On Thursday, March 24, 1923, a group of women led by Ella Rosemond Mackin gathered in Mt. Pleasant to form the James Harlan Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Current members of the James Harlan Chapter of DAR invite the community to help commemorate it’s first 100 years. The celebration will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2023 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the Ashford Park Clubhouse, 1801 Ashford Avenue, Mt. Pleasant. The event is free and open to the public.
The celebration will kick off with an open house at 1 p.m. A program will begin at 1:30. The Women in American History Award will honor two local women. Following the awards, Iowa author Cheryl Mullenbach will present on “Mischievous Women of the Progressive Era”. Cathy Helman, James Harlan DAR member from Salem will add information about local “mischievous” women.
In addition to the anniversary celebration, the chapter is marking it’s anniversary in other ways. Visitors to the Mt. Pleasant Public Library or the lower level of the Henry County Courthouse can view displays commemorating the James Harlan Chapter’s milestone. James Harlan Chapter member Becky Wright made the patriotic quilt on display at the library. Vice Regent Charlene Seggerman assembled items illustrating DAR’s goals and activities to display in the courthouse.
The Daughters of the American Revolution, founded in 1890 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization. Each of the women who belong to the DAR can document their ancestry back to at least one patriot who played a role helping to win independence during the Revolutionary War. The organization is dedicated to three main goals: promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education for children.
According to James Harlan Chapter Regent Gayle Olson, there are currently 59 members in the local chapter who work to accomplish these goals through a combination of committee work, recognizing community members and continuously learning. “We are an involved group with many activities and partners. Each month, we work on a specific service area. If you have an interest in history, education or patriotism, we always have projects in progress.”
For information on joining DAR, contact Carol Klopfenstein, 319- 257-6987. For information on the anniversary celebration, contact Gayle Olson, 319-257-6967.