~In Charleston SC wearing Easter finery. We are so proud that CDA’s Junior Dame, published author, and Gilded Age Scholar, Shelby, is entering a Doctoral Program very soon.

AMERICAS FIRST COLONIAL DAMES
~~~CDA 1890
www.cda1890.org

04/03/2021

THE NORTH AMERICAN BLUEBERRY 🫐
~~~Is native to North America and is the second most popular berry ( after the strawberry) in the country. The blueberry was appreciated and eaten by Native Americans and the early Colonists alike. The colonial alcoholic drink “shrub” was made with many different fruits and berries, including blueberries. Syrup, cakes, and tarts/pies were also made with blueberries in the colonial period as they are today. Photos from my garden.

AMERICAS FIRST COLONIAL DAMES
~~~CDA 1890
www.cda1890.org

04/02/2021

COUNTDOWN TO CDA ZOOM ANNUAL MEETING
31 DAYS
SEND IN YOUR PROXIES!

04/02/2021

THE IDEA OF EGGS BEING ASSOCIATED WITH EASTER
~~~Harkens to springtime celebrations and the egg as a symbol of the renewal of life. Association of eggs with the Easter Bunny occurs in Germany during the Middle Ages.

AMERICAS FIRST COLONIAL DAMES
~~~CDA 1890
www.cda1890.org