February 11, 2014
Historian Report
Allow me to take you back 100 years.
In 1914, we might have been getting about on a horse drawn carriage, but some of us were driving a new Ford Model T, known as “a Tin Lizzie,” that we purchased for $619. You could get “any color you wanted as long as it was black."
Women wore long length skirts with shirtwaists. The frills and flounces of the previous decade were gone. The unnatural "S" figures that were pushed and pulled with bustles and corsets had been replaced with a straight, more natural figure. The hobble skirt was popular but soon replaced with a full skirt cut just above the ankles. As we were entering WWI, changes in dress were dictated more by necessity than fashion; a style that was promoted “patriotic” and “practical.”
National news in 1914 was highlighted by the first steam boat passing through the Panama Canal. In Washington, DC, the first stone of the Lincoln Memorial is put into place. The first airplane flight from LA to SF was on February 16. Babe Ruth pitched his first major league game that year; and President Wilson proclaimed Mother's Day. (Yes, 100 years ago!)
In Albany we might see John Burkhart flying over with one of the first powered aircraft built in the Northwest. He had accomplished that feat a few years earlier. Albany’s Carnegie Library opened in 1914, with Charles Burgraff as the architect.
But what we are celebrating today is the journey Linn Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution that began on February 3, 1914. Official recognition of the chapter came at a luncheon at Hotel Albany on September 30, that same year. The chapter was named for Dr. Lewis Fields Linn who supported the American occupation of Oregon as a counterclaim to the British. He advocated for the Donation Land Claim Act which passed after his death. Linn Chapter is looking into placing a historical marker for Lewis Fields Linn in 2014.
Historian Report
Allow me to take you back 100 years.
In 1914, we might have been getting about on a horse drawn carriage, but some of us were driving a new Ford Model T, known as “a Tin Lizzie,” that we purchased for $619. You could get “any color you wanted as long as it was black."
Women wore long length skirts with shirtwaists. The frills and flounces of the previous decade were gone. The unnatural "S" figures that were pushed and pulled with bustles and corsets had been replaced with a straight, more natural figure. The hobble skirt was popular but soon replaced with a full skirt cut just above the ankles. As we were entering WWI, changes in dress were dictated more by necessity than fashion; a style that was promoted “patriotic” and “practical.”
National news in 1914 was highlighted by the first steam boat passing through the Panama Canal. In Washington, DC, the first stone of the Lincoln Memorial is put into place. The first airplane flight from LA to SF was on February 16. Babe Ruth pitched his first major league game that year; and President Wilson proclaimed Mother's Day. (Yes, 100 years ago!)
In Albany we might see John Burkhart flying over with one of the first powered aircraft built in the Northwest. He had accomplished that feat a few years earlier. Albany’s Carnegie Library opened in 1914, with Charles Burgraff as the architect.
But what we are celebrating today is the journey Linn Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution that began on February 3, 1914. Official recognition of the chapter came at a luncheon at Hotel Albany on September 30, that same year. The chapter was named for Dr. Lewis Fields Linn who supported the American occupation of Oregon as a counterclaim to the British. He advocated for the Donation Land Claim Act which passed after his death. Linn Chapter is looking into placing a historical marker for Lewis Fields Linn in 2014.
Linn Chapter began with fourteen charter members, and within a year membership doubled. Early meetings were held at members’ houses. Their homes became lively with meetings covering current issues, local and American history, historical fashion shows, teas, and picnics. They also met at Albany’s downtown venues including Hotel Albany, The Venetian, and The Hub restaurant.
Looking back through the chapter’s history, the ladies involved in the initial organization and through the decades have very familiar Linn County names beginning with the organizing regent, Mrs. Emma Tracy. Other familiar names include Weatherford, Burkhart, Cowgill, Rohrbaugh, Young, Monteith, Flinn, Veal, Nutting, Chase, Jenks, Lewelling, and so many more.
They understood the importance of preserving history at the local level with scrapbooks, radio spots on the local stations, surveying cemeteries, and placing a dozen historical markers around Linn County. These markers include: Real Daughter Elizabeth Rand Froman at the Masonic Cemetery in Albany; Rev. James Millar at the Riverside Cemetery; Eliza Spaulding Warren at Brownsville; Rev. Thomas Kendall at Oakville; Real Daughter Mary Gilmour at Sand Ridge; plus several more including Oregon Trail Pioneer markers throughout the county.
