Courtney-Spalding Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution was organized in April 1926 with headquarters in Russell. Members were from Russell, Ellis, Ellsworth, and Trego Counties. The Chapter name was derived from the ancestors of the two ladies instrumental in organizing the Chapter: Coral Courtney Carter, whose ancestor was Thomas Courtney, a Virginian; and Mary Lois Ruppenthal, a descendant of Ezekiel Spalding from Massachusetts.
Other charter members were: Frances Brewster Barlett, Salome Blair, Mary Courtney Eby, Mae Nichols Evans, Cora Marshall Kraus, Stella Blair Larrabee, Juliet Bailey McKean, Marena Sevier Madden, Emma Lacy Herrick Miller, Mary Bantz Parker, Barbara Bobbitt Peacock, Arvilla Johnson Roth, Margaret Eastland Ruppenthal, Beulah Chase St. Aubyn, Josephine Parker, and Margaret Swiggett. Coral Carter was Organizing Regent.
Meetings were held in Russell until 1982, when the Chapter headquarters were transferred to Hays. In the early years, out-of-town members sometimes rode the Union Pacific Train to and from Russell.
Early programs focused on American history. The Chapter took advantage of its proximity to Fort Hays State College (now University) and in 1938 helped establish the genealogical shelf at the University’s Forsyth Library. For eleven years the Chapter presented medals to outstanding seniors in the ROTC program until that program was discontinued in 1991. Working with Mortar Board, the senior women’s honor society, the Chapter planted a tree during the U.S.A. Bicentennial and more recently planted boxwood from Mt. Vernon on campus.
Our chapter is proud to have presented American History Teacher awards to three local instructors who also won the state awards. The DAR Medal of Honor was presented to Marianna Beach in 1982, recognizing her work at national, state, and local levels with the mental health programs, Partners of the Americas, the Sister City Movement, and several similar programs. Mrs. Beach became a DAR member shortly thereafter.
Chapter members began making Braille flags in 1994. One was given to the area chapter of the Kansas Association for the Visually Impaired at the time of its state convention in Hays. Other flags are made for special orders. The Chapter has presented flags to numerous schools, libraries, Hays Airport, and other establishments.
The Chapter tells the DAR story to the public through such events as dedication of the airport, welcoming conventions to Hays, arranging displays for Constitution Week, and sponsoring the American History Essay and Good Citizenship award programs. We contribute to the DAR schools through a “weigh-in,” giving one cent per pound of our weight to the schools.
Our second century goals stress membership growth, conservation, American History, and Good Citizenship awards to further the education and historic values of our youth. We will also focus on the U.S. flag presentations supporting patriotism in our nation.
Our current goals stress membership growth, conservation, American History, and Good Citizenship awards to further the education and historic values of our youth. We also focus on the U.S. flag presentations, supporting patriotism in our nation and supporting our troops in Project Patriot.
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