DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 2085

FIRST DAR CHAPTER ORGANIZED 126 YEARS AGO

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) A century and twenty-six years ago today, October 11, 1890, the first chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution was organized at the home of Mary Smith Lockwood* here in the Nation's Capital.

The DAR was supported by First Lady Caroline Lavina Scott Harrison who also served as the first President-General of the organization.

DAR chapters support historic preservation and patriotic projects which include the installation of grave markers for veterans of the Revolutionary War.

Membership in the organization is restricted to those who can prove direct lineal descent to soldiers or supporters of the cause of American independence.

The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution is headquartered in Constitution Hall* here in Washington, D.C.  The organization today has 180,000 members but since its founding has had 930,000 members.

*Mary Smith Lockwood (1831-1922) was a co-founder & the first historian of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  She became an adviser to Susan B. Anthony & Elizabeth Cady Stanton.  A memorial to Lockwood & the other founders of the DAR, sculpted by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, is located at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.

**Constitution Hall, located at 1776 D Street, NW, in Washington, D.C., was built in 1929 & designed by John Russell Pope.  The Hall is the site of the annual DAR Continental Congress which convenes each summer. Constitution Hall is also the home of the largest concert hall in the District of Columbia.

SOURCE

Daughters of the American Revolution, www.dar.org/

Constitution Hall

1776 D Street NW

Washington, D.C.

Photo by Edna Barney from Virginia

Founders of the DAR

Constitution Hall

Washington, D.C.

Photo by AgnosticPreachersKid (2010)

JFK+50 TOP TEN POSTS: #10

JFK+50 TOP POST #10

Knoxville, Tennessee (JFK+50) Today we begin a review of the ten most popular posts of our JFK+50 blog since we began in November 2010.  This review will include updates and revisions of the original posts. 

Thanks to all our visitors worldwide.

MARIAN ANDERSON SINGS AT THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL 

April 9, 2011, Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) African-American contralto, Marian Anderson*, gave a free concert on Easter Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial, here in the Nation's Capital seventy-two years ago, April 9, 1939.

Marian Anderson 

Lincoln Memorial

April 9, 1939

Miss Anderson was originally scheduled to perform at Constitution Hall but the concert was cancelled by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who resigned from the DAR in protest, arranged for Anderson to sing at the Lincoln Memorial.

In her letter of resignation, Mrs. Roosevelt wrote...

"I am in complete disagreement with the attitude taken in refusing Constitutional Hall to a great artist.  You had an opportunity to lead in an enlightened way and it seems to me that your organization has failed."

President Dwight D. Eisenhower made Marian Anderson an honorary delegate to the United Nations and she was invited by President John F. Kennedy to sing the National Anthem at his inauguration on January 20, 1961.

She was later awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Mr. Kennedy.

Marian Anderson

by Carl Van Vechten

Library of Congress Image

*Marian Anderson (1897-1993) was born in Philadelphia, PA.  She grew up in the Union Baptist Church where she began singing in the choir at age six.  Four years later she sang in the People's Chorus.  With a scholarship provided by her church, MA took voice lessons and graduated from high school in 1921.

Although denied entrance into the Philadelphia Music Academy, she won 1st Prize in a 1925 NY Philharmonic contest.  She performed with the group on Aug. 26, 1925 and at Carnegie Hall in 1928.  Miss Anderson died at the age of 96 in Portland, Oregon.

MARIAN ANDERSON

MARIAN ANDERSON SANG AT THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL 85 YEARS AGO TODAY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) African-American contralto, Marian Anderson, gave a free concert on Easter Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial, here in the Nation's Capital, 85 years ago today, April 9, 1939.

              Marian Anderson Sings 

Miss Anderson was originally scheduled to perform at Constitution Hall but the concert was cancelled by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the DAR in protest and arranged for Anderson to sing at the Lincoln Memorial.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower made Marian Anderson an honorary delegate to the United Nation.

Miss Anderson was invited by John F. Kennedy to sing the National Anthem at his inauguration on January 20, 1961.

She was later awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Mr. Kennedy.

LEE SURRENDERS TO GRANT 

Appomattox Court House, Virginia (JFK+50) The Army of Northern Virginia was surrendered 149 years ago today, April 9, 1865, by their respected commander, General Robert E. Lee, at Appomattox Court House.

General Lee arrived at the home of Wilmer McLean at 1:00 p.m. while General Ulysses S. Grant, commander of all Union armies, arrived a half hour later.

The two generals met for about an hour and a half in the parlor of the McLean home.

Lee accepted Grant's generous terms in behalf of his weary army of 28,000.  The terms provided that all Lee's men would be pardoned, could keep their horses, and return to their homes.

Lee, wearing a full dress military uniform with sword, presented a stark contrast to the characteristically modest Grant who wore a private's blouse.

After the ceremony was over a Union band began to play, General Grant stopped them saying:

"The war is over.  The Rebels are our countrymen again."

     Generals Lee and Grant Shake Hands