History of the Tennessee State Society
The Tennessee Society Daughters of the America Colonists was organized at a meeting at Hotel Patten in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on 8 March 1932 as the 30th State Society of NSDAC. The state society was organized by Edith Brown Stone (Mrs. William Franklin) along with 26 charter members.
Frances Brown Chase (Mrs. Walter Howard) of Atlanta, Vice President Southern Section, assisted at the meeting. While she never served as a state officer, she was given the title of Honorary State Regent of Tennessee “in appreciation of her untiring and generous cooperation in making the Tennessee Society a reality.”
Mrs. Stone was appointed Organizing Regent of the Tennessee State Society by Mrs. John Laidlaw Buel, National President. Other Tennessee State Society Officers installed were Betsy McCarty Hitzing (Mrs. Willis), Memphis, First Vice Regent; Lenora West Bowen (Mrs. Albert Sidney Sr.), Second Vice Regent; Lois Greshner Howley (Mrs. John D.), Nashville, Third Vice Regent; Harriet Hankins Kelsey (Mrs. Fredrick Wilbur), Recording Secretary; Annie S. Dixon Willbanks (Mrs. George P.), Corresponding Secretary; Bessie Wilson Magill, Treasurer; Maude Rathmell Brooks (Mrs. Julian Culpepper), Registrar; Elizabeth Jeanet Stoops Sibold (Mrs. Arthur Pleasant), Historian; and Nettie Belle Stoops Brown (Mrs. Joseph Nelson), Chaplain.
Other charter members were Mae Stoops Rogers (Mrs. Wilbert), Brookville, IN; Sara Louise Willson Jacobs (Mrs. Henry Grady), Scottsboro, AL; Rachel Eastman Milliken (Mrs. Frank L.), Hamilton, OH; Mary Elizabeth Anderson Hayes (Mrs. John William) and Jane Gray Glenn Childers (Mrs. Frank Gracey), Clarksville; Miss Susie Gentry, Franklin; Beulah McLean Leech (Mrs. Wilson Blake), Susie M. Anderson Glenn (Mrs. James Lyle), Susan Ewin Glenn Cheek (Mrs. John Hancock), and Beulah McLean Leech, of Nashville; Lynn Lucilla Deming Hoskins (Mrs. James Dickson), Knoxville; Miss Dorothy Tarwater, Rockwood; and Irene Houston Jewell (Mrs. Daniel Ashley), Irene Eugenia Stoops Garrison (Mrs. E. Bell), Mae Henderson Wyatt (Mrs. Eugene Hill); and Elizabeth Parks Betterton (Mrs. Thomas Crews) of Chattanooga.
Two early state society members would go on to serve as organizing regents in other states. Sarah Louise Willson Jacobs (Mrs. Henry Grady), an organizing member of the Tennessee State Society, transferred to the Alabama State Society as Organizing Regent in 1939. Beatrice Townsend Langstrouth Wisner (Mrs. Ralph Emerson) joined the Tennessee State Society in October 1937 and transferred to the Michigan State Society as Organizing Regent in 1938.
The early activities of the Tennessee State Society were focused on assisting the Tennessee Valley Authorities in identifying the remains of many early settlers from the old cemeteries that needed to be moved to make way for the Norris Dam and the creation of the 50,000 acre lake. The project involved the removal of 3,600 graves from 109 small church yard cemeteries in the section and the establishment of a new cemetery.
During World War II, Tennessee Daughters gave their time to the Red Cross and National Defense efforts. The 1945 State Assembly was cancelled with the state reporting 42 members and several prospective members.
State Chapters Formed
It would be nearly 20 years from the installation of the state society before the first Tennessee Chapter would be installed. The Chattanooga Chapter was installed on 2 October 1950 followed by the Jamestown Chapter on 6 October 1950. Mrs. Stone served as the Organizing Regent for the Chattanooga Chapter with 25 members. Virginia Walton Field Brooks (Mrs. Berry Boswell) served as Organizing Regent for Jamestown with 16 members. Mrs. Brooks also served as President General of the National Society Children of the American Colonists from 1950 to 1952.
The Knoxville Chapter was installed 12 Apr 1954, organized by Marianne Redford Turpin Burke (Mrs. James Henry) with 16 members. In 1957, the McMinnville Chapter was installed 29 January 1957, organized by Catherine Elkins DeFord (Mrs. Risden Davis); and Middle Plantation Chapter in Nashville was installed 11 October 1957, organized by Virginia Robinson Calvin (Mrs. Earle Pegram). In 1958, Wautaugua Old Fields Chapter at Elizabethtown was organized on April 7 by Miss Lula Carriger, and Union City Chapter was organized on April 9 by Mary Bird Pursley Kelly (Mrs. William Cobb). In 1959, Clay Lick Chapter was installed on April 13, organized by Edna Kaler Gracey (Mrs. J. Robert). Fort Loudon Chapter was installed on October 9, organized by Aileen Kimbrough Richesin (Mrs. Henry Harry).
