Chapter History
The Mary Washington Chapter was organized on February 29, 1892, in the
"red parlor" of the Old Riggs House, a well known hotel then standing at
15th and G Streets, NW, Washington, DC.
Since its inception,
the Chapter has had numerous outstanding members. Three of the four
Founding Members of the National Society of the Daughters of the
American Revolution: Mrs. Mary Smith Lockwood, Miss Mary Desha, and Miss
Eugenia Washington were Founding Members of the Mary Washington Chapter.
They, together with Mrs. Ellen Hardin Walworth, the fourth Founding
Member of the National Society, are commemorated by a beautiful memorial
in the C Street garden of the National Headquarters. Their portraits may
be seen on the balcony of the DAR library.
The DAR Library was
established in 1897. Dr. Anita Newcomb McGee became its first Librarian
General. In April 1924, the Librarian General's Report stated, "The Mary
Washington Chapter was allotted the entire upkeep and expense from the
start, which responsibility they carried until the formal transfer to
Memorial Continental Hall in 1930."
Mrs. Mary Smith
Lockwood is credited with the suggestion of "building a suitable place
for the storing of historic relics" - a forerunner of our beautiful
Continental Hall and DAR Museum.
Miss Eugenia
Washington served as the first Registrar General. She gave herself the
number "1" on the Charter list of the NSDAR.
Miss Mary Desha is
credited with suggesting the name of the Mary Washington Chapter,
honoring the mother of the first President of our great country.
Mrs. Caroline Scott
Harrison, wife of President Benjamin Harrison, was a Charter Member of
the Mary Washington Chapter and the first President General of the
National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution. The Mary
Washington Chapter is indeed proud of these illustrious members.
The Susan Riviere
Hetzel Chapter, founded April 5, 1911, merged with the Mary Washington
Chapter April 18, 1994.
