The History of Courtney-Spalding Chapter
Courtney-Spalding Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution was organized in April 1926 with headquarters in Russell. Charter members were: Coral Courtney Carter, Mary Lois Ruppenthal, 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.
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. Every year on October 11th, DAR's Day of Service, our chapter members donate goodie baskets to First Responders in three counties. The chapter has presented flags to numerous schools, libraries, Hays Airport and other establishments.
Our chapter goals stress membership growth, conservation, American History, and Good Citizenship. We focus on supporting patriotism in our nation, support of our troops in Project Patriot, and U.S. Flag awards. We presently sponsor the Good Citizenship award program each year to further the education and historic values of our youth. We also contribute to the DAR schools annually. In 2020, we had two State wide winners of the Classroom grants for two Hays Elementary Schools, both $500 for STEM projects. We applied and received grants to install a tv and wifi at the Hays Veterans Clinic. We also applied for two grants in 2020 to landscape at the Kansas Veteran's Cemetery in WaKeeney, Kansas and celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with a Never Forget Garden Marker in the newly landscape area.
At the April 2022 KSDAR State Conference, Courtney-Spalding was named Kansas Outstanding Chapter and Chapter Regent for 2021.
Original history was compiled by Viola E. Kaempfe and Katherine L. Rogers
The DAR Insignia is the property of, and is copyrighted by, the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.