The 1960s saw three new chapters in the state: Captain Thomas Jameson Chapter in Murfreesboro, installed 8 April 1963 and organized by Sarah Elizabeth McKelley King (Mrs. Walter Hughey Sr.); Andrew Vance Chapter in Knoxville, installed 13 April 1964 and organized by June Elizabeth McCoy Christenberry (Mrs. Kenneth W.); and Captain Jacob Womack Chapter in Johnson City, installed 10 January 1967 and organized by Mattie Lowell Wardlaw Mettetal (Mrs. Ray Wallace).
Isaac Dawson Chapter in Martin was installed 25 June 1977 and organized by Miss Esther Lee. The last five chapters in Tennessee were installed in the 1980s: Colonel Gideon Macon Chapter in Jackson, installed 17 January 1981 and organized by Nell Edenton Low Nuckolls (Mrs. John Bond); Francis Billingsley Chapter, installed 22 October 1980; Henry County Chapter in McKenzie, installed 14 October 1981 and organized by Cynthia Jo Billingsley Kemp (Mrs. James Andrew); and Prudence Hall Chapter, installed 22 February 1984 and organized by Martha Clark Cooke (Mrs. Joe Thomas).
In 2024, there are eight active chapters across Tennessee with some 165 members:
All chapters actively support the National Society goals and objectives and serve as National and Blue Ridge Section Chairmen. The Tennessee State Society holds its State Assembly in March and a Fall Board Meeting in August, both in Middle Tennessee. State Regent Phyllis Carter will complete her term of office in 2027.
Notable State Society Members
Several Tennessee State Society members have served at the national level. All but Adele Sneed served as Tennessee State Regents:
Frances Brown Chase (Mrs. Walter Howard) of Atlanta, Vice President Southern Section, assisted at the meeting. While she never served as a state officer, she was given the title of Honorary State Regent of Tennessee “in appreciation of her untiring and generous cooperation in making the Tennessee Society a reality.”
Mrs. Stone was appointed Organizing Regent of the Tennessee State Society by Mrs. John Laidlaw Buel, National President. Other Tennessee State Society Officers installed were Betsy McCarty Hitzing (Mrs. Willis), Memphis, First Vice Regent; Lenora West Bowen (Mrs. Albert Sidney Sr.), Second Vice Regent; Lois Greshner Howley (Mrs. John D.), Nashville, Third Vice Regent; Harriet Hankins Kelsey (Mrs. Fredrick Wilbur), Recording Secretary; Annie S. Dixon Willbanks (Mrs. George P.), Corresponding Secretary; Bessie Wilson Magill, Treasurer; Maude Rathmell Brooks (Mrs. Julian Culpepper), Registrar; Elizabeth Jeanet Stoops Sibold (Mrs. Arthur Pleasant), Historian; and Nettie Belle Stoops Brown (Mrs. Joseph Nelson), Chaplain.
Other charter members were Mae Stoops Rogers (Mrs. Wilbert), Brookville, IN; Sara Louise Willson Jacobs (Mrs. Henry Grady), Scottsboro, AL; Rachel Eastman Milliken (Mrs. Frank L.), Hamilton, OH; Mary Elizabeth Anderson Hayes (Mrs. John William) and Jane Gray Glenn Childers (Mrs. Frank Gracey), Clarksville; Miss Susie Gentry, Franklin; Beulah McLean Leech (Mrs. Wilson Blake), Susie M. Anderson Glenn (Mrs. James Lyle), Susan Ewin Glenn Cheek (Mrs. John Hancock), and Beulah McLean Leech, of Nashville; Lynn Lucilla Deming Hoskins (Mrs. James Dickson), Knoxville; Miss Dorothy Tarwater, Rockwood; and Irene Houston Jewell (Mrs. Daniel Ashley), Irene Eugenia Stoops Garrison (Mrs. E. Bell), Mae Henderson Wyatt (Mrs. Eugene Hill); and Elizabeth Parks Betterton (Mrs. Thomas Crews) of Chattanooga.
Two early state society members would go on to serve as organizing regents in other states. Sarah Louise Willson Jacobs (Mrs. Henry Grady), an organizing member of the Tennessee State Society, transferred to the Alabama State Society as Organizing Regent in 1939. Beatrice Townsend Langstrouth Wisner (Mrs. Ralph Emerson) joined the Tennessee State Society in October 1937 and transferred to the Michigan State Society as Organizing Regent in 1938.
The early activities of the Tennessee State Society were focused on assisting the Tennessee Valley Authorities in identifying the remains of many early settlers from the old cemeteries that needed to be moved to make way for the Norris Dam and the creation of the 50,000 acre lake. The project involved the removal of 3,600 graves from 109 small church yard cemeteries in the section and the establishment of a new cemetery.
During World War II, Tennessee Daughters gave their time to the Red Cross and National Defense efforts. The 1945 State Assembly was cancelled with the state reporting 42 members and several prospective members.
