Tennessee Society
ALEXANDER KEITH CHAPTER, NSDAR, ATHENS, TENNESSEE
The Alexander Keith Chapter, NSDAR, is rich in history and chartered in Athens, Tennessee. It was named in honor of Alexander Keith, the American Revolutionary War ancestor of the Organizing Regent, Miss Penelope Louise Keith. Alexander Keith served with distinction as lieutenant, captain, and Aide-de-camp to General George Washington in the American Revolutionary War. He also had the unusual honor of having the Mary Isham Keith Chapter, NSDAR, in Fort Worth, Texas, named for his mother. A meeting preliminary to organizing a DAR chapter in Athens was held on January 23, 1926. There were twenty prospective members and three guests present. From this group, three prospective members and one guest were descendants of Alexander Keith. The organization of the chapter was completed on April 9, 1926, when papers of the twenty who applied for organizing membership were accepted, Mrs. Louise Keith Frazier, the sponsor of the chapter, became an honorary member.
Two of the organizing members were organizing regents. Mrs. T. E. Moody organized the Echebucsassa Chapter, NSDAR, at Plant City, Florida, and Mrs. C. L. Clark organized the Rhea-Craig Chapter, NSDAR, in Sweetwater, Tennessee.
The chapter has flourished through the years, and current membership is limited to 40 active members. Members have always supported national and state goals. Sponsoring good citizenship members from three local high schools has become a tradition. We have recently sponsored local history teachers and American history essay winners. Our goal is to have this sponsorship become a tradition. As with the national trend, we experienced a decline in membership in recent years; however, with recent intense efforts, we have gained several new, young members and are currently working on five prospective members. We look to the future with enthusiasm and hope as we strive to meet the DAR objectives of historic preservation, promotion of education, and patriotic endeavor.
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
Tennessee State Society Daughters of the American Revolution
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