About Us

Chapter Highlights 
  • The chapter received NSDAR recognition for Level 1”Gold” for Chapter Achievement. Members attended DAR Days, Mini Tour, District IV meetings. 
  • Held an historic ceremony placing the DAR insignia at the gravesite of Frances E. Willard in Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago. A lovely reception followed at Willard’s ‘Rest Cottage’ in Evanston. Miss Willard’s next of kin attended.
  • Dedicated the Fort Dearborn Chapter Fireplace, Nancy R. Schultz, Regent, 2011~2017 in the Dawes Family East Parlor of the Evanston History Center at the Dawes House and Museum as approved by the NSDAR Historian General Virginia Trader
  • Has celebrated our ‘Service to America’ commemorating NSDAR Founders Day by assisting with cleaning the beloved, historic Frances E. Willard House Museum including chapter members and the William Dawes Society C.A.R.
  • Celebrated the Woman in the Arts Conservation artist, Peggy Macnamara at a formal benefit on Flag Day at the Exmoor Country Club.  The NSDAR Woman in the Arts certificate and medal were bestowed on Peggy Macnamara
  • Have awarded fellowships to historic preservation interns at the Frances Willard House Museum and Archives.
  • Awarded the WCTU with historic preservation funding.
  • Received NSDAR recognition from the Registrar General for  outstanding DAR application work.
  • Our regent presented the Northwestern University 2020 Navy ROTC top Fourth Class Midshipman with a medal and a monetary prize.
  • Has received an Illinois State Organization of the NSDAR award for ‘The Fort Dearborn Chapter Active Junior Scholarship for College Tuition.’
  • Fort Dearborn Chapter was a recognized partner with the Illinois Bicentennial Committee
  • Fascinating topics and functions, have included: “Art in the Darnedest Places,”  celebrating Frances Willard’s Birthday, participation at the City of Evanston’s Veteran’s Day Ceremony at the Patriots Park next to the Fort Dearborn DAR Patriot Memorial Flagpole,  “Picasso, Picasso, Picasso: A Salon with Gertrude Stein” as guests of the University Guild women’s art appreciate group started by our organizing Regent, Cornelia Lunt, “Create, Empower, Heal: Photography as a Tool to End Child Marriage” by Elizabeth Pratt.  Fort Dearborn annually celebrates a birthday party for George Washington.  At our annual birthday party for George Washington, we were joined by State Regent Gloria Flathom, the William Dawes Society C.A.R. and SAR for a delightful “Happy Birthday Illinois Bicentennial Bash” presented by actor Terry Lynch, Histories For Kids.

   Chapter Officers  

       Regent: Nancy R. Schultz

       1st Vice Regent: Melissa M. Piron

2nd Vice Regent:  G. Elaine Harwood

       Chaplain: Deborah Domain

       Recording Secretary: Madeline Mae Peace

   Corresponding Secretary:  Annis “Diddy” Byth

         Treasurer: Patricia S. Piron

       Registrar: Janet Lee Bolton

       Historian: Kathleen Grant

       Librarian: Christina Piron

Illustration by Fort Dearborn Member Gail Elaine Harwood, 2012.

G. Elaine Harwood, Fort Dearborn Chapter Member. Illustration. © 2012. 

 – Chapter Calendar –

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– 2021-2022 – 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 September     Constitution Week

 

 

 

October            Service for America

 

 

 

November      Veteran’s Day Commemoration

 

 

 

December       Holiday Festivities and Wreathes Across America

 

 

 

January           Fort Dearborn Chapter Book Club

 

 

 

February        University Guild and President’s Day Celebration

 

 

 

March              Commemorating Native Americans

 

 

 

April                 Celebrating the American Silversmiths

 

 

 

May                   Annual Meeting

 

 

 

June                   Flag Day, June 14th

 

 

 

  Fort Dearborn Chapter DAR holds meetings monthly throughout the year.

 

 

 

Contact Webmaster via the Link Below for meeting information.

 

 


 

 

 

 Recent Chapter Program Topics 

  • Health Needs of our Military Women and Families
  • Dramatic Portrayal of Gertrude Bell, British Architect and Spy
  • What’s New in Illinois DAR Conservation?
  • Reflections on the Vietnam War
  • Update Your Knowledge of the U.S. Supreme Court
  • Historic Preservation of Evanston’s Dawes House
  • Anxieties of Family Separation During the Early American Republic
  • A Visit from the “Real” Benjamin Franklin with our C.A.R. Children

  Chapter Community Involvement  

, , – City of Evanston –
The chapter donated the first public artwork in Evanston, the Memorial Flagpole Monument in Patriots Park; the chapter later funded the memorial’s restoration. With the William Dawes Society Children of the American Revolution and the City of Evanston, the chapter planted an oak tree in the lakefront park named in honor of its founding regent, Miss Cornelia Gray Lunt.

– Evanston History Center –
The magnificent, historic lakefront home of U.S. Vice President Charles Gates Dawes is the site of numerous chapter events. The chapter’s archives are preserved there by EHC.

– Evanston Public Library –
The chapter holds free genealogical help sessions at EPL each month and donates current reference books to the library’s collection of genealogical works.

– Frances Willard House Museum –
The chapter contributes financially toward restoration efforts and funds the WCTU to aid in the preservation of the Frances Willard House Museum, Archives and Administration Building.

– William Dawes Society NSC.A.R. –
Originally organized in 1919, the William Dawes Society Children of the American Revolution was reorganized by the chapter in 2013. The chapter sponsors the C.A.R. Society with the assistance of other DAR chapters on the North Shore.

– Fort Dearborn NSSAR –
The chapter has hosted joint meetings and celebrations with the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) throughout the years. 

– Northwestern University –
The chapter has enjoyed a relationship with Northwestern University for over 120 years. An NU Ph.D. candidate in Colonial American Studies has traditionally addressed the chapter each spring and has been awarded a monetary prize.

– Northwestern University Guild –
The chapter is hosted by the Northwestern University Guild each January. The chapter’s silver collection is housed in the Guild’s Scott Hall lounge on the Northwestern campus.

– Northwestern University NROTC –
The chapter regent proudly presents the NSDAR gold medal and a monetary award to the top Fourth Class Midshipman at the Northwestern University Naval ROTC Spring Review each year.

– Veterans Organizations –

The chapter contributes clothing to Chicago Stand Down for Homeless Veterans, provides financial support for various veteran activities.  The chapter participates in the November 11th Evanston Veterans Day ceremony, providing a wreath.  Fort Dearborn Chapter supports the City of Evanston to hold the Veteran’s Day Ceremony at Patriots Park.

The DAR is a non-profit, non-political women's service organization dedicated to promoting historic preservation, education, and patriotism.


Web hyperlinks to non-DAR sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR, the state organizations, or individual DAR chapters. This site was updated on the 4th of September, 2021

The DAR is a non-profit, non-political women's service organization dedicated to promoting historic preservation, education, and patriotism, and honoring the patriots of America's Revolutionary War.


Web hyperlinks to non-DAR sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR, the state organizations, or individual DAR chapters. This site was updated on 20 Jan 21