Woodward Chapter, NSDAR, History
On September 16, 1893, forty square sections of land in Northwest Oklahoma changed from being the western edge of the Cherokee Outlet to “N” County, Oklahoma Territory. The railroad town of Woodward, Oklahoma Territory, was established on September 22,1893 with a post office being named for the Santa Fe railroad director, Brinton W. Woodward. November 6, 1894, saw area residents voting to change the county name to Woodward with the town of Woodward as the county seat.
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With the settlements of lands and increasing population, Oklahoma Statehood came on November 16, 1907. A developing Woodward County was then divided into the present counties of Woodward, Harper, Ellis and part of Woods.
Named for the town in which it was established, Woodward Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, was organized in 1922.
Named for the town in which it was established, Woodward Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, was organized in 1922.
A portion of the minutes from Woodward Chapter's first meeting reads, "On September 21, 1922, at the home of Mrs. Stallings, the following ladies met to organize a DAR Chapter: Mrs. Frank Allen of Leedey, Organizing Regent, Mrs. F.M. Cline, Mrs. E.E. Coffey, Mrs. Phil Hocker of Camargo, Mrs. S. E. Morey of May, and Mrs. S.M. Morgan, Mrs. A.M. Morrison and Mrs. H. H. Stallings." Other charter members were Mrs. Otis M. Cafky, Mrs. John J. Gerlach, Miss Margaret Louisa Gerlach, Mrs. E. R. Linn, Mrs. James Paterson, Miss Elizabeth Shy, Mrs. Harold Street, Mrs. Todd Shy and Mrs. Robert B. Moser.
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The National Board of Management confirmed the chapter on October 17, 1922.
A continuing involvement with youth projects, considered by many members as the chapter's top achievements, began on November 23, 1922, when Woodward Chapter voted to award a medal for the best historical essay in the eighth grade. Since 1922, medals have consistently been awarded, including grades five through eight in the American History Essay competitions. The DAR Good Citizens essay competition, which has grown to include high schools in Woodward and three surrounding counties in Northwest Oklahoma, continues to grow annually. Constitution Week is an annual project for Woodward Chapter. The chapter, for all schools in Woodward and surrounding towns, furnishes pictures of the signers of the Constitution, and a variety of other supplies to further Constitution Week, including large copies of the Constitution.
An equally important project has been the placement of historical markers in Northwest Oklahoma. A bronze marker honoring those who served during World War I was placed in Woodward's Centennial Park. A bronze tablet marked a site at Fort Supply where in 1874 the fort was established as protection from Kiowa, Comanche and Cheyenne Indians. A tree was planted in Woodward's Crystal Beach Park, commemorating the Bicentennial of George Washington's birth. A Washington elm was planted in the Woodward Courthouse Square, and dedicated by Woodward Chapter members. The chapter also dedicated a historical marker designating the crossing of the old Military Road from Dodge City, Kansas, via Camp Supply, now Fort Supply, to Fort Elliott, Texas; the marker is now located one mile west of Fort Supply on Highways 270, 183 and 3.
Woodward Chapter members placed a marker at St. John's Episcopal Church in Woodward, culminating a Bicentennial project in 1976. The bronze tablet is inscribed as follows: "Built in 1868 as the military chapel at Old Camp Supply, this old historic church was pulled across the plain on cedar logs pulled by oxen after the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in 1893. Its destination was Woodward, where it became St. John's Episcopal Church." That congregation is still using the church.
Chapter members have been recognized through election to state and national offices. Most notable was the election of Mrs. Dora Berry Snow of Woodward, who served as chapter regent from 1932 to 1934 and in the late 1940s as Oklahoma State Regent. Mrs. Snow was instrumental in the establishment of Robert Patton Society Children of the American Revolution in Woodward.
Robert Patton Society C.A.R. has been dissolved but a number of past society members are current members of Woodward Chapter.
A continuing involvement with youth projects, considered by many members as the chapter's top achievements, began on November 23, 1922, when Woodward Chapter voted to award a medal for the best historical essay in the eighth grade. Since 1922, medals have consistently been awarded, including grades five through eight in the American History Essay competitions. The DAR Good Citizens essay competition, which has grown to include high schools in Woodward and three surrounding counties in Northwest Oklahoma, continues to grow annually. Constitution Week is an annual project for Woodward Chapter. The chapter, for all schools in Woodward and surrounding towns, furnishes pictures of the signers of the Constitution, and a variety of other supplies to further Constitution Week, including large copies of the Constitution.
An equally important project has been the placement of historical markers in Northwest Oklahoma. A bronze marker honoring those who served during World War I was placed in Woodward's Centennial Park. A bronze tablet marked a site at Fort Supply where in 1874 the fort was established as protection from Kiowa, Comanche and Cheyenne Indians. A tree was planted in Woodward's Crystal Beach Park, commemorating the Bicentennial of George Washington's birth. A Washington elm was planted in the Woodward Courthouse Square, and dedicated by Woodward Chapter members. The chapter also dedicated a historical marker designating the crossing of the old Military Road from Dodge City, Kansas, via Camp Supply, now Fort Supply, to Fort Elliott, Texas; the marker is now located one mile west of Fort Supply on Highways 270, 183 and 3.
Woodward Chapter members placed a marker at St. John's Episcopal Church in Woodward, culminating a Bicentennial project in 1976. The bronze tablet is inscribed as follows: "Built in 1868 as the military chapel at Old Camp Supply, this old historic church was pulled across the plain on cedar logs pulled by oxen after the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in 1893. Its destination was Woodward, where it became St. John's Episcopal Church." That congregation is still using the church.
Chapter members have been recognized through election to state and national offices. Most notable was the election of Mrs. Dora Berry Snow of Woodward, who served as chapter regent from 1932 to 1934 and in the late 1940s as Oklahoma State Regent. Mrs. Snow was instrumental in the establishment of Robert Patton Society Children of the American Revolution in Woodward.
Robert Patton Society C.A.R. has been dissolved but a number of past society members are current members of Woodward Chapter.
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