Aurora Chapter

Chapter History

Lucy Stevens Nelson
Organizing Regent

The Aurora Chapter was organized on October 12, 1912, with thirteen members. The organizing regent, twenty-three year old Lucy Stevens Nelson, was the youngest in the state to hold this office. The chapter quickly grew. The chapter contributed organizational and membership support in 1988, to the newly-formed Elias Kent Kane Chapter, located in the "up the Fox River" area, in St. Charles. Today the Aurora Chapter has over 125 members.

Chapter markings include the graves of Revolutionary War soldiers W.R. Miller (West Aurora Cemetery) and Frederick Vaughn (Spring Lake Cemetery). In 1924-25, a boulder was placed to mark the spot near Oswego in Kendall County, where an early French mission once stood.

Aurora is proud to have in the Smithsonian Institution 150 pieces of pattern glass given by member, Mrs. Justus Johnson, and to the NSDAR Museum, a framed daguerreotype of her Revolutionary War ancestor. An original diary from 1864, was sent to the Americana Room and a leather paymaster's pouch was sent to the DAR Museum by Miss Miriam A. Williams.

In 1920, with assistance from the Aurora Chapter, the Laetitia Wright Society Children of the American Revolution was organized with twenty members. It disbanded in 1927 and was reactivated in 1964 as the Waubonsie Society C.A.R. with twenty-seven members. It disbanded again in 1992, was reorganized December 5, 2009 and is very active today. All children from the age of 0 to 21, who trace their lineage back to an ancestor who provided service during the American Revolution are eligible for membership. Each June the chapter supports a Flag Retirement Ceremony hosted by the Waubonsie Society.

The chapter annually presents youth awards. In 2023, DAR Good Citizens medals were awarded to seniors in seven area high schools, and American History essay awards were presented to younger students. Junior ROTC medals were awarded to students at Marmion Academy, Mooseheart, East Aurora High School, and West Aurora High School.

Active support for veterans at the Edward Hines, Jr. Veterans Administration Hospital includes a Christmas stocking project. In 2022, the chapter filled 226 stockings and signed over 1,000 holiday cards for the veterans at Hines. The chapter has participated in the Rockford Stand Down for the past two years. In 2021, we distributed 36 PLARN sleeping mats made by chapter members as well as hats, gloves, coats, and shoes, and in 2022, we donated flashlights, rain ponchos, and snacks. Thank you notes to veterans participating in Honor Flights are also collected for distribution. Each year Valentines are signed and distributed to the veterans at Hines.

As part of DAR Project Patriot, the chapter shipped over 302 pounds of supplies to women in the military throughout the world. A new DAR Project Patriot project in 2023, included collecting gently-used paperback books which were shipped to active-duty military members on-board ships and in bases in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The chapter has members who walk in Mutual Ground’s Walk for Hope and this year’s donations were over $1,300. The chapter generously donates to the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry and the Chemewa Indian School. Earth Day is celebrated by picking up trash at the McDowell Grove Forest Preserve in Naperville. The chapter also participates in the City of Aurora parades at Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day. 1,269 flags were handed to those watching the parade on Memorial Day in 2023, along with 1,161 flags on the 4th of July. The chapter annually presents Community Service awards to local volunteers or volunteer organizations. In 2023 the chapter participated in the City of Batavia’s Flag Day celebration and purchased a commemorative brick for the walkway at the Flag Day monument.

Meeting programs include topics of genealogy research, women’s issues, national defense, DAR supported schools, and special visits by State Regents and District IV Directors. A large number of chapter members attend DAR Days, District IV meetings, Illinois State Conference, and Continental Congress in Washington, D.C.