On October 15, 1959, a total of 36 organizing and other charter members were reported to the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution as members of a new local chapter. The recently appointed Chapter Regent, Lavada Foster (Mrs. Sellers) Stough, was the organizer.
On Tuesday morning, November 10, 1959, 27 of the members gathered at Michael's Restaurant for an organizational meeting. The first order of business was to vote on a chapter name. The members selected the name "Birmingham Territory."
The chapter's name was chosen after much thought and study. Mrs. Stough and other ladies interested in organizing the new chapter searched diligently in the Alabama State Archives and learned that the first settlers to reach the area in 1815 were veterans of General Andrew Jackson's army. Alabama was still part of the Mississippi Territory at that time. They learned that the City of Birmingham was founded in 1871 and named after the industrial stronghold of Birmingham, England. Interestingly enough, the ladies' also discovered through their research that traces of Native American "furnaces" had been located on the banks of Village Creek, which winds its way through parts of Birmingham.
After the founding members concluded their initial luncheon meeting, they walked to the Birmingham Public Library and viewed the first map and atlas of this area showing the name of Birmingham.
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, Birmingham Territory Chapter has increased to more than 80 members.
