Welcome

We are so glad you found us. The Kewanee Chapter has been active in the Henry County area for more than 100 years. We are very proud of our past and are looking forward to the next 100 years of promoting the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) motto: God, Home, and Country. As a lineage society, DAR members can trace their family tree back to an ancestor (man or woman) who supported the cause of American independence. Your family member may not have fought but may have supported the American cause in other ways, such as providing food or shelter to the troops. Do you have a Revolutionary patriot in your family tree? To become a member, a woman must be at least eighteen years old and be able to prove blood descent from a person who rendered patriotic service during the American Revolution. Membership in the DAR honors and preserves the legacy of your patriot ancestor. If you think you are eligible to join, come to one of our meetings, or send us an email. Over two hundred years ago, American patriots fought and sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy today. Through participation in the DAR's various programs and activities, you can continue this legacy by actively supporting historic preservation, promotion of education, and patriotic endeavors. Did you know that if you have a relative who is or was a member, the process of joining is simplified?


Chapter History

Symbolic of the thirteen original colonies, the Kewanee Chapter had thirteen charter members. In October 1897, these women applied to the National Society for a charter, which was received January 3, 1898, and signed by then President General Letitia Green Stevenson from Illinois. Organizing Regent Amy Rhodes Blish and chapter members chose to name the chapter after the city which is named for a Potawatomi chief, Kewaima, meaning "prairie chicken." During World War I, chapter members donated 2,500 hours for war relief work. They knitted items, assembled comfort kits and even adopted three French orphans for a year. Chapter members have been serving veterans ever since. In 1919, the chapter and local veteran organizations erected a monument for deceased veterans in Wethersfield Cemetery. These days, members volunteer at and donate items to the LaSalle Veterans Home and send handmade items to veterans and their families.

Chapter members are passionate about promoting patriotism and encouraging education. Each year we join another local chapter in hosting a Flag Day observance. The chapter donates books to a women's prison, holds grave markings, sponsors the DAR Good Citizens contest to recognize seniors from local high schools, and the American History Essay Contest for fifth through eighth grade students. Field Picture

We are especially proud to be entrusted with the preservation of our Chapter House pictured at right. You can learn more about this historic structure here.

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