A nonpartisan group of women who have traced their lineage to patriots serving in the Revolutionary War, members support the three objects of the National Society DAR: historic preservation, promotion of education and patriotic endeavor.
The more than 80 chapter members include juniors (ages 18 to 35), mothers and daughters, and sisters and friends who span the generations. The group meets for lunch on the second Tuesday of the month from September through May for project updates and interesting programs featuring history, education, conservation, national defense and women’s issues.
We welcome new members and provide help to prospects interested in tracing their descents from patriots of the American Revolution. Please click on this link for more information or to visit a meeting.
Latest News
Birmingham Territory Chapter member Sally Cox (left) was guest speaker at the Elizabeth Bradford Chapter meeting in April in Grove Hill, Ala. A native of nearby Thomasville, Sally's topic focused on ancestral grave sites in the area, both in historic cemeteries and in remote locations. She is pictured with Chapter Regent Robbie Purser and the display built by Sally to illustrate her talk.
Edward Buckbee, Director Emeritus of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, was presented DAR's highest award, the Medal of Honor, by ASDAR Americanism Chairman Barbara Traylor at the 2013 Alabama State Conference.
Birmingham Territory Daughters at ASDAR State Conference 2013
First row: Sara Craft, Ann Carlton
Second row: Ruth McCoy, Ellen Knollenberg, Emily Volavka, Barbara Traylor, Sandy Carter
Wreaths Across America—2012
Patriot Initiative
Birmingham Territory Chapter adopted as its 2012 patriotic and philanthropic project "Wreaths Across America," the volunteer organization that places live Christmas wreaths on the graves of service men and women across the U.S. and abroad. The 78 wreaths donated through the chapter were placed at the National Cemetery in Montevallo. Pictured (left to right) are: Walt and Ellen Knollenberg, and Emily and Dick Volavka. Ellen chaired the project.
Pictured (left to right) are Walt and Ellen Knollenberg, and Emily and Dick Volavka. Ellen chaired the project.
Other News
2012 Veteran's Day Parade—(left to right) Chapter Regent Barbara Traylor, Project Patriot Chairman Renee Shelfer; Public Relations and Media Chairman Sally Cox; Hodar and driver Glenn Cox.
At the 2012 ASDAR State Conference, Chapter Regent Barbara Traylor (right) receives a certificate for outstanding service from then State Regent Rita Horton.
Birmingham Territory Chapter presented three 2012 Good Citizens Awards to outstanding area high school seniors. Pictured (left to right) are; Charlotte Gilliland, Homewood High School; Caroline Beauchaine, Oak Mountain High School; Catherine Ritchey, Spain Park High School; and Emily Allison, Chapter Good Citizens chairman.
Birmingham Territory Chapter presented the NSDAR Community Service Award to General Charles C. Krulak, retired Commandant of the U. S. Marine Corps and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who assumed the presidency of Birmingham-Southern College, refusing a salary, car or the president's home, to lead the college out of a financial crisis that threatened its existence. Pictured (left to right) are: Barbara Traylor, Chapter Regent; General Krulak; and Barbara Matthews, Community Service Award Chairman.
Chapter Treasurer is pictured with General Krulak and noted music historian and performer Bobby Horton, who presented the chapter program on "Music from the American Revolution."
Member April Guin (left) models one of the knitted scarves made by Chapter Recording Secretary Emily Volavka (right). Several of the hand-crafted scarves were door prizes given to members at the January meeting who donated to the Veterans Fund.
Birmingham Territory members were among those participating in Birmingham's annual Veterans Day Parade, the largest parade of its type in the U.S.
Member Sara Craft is honored at Kate Duncan Smith School's Dedication Day with the ribbon cutting for a teacher workroom she donated to the school in memory of her mother.
Franne Shelton, Birmingham Territory Chapter magazine chairman, promotes subscriptions to The American Spirit at a recent meeting.
The Birmingham Territory Chapter was represented at the May 24, 2011, Naturalization Ceremony held at the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama, where the Honorable Abdul K. Kallon, presiding judge, welcomed 62 new Americans representing 23 countries. Pictured are DAR Member Judy Thrasher with new citizen Eunice Luevano, a native of Mexico. Her child, Jocelyn, is a Florida-born American.
Chapter First Vice Regent Patrice Donnelly, who holds an appointment as Advisor to the President General, KDS Executive Board of Trustees, was selected as state conference page for President General Wright.
Junior Member Sara Cox was among debutantes presented at the Inaugural Colonial Ball, held at The Club in Birmingham and sponsored by Alabama ’s Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution. With Sara are her parents, Sally (Birmingham Territory member) and Glenn Cox. (photo courtesy of Snapster Foto)
Pictured above, Patrice Donnelly is shown sharing a story with students at Kate Duncan Smith DAR School, Grant, Ala.