During times of war, the chapter has supported our troops and those made less fortunate by war by selling small American flags in WWI, (we have one of the flags on display). There was a “treasure and trinket drive," as well as they hosted events to raise money for Liberty Bonds and the Red Cross and more. Linn Chapter continues to support our military and veterans with Operation Santa USMC, Honor Flight, and the Albany Veterans Day Parade.
In 1914, one of Linn Chapter’s first projects was to support schools by giving awards to student in an American history essay contest. Every year for the past 100 years Linn Chapter has given student essay awards which are continued today through the National Society DAR.
The chapter supports Constitution Week through public displays and education in the classroom.
Last year, in 2013, the National Society tallied three million hours of volunteer service in our communities across America, of which Linn Chapter members gave over 1400 hours of their time.
Over the past 100 years these women have held quite a variety of fund raisers and educational events. They have purchased flags for community organizations, books for libraries and schools, student scholarships, and preservation projects, to name a few.
These women will be remembered for their labor of love to the objects of the DAR by promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America's future through better education for all.
Members through the decades have made the effort to create and care for Linn Chapter’s history and their scrapbooks. Please take time to view the slide show, and to look over the timeline of fashions and these amazing scrapbooks that cover the chapter’s past 100 years, as well as Linn County history. There are bookmarks available for you to mark your “noteworthy” spots.
Virginia Koos said it so well ten years ago at our 90th Anniversary:
"It is impossible to relate all of our accomplishments during the past 90 years. Suffice it to say that we are proud of our history and of all of the members who made their contributions toward it. We do not plan nor intend to rest on our laurels. We hope to continue to be a vital force in our community, to be able to adapt to changes, and to make changes ourselves for God, Home, and Country. "
-Mrs. Virginia (George) Koos, February 2004
Respectfully submitted,
Tami Sneddon
Linn Chapter
Historian
Looking back through the chapter’s history, the ladies involved in the initial organization and through the decades have very familiar Linn County names beginning with the organizing regent, Mrs. Emma Tracy. Other familiar names include Weatherford, Burkhart, Cowgill, Rohrbaugh, Young, Monteith, Flinn, Veal, Nutting, Chase, Jenks, Lewelling, and so many more.
They understood the importance of preserving history at the local level with scrapbooks, radio spots on the local stations, surveying cemeteries, and placing a dozen historical markers around Linn County. These markers include: Real Daughter Elizabeth Rand Froman at the Masonic Cemetery in Albany; Rev. James Millar at the Riverside Cemetery; Eliza Spaulding Warren at Brownsville; Rev. Thomas Kendall at Oakville; Real Daughter Mary Gilmour at Sand Ridge; plus several more including Oregon Trail Pioneer markers throughout the county.
During times of war, the chapter has supported our troops and those made less fortunate by war by selling small American flags in WWI, (we have one of the flags on display). There was a “treasure and trinket drive," as well as they hosted events to raise money for Liberty Bonds and the Red Cross and more. Linn Chapter continues to support our military and veterans with Operation Santa USMC, Honor Flight, and the Albany Veterans Day Parade.
In 1914, one of Linn Chapter’s first projects was to support schools by giving awards to student in an American history essay contest. Every year for the past 100 years Linn Chapter has given student essay awards which are continued today through the National Society DAR.
The chapter supports Constitution Week through public displays and education in the classroom.
Last year, in 2013, the National Society tallied three million hours of volunteer service in our communities across America, of which Linn Chapter members gave over 1400 hours of their time.
Over the past 100 years these women have held quite a variety of fund raisers and educational events. They have purchased flags for community organizations, books for libraries and schools, student scholarships, and preservation projects, to name a few.
These women will be remembered for their labor of love to the objects of the DAR by promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America's future through better education for all.
Members through the decades have made the effort to create and care for Linn Chapter’s history and their scrapbooks. Please take time to view the slide show, and to look over the timeline of fashions and these amazing scrapbooks that cover the chapter’s past 100 years, as well as Linn County history. There are bookmarks available for you to mark your “noteworthy” spots.
Virginia Koos said it so well ten years ago at our 90th Anniversary:
"It is impossible to relate all of our accomplishments during the past 90 years. Suffice it to say that we are proud of our history and of all of the members who made their contributions toward it. We do not plan nor intend to rest on our laurels. We hope to continue to be a vital force in our community, to be able to adapt to changes, and to make changes ourselves for God, Home, and Country. "
-Mrs. Virginia (George) Koos, February 2004
Respectfully submitted,
Tami Sneddon
Linn Chapter
Historian
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Last updated 01/01/24
"The content contained herein does not necessarily represent the position of the NSDAR. Hyperlinks to other sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR, the state organizations, or individual DAR chapters."
Last updated 01/01/24