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Brief History of the Port Tobacco Chapter
By Vivian B. Edelen
The organizing meeting of the Port Tobacco Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution was held in 1964 at "Mulberry Grove" in Port Tobacco, Maryland, the home of the first Regent, Mrs. Edward Joseph Edelen.
The chapter received its charter in 1965. As of 2002, there have been 15 regents, four of whom are now deceased. Membership has varied between 30 to 60 members throughout the years. The chapter was honored to have one member who had been in DAR for over 50 years, Sara Porter Schaefer, a descendant of Thomas Cresap.
In the early years of the chapter, meetings were held at the homes of members or at restaurants and the La Plata Town Hall, but are now held at a local church each 4th Thursday of the month except when the November and December meetings are combined for an annual membership tea.
Following the National DAR motto, "God, Home and Country," the chapter has marked the graves of seven local Revolutionary War soldiers and the graves of 23 deceased members. It also has supported such National DAR projects as the DAR Schools, scholarships, Good Citizens, ROTC, the DAR Library and Museum in Washington, and the upkeep of the DAR buildings, as well as the State Chapter House in Towson.
Local chapter projects have been contributions to the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, the Southern Maryland Studies Center at the College of Southern Maryland, and Naturalization ceremonies, as well as participating in conservation and literacy programs.
Members have toured such historic places as Valley Forge as a group and individually, and have observed national holidays by joining local ceremonies and parades. They have joined the Thomas Stone SAR chapter at dinners and grave markings.
The chapter has received many awards and certificates that are preserved in 20 scrapbooks containing records of its activities the past 37 years.
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