Pictured above, then State Regent Rita Horton pins a 50-year service award on the lapel of Sara Craft, Birmingham Territory Chapter's member with the greatest tenure of service.
Shown in the picture above is Past Regent Delores Brooks with the musical group Homeland. Delores heard them rehearsing down the hall from our meeting one day and asked them to sing for us. Homeland then performed for the Alabama State Society DAR meeting later that year and then for the National Society meeting. Homeland has written a song titled "The DAR Tribute", which can be found on their latest album. Learn more about Homeland here.
Chapter Officers
Regent: Barbara Traylor
First Vice Regent: Patrice Donnelly
Second Vice Regent: Jean Keenon
Chaplain: Delores Brooks
Recording Secretary: Emily Volavka
Corresponding Secretary: Rebecca Bradley
Treasurer: Debra Robinson
Registrar: Lanell Saeger
Historian: Margie Denton
Librarian: Sandy Fox
Parliamentarian: Sara Craft
Special Chapter Committees and Appointments
Audit: Jane Cole, Susan Sheffield
Bylaws: Lanell Saeger, Sara Craft
Finance: Patrice Donnelly, Lanell Saeger, Delores Brooks
Luncheon: Lanell Saeger, Sandy Fox, Sara Craft
Program: Patrice Donnelly, Barbara Traylor
Telephone: Rebecca Bradley
Website: Leah Dueffer
Wreaths Across America: Ellen Knollenberg
Yearbook: Jean Keenon
Chapter Chairmen of National Committees
American Heritage: Dottie Haynes
American History: Frances Logan
American Indians: Stephanie Fox
Americanism: Sharon Blocker
Chapter Achievement Award: Sara Craft
Children of the American Revolution: Brenda Dumas
Commemorative Events: Gay Cotten
Community Service Award: Barbara Matthews
Conservation: Harriet Kretzschmar, Jean Keenon
Constitution Week: Gay Cotten
DAR Genealogy Preservation: Deborah Goodwin
DAR Good Citizens: Emily Allison, Emily Volavka, Marie Agee
DAR Library: Sandy Fox
DAR Magazine: Franne Shelton
DAR Museum: Judy Thrasher
DAR Project Patriot: Renee Shelfer
DAR Scholarship: Ellen Knollenberg
DAR School: Patrice Donnelly
DAR Service for Veterans: Sara Craft
The Flag of the United States: Renee Shelfer
Genealogical Records: Deborah Goodwin
Historic Preservation: Gay Cotten
Insignia: Geneva Bourn
Junior American Citizens: Brenda Dumas
Junior Membership: Brittany Fox
Lineage Research: Sharrie Viars
Literacy Promotion: Emily Allison
Membership: Ann Carlton
National Defense: Deborah Nelson
NSDAR Museum Correspondent Docents: Judy Thrasher
President General’s Project: Barbara Traylor
Program: Patrice Donnelly, Barbara Traylor
Public Relations and Media: Sally Cox, April Guin
Resolutions: Barbara Traylor
Units Overseas: Renee Shelfer
Volunteer Genealogists: Sharrie Viars
Volunteer Information Specialists: Leah Dueffer
Women's Issues: Celia Griffin
Special State Committees
Alabama Day: Delores Brooks, Patrice Donnelly
Alabama Room: Judy Thrasher
State Standard of Excellence: Sara Craft, Debra Robinson
State Regent’s Project: Patrice Donnelly
Chapter Motto
Celebrating Faith, Family, Freedom
Chapter Awards, 2012–2013
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One Hundred Percent Participation in the President
General’s Project
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NSDAR President General
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American History Displays
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ASDAR American History Committee
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Outstanding Use of Today’s DAR Video
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ASDAR Public Relations & Media Committee
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Excellence in PR for Patriotic Project-Wreaths Across
America
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ASDAR Public Relations & Media Committee
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State Standard of Excellence
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ASDAR State Standard of Excellence Chairman
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American Indian Program
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ASDAR American Indians Committee
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Outstanding Participation Kate Duncan Smith DAR School
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ASDAR School Chairman
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Generous Support of the Adopt-A-Class Program at Kate
Duncan Smith DAR School
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ASDAR School Chairman
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Chapter Revitalization Award (+7) New Members
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ASDAR State Organizing Secretary
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Children of the American Revolution for recognition of
outstanding service
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ASDAR Chairman, Children of the American Revolution
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Project Patriot For Outstanding Work
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ASDAR Chairman, Project Patriot
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Outstanding Support of the ASDAR Scholarship Contest by
Actively Encouraging Participation by Local High Schools
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ASDAR Scholarship Chairman
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Outstanding Chaplain Report
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ASDAR Chaplain
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Outstanding Membership Report
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ASDAR Membership Chairman
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Chapter with Most Reinstatements after Two or More Years
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ASDAR Membership Chairman
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Honorable Mention—Number of New Members by Application
(10) Chapters of 51-100 Members
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ASDAR Membership Chairman
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The Flag of the United States for Outstanding Work
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ASDAR Flag Chairman
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Outstanding Chapter Program
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ASDAR Chairman, Service for Veterans
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Wreaths Across America-- First Place
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ASDAR Chairman, Service for Veterans
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Outstanding Student Recognition Program
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ASDAR Good Citizen State Chairman
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Outstanding Good Citizen Chapter Committee, Third Place
Tie
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ASDAR Good Citizen State Chairman
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Outstanding Publicity Recognition
