Stephen A. Douglas Chapter
Chapter
History
Our chapter was organized March 2, 1923, as the Douglas County Chapter. The original chapter name was changed to Stephen A. Douglas Chapter on March 2, 1932. The legislature of 1859 gave the county the name of Douglas in honor of the legislator and United States Senator, Stephen A. Douglas, so the chapter accepted his name also.
In 1934, members dressed in colonial costumes and served as hostesses in the DAR room at the World’s Fair in Chicago.
Our chapter maintains the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) room at the Douglas County Court House. When the court house was built in 1913, GAR members asked for that a room be set aside for patriotic organizations to hold meetings. The GAR met there until 1935 when the last GAR veteran requested that the supervision and maintenance of the room and its artifacts be placed in charge of the Stephen A. Douglas Chapter. Since then, our chapter has maintained the room and held several meetings there. The room is now open to the public during court house hours, and chapter members volunteer as docents.
In 1965 Rosa Helm Overturf was honored at Continental Congress when her daughter, Mrs. Charles Johnson, Chaplain General of NSDAR, placed a flag in her honor at the Kansas Chapel at National Headquarters.
Stephen A. Douglas Chapter sponsors DAR Good citizen awards in all of our six county high schools, honoring the winners and their parents at a February luncheon. Awards are also presented to the winners of the American History essay contest winners at that time. Each spring we present awards to the Outstanding Student in American History at all six of our eighth grade schools in the county. During Constitution Week (September 17-23), you will find displays at local libraries and businesses.
Although small in number, the Stephen A. Douglas Chapter has always supported the National Society objectives: to promote historical preservation, education, and patriotism. Two of our members have served as state officers and all chapter members are true to our National motto: God, Home, and Country.
Tuscola Daughters of the American Revolution
Chapter Regent Jan Ann Faust and Chapter Corresponding Secretary Jennifer Appleby volunteering at Wreaths Across America ceremony in December 2024.
Chapter members attended DAR Days.
State Regent Christina Bannon with chapter Marquis de Lafayette interpreter Mary Parkes.
The Stephen A. Douglas Chapter loves teachers! This photo was
taken during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 6-10, 2024.
(Chapter Regent Jame Faust with state conference certificates
which were presented to the chapater at the District II meeting
in May)
(Some chapter members at State Conference in Bloomington,
April 2024)
(Chapter member Judith Landeck)
The Stephen A. Douglas Chapter received seven certificates of
achievement at the state conference in April. Recognition was
received for Chapter Achievement, Digital Design &
Innovation for the chapter's Centennial program book,
Outstanding Support for Honor Flight, for updating chapter bylaws, for support of Friends of the DAR Museum, and financial
support for the Most Flags Flown Above Constitution Hall project.
Chapter Centennial Celebration, March 2023