State Chapters Formed
It would be nearly 20 years from the installation of the state society before the first Tennessee Chapter would be installed. The Chattanooga Chapter was installed on 2 October 1950 followed by the Jamestown Chapter on 6 October 1950. Mrs. Stone served as the Organizing Regent for the Chattanooga Chapter with 25 members. Virginia Walton Field Brooks (Mrs. Berry Boswell) served as Organizing Regent for Jamestown with 16 members. Mrs. Brooks also served as President General of the National Society Children of the American Colonists from 1950 to 1952.
The Knoxville Chapter was installed 12 Apr 1954, organized by Marianne Redford Turpin Burke (Mrs. James Henry) with 16 members. In 1957, the McMinnville Chapter was installed 29 January 1957, organized by Catherine Elkins DeFord (Mrs. Risden Davis); and Middle Plantation Chapter in Nashville was installed 11 October 1957, organized by Virginia Robinson Calvin (Mrs. Earle Pegram). In 1958, Wautaugua Old Fields Chapter at Elizabethtown was organized on April 7 by Miss Lula Carriger, and Union City Chapter was organized on April 9 by Mary Bird Pursley Kelly (Mrs. William Cobb). In 1959, Clay Lick Chapter was installed on April 13, organized by Edna Kaler Gracey (Mrs. J. Robert). Fort Loudon Chapter was installed on October 9, organized by Aileen Kimbrough Richesin (Mrs. Henry Harry).
The 1960s saw three new chapters in the state: Captain Thomas Jameson Chapter in Murfreesboro, installed 8 April 1963 and organized by Sarah Elizabeth McKelley King (Mrs. Walter Hughey Sr.); Andrew Vance Chapter in Knoxville, installed 13 April 1964 and organized by June Elizabeth McCoy Christenberry (Mrs. Kenneth W.); and Captain Jacob Womack Chapter in Johnson City, installed 10 January 1967 and organized by Mattie Lowell Wardlaw Mettetal (Mrs. Ray Wallace).
Isaac Dawson Chapter in Martin was installed 25 June 1977 and organized by Miss Esther Lee. The last five chapters in Tennessee were installed in the 1980s: Colonel Gideon Macon Chapter in Jackson, installed 17 January 1981 and organized by Nell Edenton Low Nuckolls (Mrs. John Bond); Francis Billingsley Chapter, installed 22 October 1980; Henry County Chapter in McKenzie, installed 14 October 1981 and organized by Cynthia Jo Billingsley Kemp (Mrs. James Andrew); and Prudence Hall Chapter, installed 22 February 1984 and organized by Martha Clark Cooke (Mrs. Joe Thomas).
In 2024, there are eight active chapters across Tennessee with some 165 members:
- Chattanooga Chapter
- Jamestown Chapter
- Knoxville Chapter
- Middle Plantation Chapter
- Clay Lick Chapter
- Captain Thomas Jameson Chapter
- Colonel Gideon Macon Chapter
- Prudence Hall Chapter
All chapters actively support the National Society goals and objectives and serve as National and Blue Ridge Section Chairmen. The Tennessee State Society holds its State Assembly in March and a Fall Board Meeting in August, both in Middle Tennessee. State Regent Phyllis Carter will complete her term of office in 2027.
Notable State Society Members
Several Tennessee State Society members have served at the national level. All but Adele Sneed served as Tennessee State Regents:
- Mrs. William Franklin Stone, Organizing State Regent from 1932 to 1934 (deceased), served as National President from 1937 to 1940. She served as National Vice President Southern Section from 1937 to 1940. She also served as the Yearbook Chairman from 1943 to 1958.
- Maude Rathmell Brooks (Mrs. Julian Culpepper Sr.) (deceased) served as National Historian from 1949-1952. She served as Tennessee State Regent from 1942 to 1946.
- Marianne Turpin Burke (Mrs. James K.) (deceased) was named an Honorary National Vice President in 1973. She served as National Organizing Secretary from 1961 to 1964 and National Vice President Southern Section from 1964 to 1967. She served as Tennessee State Regent from 1956 to 1959.
- Adele Weiss Sneed (Mrs. Joseph Logan) (deceased) served as National Organizing Secretary from 1961 to 1964 and National Registrar from 1964 to 1868.
- Mary Whayne Turke Miles (Mrs. Charles W. III) (State Regent from 1982-1985) was named Honorary National Vice President in 1995. She served as National Vice President Southern Section from1985 to 1988. She also served as Editor of The Colonial Courier from 1988 to 2003.
- Martha Washington Nutter Bradley (Mrs. George Washington) (deceased) served as National Recording Secretary from 1994 to 1997. She served as Tennessee State Regent from 1991 to 1994.
- Mrs. Linda D. Dean, State Regent from 2006-2009 (deceased), was elected Honorary National Vice President in 2019. She previously served as National Recording Secretary (2009-2012), National Historian (2012-2015) and National Vice President Blue Ridge Section (2015-2018).
- Ms. Linda L. Mansur (State Regent from 2015-2018) is currently serving as National Treasurer. She previously served as Yearbook Chairman from 2012-2015 and Editor of The Colonial Courier from 2015-2021.