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ASDAR Good Citizen State Chairman
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Outstanding Service to the Community God-Home-Country
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ASDAR State Regent
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Literacy Promotion –Excellent Chapter Participation
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ASDAR Chairman Literacy Promotion
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Americanism Award 2012
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ASDAR Americanism Committee
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Honorable Mention Conservation Activities
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ASDAR Conservation Committee
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Outstanding Program “The Story of America—Quilts from the
DAR Museum Collection”
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ASDAR DAR Museum Chairman
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Individual Awards
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Award
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Presented by
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Jane Cole—Individual Service in Literacy Promotion
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ASDAR State Chairman Literacy Promotion
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Delores Brooks—Excellent Service in Literacy Promotion
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ASDAR State Chairman Literacy Promotion
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Dottie Haynes—Outstanding Service in Literacy Promotion
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ASDAR State Chairman Literacy Promotion
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Emily Allison—Outstanding Service in Literacy Promotion
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ASDAR State Chairman Literacy Promotion
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Sharrie Viars—Completion of Genealogical Education Program
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ASDAR State Chairman Volunteer Genealogists
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Sharrie Viars—Excellence in Volunteer Genealogy
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ASDAR State Chairman Volunteer Genealogists
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Sharon Wade—Outstanding Leadership for Constitution Week
Activities Third Place
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ASDAR Chairman Constitution Week
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Sharon Pharris Wade—Outstanding Work in Genealogical
Records
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ASDAR Chairman Genealogical Records
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Margaret Pharris Alexander—Outstanding Work in
Genealogical Records
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ASDAR Chairman Genealogical Records
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Lanell Saeger—Member for Member Lifetime Achievement (20
Member for Member Credits)
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ASDAR State Membership Chairman
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Lanell Saeger—Member for Member Soaring Angel in Action
(10 Member for Member Credits 2012)
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ASDAR State Membership Chairman
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Sara Craft—Exceptional Service as Chapter Chairman, DAR
Service for Veterans Committee
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ASDAR State Chairman Service for Veterans
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Ellen Knollenberg—Americanism 2012 “Wreaths Across
America”
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ASDAR Americanism Committee
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Judy Thrasher—Most Outstanding DAR Museum Correspondent
Docent
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ASDAR DAR Museum Chairman
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Leah Dueffer—First Place Website Central District
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ASDAR VIS Chairman
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Marie Agee –“Angels in Action” Award—NSDAR Booth
Volunteer—Federated Genealogical Societies Conference
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ASDAR State Regent
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Nancy Deason–“Angels in Action” Award—NSDAR Booth
Volunteer—Federated Genealogical Societies Conference
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ASDAR State Regent
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Brenda Dumas–“Angels in Action” Award—NSDAR Booth
Volunteer—Federated Genealogical Societies Conference
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ASDAR State Regent
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Judy Thrasher–“Angels in Action” Award—NSDAR Booth
Volunteer—Federated Genealogical Societies Conference
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ASDAR State Regent
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Barbara Traylor–“Angels in Action” Award—NSDAR Booth
Volunteer—Federated Genealogical Societies Conference
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ASDAR State Regent
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History of the Birmingham Territory Chapter
On Tuesday morning, November 10, 1959, a group of ladies gathered at Michael’s Restaurant for the organizational meeting of the new local chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
The recently appointed Regent, Lavada Foster (Mrs. Sellers) Stough, organized the Chapter. There were 27 members present. The name selected for the chapter was Birmingham Territory.
Mrs. Stough and other ladies interested in organizing the new chapter had searched diligently in the Alabama Archives and learned that the first white settlers in 1815 called the area “Land of Birmingham” and also “Birmingham Territory.” The settlement had been named for Birmingham, the industrial stronghold of England, after an aboriginal furnace was found on the banks of Village Creek.
Later the ladies went to the Birmingham Public Library and found the first map and atlas of this area showing the name of Birmingham.
A total of 36 organizing and other charter members were reported to National on October 15, 1959. The new chapter was confirmed at the National Board meeting on December 2, 1959.
The officers of the new chapter were installed the second Tuesday in January 1960 by Mrs. John T. Clarke, Vice President General from Montgomery, and Mrs. L.C. McCrary, State Regent from Mobile.
From the first meeting in 1959 with 27 members our membership has increased to more than 80 members.
[Written by organizing Regent 1959-1961 Lavada Foster Stough (Mrs. Sellers)]
